Miami, LSU missing key offensive players for Peach Bowl

Posted 4:59AM on Wednesday 28th December 2005 ( 19 years ago )

ATLANTA (AP) Miami will be without starting receiver Ryan Moore and Louisiana State quarterback JaMarcus Russell is out with an injury for Friday's Peach Bowl, but the teams' coaches said Tuesday they have backups ready to play. Miami coach Larry Coker announced Monday that Moore, third on the team with 28 catches, has been suspended for the game for an unspecified violation of a team policy. Coker likes to rotate six receivers, but he suddenly has a shortage of experienced targets for quarterback Kyle Wright. Already this month Akieem Jolla left the team to pursue plans to transfer and Terrell Walden suffered a knee injury. Coker may give star cornerback Devin Hester more time at receiver. Hester had only three catches in the regular season but also had eight carries for 70 yards and averaged 14.2 yards on 22 punt returns. ``That's a little bit of a bonus for us because he's been a wide receiver, he's been a defensive back, he's been a running back,'' Coker said of Hester, a junior. ``I'm really not concerned about the wide receiver position. I've been very impressed with the way guys have stepped up. That's a little bit of the University of Miami tradition. When something happens and somebody needs to step up and make plays, traditionally somebody has done that and I believe we'll be able to do that on Friday.'' Sinorice Moss, who leads the No. 9 Hurricanes with 35 catches, and sophomore Lance Leggett are the starters. Leggett has only 14 catches this year, but he started eight games as a freshman in 2004, when he caught 17 passes, including four for touchdowns. Darnell Jenkins and Khalil Jones, who combined for 27 catches this season, are the backups. Because Moore, a junior, already has graduated, there is speculation that he will not return in 2006. Coker said Moore will be eligible for spring practice and has said he intends to return for his senior season. ``All those things can change daily, but he has expressed an interest in staying and says he is staying,'' Coker said. ``Personally I think it's in his best interest to stay. Ryan has had an outstanding year for us. I think he could have a great year next year and take it to another level.'' Meanwhile, No. 10 LSU left Russell behind when it arrived in Atlanta, ending speculation the sophomore might return from a shoulder injury for the bowl game. Russell, who throws with his right hand, separated his left shoulder when sacked in LSU's loss to Georgia in the Dec. 3 Southeastern Conference championship game. The Tigers are left with sophomore Matt Flynn, who has appeared in 24 games but will be making his first start. LSU coach Les Miles said Flynn made a strong impression in the preseason when he competed with Russell for the starting job. ``Matt has a lot of ability and I think our team enjoys his leadership and I think he'll play well,'' Miles said. ``I think the quarterback position will play well enough to win.'' Miles said Russell will have more tests on his shoulder and can focus on his rehabilitation in Baton Rouge. ``With the decision that he would not eventually be able to play ... it just became more important that we rehabilitate him most effectively,'' Miles said. When playing behind Russell against Georgia, Flynn completed only 3 of 11 passes for 36 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Against North Texas this season, Flynn was 7 for 7 passing for 139 yards and three touchdowns. He threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to track star Bennie Brazell against Mississippi. ``I think just like when JaMarcus was first getting in there and getting a lot of repetitions, the key is not to allow too much pressure on our quarterback,'' said offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth. ``That's our job no matter who is in there, to make the game as easy as possible for whoever is back there. With Matt that's going to be our focus, to play the way we need to play and take the pressure off him and let him play the way he needs to play and not worry about anything else.'' The Peach Bowl is sponsored by Chick-Fil-A. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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