allCanesBlog.com guest columnist Scott Alan Salomon talks up cornerback Artie Burns. The Miami native had two interceptions in the Canes’ recent win over Virginia Tech, has hauled in five on the season and will need to come up big Saturday against No. 6 Clemson.
The Miami Hurricanes are fortunate that they have a team of playmakers. On any given Saturday, someone else can step up and bail the team out of a tough spot and lead them to a momentous victory.
Against Nebraska, the saviors were Corn Elder who had a magnificent interception in overtime to give Miami control of the game and they also had Michael Badgley who hit five field goals including the game-winner in overtime.
Miami got more leadership from the secondary this past weekend as cornerback Artie Burns has taken the cover corner term to new heights and has stolen opportunities from the opposing team’s offense. He did just that against Virginia Tech. Burns single-handedly anchored Miami’s passing defense in the second half and led Miami to its first ACC win and the first step on the ladder toward a possible Coastal Division Championship.
Against Tech, Burns played very well and led the team with two interceptions. His second came on a curl route where the Hokies were driving and looking to take the game over late in the fourth quarter. Burns stepped in front of the pass as he jumped the route and played the role of spoiler.
His five picks this season are a team high and are the most by a Hurricane since Sean Taylor had 10 in 2003. Burns he frustrated Tech’s aerial assault all afternoon and for his efforts was named the ACC Defensive Back of the Week. He got beat on one long pass play, but he was in position to make the play. It was just a well-timed route and the ball was where it should have been and Burns had no shot at committing larceny on that play.
The senior is currently tied for fifth in the nation in the interception department and he is looking to build on that against Clemson which sports one of the best passing games in the conference.
“Artie is doing really well. I know he’s disappointed about the go route. He really was in pretty good position to have a finish on the hands late, so that one I know is going to sting him. But his development, his growth, his ability to see the ball in the air,” Miami coach Al Golden said after the game on Saturday.
“He’s really doing a good job of trusting his technique and playing with technique. I know he’s going to be disappointed. The kid made a nice play on the sideline, give them credit. But I know Artie is going to be disappointed he didn’t have the opportunity to finish that on the sideline, but he’s getting better.”
Golden credit’s Burns’ work ethic and was still raving about him at his pre-Clemson press conference on Tuesday.
“He’s working like a dog. His mental toughness has improved. His capacity to do work has improved. He takes a lot of pride being the first one in every drill. For instance today, we had a special teams drill where he was on the field for two reps – and those are 50-yard segments covering kicks – and the horn blew. He went to the next period he went up to the front of the line and was 1-on-1 against receivers, Rashawn [Scott] or whoever he was going against. That’s his mindset right now,” Golden said.
“He’s very receptive to coaching, he can self-correct. He’s mentally tough, so he has a short memory. I think that contrast of giving up a deep ball and coming up and getting an interception [against Virginia Tech] – I think they were back-to-back plays – those are the tools necessary to be a good one.”
Burns said after the game that he just wants to improve and get better with each repetition he gets.
“I’m just trusting my technique,” Burns said. “I’ve been working on my craft over the offseason, getting better with ball control and stuff like that, and making plays.”
On his play against Tech in the fourth quarter, Burns said he was just in the right place at the right time.
“They ran a little snag concept, they had a little roll out,” Burns said. “I just stayed on my man, glued onto my man, and he just chucked it up and I just made a play on the ball.”
Burns took a snapshot of the play and posted it on his Facebook page with the title “I’ll Take That.” It seems that whatever Burns wants to take lately, he marks as his domain and he goes after it and takes it. Miami will need him against DeShaun Watson and the high-octane Clemson passing offense this Saturday at noon.
Golden said that the best effort that Burns is putting forward is infectious to the rest of the team and that one does not have to look very hard to see the humility and the ethic that Burns puts forth every day in practice.
“He’s staying humble right now. He’s staying with his process,” Golden said. “He’s doing the little things, he really is. He’s doing the little things right now, and that’s making the difference for him.”