Upcoming Event: Football versus Tulane on September 5, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.
Football
vs Tulane
Cutcliffe: 'I Believe We Are a Bowl Team'
7/28/2009 12:00:00 PM | Football
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? Head coach David Cutcliffe answered questions on Monday from the Grandover Resort as part of the ACC's Football kickoff. Cutcliffe spoke about in depth about senior quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, his year two expectations and other hot topics surrounding the Duke football team.
Are the plans you have tried to set for building this program on schedule?
“I think we are either where we hoped we would be or ahead. We are far from behind. I was really concerned when the economy took the turn that it did that we would have some struggles moving forward physically. It is not just concession stands and bathrooms and a new practice facility, it is what we have done inside the Yoh, so the physical parts of it are well on track and thank goodness to the generosity of so many people. The part about the players learning to work and learning what the expectations are in the conditioning level is actually ahead of where I thought we would be.”
Thaddeus Lewis said yesterday that he thinks they are a well conditioned team as opposed to last season. Do you agree?
“He should feel that way because they have run. This team can run. They have reached a level that lets you compete. We look like a division one football team from a conditioning standpoint finally. You all thought I was kidding when I said last year it didn't look like a football team. It didn't look like our level of football.”
Thaddeus said the other day that he can actually give you feedback about what he likes to do on the football field. Do you want that from your quarterbacks?
“I think that is a critical part of it. Part of my test for quarterbacks is basically tell me what you don't like, tell me what you do like, tell me what you're really confident in and not only is he talking to us and communicating with us intelligently, he is able to coach and teach our young players. One of the things that is so critical in football is communication, and good coaches are great communicators.”
What is the biggest change in Thad from year two?
“He has so many great qualities, but being able to communicate and say what he thinks and sees. He understands defenses; he is talking the languages of coverage, and that entire world. That makes all the difference in the world in how ready a quarterback is ready to play.”
How are the wide receivers looking this season?
“I think we are better as a group at receiver than we were a year ago. Overall more speed, Eron [Riley] was a great loss, a big play guy, but we will have a faster, more athletic unit at receiver.”
How is Brandon King doing and how does he fit in?
“He looks good. I tell you thank goodness he is back, and Brandon and Brett Huffman, both are guys that are going to be weapons. It gives us a lot of flexibility with those two. Brandon was a playmaker before we came, and he has got a nice knack, he is what I call a seam guy. He has a nice knack of finding seams and he is good against zone coverage and understands our protection schemes. We are going to do some things with those tight ends. They can help us protection wise.”
What does Re'quan Boyette give you at the running back position that you didn't have last year?
“Re'quan is such a threat every time he touches it. Re'quan is just really put together, low to the ground, strong; I need to get him on edges rather than taking people on. If he learns to get on edges two things are going to happen, if he makes people miss a little more and get on the edge you are going to see him finish more runs and he is going to get hurt less... I know it is really important to him his senior year that he puts together a twelve game regular season.”
Is there a plan to get Sean Renfree some game experience?
“I would like Sean Renfree to play. I have told Thad this so I'm not letting the cat out of the bag. It is a work in progress to build a program, and I don't want to go into a year next year where we don't have anybody that has ever played the game. If he earns it and truly looks ready, I like doing that on occasion early in the season and giving our starter time to see, communicate and think.”
How big of a challenge will it be to pick up a few more wins this season?
“I think that every step that you go through in anything like that the challenges become bigger, nobody gives you that. I have said this; I believe we will be a bowl team. I believe we are a bowl team. I believe we are capable of being that. I think my job is to coach them to that level. Is any of that easy? No. Every hurdle gets a little higher on this race, but thats exciting to me. I have always viewed those things, the bigger the hill, the more fun you have in accomplishing those things.”
How good is Thad?
“First thing, he is fearless. If a guy won't keep his eyes down field, he is not worth a darn... He is very, very courageous, tough and fearless. With that said he can make all the throws. The things that happen with knowledge are timing and accuracy increase. If there is one critique of him a year ago it is inconsistency at times with timing and accuracy, particularly against some of our better opponents. Knowledge should allow him to take that next step.”
Is this a more mature team than a year ago despite it being younger?
“Oh yes. Noel Durfey and Sonny Falcone made them more mature. One of the things as a coach that I believe in is that you have to find out if they are going to quit on you on the practice field. I don't think a year ago we could have carried this team without breaking this team that far. Do you understand what I mean? We were fragile a year ago. We are still somewhat fragile depth wise and emotionally somewhat, but we can challenge this team. We couldn't challenge last year's team without fear of just breaking their will.”
Vince Oghobaase said the first few years of playing college football at Duke wasn't cool, but since you have gotten here players have started to feel like it is actually cool to be a college football player at Duke. Have you seen an increase in the pride of players?
“I know exactly what he means, and he is absolutely right, it is cool to be a Duke football player. I will tell you simply why, I think everybody realizes it is hard to be a Duke football player. We don't want it to be easy to be a Duke football player. Nobody's ever wanted to be part of a team that it was easy to be a part of. It is not suppose to be easy. We have challenged them since we have been here. There coaches have challenged them on a consistent basis. Marion Hobby has done a tremendous job with Vince.”
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
FB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DT
/ Football
QB
/ FootballWednesday, May 27
Tuesday, April 28
Friday, April 10
Friday, April 03
