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12 p.m.
Football
at Clemson
Quotes: Miami 28, Duke 13
10/16/2010 5:30:00 PM | Football
Duke Head Coach David Cutcliffe
On the team's performance:
“Well, we did a lot of things that you had to do to win this game, an awful lot of them. We got off the field on third downs defensively. Their statistics really offensively display nothing of what the game was from a defensive standpoint. In the kicking game, we minimized Benjamin and his threat. We set up a score in the kicking game. We did everything we had talked a lot about except three things on offense: we didn't take care of the ball, we didn't play well on third down and in the red zone, you have to score touchdowns. Again, we open the game with a field goal. You know, games just take on different flavors, you know what momentum does. I don't know if I've ever had seven turnovers. That's obviously a big concern.”
On special teams:
“I was disappointed in our on kickoff return. We mishandled the kickoff of ourselves, but the ball went out of bounds. We mishandled two. We have to be a team that for 60 minutes pays really good, really good football. We don't have to be superstars. We don't' have to do anything magical. We don't have to whip the other team in everything. We just have to play really good in each phase. If we run the ball and look pretty boring offensively today, we probably play pretty good. As it ends up, just don't throw five interceptions and catch two snaps. Those are gimmes and some of them were just giveaways to be honest with you.
On the running game:
“Our tailback runs averaged probably close to six yards a carry. We got to run a little bit with Brandon [Connette] in there and he was running some zone reads. We're just kind of half into that world and I think if we take a step toward that world a little bit some, that could be interesting to see what it brings to us. I think we can run the ball. We're pretty physical up front. I like our backs. I was real pleased with Jay [Hollingsworth] today. Jay got hammered a couple times. And modern day football it seems like that just takes guys out, but he jumps up and he went right back to work. I was real proud of Jay Hollingsworth today.”
On the team's confidence:
“The job's big right now. I'll share what I told them. Simply right now here's what you do. We can't practice much better or more intense than we do. It's pretty amazing. We're not only competing now on the grass, you're also competing with yourself off the field. You have to compete with the negative thoughts you're having. I do, all of us do. That's part of competing. That's part of being a competitor. You have to compete with opinion. Everybody's got an opinion of who should be playing or what should be going on and the only opinion that matters is what we believe about ourselves as a team and what we have to get done. Then you have to go back on the practice field and you can't feel sorry for yourself. You have to go right back out there and compete. We have to catch the ball. We have to throw it to our guys and finish blocks and finish tackles. We have to intercept the ball when we get the chance. All we can do is one play at a time, so it's about what kind of competitor are you. To do it right at this level you better be a 24/7 guy.”
Freshman Quarterback Brandon Connette
On his effective play in the game:
“Every single time I get out there, when the coaches call my number, I try to just go out there and just contribute anyway I can and do what the coaches want me to do. In the second half towards the end of the game, I had an opportunity to go into the game and try to display my skills and try to put some points on the scoreboard.”
On his touchdown run in the game:
“It was an excellent drive led by Sean Renfree, and with Jay Hollingsworth running the ball really well down the field. Near the goal line, they put me in and called a quarterback dive. I saw a hole and was able to score; the offensive line did an excellent job on that play.”
On his ability to complete rollout plays:
“That's one of the things the coaches think they can do with me is roll me out and give me a run-pass option. I got a chance to roll out two or three times while I was in the game and was effective on it.”
On Duke game turnovers:
“It's something we have to decrease. If you look at all of our losses there, have been a lot of turnovers. I know Sean is going to work hard at it this week and will come back strong next week. He is a competitor and I know he will not let this keep him down. So in order to come back next when we play Virginia Tech and compete, we need to limit the turnovers.”
Junior Safety Matt Daniels
On the improvement of the defense:
“Coming out into the game, I think this might have been the most prepared our defense has been this season. We had a bye week so we worked really hard; we had time to prepare and scheme up what they were doing. We really knew the plays before they even called them. We really prepared really well, and I think that's what helped us play so well today.”
On the play of the secondary:
“We made some good plays on the ball. At the same time, there were instances where we got our hands on the ball and we just didn't make the interception. Those are game-changing performances that we have to make. Batted down is good, but if we can make the interception and run it back for six, that would be even better. So we just have to keep improving and that comes with practice.”
On the defensive stands on third downs:
“Third downs were really big things for us. We actually had a meeting with Coach Cutcliffe on Thursday night, and he told us that in order for us to win the game we had hold them to 30% on third down conversions. I think we came out with good focus on third downs.”
On the team's performance:
“Well, we did a lot of things that you had to do to win this game, an awful lot of them. We got off the field on third downs defensively. Their statistics really offensively display nothing of what the game was from a defensive standpoint. In the kicking game, we minimized Benjamin and his threat. We set up a score in the kicking game. We did everything we had talked a lot about except three things on offense: we didn't take care of the ball, we didn't play well on third down and in the red zone, you have to score touchdowns. Again, we open the game with a field goal. You know, games just take on different flavors, you know what momentum does. I don't know if I've ever had seven turnovers. That's obviously a big concern.”
On special teams:
“I was disappointed in our on kickoff return. We mishandled the kickoff of ourselves, but the ball went out of bounds. We mishandled two. We have to be a team that for 60 minutes pays really good, really good football. We don't have to be superstars. We don't' have to do anything magical. We don't have to whip the other team in everything. We just have to play really good in each phase. If we run the ball and look pretty boring offensively today, we probably play pretty good. As it ends up, just don't throw five interceptions and catch two snaps. Those are gimmes and some of them were just giveaways to be honest with you.
On the running game:
“Our tailback runs averaged probably close to six yards a carry. We got to run a little bit with Brandon [Connette] in there and he was running some zone reads. We're just kind of half into that world and I think if we take a step toward that world a little bit some, that could be interesting to see what it brings to us. I think we can run the ball. We're pretty physical up front. I like our backs. I was real pleased with Jay [Hollingsworth] today. Jay got hammered a couple times. And modern day football it seems like that just takes guys out, but he jumps up and he went right back to work. I was real proud of Jay Hollingsworth today.”
On the team's confidence:
“The job's big right now. I'll share what I told them. Simply right now here's what you do. We can't practice much better or more intense than we do. It's pretty amazing. We're not only competing now on the grass, you're also competing with yourself off the field. You have to compete with the negative thoughts you're having. I do, all of us do. That's part of competing. That's part of being a competitor. You have to compete with opinion. Everybody's got an opinion of who should be playing or what should be going on and the only opinion that matters is what we believe about ourselves as a team and what we have to get done. Then you have to go back on the practice field and you can't feel sorry for yourself. You have to go right back out there and compete. We have to catch the ball. We have to throw it to our guys and finish blocks and finish tackles. We have to intercept the ball when we get the chance. All we can do is one play at a time, so it's about what kind of competitor are you. To do it right at this level you better be a 24/7 guy.”
Freshman Quarterback Brandon Connette
On his effective play in the game:
“Every single time I get out there, when the coaches call my number, I try to just go out there and just contribute anyway I can and do what the coaches want me to do. In the second half towards the end of the game, I had an opportunity to go into the game and try to display my skills and try to put some points on the scoreboard.”
On his touchdown run in the game:
“It was an excellent drive led by Sean Renfree, and with Jay Hollingsworth running the ball really well down the field. Near the goal line, they put me in and called a quarterback dive. I saw a hole and was able to score; the offensive line did an excellent job on that play.”
On his ability to complete rollout plays:
“That's one of the things the coaches think they can do with me is roll me out and give me a run-pass option. I got a chance to roll out two or three times while I was in the game and was effective on it.”
On Duke game turnovers:
“It's something we have to decrease. If you look at all of our losses there, have been a lot of turnovers. I know Sean is going to work hard at it this week and will come back strong next week. He is a competitor and I know he will not let this keep him down. So in order to come back next when we play Virginia Tech and compete, we need to limit the turnovers.”
Junior Safety Matt Daniels
On the improvement of the defense:
“Coming out into the game, I think this might have been the most prepared our defense has been this season. We had a bye week so we worked really hard; we had time to prepare and scheme up what they were doing. We really knew the plays before they even called them. We really prepared really well, and I think that's what helped us play so well today.”
On the play of the secondary:
“We made some good plays on the ball. At the same time, there were instances where we got our hands on the ball and we just didn't make the interception. Those are game-changing performances that we have to make. Batted down is good, but if we can make the interception and run it back for six, that would be even better. So we just have to keep improving and that comes with practice.”
On the defensive stands on third downs:
“Third downs were really big things for us. We actually had a meeting with Coach Cutcliffe on Thursday night, and he told us that in order for us to win the game we had hold them to 30% on third down conversions. I think we came out with good focus on third downs.”
Players Mentioned
Offensive Line Leads the Way
Tuesday, October 21
Chandler Rivers Postgame: Georgia Tech
Saturday, October 18
Cooper Barkate Postgame: Georgia Tech
Saturday, October 18
Coach Diaz Postgame: Georgia Tech
Saturday, October 18
