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David Cutcliffe Press Conference Quotes: Florida State
12/8/2020 4:50:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. - Duke football head coach David Cutcliffe met with members of the media virtually on Monday afternoon for his weekly press conference.
The Blue Devils travel to Tallahassee, Fla., on Saturday for a matchup with Florida State. The contest will be broadcast on the ACC Network with Chris Cotter, Mark Herzlich, and Eric Wood on the call. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m. The game can also be heard on the Blue Devil Sports Network from Learfield IMG College through the TuneIn app or goduke.com.
David Cutcliffe Duke Football Head Coach
(Ref.: Opening Statement)
"I'm really impressed with our squad yesterday coming back and did not fail to go out and work. I think sweat helps. It's been a difficult time throughout the season, but they've answered the bell. One shot for our seniors, and that's certainly a big part of the focus. Back to work. Playing a really good, talented Florida State football team. They've not had the year they wanted to have either but we're playing another team that's been off for months so you're not sure what you're going to get. Certainly, you're going to see a fresh Florida State football team. Big work week for us but we're looking forward to the challenge."
(Ref.: On Duke's ability to bounce back in the past and the spirit of the team)
"Yeah, I think the spirit is good. We haven't lost belief. As crazy as that may sound, we haven't. We're not built that way here. We do believe in each other and we care about each other. When you have that setting, you're always capable. Again, another unusual circumstance playing a team that hadn't played in a month. You're not sure what you're going to get so you focus on Duke and it's a good time for us to look inward and focus on what we have to do to win."
(Ref.: On what he saw on film from the Miami game)
"I think we all saw the obvious, you can't turn the ball over. Too much penetration by the defensive front on offense. Missed opportunities on offense. We can tackle better on defense and we can't give up explosive plays. I mean, that's where the focus has been. It's been, unfortunately, that kind of year. You do all you can do every week to evaluate what you have to do better. The thing that we have to do is focus on all of those things as we practice and practice with great quality."
(Ref.: On what positives he saw from the Miami film)
"Well, I mean, there are plenty. They are always going to be positives when we execute, take care of the ball, converting some first downs on offense and when you do the little things well. When we are on defense and you start a game like you did, you give yourselves a chance to score early with a turnover. You pin them back deep in the kicking game. We had plenty of opportunity there early to get up and get a lead. We didn't. That's the concerning part of it. You just got to bring it all together. We play our best when we play all three phases at a high level and that's what we have to do to win."
(Ref.: On looking for Duke's first win over Florida State and if that brings extra motivation)
"I haven't thought about that. I do my best trying to get all of our guys excited about playing every week and every opportunity, but really hadn't gone there in my mind yet. We've just been consumed with the realities of who they are on the field and who we are currently is where my mind is right now."
(Ref.: On the team responding after rough patches this season)
"I hate to use the word 'deserve', but these guys deserve better. That's what keeps me up at night, trying to find the answers, the way to bring success, to leave a good taste in your mouth. It's obviously a big deal because it's our last opportunity, our last chance. Again, I'll go back to the seniors, those young people. We've been around them a long time. They mean a lot to us all. We're going to do everything in our power to find a way. It is huge. It's huge not only for this team, but it's huge for our young people that have come in as true freshmen and really hadn't even gone to college. They've just come in and done virtual class and gone to work every day and, you know, done what they've done extremely well. I think everybody is ready for a taste of success."
(Ref.: On Porter Wilson's success throughout the season)
"I can smile when I think of Porter. I go all the way back to when he came to camp. Was extremely impressive, a great young man. We offered him a scholarship knowing that he would redshirt and sit a year and learn our system. He's done everything we've asked him to do. We've asked him this past summer, even when he wasn't here, to trim up, take his fitness level to another level, which he's done. His consistency, his work at practice, he is really a conscientious, focused young man. I'm happy that he's having success. I want to see him have fun playing football. He's certainly been a good weapon for us."
(Ref.: On the success Shaka Heyward's had this season)
"Shaka is a big, fast person. He's physically gifted. Go all the way back in high school. He played for Shannon Jarvis down in Georgia, a great program. I went and watched him play in person and I left there just absolutely thrilled. He's a playmaker. He's got a great mind for football. He's explosive, he's big, he's fearless, and he plays as hard as he can play every play. And I think we're just seeing the tip of the iceberg. I think Shaka Heyward is going to be one of the best linebackers in the ACC over the next two years."
(Ref.: On what he sees when watching Florida State)
"Well, I think Florida State on offense with Travis Johnson – he is a heck of a player. A great athlete, an elite athlete. We watched them as we were preparing for North Carolina's defense. He's pretty amazing what he can get done. Very young, talented, offensive line speed. People have been afraid of their receivers all year long for good reasons. They present a lot of challenges offensively. But certainly, another quarterback that can beat you, throwing and running is always going to be a challenge.
"Defensively, they've got two big outstanding defensive ends. Some big, powerful people inside. Linebackers that can run, secondary, I mean, it's a Florida State team. They've had some challenges throughout the year with injury and with the COVID issues that have touched their program. You're not sure what you're going to get but you do know this, it's Florida State. They have got extremely talented people. Mike [Norvell] does a great job both offensively and defensively. We expect to see a very aggressive defense and an offense that's going to be wide open. Again, we've got to stop the quarterback if you're going to have a chance of slowing them down."
(Ref.: On if Rocky Shelton II will return this week)
""I don't know right now. Still not sure."
(Ref.: On the confidence of playing at Florida State this weekend)
"Yeah, I think things are good there. I spoke with Mike last week and we were really hoping, both of us, that we were going to be able to play each other last week. And as we all know, it's been turned upside down quite often in Greensboro. I think they're going to be in a better position than they've been and certainly transparent in what they have happening. I feel comfortable that we will be playing this game."
(Ref.: On recruiting challenges in the midst of a pandemic)
"Well, that's the other aspect of 2020. A lot of virtual visits. What I call virtual home visits. A lot of communication that you're having to do. I mean, we're going to be signing people that haven't even been to campus. We've done a great job. Our recruiting operation has done a great job with virtual tours. I've been in homes all over this country virtually. As we evaluate, we thank goodness we have the ability to have game tape and highlights. Where it gets difficult is when you have people that aren't having seasons and there are some seniors that needed to be evaluated. That's tough. Some of it would be just tape that's shot at workouts. Then you look at junior tape, looking at underclassman, again, some of them aren't having seasons, but we've got an active board. We have two or three recruiting sessions every week to go along with what we're trying to do in preparation for a ball game.
"People wouldn't understand the amount of time that you have to put into that. We're a program, we've been really dependent upon camps. We've signed a lot of people out of camp where we can get our hands on guys and coach them and see what their effort levels are and what their character is about and how good they are at the end of the day, as opposed to the beginning of the day. All of those things are just out the window. So always concerned with it but starts with character. We narrow down academically, but we also narrow down from a standpoint of character and hopefully we got the right people. And I believe we do. We've got the right people in line to hopefully become Duke Blue Devils."
(Ref.: On recruiting someone based on their potential rather than what they're currently showing you)
"Let's call it an educated guess, maybe a little bit. A lot of years of looking at it and evaluating it. And knowing that we're not alone, this is across the board, across the country. Some people get to pick, some people have to recruit. We're more along the lines in recruiting, evaluating and then developing. We feel good. Again, as long as you're getting the right people, you want to surround yourself with winners both on and off the field. We're going to adhere to that. If you surround yourself with the right people, you're going to be OK."
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Players Mentioned
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Aaron Hall Media Availability: NC State
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Justin Pickett Media Availability: NC State
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Coach Patke Press Conference: NC State
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