DURHAM – Duke football head coach Mike Elkomet with members of the media on Monday afternoon for his weekly press conference.
Â
The No. 17 Blue Devils welcome NC State on Saturday for an ACC matchup. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network with kickoff slated for 8 p.m. The contest can also be heard on the Blue Devils Sports Network from LEARFIELD through the Varsity app or goduke.com
 Mike Elko Duke Football Head Coach (Ref.: Opening Statement)
"Thank you guys for coming. It's great seeing everybody. Obviously coming off the bye week, it was a great opportunity for us to stay sharp and continue to get work in and do the things we needed to do to clean up some areas that we felt like we could focus on. It was an opportunity to just get rested and get healthy and I think we tried to play that balance as best we could. When you get that bye week after week five, you get healthy and kind of head into this back stretch of the season with a fresh team and I think we were able to accomplish that. We were excited to get back out there on the field today and the guys were excited for what's coming and that starts Saturday night against NC State.
Â
"When looking at them, obviously an extremely talented team. I think what they're doing defensively jumps off the page. They're very explosive. They're very disruptive. What they're doing in the front six is causing a ton of disruption. I think they lead the ACC in sacks. Payton Wilson is having about as good of a year as any defender I've seen in my recent time watching this game. He's all over the field making a ton of plays. He's obviously the kid that we've got to spend a ton of time prepping for. They've got a really talented secondary and the corners are really elite at covering. The safeties get heavily involved in the run game and they're very physical tacklers. Then on offense, last week they made the switch to MJ Morris and I think that ignited a spark in everybody. Brennan Armstrong is a kid that has played a lot of football in this league and is a really talented player, but I think all of them, everyone around MJ stepped up. You saw last week against Marshall; it was a complete offensive performance. They threw the ball well. They ran the ball well. They're really physical on the offensive line. They played extremely hard, which they always do. They were able to really hang a lot of points on Marshall last week, and so it's just a really talented team coming in. It's a crosstown rival. It's a game that we were excited that we're playing every year now, just because of the proximity of the two schools. It's certainly something that you feel like should happen and we're excited for the opportunity Saturday night.
Â
"On an injury update just to stop you guys from asking. You know Riley's dealing with an ankle. He's day-to-day and he's recovering. He's making really, really strong progress. He was out moving around and throwing the ball this morning. We'll see what happens this weekend. I do think the outlook for him is really positive for the rest of the season. So, we'll see when we can get him back. We'll just list him as day-to-day for now."
 (Ref.: On what the plan was for Riley [Leonard] last week)
"Yeah, last week was recovery and getting him into a position where he could be weight-bearing, which he is now. So now he's able to kind of move around and start the process of getting back into a position where we feel comfortable that he can go out there and play the game the way he's capable of playing."
 (Ref.: On Henry [Belin]'s preparation and ability to play in case Riley is a scratch)
"Yeah, so Henry was available against Notre Dame. He was dealing with something during the Connecticut week, but he was back and ready to go for Notre Dame. Henry's a kid that we've got a ton of confidence in, and we certainly believe in very strongly. If that's ultimately what has to happen, we'll go out there and we know we'll be ready to go."
 (Ref.: On how much he factors Riley's running ability into the decision to play him)
"I don't think it matters. Obviously, Riley is such a huge competitor and when he's ready to go, he's going to go. I think the one thing is that he's extremely competitive in every aspect of his life. So, he's attacking this rehab, about six to seven hours a day. I think he's on a mission to get back and not miss any games. That's kind of his thought process. So again, we'll see whether that's a reality or not, but when he's ready to go, he'll be our quarterback."
 (Ref.: On the qualities that Henry Belin IV brings to lead the team to victory if needed)
"He's got tremendous arm talent. He can make all of the throws. Anytime we put him in position to go out there and to execute the offense, he's done it. Anytime you've got a quarterback making a first start, there's obviously a little bit of nerves around that. We had the same conversation last year going into the opener with Riley. You never know until you know, but certainly every indication is that Henry's ready for the situation and we'll be excited for him to go out there and get it done."
 (Ref.: On how stout the defensive line has been against physical fronts this season)
"We brought back a ton of depth. That was something that we talked about in preseason camp, and that was what we felt like was a strength. We felt like our defensive line was a strength. I know there were some questions asked about depth and I don't know where any of that came from is what I told you guys and I think that's played out that way. We've got a lot of guys and we're able to rotate through a lot of bodies. We've got three defensive tackles playing at a really high level in Ja'Mion [Franklin], Aeneas [Peebles] and DeWayne [Carter], and then we're bringing in Aaron Hall now and he's getting a lot of reps too. We feel really comfortable every time he's in the game and so it's a great starting point through the inside part of it and then outside we've got a ton of depth with Wes Williams and R.J. Oben at the end spot. Vincent Anthony Jr. and Ryan Smith at the drop spot and Anthony Nelson, getting healthy again and getting him back into the rotation. We feel like we're nine deep at the defensive line. I don't know that you can get better than that."
 (Ref.: On watching the tape from the final drive of the Notre Dame game)
"Anytime you get into that type of situation, you make the call that you think is the best call for the moment and I would still hold to the call that we made. When it doesn't work, you obviously rethink everything and people ask me 'Oh, you'll get over it.' I said 'sure, just like the Bowling Green vs. Toledo game in 2013 on 4th-and-9. You know, you get over that stuff so quickly.' But no, I think what happened was when you go back and look at the technical side of it, I thought Sam [Hartman] did a really good job of getting out on the perimeter and pausing. He got out on the perimeter and paused and actually kind of pumped downfield and that caused our second level to kind of open and retrace to try to find where he was looking. I think he just was really decisive and put a foot in the ground and went and beat us to the sticks. It's really what happened. I think we were probably a little bit hesitant because I think we were still thinking he was going to throw it and I think that split second of hesitancy is what ultimately got him across the line. Listen, we wish we could do it again. We wish we could do it better or wish we called something different. You think about every way you possibly could when you're in that situation because certainly it's tilted in your favor and you'd like to take advantage of it, but you know, like everything you got to move on and you got to get ready for the next one."
 (Ref.: On the mentality of the team coming off an idle week and the Notre Dame loss)
"I think kids are a lot more resilient than we give them credit for. If you think back to last year, we couldn't have gotten our hearts ripped out any more than the Carolina game and the very next week we went on the road and went down and beat a Miami team down in Coral Gables. I do think there's a resiliency that kids have and that we have that you kind of rely on. I think when you put as much into this as we do and most teams do, the ability to bounce back always is there. We know our goals are still in front of us. We know all those opportunities are still there. What I think the bye week gave us was rest and health. I think that it came at a perfect time after week five because it's really the midpoint of the season. When you factor in the four weeks of training camp and so it was the right time to just step away, recharge and come back ready for the final stretch."
 (Ref.: On what NC State has done on defense over the years and this year especially)
"Yeah, I'll talk more about this season than the other ones because I didn't pay much attention to the other ones to be honest with you, They're really disruptive. I think they're very confident in their system. They know what they're doing. He's obviously been running this system for a very long time. He's been running it now at NC State for a while and you know when they made the transition to go to this, I think they have this vision in their head of a very disruptive, very active group that was really talented at the second level and really physical at the first level. That's certainly what they've become. I said they have 21 sacks on the year. They're really disruptive. They're hard to find angles to run the ball against. They do a great job of shedding blocks, and then they can cover and that's the piece of it too that goes in and so you don't see very many weaknesses. I think yards will be hard to come by for sure Saturday night working against them."
 (Ref.: On the kicking game after missing two field goals on Saturday)
"You know Todd [Pelino] has been great. I mean, he literally has been great. All last year. He's been great all offseason. He's been great in practice. He was great in practice again last week. He didn't miss a kick. I think what we looked at technically was the angle he was stepping his steps off, we felt like were blocking his hips, which squared the ball up, which pushed it. So, I think there's a technical element of it that we focused on, but Todd will go out and he'll kick the ball through the uprights. That's what Todd's done since he's been here. For whatever reason, it just didn't happen the way he wanted it to last Saturday.
 (Ref.: On how Brian Parker II looked on film)
"Really good. I mean, really good. For a kid making his first start in that environment and against that defensive line, I thought Brian played really well. There are some technical things like there always would be, but I thought he competed. I thought he was assignment sound. I thought he gave us something. I think he grew into the game as the game went on. That was probably not necessarily him alone. I think our whole offensive line grew into the game. That was some of the success we had in the second half that maybe wasn't there in the first half."
 (Ref.: On if the lack of tape on [MJ] Morris will help disguise his abilities)
"I don't think so. When we go back, we've got enough games from him last year. You certainly saw what he did against Marshall. You know, maybe to get a full scouting report on everything that MJ is and isn't, you probably don't have but there's certainly enough tape to give you an idea on what to expect coming into this week. I mean, a talented quarterback that can do everything well. I think he's got a big arm. I think he sits in the pocket and delivers the ball well. I think there was a little bit of angst I'm sure making his first start and once he settled in, he really put up some impressively gaudy numbers on Saturday and so we'll have our hands full with him for sure."
 (Ref.: On how NC State figured out their running game against Marshall)
"No, maybe getting their center back probably played a huge part in that. I think getting the offensive line back settled the way they wanted it to be I'm sure played a role and then, like everything, you bring in a new starter at quarterback and I think everybody looks in the mirror and tries to elevate their game. I think that's a part of it. I don't think anybody sat around and said, 'oh, I bet it's only one guy that's causing us all the problems' but sometimes you've got to make that switch. I think that sparked everything and so maybe just a renewed vigor in how they were going about attacking the running game is what we saw."
 (Ref.: On how valuable the NC State game can be to the community and players alike)
"Yeah, I think proximity creates rivalries. I think proximity creates rivalry because there's such a familiarity. Our guys know their guys. There's a connection through recruiting and there's a connection through playing each other in high school. This is probably the one thing to get on the grand stage for a second but like the conferences, keeping the conference a little bit more regional, like making sure that we keep in mind this part of football a little bit which is these games are a lot of fun for the kids. When they get to go and play the schools that are right down the road and the kids that they're going to bump into all spring and when they're out in Raleigh, and vice versa -- those things matter. I think anytime you have proximity, I think you add a little bit to the game for sure. So, I don't know that it's necessarily counting your rivals, or how many rivalry games you have. There's a little bit of an added meaning when you're playing the team that's 20 minutes down the road."
 (Ref.: On how big snaps are earlier in the year for the younger guys and how it can help now)
"Yeah, those snaps matter so much. I even go back to last week when we talked about Brian Parker. Brian Parker's starting for the first time, but he is not playing for the first time. He was able to get in solid 50 to 60 snaps in the beginning part of the season and all of that stuff matters every time they get out on the field in live situations. I know to a lot of the fans, it's the end of the game and it's not as impactful. But for those kids, those snaps are everything and if they take them the right way it really helps in their growth and development. No different from Henry and no different from Grayson [Loftis], both those guys being able to have been on the field to know what it's like. To know how to operate, to be able to know where the game clocks are and to be able to move at the pace they need to move at in the game. All of that stuff matters. Those are obviously things that they'll lean on when they get their chances."
 (Ref.: On KJ Concepcion and the ability he has as a true freshman wide receiver)
"Yeah. I mean, he's electric. He's electric in the slot. He's really twitchy. He does a really good job of creating separation. He's got really good hands. That's a hard challenge to step into the college game as a freshman and to have the impact that he has, but he was a really talented kid coming out of high school. It's not a surprise that he's doing what he's doing. He's really talented. We've got to make sure we pay enough attention to him that he's not able to take advantage of us."
 (Ref.: On NC State's first time being in Durham in 10 years and the value that brings)
"I think Dave [Doeren] would say the same thing, it's crazy that there's a school that close that hasn't been to Durham since 2013. Right? That was part of this getting rid of the divisions I think we all agreed in was creating more of these opportunities to create some newness to games and to create some new opportunities. That's certainly a part of it and you factor in the fact that we haven't played them at home in 10 years. A lot of our older kids who this is their last year won't ever play them again and this is kind of a one-shot deal. It kind of creates a little bit more urgency and importance to the game and then you factor in, two teams playing for standings in the ACC and having a lot on the line. I think you're playing games that really matter and have a lot of high stakes."
 #GoDuke
Â