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00:00 >> Well, we're excited to get back to our home field for game one at home.
00:06 And our players are excited to get back on the field as well and
00:10 show some improvement, go out there and try to execute as well as we can.
00:14 It's a short week, but our guys had a good day of practice yesterday.
00:21 We got another good one today.
00:22 And I think for us, we just need to improve in a lot of areas,
00:26 become more consistent, execute better, and
00:30 figure out a way to play solid football for the course.
00:34 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:38 >> How is the urgency with having two short weeks kind of help the preparation
00:43 in terms of them really kind of getting what you wanna do a lot quicker than
00:47 safety at a normal time schedule?
00:50 >> Well, it's great to get back on the field right away and get back at it.
00:56 I think our guys understand that there's work to be done.
01:00 I think we understand mistakes were made from myself all the way down included.
01:05 And we should be eager to try to fix those problems that we had.
01:11 So I think it's a show me world and we gotta prove ourselves and
01:15 it'd be important that we go out this week and
01:18 prove that we can execute and play sound football.
01:22 >> Jeff, I know a lot of coaches talk about the improvement from week one
01:25 being, or week one to week two being a big deal.
01:29 Do you believe in that and does that get hurt by having a short week?
01:35 >> No, I think it can always happen because you practice for so
01:42 long, not really any live segments, always going against yourselves.
01:46 Getting a little old thinking you can do this and that and
01:50 not until you face a real team you know what you're really good at and
01:54 where you need work.
01:54 So we learned a lot of things throughout that game.
01:58 The good part is our guys hung in there, we regrouped.
02:03 We came out with more intensity and passion and fire in the second half and
02:11 urgency to execute and play at a higher level.
02:14 And in general we did that and it took everybody doing a much better job to get
02:20 that done in order to get the win and we like to figure out ways to play consistent
02:25 for four quarters.
02:26 Will that always happen?
02:28 No, but we need to be more consistent in what we played this past week.
02:32 >> Yeah, Jeff, you have some view after the game and
02:35 then if you go back and watch the film, you see a little bit more clearly.
02:39 Were there any things that were better than you thought they were on film and
02:44 then were there things that were more concerning?
02:47 >> I think that we didn't execute extremely well on offense.
02:53 Missed some opportunities that we had that could have got us points early and
02:57 set the tone better and that definitely hurt us.
03:01 So we weren't near as sharp, especially in the passing game.
03:04 I thought our runners ran hard for the most part the entire game.
03:07 I thought our offensive line played hard the entire game.
03:11 That was really good to see.
03:12 We just need to be more consistent.
03:14 The second half we were a little bit sharper and
03:18 we were able to move the ball and get points and we have to be sharp.
03:21 I mean, that's the football game.
03:23 You gotta be sharp so you don't get to make a lot of mistakes and to misfire and
03:28 to do things that are gonna cost you.
03:31 I think defensively, we started off well in the first quarter, second quarter.
03:35 We got spin a little bit.
03:38 We got a few backups in in certain spots.
03:43 Miscommunication on a few calls, not getting lined up.
03:45 We gave too many throws behind the line of scrimmage for
03:48 big yards, which can't happen.
03:50 We've gotta tackle a football, rally to it, we've gotta play it closer,
03:55 we've gotta play it closer.
03:56 But we gave up too many easy plays in the second quarter and
04:00 we were probably in man coverage a little bit too much and
04:03 had guys spinning and not lined up correctly with some motions.
04:06 And we got some calls in late as well.
04:10 So it was a combination of a lot of things.
04:12 The second half, we did some different things actually that we had
04:17 luckily worked on throughout spring, summer, and fall.
04:22 We changed some things up.
04:23 We got more sound in what we were doing.
04:27 We got our calls in faster.
04:29 We got lined up and really, we played really good football until the very last,
04:33 basically, drive of the game where we were probably in treatment too much and
04:38 gave up a couple easy completions.
04:40 So, but that wasn't perfect.
04:42 So I just think that there's a lot of things to work on.
04:46 The thing that did stand out, I thought the special teams wise,
04:49 we gained an edge.
04:51 And Brock was outstanding kicking the ball.
04:54 We needed every last kick he made.
04:56 But we gained an edge in specialty.
04:59 Now we had two costly penalties that set us back,
05:01 that were just silly to start a drive and it hurt us.
05:05 So we got that, excuse me, get that fixed.
05:07 But just a lot of different things to work on.
05:11 You use that this week to concentrate specifically on those things and
05:17 try to clean that up.
05:17 >> Jeff, Josh had said he's expecting the largest crowd at this stadium post COVID.
05:25 Your thoughts going in coaching your first game at this stadium,
05:28 what do you think the atmosphere is gonna be like?
05:30 And how many members, the Bron family, friends gonna be in the stands?
05:36 >> Well, we're expecting a good crowd and it's the first home game and
05:40 we're excited to get in our home stadium.
05:43 So I can't predict how many, but I know if you play a good brain of football and
05:48 if your team shows fight and grit and toughness and you find ways to improve
05:54 each and every week and compete at the highest level you can,
05:57 people are gonna come watch.
05:59 So that's what we gotta provide.
06:00 And hopefully it equals a lot of wins, but at the same time,
06:03 we have to play good, solid, tough football, entertaining football that people
06:08 wanna watch and I think if you do that, our fans will be there for
06:11 us and look forward to playing in front of them.
06:14 >> Jeff, how much more does this big players on the modern
06:17 meeting get to experience it with your brothers on your staff?
06:19 >> Well, it's always good.
06:21 It's a family affair and yes, I got a lot of family members on staff,
06:25 a lot of family members throughout town.
06:27 And they all wanna see us succeed and win and feel a part of it, which is great.
06:33 And like we always say, to me, we got extended family throughout this town.
06:38 So a lot of people that we aren't related to that we know or
06:41 friends with that wanna help us and wanna be there.
06:45 And we wanna try to please everybody.
06:47 It's not fun to lose.
06:50 You gotta really hate losing.
06:52 It's gotta bother you.
06:54 And you gotta make sure that you're doing everything in your power not to lose.
06:58 And I just think everybody's committed to trying to get that done.
07:02 You gotta try to avoid the hiccups and the speed bumps and get over it.
07:07 And we've got a good support system here.
07:10 And we're gonna give it our best shot, but there's plenty of work to be done.
07:14 And we gotta make sure we're making those corrections and
07:17 getting better every week.
07:18 >> Yeah, how do you attack the third down problem that you had the other night?
07:22 And what's a reasonable percentage in your mind to have?
07:27 >> Yeah, we were very inept on third down.
07:29 That was disappointing.
07:30 And we gotta get into manageable third and shorts.
07:34 We had a couple penalties that hurt us as well.
07:36 You gotta make sure you execute that.
07:37 We were not sharp.
07:38 I mean, the first half, we were not sharp.
07:41 And the second half, we moved the ball better, luckily, on first and
07:47 second down, so that was good.
07:49 And we created a few big plays.
07:50 But yes, over 40% is what we're striving for on third down.
07:55 We have a long way to go to get there.
07:57 >> Jeff, Josh was just in here talking about realignment.
08:00 Obviously, Friday was a big day from that perspective.
08:02 Just curious your thoughts on just kind of the landscape right now,
08:05 college football specifically, and those additions, and
08:08 what that kind of looks like for you guys, and just the ever-changing landscape,
08:12 I guess.
08:14 >> Well, we're excited about it.
08:15 I think we have some really good football teams in the ACC.
08:18 They've proven that this first week in some of the play and some of the results.
08:22 The addition of a couple other teams I think will be fantastic and
08:27 solidify this conference.
08:29 And I think the leadership's been good from our presidents to the commissioner,
08:37 to our athletic directors, and we all wanna see everybody succeed.
08:42 But I think the first week, some teams got off to a good start.
08:47 There's really good football in this conference.
08:48 There's a lot of parity, and I think the new additions will continue to add to that.
08:53 And it will definitely help showcase what the ACC's all about.
08:59 >> Jeff, you talked a lot about the running game, going into it.
09:02 What the offensive line did the other night in that first game,
09:05 how do you build on it, and obviously not giving up the tackle for losses?
09:09 That's a pretty good start.
09:11 >> Well, the offensive line played hard, and
09:13 we definitely got better throughout the summer and the offseason.
09:18 We did just play five, we wanna try to play a few more than that.
09:21 And I think we have the capability to do that, and
09:24 we can keep guys fresh and make sure we're getting others ready.
09:27 So you'll see that some as we go forward, but
09:30 at the same time we wanna play with our best guys as much as we can.
09:33 Running backs ran hard, and we came out in the second half and
09:38 really we tried to establish the running game and build off that and
09:41 mix in the pass, and I thought that helped us.
09:44 And right now, Dwar, Maurice, and Isaac did a good job.
09:51 They ran hard, they took care of the football, they made plays for us.
09:53 And we've gotta continue to improve the passing game and
09:57 make sure that when we have to pass, we can execute and make plays and
10:02 move the football, and creating big plays, being sound in the running game,
10:07 good play action.
10:08 Like you said, not having negative plays was huge, and
10:13 I think that was a credit to those guys.
10:16 And Jack made a couple decent scrambles as well, and
10:18 got us out of a couple jams, and neat all that.
10:20 So I think minimizing the turnovers and the negative plays is a huge plus.
10:28 >> Jeff, going back to the film review aspect, when you dive deep into that and
10:34 have some more conversations with Jack, why do you think it was that he struggled
10:38 so much in the first half of that game, and
10:40 what was it that caused him to turn it around after halftime?
10:42 >> Honestly, I've coached Jack for a long time, and he cares a great deal.
10:48 He works really hard, he wants to do well.
10:50 He come out and practice, he does a great job.
10:53 I think sometimes he gets in the game, and he's pressing so hard,
10:57 wanting to do well so, so, so much that he's just a little jittery.
11:01 So I just think he was jittery, and it caused him to misfire on a couple
11:06 easy throws that really could have helped us.
11:09 He understands that, and that's part of being a quarterback.
11:11 You've gotta be able to relax, go out there and play.
11:14 And we talk about it, and we try to do it, but
11:18 you've gotta treat practice like the game.
11:19 So you can't be super relaxed in practice, and all of a sudden,
11:22 the game, you gotta take a little more seriously.
11:25 You've gotta really put pressure on yourself in practice,
11:28 the man that you perform on a high level, which he has done.
11:32 But you gotta put pressure on yourself to do it, and
11:34 in the game, you just gotta relax more, cut loose.
11:36 I just think you just gotta continue to work on that.
11:40 A lot of guys, other than Jack, were jittery a little bit the first half, and
11:45 didn't play as well as we'd like, but that's part of playing that position.
11:48 And I just think if he could relax and do what he does every day in practice, and
11:53 throw with conviction, and stand in there and be tough, and
11:56 realize that he can make those throws.
11:58 And if not, get out of the pocket and go make a play.
12:01 And so he has the capabilities, he's just gotta relax and go out there and play.
12:06 >> Yeah, kind of bouncing off that,
12:07 obviously Jack was able to come up and have less of those jitters in the second half.
12:10 It seemed like thrashing's a big part of that, and
12:12 being able to find them on the deep ball.
12:14 How much does it help for a quarterback like Jack to have a receiver like
12:18 Jamari to be able to come out there and be able to have a better connection with him,
12:22 and ease him into it?
12:23 >> Well, Jamari, normally how you practice is how you're gonna play in the game.
12:27 And I just think that he's shown that in practice.
12:30 Ever since he's been here, he works really hard, and
12:32 hadn't missed one snap of practice.
12:34 So he puts in the work, he puts in the time.
12:36 We had a couple of receivers, and Kevin made some good plays,
12:40 Jamari made some good plays.
12:42 And even Jimmy and Chris had a couple mistakes here and there, but
12:47 they're gonna continue to get better, they just missed some practice.
12:49 There was some hamstring issues and wrist injuries, issues that they had.
12:54 So practice is important, and how you practice is normally how you're gonna play.
12:59 We just gotta continue to work through that.
13:01 But they're all talented players, and they can all make plays for us.
13:06 And as we proceed forward, they have to all become really good playmakers.
13:10 >> And one more question about realigning, having those schools out west being added,
13:14 how does that maybe help you guys recruit in the Metroplex,
13:18 in California a little bit more?
13:19 >> Well, I think that any time you add some quality opponents to your conference,
13:26 it's gonna help.
13:27 And we look forward to continuing to recruit out there,
13:30 which we have to a certain degree.
13:31 And we'll continue to explore the areas that we recruit right now, and
13:35 that won't change a whole lot.
13:36 But really, getting exposure across the country is important.
13:40 We're definitely gonna get that, and our recruiting phase will stay the same.
13:45 But any little advantage we can use, we'll definitely do that as well.
13:49 >> If TJ Quinn is one that you guys talked about quite a bit in the spring and
13:51 the fall, I guess what did you like from him in this first game?
13:55 >> Well, TJ gives us great effort, and he plays hard.
13:57 And I played with his dad here, and his dad was the same way.
14:00 And he could hit, he would run and tackle, he'd do everything you asked.
14:04 And TJ has done the same thing.
14:07 And I think he's young, but continue to get better.
14:11 There were a couple misalignments here and there that cost us.
14:13 But when he was in the right spot and knew what to do, he played hard.
14:17 And he would hit you and strike you.
14:19 So we gotta build off that.
14:22 We gotta simplify some things and make sure we're always in the right position,
14:27 getting lined up, getting the call correctly,
14:29 which we talked about before the game, which maybe didn't happen as much as I
14:32 would like.
14:33 So if we can get that fixed and let these guys play fast and hard,
14:35 I think they're doing a good job.
14:36 >> Jib, let me get your thoughts on the change of the game clocks.
14:40 How much is it on that first down, how much does it impact your ability to
14:46 game plan, to get the calls in, and the speed of things at that point?
14:50 >> Well, for us, after a first down,
14:53 we do wanna have an idea of where we're going too quickly.
14:57 And get that play going.
14:59 And whether it's super fast or making sure you have the right play is
15:03 important as well.
15:04 But we are conscious of it, and we've talked about it, we've talked through it.
15:07 We had certain plays designed just for those instances to make sure that we
15:12 had some tempo as we were doing that.
15:14 Didn't have to be warp speed, but tempo and not taking too long.
15:17 And of course, as the course of the game, if you have a lead or
15:22 not, that'll dictate whether you go faster or slower.
15:24 So you have to think of those things and be aware of it and
15:28 make sure that where you're at score wise, you're utilizing it to your advantage.
15:32 But it definitely will eliminate a couple of series,
15:36 a couple of possessions a game for both teams.
15:40 >> All right, thanks.