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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:07 >> Isaac, can you just kind of talk about the last couple of weeks and
00:10 coach what you're talking about, with the depth you guys have to just be ready and
00:14 when your number is called, try to take advantage of it.
00:17 What's it been like for you to do that?
00:19 >> For me, just being able to take advantage of opportunities that's been good.
00:26 Obviously for us, we trust all of our coaches to put us in the best position to
00:30 be successful and they've continued to do that.
00:34 And obviously I've been able to make a couple of plays.
00:39 So that's been nice, being able to have the impact on this team,
00:43 especially when we're playing well, good complimentary football.
00:49 >> There are a number of scenarios of how it could work out for
00:54 the team to make the ACC Championship game.
00:58 Do you guys look at it or do you keep it as simple as just win the game and
01:02 that's it?
01:02 >> We're just simply looking at just being one and all, just progressing forward and
01:07 just winning every opportunity possible.
01:09 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:13 >> Devin, I know your family down in Lexington and you come from a rich history
01:17 of family members being great at the sport of football.
01:21 How have they helped you prepare in the sport and
01:23 how have they taught you to develop patience and waiting for your moment?
01:28 >> Really just, my father always says this before every game that I have.
01:35 Ever since peewee ball, he would always tell me just take advantage of
01:38 every opportunity.
01:39 You never know what game could be your last or what play could be your last as well.
01:44 So just he always says take advantage of every opportunity and
01:46 just the way he raised me was just to always just do whatever I had to do
01:51 just to get my opportunity to get my shot.
01:54 So I feel like he did a great job of doing that.
01:58 >> Devin, third down has been huge for you guys this year defensively.
02:02 A lot of times it's guys coming in and out and shifting guys all around.
02:05 How do you kind of stay focused on that down and what's been the key?
02:09 >> Really the way we've been staying focused on third downs, it all starts in
02:12 practice like for every team on the third down emphasis days.
02:17 We're focused on what team is gonna do what, what their tendencies are, and
02:21 how we could use that to the best possible opportunities regarding third downs.
02:27 And I feel like in practice, the emphasis really helps us in the games.
02:32 >> Devin, a couple of things.
02:33 What would you, and not analyze, how would you analyze the success of the defense?
02:38 Why is it so good?
02:39 And what's the plan for running?
02:43 >> I feel like the thing that comes when it comes to our success on defense is
02:47 really we all preach the mentality of get to the ball, not run to the ball,
02:52 not finish around the ball.
02:53 We also get to the ball, get on the ball.
02:56 And when you have all 11 hats trying to get to the ball,
02:59 anything can happen, a batted pass or a ball just somehow ended up in somebody's
03:03 hands, just when you get to the ball, great things happen for a defense.
03:06 And that's just the mentality that Coach English, he preaches to us.
03:10 And we take it in, we do it in practice, and
03:14 it translates to the games pretty well, and we wanna keep that going.
03:17 >> Now I asked you about playing for Ron Angley, what's that?
03:21 What's that like, playing for him?
03:22 >> Playing for him is great, honestly.
03:25 Like, he's the type of coach that makes you like, you feel fired up,
03:29 you come into the unit meetings, he gives that little message to the team, and
03:33 you just like, ooh, like you ready for the game.
03:35 >> [LAUGH] >> Go ahead.
03:40 >> Isaac, just talk about your, coming from Wisconsin to Louisville,
03:45 you've got a lot of chances here, particularly in the second half of
03:49 the season, have you developed to become a better player?
03:52 And to people, I think you're fast or quick, I mean,
03:56 you get in the open and you're gone.
03:59 >> Yeah, for me, it's been a big transition.
04:02 You talk about offensively, coming from Wisconsin,
04:07 just like we're on the ball team almost every play of the game.
04:12 It was definitely a big transition, obviously looking at this staff and
04:17 their history, they drew the ball a lot more.
04:20 But I saw opportunity as far as being able to develop my game,
04:25 and talking about catching the ball out of the backfield, and
04:30 using that as well as improving myself in the run game.
04:34 Coach Barkley has helped me a lot as far as developing in that, so
04:40 continuing to work with him, continuing to get better in that aspect.
04:45 Really just in every aspect, it's been a great transition, obviously.
04:52 The number one thing was I wanted to be in a place where I had more opportunity.
04:57 Obviously, I've been able to get that, but you talk about the speed thing.
05:04 I think I did run track in high school, I have a track history, but
05:09 I also put on about- >> What did you run on track?
05:12 >> I was a sprinter, 100, 200, 4x1 long jump.
05:16 But I'm probably about 35, 40 pounds heavier than I was when I ran.
05:22 But I'm still able to kick it in a little bit.
05:25 I think what helps me is a lot of people think he's just a big back,
05:30 he can't run at all.
05:31 So I'm fortunate enough to get a couple poor angles,
05:35 which helps me out, but yeah.
05:40 >> Isaac, when you look at this Miami team,
05:42 they have one of the most stout run defenses in all of college football.
05:47 When you kind of fire up the film, what is it about that front seven that makes it so
05:51 difficult to kind of run against and get success on the ground?
05:54 >> Obviously, we're still in film study right now,
05:57 kind of dissecting their defense and all that.
06:01 Obviously, they have a very good defense and
06:04 a good run defense as well, like you mentioned.
06:06 But honestly for us, what we kind of talked about is, it's an opportunity for
06:15 us to see if we can take advantage of a good defense and
06:21 kind of see if we can have some success.
06:24 And obviously, each game's different.
06:26 You never know what's gonna happen.
06:28 You know, if you're gonna have to run the ball to win the game or pass the ball.
06:32 So obviously, we're gonna look more into that.
06:35 But we kind of just play it by ear.
06:38 However the game's going, that's how we're gonna roll.
06:43 >> I think to get back to coming here,
06:45 Jeff obviously was known as more of a passing coach or as offense.
06:49 Did you have any apprehension at all as a running back that maybe you'd get
06:55 ignored or not get the chances or how'd you work with that?
07:01 >> One thing that I think Coach Brown does really well is just,
07:04 he follows what's working in the game.
07:09 I think if you look at Virginia Tech, I don't know exactly what the numbers are,
07:15 but I mean, we definitely were in the ball a lot more than
07:20 what we would say Coach Brown usually does.
07:23 So I mean, whatever he thinks is working, he's gonna stick with it.
07:27 And I think that's something that he does well and
07:31 then we work up to him for that.
07:35 >> Alex.
07:38 >> I guess just for both of you guys, obviously you guys play well at home.
07:41 Road wins have been a little more of a battle for you guys.
07:44 But I guess what would be the key in getting that win at Miami,
07:47 especially considering in the series history,
07:49 you guys have not won there before yet, or do you think?
07:52 >> I'd say to get that win on the road, of course the road games are gonna be tough.
07:57 All you got is just your team, your energy, just that you're bringing with you.
08:00 And I feel like the thing we gotta bring is our own energy.
08:04 So I'd say whenever we're on the field, we're all we got.
08:08 We gotta cheer for one another.
08:09 We gotta, all three phases, be rooting for one another and be locked in.
08:14 And whenever we make a great play, we all celebrate.
08:16 And that just feeds, everybody feeds off of that energy and
08:20 just builds momentum and just carries on through all three phases.
08:23 So I just feel like just having energy and
08:25 the execution will take care of itself is what I feel about it.
08:30 >> Yeah, I mean, kinda what Devin was talking about is just playing
08:34 complimentary football, I think it's something that we've done pretty well all
08:38 season, so just continuing to do that.
08:42 Feeding off the defense when they make plays and then vice versa.
08:46 Obviously, as well as special teams having an impact,
08:50 I think we've done pretty well on special teams all year.
08:52 So just continuing to do that and then just ride the wave.
08:58 I think sometimes you can get too high in the highs and then too low in the lows.
09:01 So just making sure that we're level-headed throughout the game and
09:05 then just making up plays at the time.
09:11 >> For both you guys, Coach Brown, Coach English just flat out said this is
09:15 probably gonna be one of the most talented,
09:16 most athletic home team guys have had all year.
09:19 What, in your opinion, makes Miami as dangerous as they are for
09:22 a team that's record might not even reflect that?
09:24 [BLANK_AUDIO]
09:27 >> I feel like what makes them dangerous for the record,
09:30 we can't really get caught up in the record.
09:33 We, looking at them, they're a good team.
09:35 They're fast, they're physical, of course, we know that.
09:38 And I feel like going into this game,
09:40 there's a lot of marbles on the table that we all know is there.
09:44 So just going into that situation, you're going to get a team's best and
09:49 we have to bring our best as well and just meet the expectation that's there.
09:53 When it comes to just executing and having our proper reads and
09:58 fits when it comes to offense and defense.
10:02 But I know they play hard, they're gonna play hard, and
10:06 I feel like they're gonna make or come up with a good plan and
10:08 we gotta do so as well to match that.
10:11 >> Back to Isaac, just briefly, you talked about you're faster than people think you
10:19 are, but what do you think that you bring to the table?
10:22 Is it that speed?
10:23 Is it the physicality?
10:25 And how did Jeff approach you?
10:29 You talked about a little bit there about with Louisville, or
10:32 with him being mostly known as a passing coach.
10:35 >> I think for me, it's just having a balanced game.
10:42 I like to think I can do a little bit of everything and
10:45 then I think that was kind of the conversation that we had with him
10:51 when this process was happening.
10:53 And I think that's kinda important as a back,
10:56 because if you talk about stuff at the next level, stuff at this level,
11:02 it's kinda just important to be able to do everything, whether that's run block,
11:07 pass block, catch the ball out of the backfield, and then run the ball as well.
11:11 I think that's been big for me.
11:14 And like I said, I think that's something that Coach Barclay has helped me with a lot.
11:19 And then, so just continuing to improve in all those senses.
11:24 Obviously, whole offense, offensive line, receivers, tight ends, fullbacks,
11:30 they've all done a great job as far as helping running backs have success.
11:35 So just all of us continuing to improve, I think it's gonna help us as an offense.
11:41 >> That's it, all right, thanks, Jeff.