Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:04 >> Well, we're excited to go down to Miami and play a really good football team.
00:09 A ton of talent, very athletic.
00:11 We played some good football this year.
00:13 Had some good wins.
00:16 Took Florida State to the wire.
00:19 And so what are our hands for?
00:21 I think we gotta have a good week of practice and
00:23 make sure we have a good plan together.
00:25 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:28 >> The last three or four days we've gotten some guys a little bit of rest
00:32 hopefully and we're ready to come out this week and prepare well and
00:35 be ready to hopefully go out and have a good performance in Miami.
00:38 But it'll be a good challenge and I didn't know that we had not won a game
00:43 down there in the history, so we gotta go find a way to break that streak.
00:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:53 >> Jeff, we talked a lot last week about the short week going into Virginia.
00:57 Coming out of it, those benefits of having those extra days and now, I guess,
01:02 did you do anything yesterday and kind of start game week yesterday, but
01:05 really, I guess today and tomorrow begins the prep.
01:08 How big is it to have those extra days?
01:10 >> Thought it was good.
01:11 I thought our guys needed a physical mental break a little bit.
01:15 Try to get refreshed for this last two games.
01:19 We think are very tough opponents that we're gonna have to play well.
01:22 Try to get all of our guys help into the game, refresh.
01:24 So it's been beneficial.
01:27 I think tomorrow will be our first kind of real physical practice and
01:32 get back after it, but we have had a good week, but
01:36 it was beneficial to get off the field a little bit.
01:39 >> Jeff, when you have all these different scenarios lined up for
01:44 who can make the ACC championship, how do you make sure your guys just focus on
01:49 controlling the game like this?
01:52 >> Important scenarios, if we win, then we can definitely help our cause.
01:56 And I think at this point in the season,
01:59 you're always treated as if you want to advance, you gotta win.
02:02 I just think that's gonna be important that we do.
02:04 You need to play your best football at the end of the year.
02:06 We found a way to make a really good comeback in the last game when we had
02:12 a time that we were struggling.
02:16 So we just gotta kinda regroup and pick the pieces up and
02:19 understand that it's gonna take our best performance in order to beat Miami.
02:23 >> Alexis, go ahead.
02:25 >> Jeff, obviously a lot of storylines coming into this game,
02:28 one of which is you guys in Miami will play for the Howard Schnellenberger trophy,
02:33 which we talked about during the summer.
02:34 But I guess how much of an impact do you feel like he's had on you?
02:36 And what was that like when you were playing for him and
02:38 he was kind of recruiting you here?
02:40 >> Well, of course, I love Coach Schnellenberger, Beverly, and their family.
02:45 They've done not only a lot for me, but really for this program here and
02:49 the University of Miami.
02:50 Coach Schnellenberger was a real football guy that could talk the talk and
02:55 walk the walk.
02:57 Took on every challenge ahead of him, full speed ahead with no fear, and
03:02 his players and teams responded.
03:03 So I just think anyone that knows him or played for him has learned a lot from him.
03:11 Basically how to not back away from big games, how to rise to the occasion,
03:15 how to get the most out of your players and your team.
03:19 So I think there's a lot of people on both sides of these two teams that
03:26 will have a lot of connections to coach and
03:29 I'm sure take a lot of things from them and definitely I'm one of them.
03:32 >> Jeff, I know you said you don't want the players looking at different scenarios,
03:36 which is understandable.
03:39 Do you look at the different scenarios, first of all, and then secondly,
03:42 does this team exceed your expectations?
03:44 I think it has, everybody else's.
03:46 >> Well, I think probably everybody's looked at the Internet and
03:50 look at the scenarios.
03:51 When I tried to look at it, I can't figure it out, so
03:53 the only I know of is if it did, good things will happen.
03:57 So that's what we gotta do, we gotta go win the game.
03:59 And go to Miami and find a way to win on their home field would be a huge
04:05 accomplishment if we could get that done in itself.
04:08 As far as our team, to this point, we've done a good job and
04:11 that's always good when you find ways to win close games.
04:15 Once again, I think it's important to be good when the season's over so
04:20 we still have plenty of season left to play.
04:22 And like I said, probably our next two opponents could be our best two opponents
04:28 the entire year, talent-wise, on our schedule.
04:31 So we're gonna have to, whatever mistakes we've made, try to fix them and
04:36 correct them and limit those moving forward.
04:38 And make some plays on offense, get points on defense,
04:41 find ways to correct a few of the things that we didn't do well
04:46 this past Thursday, and continue to press forward.
04:50 >> Jeff, when you look at the road versus away splits for this team,
04:53 you guys have been really dominant at L&M Stadium.
04:56 But when you travel away from it,
04:57 they haven't been quite nearly as dominant or efficient.
05:00 What do you think is the biggest reason for this, and
05:02 what's gonna be the biggest key to kind of bucking that trend?
05:06 >> Well, I think that we face good opponents on the road.
05:10 And every game's competitive, every advantage you have to try to take.
05:18 But when you're at home and the crowd's on your side and
05:21 the noise level's on your side, it's an advantage.
05:24 So we, without question, have to find a way to start faster on the road,
05:29 which we have not done for the most part.
05:31 I know we did it in Indiana, but for the most part we have not.
05:35 And we've gotta be able to finish.
05:38 And I just think playing consistent football for
05:42 four quarters with as few elapses as we possibly can is important.
05:47 On the road, you can't lose the turnover battle.
05:49 You can't have dumb penalties that hurt your team.
05:52 All those little things have to try to go in our favor.
05:56 So we've gotta concentrate on those and make sure that we try to win those battles
06:00 as we're trying to be the most physical team and
06:02 the toughest team and find the ways to get points.
06:05 >> Yeah, Jeff, you guys have won a lot of close games.
06:09 You've won a lot of games that were up for grabs in the fourth quarter.
06:13 Can you work on things in practice to heighten, I guess, focus or
06:17 intensity, or how do you attribute your success in any close games?
06:21 >> Well, I don't know the exact reason,
06:25 other than I do think we put pressure on our guys in practice to perform.
06:29 I think we ask them to treat practice like the game and
06:33 understand that you've gotta make plays.
06:35 I think it's important that you, as a play caller and
06:41 coach, that you stay aggressive to a certain degree, but smart in those situations so
06:47 that you're still attacking and your team still knows that you have confidence in them.
06:52 And then I think as players,
06:54 they have to continue to have confidence that they can go back to play and
06:57 understand that when you're facing the teams, they're gonna make some plays too.
07:01 So, I think you're gonna make all of them, it's probably unrealistic.
07:05 So you just kinda have to bounce back out of it.
07:07 I just think we've been able to do that for the most part this year.
07:12 A lot of situations, which has been great to see.
07:14 But we'll be challenged in these next games as well to see if we can do more.
07:21 So I like the fight of the team and the makeup of our team, and
07:26 we've gotta continue to swing momentum back in our favor when those things happen.
07:32 >> Jeff, you've obviously known Ron English a long time.
07:38 What would you say is kinda the key to how the relationship works here,
07:45 in terms of you taking on a little bit more defensive
07:50 responsibilities than you did earlier in your career?
07:54 >> Well, I've known Ron for a long time, and he loves football.
07:57 He's not into anything other than trying to help the team win and
08:04 help his players perform at a high level.
08:05 He doesn't need a lot of hoopla around him, which is great,
08:09 cuz he's very modest.
08:11 I think that he wants to win, and I think as our relationship has grown,
08:16 just like with everything, when I give certain ideas a nice way first,
08:22 he'll think about it and not be for sure about it.
08:24 But normally, sometimes he comes around and says, you know what,
08:28 that's pretty good.
08:29 And I just think, so we've grown that trust a little bit, and
08:31 we communicate a lot.
08:35 I mean, I think if you studied our defense this year compared to last year,
08:40 while we played well last year, we do different things.
08:44 So we're not able to adjust, we're not able to modernize what we're doing.
08:48 We're not able, excuse me, we are able to modernize what we're doing.
08:51 We're able to adjust, we're able to change things up.
08:55 I think through the offseason, we've practiced quite a few things so
08:59 that there are some change-ups every week.
09:01 Cuz I think, as I tell all the time,
09:04 the quarterback needs to see a couple different things every week
09:07 while you're continuing to do well what you're doing.
09:10 But you gotta affect the quarterback, and you gotta hit him,
09:13 you gotta get after him, you gotta get a blitz, you gotta create negative plays,
09:17 you gotta find ways to get turnovers, you gotta challenge routes.
09:20 So I think our philosophy is completely on the same page.
09:25 And you continue to work through things so that you find ways to win,
09:30 but we've done a lot of really good things.
09:32 And that's been fun to watch, and we wanna try to keep building on that.
09:36 And just like I said, with our team, I mean, the season's not over.
09:39 We got a lot left to play for.
09:40 And you can't think that you've arrived by any means, because we haven't.
09:47 We've gotta continue to fight and battle and to prepare and to plan and
09:52 to have some creativity in what we're doing so
09:57 that we're affecting the quarterback.
09:59 And that's the key, is making sure we find ways to affect him.
10:03 I thought Virginia's quarterback played really well against us.
10:07 So we went back and figured out, what can we do a little different?
10:11 Or could have done a little different to affect him, but he played well.
10:15 And I think, man, we'll have an experienced quarterback who's played a lot
10:18 of football, we gotta find a way to affect him and not let him feel comfortable.
10:22 And to this point, I think we've worked pretty hard at it.
10:25 >> Jeff, you've talked a lot about the depth of running back with all those guys
10:30 in there.
10:31 Isaac's different, but yet he's probably faster than I think most people
10:35 believe he is.
10:36 Can you just kinda talk about what he brings and how, I mean,
10:39 the reps that he's had, he really does come through for you guys.
10:43 >> Well, I like our running back room and we definitely leaned on our rushing attack.
10:48 And Jawar has done some really good things.
10:51 I do think not being able to practice the last couple weeks has made him not as
10:56 sharp as he can be.
10:57 So we hope to kinda see if we can get him back in the mix this week a little bit
11:01 more so that he feels comfortable and can be decisive, make quick cuts,
11:06 which he's definitely capable of, and he's showed that throughout the year.
11:08 I think Isaac, in the meantime, has really taken on an important role.
11:15 He runs downhill, he'll definitely lower his pads, he's got good hands.
11:19 When he's in the open field, he's got great speed, and
11:23 he's done a really good job.
11:24 And then even Maurice has not gotten as many reps lately as he would like, but
11:29 he's still continuing to work.
11:30 And so I think we've worked that room a lot.
11:34 They understand our package.
11:36 Coach Barkley's done a good job with those guys, and
11:39 we feel comfortable putting all those guys in there.
11:43 >> Jeff, just curious,
11:44 times they want Jarvis and kind of what his status is right now.
11:46 And do you expect him to be back over the next couple games?
11:50 >> Well, we're trying hard to get him back.
11:52 I'm not optimistic about this week, but
11:57 we'll see how this week goes for Jarvis.
12:01 >> Yeah, Jeff, Van Dyke was the quarterback to start the year, and
12:03 then he got replaced, the other guy got hurt against Florida State,
12:06 appears to be out.
12:08 What are the things that Van Dyke does well, and
12:10 what does Miami try and do offensively?
12:14 >> Well, I think with Van Dyke, he has a lot of experience,
12:18 played a lot of football.
12:19 Without question, he's a passer, he likes to throw the ball.
12:22 They have some skill, some really good skill that if they have a chance to get
12:26 open, he can put it on and make plays.
12:29 He's known for 16 touchdowns, but he has thrown some interceptions, so
12:34 we have to find ways to create some interceptions and turnovers and
12:37 make him feel uncomfortable.
12:38 But if you give him time and you give him space,
12:39 he's played a lot of football, he can deliver the ball.
12:42 So that'll be the challenge.
12:44 And I know that he went with another quarterback last week who gave him a spark.
12:50 He had some energy, he had some juice, he ran around and
12:52 made plays, a little bit different style.
12:55 But going back to Tyler Van Dyke, he's played a lot of football, so
12:59 we're gonna have to not give him a clean pocket and affect him when he's back there
13:05 and make him feel not as comfortable as he would like to.
13:09 >> Jeff, obviously there's a lot of scenarios out there in which you guys
13:11 would clinch a berth in the ACC Championship, but
13:13 it's honestly as simple as beat Miami and you're in.
13:16 Does that add more pressure on you guys,
13:19 knowing that it's a win and end type situation?
13:21 Or does it make you guys more focused, or maybe a little bit of both?
13:24 >> Well, I think it's important that we try to win the football game no matter
13:29 what, and every game matters in the big picture.
13:34 So we're concerned about the big picture, and
13:36 that is finishing with the best record we can.
13:38 Winning conference football games, finding ways to beat good opponents on the road.
13:44 The fact that we haven't won in Miami was new to me, so
13:49 it would be great to find a way to go down to Miami and win a football game.
13:53 So there's a lot of challenges on that.
13:55 So I just think our team needs to understand that and realize that if you
13:59 just work hard, continue to improve, and take care of business, and
14:03 find ways to win, then good things happen at the end.
14:06 So I think that's the main focus for us.
14:08 To beat a really, in my opinion, good Miami team on their home field would be
14:15 a great accomplishment for our football team.
14:16 >> Can we go back to the running game?
14:18 Miami's in the top five or six with defending rushing this year.
14:24 What makes them so strong up front, a defensive line like that?
14:28 What do you wanna see, I guess, after that running back,
14:30 when we step up against teams that's probably the best rushing defense you guys
14:33 have played yet?
14:33 >> Well, when you watch these guys on film, they might be the most talented team we've
14:38 seen to date on the defensive side of the ball.
14:41 They're big up front, they're athletic, they're good to land back to position.
14:45 They run and make plays, they're secondary, has good size and speed,
14:48 looks the part, plays fast.
14:50 So this team is talented, without question, they're very talented.
14:53 They've lost a few close games, but
14:59 they still have played some really good football.
15:01 And we have to play well or it's not gonna be a good day for us.
15:07 So I just think that we have to step up to the challenge and
15:09 find ways to do the small things to keep us in the game and
15:13 to not make a lot of mistakes.
15:14 And find a way to grind the thing out in the second half.
15:19 But it'll be important that we come ready to play,
15:22 because this team is very talented.
15:26 >> Jeff, you and the coaching staff set specific goals for a team before the season.
15:31 If so, are those goals all still there, or
15:34 have you had to recalibrate what's even possible?
15:37 >> Well, we talked about our goals one time,
15:39 just gotta focus on the process of getting there.
15:43 So we really haven't brought it up a whole lot.
15:45 I think everyone realizes that there's a lot to play for.
15:48 Wins are the main way to get to where you wanna get.
15:52 And having three home games in a row has made us feel comfortable, and
15:58 we have to realize it's not gonna be that easy going on the road to Miami.
16:01 We're gonna have to overcome a lot of things, be ready to be in an environment
16:07 that's different from us, that'll be hot and warm, and we'll be on the road.
16:11 And this could be the most talented team we've played to date.
16:15 So athletically and physically, they're very good.
16:22 And so we have to match that and
16:24 just figure out a way to do something that hasn't been done here before.
16:29 And that's going and winning on the road in Miami.
16:31 >> I was gonna ask about the weather,
16:34 because it looks like it's like mid 80s on Saturday.
16:36 Is there anything you can do this week?
16:39 I mean, it's been warmer here, but it hasn't been like that in a while.
16:44 >> Well, I don't know if there's a whole lot you can do with that, but
16:46 we're gonna practice hard and get after this week.
16:49 They've had a little break, and it's important we get back to realizing
16:53 the type of game speed that it takes in order to win.
16:55 We've got some physicality in our practices,
16:58 cuz that's what this team is gonna be all about.
17:01 So there's a lot to work on this week to get ready for it, and
17:04 we need to push ourselves and rest and eat and do all those things right off the field.
17:10 Because it will be warmer than we're used to, and
17:13 we gotta be able to, now that that effect is one bit.
17:16 So preparing well this week is vital.
17:19 >> [INAUDIBLE]