Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong talks UVA's offensive woes and previews the game at Duke.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 >> Kind of we keep talking each week about where you are in this offense getting
00:03 comfortable.
00:04 Do you feel like in the second half of that game you guys took some steps forward?
00:07 >> Yeah, I mean, we totally did.
00:08 I mean, for Illinois, we didn't fight back and
00:11 that game we kind of fought we fought back and gave ourselves a chance.
00:14 So that's another step in the right direction.
00:17 Like you said, we got a lot.
00:18 There's a lot of new guys, but there's a lot of new guys out there and
00:20 to see that fight from our offense and that team, it's huge.
00:24 And so I will consider that a step in the right direction.
00:27 Obviously, we didn't get the job done, but
00:30 it's something that we didn't see before and now we see.
00:32 So yeah, I would say it's a good start.
00:36 >> Statistically, these games have been some of your lowest completion
00:39 percentage games.
00:40 Obviously, there's a lot that factors into that.
00:42 But when you think about that statistic, it's a lot of missed throws,
00:45 it's a lot of drops.
00:46 Like what are you seeing particularly in that area?
00:48 >> It's all of it.
00:49 I mean, missed throws, drops, just timing stuff, it's all of it.
00:53 I mean, it all comes together.
00:55 And that's why I was kind of saying at the beginning of the season,
00:57 that completion percentage kind of tells the tale of how you're doing,
01:00 how you're clicking as an offense, especially the receivers.
01:03 And so it's a combination of everything, from the protection to me throwing
01:07 a good ball, to them catching it, to us being on the same timing, same page.
01:12 That little stat tells a lot.
01:14 >> Brennan, in theory, a more productive running game should make things
01:19 easier on the passing game cuz teams have to respect the run more.
01:22 Do you think that will happen eventually cuz it hasn't really translated that way
01:26 yet?
01:27 >> Yeah, I mean, being like in a sense of having a more effective run game,
01:31 which we do right now, is gonna help eventually.
01:34 We just gotta figure it out on the outsides.
01:36 We're just not clicking right now.
01:38 We're trying to figure out timing wise, everything, protection wise,
01:41 me getting the ball out of my hand, what really works best for
01:43 us in the passing game.
01:45 So yeah, I mean, I think once it finally clicks, it'll be good.
01:50 But a lot of teams had respect for us, now they're just coming in with no respect for
01:54 us in the passing game cuz they just seen the past four games.
01:57 So we gotta get respect back and just start making plays in all reality,
02:03 start making plays.
02:04 That's what it comes down to.
02:05 >> Where's your chemistry with your new center, Justice?
02:08 What was that like?
02:08 What did it do? >> It was good.
02:09 We worked together in the fall and spring.
02:12 They were always rotating Ty and Justice just cuz there was a competition they're
02:15 battling.
02:15 So I had a decent amount of stats with both of them.
02:18 When Ty obviously got the job with those first three, four games,
02:22 three games, eight and a half games.
02:24 Yeah, I mean, I was cool with him.
02:26 And when Justice came in, I wasn't worried at all either,
02:28 just cuz we had so much in the offseason.
02:29 I wasn't really worried.
02:31 Even the under center exchanges, they're fine.
02:33 So yeah, it's Coach Tuje's call, whoever it is, but I'm comfortable with both.
02:38 >> How much has Coach Ellie challenged you personally?
02:41 >> Like, just in general?
02:43 >> Yeah, just throughout the course of these first couple of games.
02:46 >> Yeah, he's challenged me a lot.
02:47 It's been tough.
02:48 I wasn't expecting it to be this tough.
02:52 Like I said, I expect a lot of myself.
02:55 I'm probably the hardest person on myself.
02:56 So when we're playing like that, when I'm playing like that,
02:59 there's a lot that I'm trying to overcome mentally, confidence wise.
03:03 Just getting back into a good state of mind and good rhythm.
03:06 And it's gonna come.
03:08 Everything happens for a reason, whether it's bad or good.
03:10 So he's just been challenging me to stay positive and keep trucking along.
03:14 And I mean, that's what I'm gonna do no matter what.
03:17 So just that mindset of we're not where we wanna be, but we still have eight games.
03:23 And we can still make a heck of a season out of it.
03:26 >> What's different to some of these throws that maybe go a little too low for
03:29 your receiver?
03:30 Just maybe they drop a pass or maybe the ball kind of sails up the head.
03:34 >> What's the reason?
03:36 >> It's kind of leaning.
03:37 >> Yeah, just I think happy feet in the pocket.
03:39 I'm not really settling in.
03:43 I'm just getting a little happy feet.
03:44 My feet aren't set.
03:45 I'm dancing around maybe bouncing a little too much.
03:48 And just not getting to my targets when I should.
03:50 I mean, I know my progressions and what we're doing and
03:52 what we're trying to accomplish is just get my feet set.
03:55 Stop worrying about anything else.
03:57 Just worry about my job and my drop, what I have to do here,
04:00 where I have to put the ball.
04:02 I think just overall it's my feet.
04:03 Just dancing around a little bit too much.
04:06 >> Is it tough getting more comfortable with that after kind of last year,
04:10 you did move around a lot more?
04:12 >> I mean, yeah, I mean, it's just a change.
04:15 I mean, I'm going out there to expect perfection, right?
04:20 And then react to everything else.
04:21 So I expect perfection, react to everything else.
04:23 It's just kind of in my mindset after this past game.
04:25 I was just thinking to myself like on Saturday and Sunday, what can I do
04:29 to not be thinking about every other possibility that could happen and
04:34 just do my job?
04:35 So I'm just going out there expecting it to be perfect and
04:38 just reacting to everything else.
04:39 And now just hopefully just settle me in, making my throws when they're open.
04:45 Each play is not gonna go perfect every time.
04:47 So just react to those things and
04:48 make sure I make the plays that need to be made when I go.
04:50 >> I don't know if you've looked at the forecast yet, but
04:52 it looks like it's going to be a downpour.
04:53 Have you had a lot of experience in those conditions?
04:56 >> Shoot, maybe a little bit.
04:59 I know I didn't play against an Indiana game in 19 or 18, I forget.
05:05 But I've had some experience.
05:07 It's not, everyone says it's football weather, well.
05:10 >> Yeah. >> It's not the greatest,
05:11 I'll tell you that, especially as a quarterback trying to throw the ball.
05:13 But we're doing some stuff out here with the footballs,
05:16 trying to just kind of replicate that, what it could be like.
05:20 So yeah, just main thing is just securing that ball all game long this coming week.
05:24 Cuz that's not gonna be the tale of probably who wins,
05:27 it's who can secure the ball.
05:28 Cuz it's just gonna be probably a mess out there.
05:30 So just gotta make sure we do that.
05:32 >> Have you ever worn a glove?
05:34 >> I've worn a glove in my offhand, not on my throwing hand.
05:36 But probably just go, no gloves this week.
05:40 Just rock with that, make sure I'm fine, get kinda used to the wet ball.
05:44 >> You guys have won seven in a row in this series.
05:46 You've been around for a bunch of them.
05:48 I talked to some of their players, that's big motivation for them.
05:52 Does it play in, do you guys talk at all about the fact that obviously they've got
05:55 a little extra juice for you guys?
05:58 >> I mean, we don't really, each team's their team, but you're playing ACC.
06:02 So every team's gonna have juice to come in and try to beat you.
06:05 And each game is so critical, it's unreal.
06:07 You have to try, you gotta be ready to play each and every ACC game.
06:13 So them having more juice, totally understand that.
06:17 I mean, they probably look at it in the sense of we beat them that many years in
06:21 a row.
06:22 In a sense for us, I mean, yeah, we don't lose to them.
06:24 But also it's an ACC game, so we gotta take this serious just like any other ACC
06:29 game.
06:29 So I mean, they probably some good motivation for that.
06:32 We have good motivation for that cuz obviously we're not trying to give up our
06:34 streak.
06:35 So yeah, I mean, bottom line is it's a conference game, so
06:39 you gotta have the energy to come in and play.