Like I said, we got the robot, we got different things, but it's hard to do a lot of live tackling in practice, particularly this late in the season. If I'm tackling you, if I stop here and you're a great athlete, what are the chances that I'm going to be able to even put a hand on you or just get an arm tackle? You have to have confidence to close and tackle with speed. "We have to do a better job of teaching them to tackle and they have to do a better job of being fierce as a tackler. (Ref.: On Duke's tackling woes and missing tackles against Louisville) He is always a part of our plan, but you can't dictate to them what they are doing." You have five or six blockers and they put seven or eight, they're making you make decisions to either run the quarterback, some because you gain a blocker or throw the football. When they put a lot of people at the line of scrimmage, you can't just keep running into people. "Well, as a layman you don't see what people are doing to the line of scrimmage. (Ref.: On utilizing Mataeo Durant more in games) We may have to pick and choose how and when to use those talents, but we've got to do that." We're going to try to use every talent that we have on this team to try to beat an extremely talented team. But certainly, there's no question that you'll see Gunnar and you're going to see Riley and then Jordan obviously does some special things himself.
So that's not as clear and concise as it could be as the week goes on. There'll be some form of rotation and opportunities to try to be different, to some degree. "Yeah, I think there's no question you'll see, you know, if not two, but three. (Ref.: On his assessment of the quarterback situation right now) We've got one in front of us, and that's where our focus is right now." We can't do anything about what's behind us. I'm excited to see how our guys respond to this last challenge. So that's our week, a big football challenge, but it's a week that we're going to cherish and not wish away. On Thursday, we will practice in the morning so we can go as a team and celebrate a Thanksgiving feast for a lunch together. They get a little bit of sleep needed this time of year, we'll practice in the afternoon on Wednesday and Friday. We'll practice tomorrow morning and then we get a little bit of an advantage with no school. We've already had one practice and it was motivated, enthusiastic and intense. Nobody is cashing things in, don't think that for one second. It takes a high level of play at a consistent manner. Everybody says how it takes high level of play. We got to continue to finish drives and score. We've got to give up as few explosive plays to an explosive team as you can. Also, you are obviously looking at the things that are the biggest issues. You focus on what you've done well, and you build on what you've done well. We all know our problems and the things we haven't done.
Obviously, we feel like we've got to play our best game. Speed, size, strength - I mean, they have it. Miami is an extremely talented team at every position. "Now to get into the football game part of it, we got a huge challenge. But you also are excited to know some have got jobs and we got guys that are in New York or in different locations. As long as I've been in college football, it's a sad time for a coach to say goodbye to anybody that's been a part of your life every day for so many years. Just looking at how many grad students are in this and guys that are graduating in December and then a few that are going to graduate in May, you are excited for them but you're sad. Then you have the guys that have been in the program that have contributed so much as leaders and players and people. We have a couple of guys from other sports, baseball and lacrosse to name a few, that are celebrating a senior season as a football player and that's fun as well. We have some transfers in this group that we're certainly going to celebrate that have really just been awesome people and fit into our program well. "Just mentioning these seniors, we've got a unique group. A little more time than you normally get with players. There'll be other meals that we'll eat together because they're out of school. It's a good week because we spend a lot of time together as a team. It's more unique when it's the last game of the year, but always a unique week. The game can also be heard on the Blue Devil Sports Network from LEARFIELD through the Varsity app or The game will be broadcast on RSN with Tom Werme, James Bates and Wiley Ballard on the call. The Blue Devils host Miami on Saturday for Senior Day. Story Links DURHAM – Duke football head coach David Cutcliffe met with members of the media on Monday afternoon for his weekly press conference.
0 kommentar(er)
