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David Cutcliffe Press Conference Quotes: NC State
10/13/2020 2:48:00 PM | Football
DURHAM, N.C. - Duke football head coach David Cutcliffe met with members of the media virtually on Monday afternoon for his weekly press conference.
The Blue Devils make their way to nearby Raleigh for a matchup with NC State on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on RSN with Tom Werme, James Bates, and Lyndsay Rowley on the call. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. The game can also be heard on the Blue Devil Sports Network from Learfield IMG College through the TuneIn app or goduke.com
David Cutcliffe Duke Football Head Coach
(Ref.: Opening Statement)
"Obviously, I'm proud that our team was able to go get a road win and a convincing win in a lot of ways. But, obviously you saw that game, there's a lot left to work on. Continuing to take care of the ball better. We've got to block. We really were closer to even having a bigger game in the run game. We've got to finish blocks. We've got to finish tackles. We had some of that. We have to avoid giving up explosive plays as well. The reason I'm saying all that kind of leads to this week. We're playing a really, really good North Carolina State team, that's well coached. All three phases, they know how to win football games. They play really well in the kicking game. They're very aggressive on defense.
"Since the Virginia Tech game, they've had a mentality. They're physical and they tackle well. They play well together. Very impressive defensive team. With (Devin) Leary settling in at quarterback plus two really outstanding backs and a big, physical offensive line and receivers that can play, this is a complete football team. With that said, we need to play a complete game. We know we're capable. In all five of our games we've had moments where we've played really good football. The thing we have to continue to do, and our team will do this, we're working really hard at practice and they're doing everything we ask them to do, but we need to put together a complete game and it couldn't be a better week to do that than this one."
(Ref.: On what NC State is doing well on offense and how Duke can stop them)
"Well they're balanced on offense. They do a great job of mixing things up with run and pass. That's one of the greatest elements you can have offensively. They can throw it. They've got receivers as I mentioned, they're protecting the quarterback well. He's playing really well. (Ricky) Person and (Zonovan) Knight are both outstanding backs. We watched them play when they were in high school and they can run the football. They run the ball a variety of different ways. But they're well-coached and their scheme is good.
"What we have to do defensively is we've got to be complete. You have to try to stop the run. Everybody in football says it. It's much easier to say it than it is to do it. We've got to do a tremendous job of being in gaps. We've got to do a tremendous job of trying to whip blocks. You got to stop the run game before it really gets started. Then outside of that hopefully you have to be able to apply some pressure on the quarterback. It's a combination of things defensively that you have to do to stop a very balanced offensive team."
(Ref.: On limiting opponents big plays on offense)
"Well first of all, in the passing game again, you rush the passer. You can't let people hold the ball. Secondly, you've got to keep the ball in front of you as well as you can. Matchups sometimes get in the way of that. We're a very aggressive defensive team with a lot of man coverage and when you do that, you've got to be a great technique team. You also have to limit, as I said, the amount of time a quarterback has to hold the ball to throw it down the field."
(Ref.: On how a win helps the mentality of the team)
"Well it should help us a great deal. What I'm anxious to see as we move each day back to practice is does it make practice better. We'll have the same format that we've had the last couple of weeks. We've kind of altered some of the practice. I'm anxious to see if we finish better. You should be more motivated than ever as an offensive lineman. You should be more motivated than ever when you're covering a kick. We've had some real good highlight moments on defense. We should be more motivated but it's not Saturday that I'm talking about. I'm talking about Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, through the week of preparation. I expect our team will be excited to work and prepare and understand how big the challenge is this week. That remains to be seen, but I expect that we will."
(Ref.: On how it's different preparing for Saturday after a win)
"I think when you have two teams coming off big conference wins that always increases the intensity. It increases the value of the next game, in all honesty. Right now where we are, I think our will to prepare has been outstanding. I want to see it even go up another notch. When you win it should increase hunger rather than decrease hunger. So, let's see where it heads this week."
(Ref.: On Derrick Tangelo's performance at Syracuse)
"Well, it's interesting that you asked that question. When I got on the plane early, I was doing some work. I had a coach behind me and I said, don't let (Derrick) Tangelo pass me if I don't see him. The reason is that I wanted to tell Derrick he had an impact in that game. An interior defensive lineman can be a disrupter much faster than an edge guy because they can do it consistently on every play in the run game. He's healthier than he's been. I thought he played terrific in the game. And what I told Derrick, 'Derrick, awesome. Build off of it. Understand how explosive you are and can be. Let's see where we can take this. It's got to become you. It's got to be the consistent theme that we see from you.' So, I felt the same way you did after the ballgame."
(Ref.: On if he would like to play NC State each year because of the proximity)
"Yeah, I think that's a great thing. But at the same time, it's not really something that you can do from an ACC standpoint when you have 14 teams and two divisions. They're not going to let us. We have Wake every year. We have North Carolina, which is in our division. I don't think they're going to let us both not have a travel opportunity. The rest of the league would probably throw their hands up on that one. I said this earlier today talking with someone, with the midst of what we're in, we have no idea what next year is going to look like. We may be playing nine or 10 conference games every year. That may be what TV wants to see. So, in that environment, it would likely have a better chance of happening."
(Ref.: On the pros and cons of not playing NC State each season)
"Obviously, I think fans is probably where it falls. I think fans would love to see that old-fashioned rivalry where we've been around in the ACC forever. But football has changed. So, as I've said, the cons would be the rest of the league would be pretty upset if we had the proximity games we have. We have Virginia and Virginia Tech in our division. Then if you were playing NC State, Carolina and Wake, they would just view that as a negative. If you're Louisville or you're Syracuse or you're Miami or any other of the number of teams in our league."
(Ref.: On his health and how working out has become a lifestyle for him)
"It is definitely my normal. It's funny you ask that. I was in here really early this morning and I do a combination of things. I got it set up where I have film going at the same time of whatever exercises I'm doing, whether it's riding a bike, whether it's doing push-ups or calisthenics. It maybe gives me more motivation. But I've kind of become a seven day a week person. I would recommend it to anyone. What I found out is if I put it first on my calendar, then no one can take it away. My calendar tends to change when other people come around. So, when I have it when no one else is here and I have control of that calendar, and I put exercise, just write David Cutcliffe off on it, then I'm a much better person the rest of the day when I have that out of the way."
(Ref.: On watching NC State even though they are not an opponent year-to-year)
"Well, I see them on tape all the time. I'm very familiar with their players. Dave Doeren's a good friend. I think he's a great football coach. I try to watch all of the things they're doing. But as I'm watching common opponents, you're always looking at them. I'm following players that we may have recruited when they were in high school that you got close to and I pull for them, when we're not playing each other. You're going to keep up with what's happening with your neighbors and that's essentially what they are."
(Ref.: On the wide receivers blocking for the run game at Syracuse)
"Well, if you're going to play for Trooper Taylor you're going to block if you're a wide receiver. No block, no ball. It's that simple. I am very proud of those guys. It's become important to them. It's a habit at practice. It is such a consistent habit at practice. When I watch practice tape, it puts a smile on my face to see how important it's become to that receiving corps. It's not one of them, it's all of them. I hadn't heard that Deon (Jackson) said that but I'm really proud of him for mentioning that."
(Ref.: On kick and punt return personnel)
"Well, Damond's been a little beat up in the kickoff return circumstance. Then when we lost Josh Blackwell, just trying to make it all work with Jalon Calhoun. Jake Bobo's been a little beat up as well. And so we wanted to look at Jontavis (Robertson) and I was encouraged by his first appearance back there. He's an extremely gifted runner as well. When you lose your starter it sometimes takes a little bit to settle in and then Jaylen Stinson is a really dynamic kickoff return man himself. I think he's got a chance at being terrific. Right now, until Damond gets back to being full speed, we'd expect that you're going to see 16 back there."
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