Wake Forest Athletics
Weekly Football Press Conference Video & Quotes
11/19/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 19, 2013
Head Coach Jim Grobe
On the status of the receivers without flanker Michael Campanaro... "We've probably thinned things out a little bit, we're not asking those guys to do as much maybe as we would have. I think the difference is now, there's not really a go-to guy in that group. It's a group of good kids that want to play well, and we've got to do a better job distributing the football. Tanner (Price) has to get comfortable doing that. Back in the day you kind of had a feeling on the snap (and) get it to (Campanaro), that comfort zone is broken right now so you got to get used to reading things out a little bit better and maybe not forcing balls. In the past we tried to get things into Campanaro, and that's not possible now so we've got to be more balanced."
On Duke... "I think Coach David Cutcliffe has done a great job. Obviously they've done a great job. They are a program right now that's got talented kids, and they're doing a great job coaching them. They found a way to win. Anytime you win, that breeds confidence. Right now we're seeing a very talented, well coached, confident football team in Duke. Certainly, in this league, I think everybody has good talent and they found a way to get it done and that's the most important thing. They're winning games and playing well."
On the Duke offense... "They do a good job with their football team, taking what the defenses give them. Coach Cutcliffe has got a great background and a really solid coaching staff. I think like most teams they go into the game with a thought of what might be best for them. You don't know until you start playing. I think they're an offense that's capable of throwing the football but also very capable of running the football. Against this Duke offense, you have to be balanced defensively. You got to pick your spots and know they have the ability to do both. They can run it and throw it. You got to be ready for both."
Senior Linebacker Justin Jackson
On preparing for Duke after the Florida State game...
"The past two weeks we've just been focusing on Duke since we had a bye week. We really need this game, so we're not taking it lightly and we know that Duke has been rolling. They're pretty good this year, and they can do a lot of good things with the ball offensively. As a defense we're just focusing on that."
On what the front seven will need to do...
"First, I think we need to start fast and continue playing fast. I noticed that, with Miami, they were getting outran a lot to the outsides. I feel like if we start fast we'll be good."
On playing his final home game...
"It's definitely an important game to me. It's my last home game at Wake Forest, and I know that I want to finish it with a bang. That's going to start with a good game against Duke."
Senior Wide Receiver Michael Campanaro
On whether he will play Saturday against Duke...
"I definitely won't be playing this Saturday, but I'm definitely not ruled out for the next game. Everything is going great with my rehab. I'm feeling really good, the bone is healing up fast. I'm definitely out for this game, but who knows, we'll see for the next game."
On overcoming the loss to Florida State...
"Losing to Syracuse was tough for us, and that might have carried over to the Florida State game. We just didn't play well enough to beat anyone that day. Playing against Florida State, the No. 2 team in the country, you have to bring you're A-plus game to compete with those guys. I think the bye week was good for us to give us some time to regroup and get ready for these last two games that are must-win games for us if we want to go to a bowl game. Everybody is locking in for these last two games.
On the pressure of having to win your last two games to go to a bowl...
"I definitely think it's a positive. I think everyone knows that our backs are against the wall. Basically you win or you go home. If you lose one of these two games we won't be going bowling. The team knows the scenario and knows that we need both of them. I think the pressure is going to be a positive for us. The guys are going to come out with tons of energy and just leave it all out there."
