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at Tulane
Quotes: Northwestern 19, Duke 10
9/19/2015 5:04:00 PM | Football
Head Coach David Cutcliffe
On Duke not playing as hard as they could have:
“I didn't say we didn't play hard. We played hard. We just didn't play. We didn't make plays. We didn't compete to the next level of making plays. Defensively we played our rear ends off. They had 57 total yards of offense in the first half. You can't play any better than that. Offensively, we created no explosions. We outgained them 175-57, but you cannot get your rear end beat on third down both halves. The defense got beat in the second half on third downs. You can't lose the kicking game, that means giving up a touchdown, and turn the ball over. All of these things are my responsibility 100 percent and it's shocking. Hats off to Northwestern, but it was more Duke with an array of mistakes as opposed to anything Northwestern did. We played hard. Those kids don't know anything other than to play hard. They play about as hard as anyone I've been around. We've got some talent. We just didn't utilize it as well as we can today.”
On what Northwestern was taking away preventing Duke from throwing the ball upfield:
“I don't know that we had to. You're in a situation where they were intent on stopping the inside zone or the inside read run game. When you effectively do that and then just try to keep everything in front of you, that's what teams are going to do if they can get you to play in a box. You have to establish early. First half we had the opportunity to hit Johnell [Barnes] on a post for a touchdown and we just didn't execute. Second half we had a chance to hit T.J. Rahming on an inside dig-and-go and we didn't execute. We may have to get more opportunities to do that because we can't play in a box and beat good teams. Today, Northwestern was the better team. They did a good job from a penalty standpoint. They had a couple of interceptions – and we got after their quarterback like crazy – but overall they did a better job of taking care of the ball and doing the little things. That's the bottom line.”
On what he learned about his team today:
“I don't know that there's anything schematic from that regard. I think we learned a lot about ourselves, what we're doing, some things we have to look at such as how you practice. What you see generally, not always, on Saturday are a product of your habits. Whether there's a penalty or too many penalties or you don't take care of the ball…I want to look at our tempo on offense. I want to continue to look at creating some explosives that help you score points. We haven't been great at that yet. You obviously have to look at what went wrong in the second half on third down. They converted 5-of-10 third downs in the second half after being 1-of-10 in the first half. Offensively we were 2-of-9 in the first half and 1-of-8, neither half was good. Even the kicking game we probably lose because we didn't play third down as good as you have to play. You know this- against Georgia Tech you better on defense be ready to play third and fourth downs. We're going to evaluate what our health is, who we have available. We've got to address a few things and then we have to just prepare ourselves with excellent habits for a great Georgia Tech team.”
Duke Center Matt Skura
On the battle at the line of scrimmage:
“It was something we knew coming in, that it was going to be a huge part of the game. They've got a big offensive line and a big defensive line as well. We kind of took that upon ourselves in the trenches to make sure that we could handle their size and speed. It's something that we'll obviously have to improve on.”
On Northwestern's defensive linemen batting down passes:
“On film we saw it a few times, especially 94 [Dean Lowry]. He was a big, tall guy that we knew had some length and ability to jump. Obviously it's tough to read on the offensive line, especially on the fly. That's something we're going to have to work on too because people are going to see that for the rest of the season and are going to try to do the same thing.”
On what the team can take away heading into next week's ACC opener:
“The importance of elimination of penalties and keeping the ball on offense. Those are a couple of things that we didn't do as an offense that we normally are very good at. Obviously, those things can lead to a loss like they did today. We'll watch the film as well. It's one thing playing the game and seeing how you felt, but it's another thing actually going and sitting and studying the tape. We'll see where we go from here.”
Duke Defensive Tackle A.J. Wolf
On how the game felt on the line:
“We knew it was going to be a tough battle in the trenches from day one last week. We just tried to play every single play as hard as we could, and at the end of the day, I thought we did. They played a little harder than us.”
On Northwestern running back Justin Jackson and the Wildcats' run game:
“They were a high-powered running offense. I probably hit him a few times. But they did a really good job of running the ball. We just didn't get it done towards the end of the game.”
On whether Northwestern did anything unexpected:
“I don't think so. We knew they were going to run the ball a lot. I thought we did a really good job most of the game, but obviously not good enough because they scored some points.”
On what lessons can be learned heading into next week:
“It's never a good feeling right after the game, but I think in the long run we can collect ourselves and put our heads down and work as hard as we can for next week and the weeks coming.”
Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald
Opening Statement:
“[That was a] great team win. We knew this was going to be a dogfight. I have great respect for Coach Cutcliffe, his staff and his young men. We felt they had a huge advantage. We talked to our guys all week about it that they could be vanilla against their first couple opponents. They had us on our heels because we didn't quite know how they were going to play us offensively with their defense. They did a great job in the first half, but I felt we adjusted very well in the second half and our offense got moving. Defensively, we have to start faster. We can't give up those plays and that long run in I think the third quarter or midway through the fourth when we fit things wrong. But we were pretty dominant on third down.”
On what he said during halftime or adjustments the team made:
“I talked to the guys about coming back in here thirty minutes later and singing the fight song. That was the only motivational talk that I spoke to them about. I didn't need to give them a fire and brimstone speech. I think we were very focused. I thought what we needed to do was give them a better plan, especially offensively. They stormed the fort and were coming after us, and obviously we have a lot of work to do offensively, but at the same time, I thought we came out with the right type of adjustments to take advantage of some things. I thought the way we were able to finish the game running the ball was a big confidence booster for our offensive line.”
On containing Thomas Sirk and the rest of the offense and limiting big plays:
“Outside of maybe a couple plays, I think this is the best we've tackled. Again, the credit goes to Hank [defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz], the staff and the guys. We work it every single day. We work it every day in the offseason and every day with the fundamentals of it. Reading a lot about their team speed, I don't think we had a speed issue today. I think we looked every bit as fast, and I challenged the guys to that.”
On if the game felt like a top-25 matchup:
“There's no doubt. This is a team that knows how to win. Like I said on Monday – and this isn't lip service; this is the truth – there's no man I respect more than David Cutcliffe. I get the privilege to be with him on the AFCA board and listen to the way that he talks about what's right for our game, and he's what's right for our game. The way he runs his program is what's right for our game. When you play against a friend and you play against someone you respect that much, you know what kind of game it's going to be. It was a hard-fought battle like we knew it was going to be. My hat's off to Coach and his program, but we focus on us, and I'm just proud of the way the guys are battling.”
On Duke not playing as hard as they could have:
“I didn't say we didn't play hard. We played hard. We just didn't play. We didn't make plays. We didn't compete to the next level of making plays. Defensively we played our rear ends off. They had 57 total yards of offense in the first half. You can't play any better than that. Offensively, we created no explosions. We outgained them 175-57, but you cannot get your rear end beat on third down both halves. The defense got beat in the second half on third downs. You can't lose the kicking game, that means giving up a touchdown, and turn the ball over. All of these things are my responsibility 100 percent and it's shocking. Hats off to Northwestern, but it was more Duke with an array of mistakes as opposed to anything Northwestern did. We played hard. Those kids don't know anything other than to play hard. They play about as hard as anyone I've been around. We've got some talent. We just didn't utilize it as well as we can today.”
On what Northwestern was taking away preventing Duke from throwing the ball upfield:
“I don't know that we had to. You're in a situation where they were intent on stopping the inside zone or the inside read run game. When you effectively do that and then just try to keep everything in front of you, that's what teams are going to do if they can get you to play in a box. You have to establish early. First half we had the opportunity to hit Johnell [Barnes] on a post for a touchdown and we just didn't execute. Second half we had a chance to hit T.J. Rahming on an inside dig-and-go and we didn't execute. We may have to get more opportunities to do that because we can't play in a box and beat good teams. Today, Northwestern was the better team. They did a good job from a penalty standpoint. They had a couple of interceptions – and we got after their quarterback like crazy – but overall they did a better job of taking care of the ball and doing the little things. That's the bottom line.”
On what he learned about his team today:
“I don't know that there's anything schematic from that regard. I think we learned a lot about ourselves, what we're doing, some things we have to look at such as how you practice. What you see generally, not always, on Saturday are a product of your habits. Whether there's a penalty or too many penalties or you don't take care of the ball…I want to look at our tempo on offense. I want to continue to look at creating some explosives that help you score points. We haven't been great at that yet. You obviously have to look at what went wrong in the second half on third down. They converted 5-of-10 third downs in the second half after being 1-of-10 in the first half. Offensively we were 2-of-9 in the first half and 1-of-8, neither half was good. Even the kicking game we probably lose because we didn't play third down as good as you have to play. You know this- against Georgia Tech you better on defense be ready to play third and fourth downs. We're going to evaluate what our health is, who we have available. We've got to address a few things and then we have to just prepare ourselves with excellent habits for a great Georgia Tech team.”
Duke Center Matt Skura
On the battle at the line of scrimmage:
“It was something we knew coming in, that it was going to be a huge part of the game. They've got a big offensive line and a big defensive line as well. We kind of took that upon ourselves in the trenches to make sure that we could handle their size and speed. It's something that we'll obviously have to improve on.”
On Northwestern's defensive linemen batting down passes:
“On film we saw it a few times, especially 94 [Dean Lowry]. He was a big, tall guy that we knew had some length and ability to jump. Obviously it's tough to read on the offensive line, especially on the fly. That's something we're going to have to work on too because people are going to see that for the rest of the season and are going to try to do the same thing.”
On what the team can take away heading into next week's ACC opener:
“The importance of elimination of penalties and keeping the ball on offense. Those are a couple of things that we didn't do as an offense that we normally are very good at. Obviously, those things can lead to a loss like they did today. We'll watch the film as well. It's one thing playing the game and seeing how you felt, but it's another thing actually going and sitting and studying the tape. We'll see where we go from here.”
Duke Defensive Tackle A.J. Wolf
On how the game felt on the line:
“We knew it was going to be a tough battle in the trenches from day one last week. We just tried to play every single play as hard as we could, and at the end of the day, I thought we did. They played a little harder than us.”
On Northwestern running back Justin Jackson and the Wildcats' run game:
“They were a high-powered running offense. I probably hit him a few times. But they did a really good job of running the ball. We just didn't get it done towards the end of the game.”
On whether Northwestern did anything unexpected:
“I don't think so. We knew they were going to run the ball a lot. I thought we did a really good job most of the game, but obviously not good enough because they scored some points.”
On what lessons can be learned heading into next week:
“It's never a good feeling right after the game, but I think in the long run we can collect ourselves and put our heads down and work as hard as we can for next week and the weeks coming.”
Northwestern Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald
Opening Statement:
“[That was a] great team win. We knew this was going to be a dogfight. I have great respect for Coach Cutcliffe, his staff and his young men. We felt they had a huge advantage. We talked to our guys all week about it that they could be vanilla against their first couple opponents. They had us on our heels because we didn't quite know how they were going to play us offensively with their defense. They did a great job in the first half, but I felt we adjusted very well in the second half and our offense got moving. Defensively, we have to start faster. We can't give up those plays and that long run in I think the third quarter or midway through the fourth when we fit things wrong. But we were pretty dominant on third down.”
On what he said during halftime or adjustments the team made:
“I talked to the guys about coming back in here thirty minutes later and singing the fight song. That was the only motivational talk that I spoke to them about. I didn't need to give them a fire and brimstone speech. I think we were very focused. I thought what we needed to do was give them a better plan, especially offensively. They stormed the fort and were coming after us, and obviously we have a lot of work to do offensively, but at the same time, I thought we came out with the right type of adjustments to take advantage of some things. I thought the way we were able to finish the game running the ball was a big confidence booster for our offensive line.”
On containing Thomas Sirk and the rest of the offense and limiting big plays:
“Outside of maybe a couple plays, I think this is the best we've tackled. Again, the credit goes to Hank [defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz], the staff and the guys. We work it every single day. We work it every day in the offseason and every day with the fundamentals of it. Reading a lot about their team speed, I don't think we had a speed issue today. I think we looked every bit as fast, and I challenged the guys to that.”
On if the game felt like a top-25 matchup:
“There's no doubt. This is a team that knows how to win. Like I said on Monday – and this isn't lip service; this is the truth – there's no man I respect more than David Cutcliffe. I get the privilege to be with him on the AFCA board and listen to the way that he talks about what's right for our game, and he's what's right for our game. The way he runs his program is what's right for our game. When you play against a friend and you play against someone you respect that much, you know what kind of game it's going to be. It was a hard-fought battle like we knew it was going to be. My hat's off to Coach and his program, but we focus on us, and I'm just proud of the way the guys are battling.”
Players Mentioned
Coach Diaz Media Availability: Tulane
Wednesday, September 10
Darian Mensah Media Availability: Tulane
Tuesday, September 09
Josiah Green Media Availability: Tulane
Tuesday, September 09
Coach Patke Press Conference: Tulane
Monday, September 08
