Syracuse Orange College Football Pregame Quote, 10/14/2019

Obviously we are getting ready for the Pitt Panthers. I’m disappointed about the last contest, excited about the new one. Once again, we are getting the opportunity to play one of our rivals. We’ve got a lot of work to do, we are working hard. Did a lot of practicing over the weekend and we are looking forward to the game this Friday night.

On redshirt sophomore quarterback Tommy DeVito heading into the second half of the season:

The things that I tell him in those situations is you want immediate feedback in certain situations because you want to put a picture in his head that he doesn’t forget. So whether it is a particular play, a particular defense, a particular coverage, maybe something a DB did that was really unique. When I grab him on the sideline. I say, ‚ÄúDid you see this right here? What did you think that was? This is what I thought it was, you’re exactly right or wrong it’s this.‚Äù This is that picture, you have to remember that picture. These are the things you have to do to give him that foundation so he will be able to do it all. Whenever that comes, whether it’s this year or next year. Putting those memories or pictures in his head so he will have stuff to reflect back on.

On DeVito throwing less interceptions now compared to earlier in the season:

I think he’s gotta be careful now. I think that he is throwing for a very high percentage and obviously not throwing any interceptions, which we are really excited about, but this isn’t directed to Tommy, it is to any quarterback I’ve had, just like the one that played Monday night. It’s a racing car, you want it to be a racing car, you don’t want it to be a car that you drive around town. And you want them to be aggressive, not necessarily reckless, but aggressive. But, they have to do it within the confines of the offense and our offense is geared toward being aggressive. We really don’t need the quarterback to be super aggressive, but when we have our opportunities and we have our shots he needs to be willing to take them. And I think he is willing to take them, we just need to do a better job in other areas giving him opportunities.

On the feeling in the locker room after getting off to a slower start than expected:

That is going to be the fun part. That’s the part, we’re 3-3, we are not where we want to be. We are not happy where we are at, now what? And that is what is going to define this season. That is what is going to define this team. That is what is going to define this bunch of seniors, and I am excited about it. I’m not happy with how things have gone, but now that all of that stuff is behind us and there is no rose colored glasses. This is what we are, it is game six now get better.

On how backup linebackers filled in due to injury:

They’ve developed quite well. From the second game to what they’re doing now, they have developed extremely well. The play that Armstrong made with the interception was a high-quality play. And La’keem Williams as well made numerous plays that were really good. You know the one touchdown that was scored in the game on their (NC State) part was one of those situations where they caught us at the right thing, at the right time and at the right situation. And it was a good call, good execution touchdown, but outside of that I thought they played at an extremely high level. I thought the entire defense played really well.

On redshirt junior receiver Trishton Jackson’s role expansion over the last few weeks:

I don’t look at it that way because some of that stuff comes down to what’s the blitz, what’s the coverage, what’s the call. And you can call one receiver the number one receiver on a certain play, but if they play a certain coverage he goes from number one to number four, just based off what the coverage is. And with the success Trishton’s had I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets some double coverage down the road. Somebody else better be ready to step up. I don’t look at it that way, I just look at it as he’s had a good season so far. And hopefully he can have an opportunity to have a good second half.

On the Pitt-‘Cuse rivalry:

I think this goes past Coach Narduzzi, past myself. I think this goes back to you growing up and a bunch of people in the room. It’s just a rivalry. Before I came here I couldn’t tell you why it is going to be a close game, but then you look back at all the games we’ve had and every one of them has been a memory. I can remember every game that we played against those guys and it’s just interesting that those two groups get together and it doesn’t matter what the record is, it’s normally one heck of a football game. And normally, it’s close. Overtime, I think it was a three point win you guys probably have the details on that. And now this is round number four back at our place and those guys are favored and rightfully so. We know we are going to have our hands full. It’s going to be a contest.

On why Pitt is so difficult:

I think it’s the rivalry. You know they’ve changed quite a bit with Coach Whippel being their offensive coordinator. They’re not as much run, run, run. They’re in spread sets, their defense is bringing a heck of a lot more pressure than they have normally done. It’s almost like they’ve flipped the page and moved on to something else, but I just think it is the rivalry. I think it’s a lot of the same recruits, I think it’s a lot of kids being from the same area, kids playing against guys in high school and having one more opportunity to have a shot at them.

On what can be expected on the offensive line until players heal from injury?

I hope it’s not what we expect. You know the one thing we need to do, I’ve talked to you guys about game 4-6 we are going to find out where we are at. We’re at game six, we know where we are at and I think the big thing here is this. Everybody has a responsibility to get better. This is the entire football team, coaches included. Everybody has a responsibility to get better. And you are not allowed to stay the same, well what does that mean. If you start off as a sophomore that’s never played, after six games you are not a sophomore anymore. You are a salty guy getting ready to go into his junior year. If you have played six games as a freshman, even though you are still a freshman, after six games as a freshman your play should be improved by as much as you have been on the field. We need to get better, and what normally happens with football teams at this stage of the game, is that everyone looks at their young players. Young players should be developing, but you have to lean on your older players. So we need our older players our best players have to be our best players, they have to play well. Then the other guys are just coming, the little brothers are just coming, the big brothers they have to play well. And I think that’s what the big emphasis is, making sure we are getting production out of the people who really should be producing for us because they’ve had a lot of game experience.

On Injuries:

I’m not even making this up, I don’t know what’s going on with that stuff. So, I would imagine that it is exactly the same. I would not say it’s going to change, because every time I come up here and I think I’s going to change, it hasn’t changed. It hasn’t changed yet.

On Pitt’s defensive line:

They get a lot of sacks. They bring a lot of pressure, they blitz and blitz and blitz. And they’re crazy about it, they’re fun to watch. This is how the game should be played, they are very reckless, even though they are controlled about it. I mean as a fan there is going to be some contact. There is going to be some smacking going around, there is no doubt about it. So they’re fun to watch, they’re a good group.

On Taj Harris’ injury:

It was an injury. There’s some stuff that’s come out the past two weeks that has been damaging to our guys on the football field as far as their injuries. So, I don’t want to talk about this part or that part, we’re watching on tape and it seems like some of our guys are taking shots in particular areas. Like people are reading press clippings and they’re going after certain spots on people. So, I am not going to start talking about where their areas are, but he was hurt.

On his personal confidence Level at this point in the year:

My confidence is good. I know that there might be some confidence lacking in other places, but my confidence is good. I am glad all the frost and all the fluff is gone. And we are really looking at where we’re at. This is where I get excited. We can either be what everyone says we are or we can go out and prove them wrong and be someone totally different. It is going to take a lot of work because it is not like you can just flip that light switch. What you see is what we are right now, doesn’t mean we have to stay there and I think the guys have put in two good days of practice and they’re ready to turn a new leaf. Hopefully we get to see that on Friday night.