University of North Carolina Athletics
Louisville Coaches Postgame Quotes
September 25, 2004 | Football
Sept. 25, 2004
Mike Cassity (Louisville Defensive Coordinator)
What was the key to shutting down their defense?
"We had to start with taking away their running game. They (UNC) had success last week with running the football and obviously Durant is a great player. It was a double-edged sword: contain the run but at the same time, with his maneuverability, he (Durant) could scramble around and make big plays."
Bobby Petrino (Head coach)
(Comments on game before first question)
"Good game for us. I was very nervous coming into the game, and after a week of preparation where we pushed them hard, I felt like this game was going to be a real battle and we would have an opportunity to win the game late in the fourth quarter. But our defense came out and did an excellent job. I really like the way our offense took the field and executed on the first drive. I also like the way we came out of the locker room after halftime. The coaches did an excellent job at halftime, made a few adjustments, and our players got ready to go, and the third quarter belonged to us. I thought this was the difference in the game.
Did you think you would have two shutouts in the first three games?
"I didn't think about shutouts at all. As a coach, all I try to do is win one-by-one. But I am very proud of how hard our defense has worked and how much they have come together as a unit, and how fun it is with our offense, defense and special teams working together."
Does it help the offense to know how well the defense is playing?
"It really helps the offense and it helps you control the ball by not having to take any chances. It was a great team game."
Explain your defense.
"What we've mostly been talking about on defense since we started in the spring was fundamentals, technique, sprinting full-speed to the ball, getting off the blocks, and tackling. Scheme-wise, I don't think it matters what we do. I think our players feel good about our package. But what matters is our technique, getting off blocks, sprinting to the ball; and I think you're seeing that in our game when we go in and cause turnovers."
Without Lionel Gates in the running game, you got to play Eric Shelton.
"Lionel was a pre-game decision [not playing him due to injury]. He tweaked his ham a little bit in practice on Thursday. He really thought he was going to be able to go, went to work out with our trainers before the game, and then we made the decision not to play him unless it was an emergency. It's hard on him because he's a senior and he's done so well. But Eric [Shelton] ran very well, made some nice cuts and did a nice job. It's also nice to be able to get Kolby [Smith] in there."
How big were the first couple of series after halftime?
"They were huge. The biggest thing was we had a great kick-off and we got them stopped. We got the ball with really nice field position and Eric [Shelton] made a nice run and Kolby [Smith] really had a nice block. I think our confidence went way up. Maybe at the start of the game, we were a little bit tight, but we've been preparing for this game for two weeks."
Is this the best Stefan [LeFors] has been so far this season?
"He's sharp but he's been sharp in every game. He was 13 out of 16, made a nice couple of runs, moved in the pocket and made a great throw to Montrell [Jones] on the sideline. Our third down conversions went way up. It takes all 11 guys out there to do it but Stefan was the one leading it."
