University of North Carolina Athletics
Larry Fedora Wednesday Quotes
October 2, 2013 | Football
Larry Fedora addressed the media on Wednesday's ACC Football Coaches Teleconference.
“Our team is preparing for a very talented and a very good Virginia Tech football team. A typical Frank Beamer coached team, a team that is solid in all three phases of the game and they've got some mojo going right now. They're really playing really well in all three phases, so we've got our work cut out for us this week.”
On the key to Virginia Tech's run defense in nickel package
“Well, they've got a really good front, and especially those two guys inside. Hopkins and Maddy are playing extremely well inside right now, and then you take 58 Jack Tyler, the inside linebacker who's playing really well as a redshirt senior. That's really the key to stopping the run there with those guys, and they have been able to do that and have a lot of success because they're really good on the back end.”
On what he expects from the Hokie secondary
“I expect some really good play. Both Fullers are playing really well, so is the Facyson kid. They've got two freshmen back there that are playing really good, and the Jarrett kid, he's been back there. A lot of those guys have been back there and then Exum's coming back. I don't know where they're putting him or what their plan is, but they've got some really good players in that secondary.”
On preparing for a game with both starting QBs a bit banged up
“It really doesn't change what we do in preparation either offensively or defensively because you prepare as a football team for guys to be beat up and guys play when they're beat up that's just part of it and so it really doesn't change what we do. Logan Thomas is a heck of a football player and he just continues to lead that football team and do a great job so I anticipate him playing, I really do. So, we're going full speed ahead as if Logan's ready to go.”
On the status of Bryn Renner
“He wasn't in a boot in practice yesterday so he seemed to be moving around pretty good so I think as of right now everything seems to be fine.”
On whether the problems in the run game are due more to the backs or the offensive line
“I think it's a combination of both, I really do. I don't think that we've had any real consistency at all, and some of that has been game situations that either we got out of our game plan or had to adjust our game plan, and some of it is continuity up front and some of it is backs so it's a total combination of everything and we are continuing to work hard at it to try to make it all come together.”
On Frank Beamer's 27-year tenure at Virginia Tech and preparing for a Beamer-coached team
“That's unbelievable. I don't know if really people realize how hard that is and the success that Frank's had over there and what a great job he's done in Blacksburg. Just a tremendous person, tremendous coach, he's got a great staff that has been with him for a long time. I can promise you, Bud Foster's going to have that defense jacked up. They're going to play extremely hard as they've been playing and they're going to play really well. They are moving the ball on offense and doing the things that they feel like they can do with Logan and the talent level they have. Their reputation on special teams is always going to precede itself. They're always going to be solid in their special teams and do a good job and so a Frank Beamer-coached football team is always going to be extremely well coached, the kids are going to be put in position to play and they've always got players.”
On the consistency of Bud Foster's defense
“I think a lot of it is, you have to give credit to Bud Foster. He is the one constant in that defense for sure, and then he's got guys on the staff that have been with him for a long time so you've got to give them all credit but they do a good job of recruiting for their defense. They're basically based out of a 4-2-5 that I think is a great scheme, and I think the guys that they recruit fit those schemes very well and I think they do a great job with it.”
On T.J. Logan's status, and when to make a decision about a redshirt
“I think it's still early to make that decision. We look at pretty much at the halfway mark where we feel a guy is and whether or not he can really help us be successful or not. T.J.'s getting much closer. He's getting reps in practice and doing some good things, so it could be anytime now.”
On if Logan might play Saturday on offense or special teams
“There is a chance.”
On playing in Blacksburg
“I've talked to a lot of people. I've actually never been there, but I've talked to a lot of people about it, coaches that have been there, they all talk about the fans that they have, the great support that they have. It's going to be loud and it's a great gameday setting. It's part of what makes college football such a great sport, the atmosphere that they create and so we understand that going in to the game and hopefully our guys will be prepared for it.”
On motivating players week to week
“That part of it's a coach's nightmare. I would say it's the toughest thing that we have to do in coaching, and that is to get your team to play at a high level each and every Saturday for 12 Saturdays. I think it is probably the most difficult thing we do. I think you could look anywhere in the country on any given Saturday and you find it, where a team doesn't play up to their capabilities, and that's probably the majority if of it is just the mindset of the players on the field that day.”
Is it easier to motivate players for a team the quality of Virginia Tech?
“I don't know if there's any part of coaching that's easy. I think you work extremely hard and you do the best job you can to prepare your kids each and every week to play at a high level and that's ultimately my responsibility as a head football coach. We didn't get it done last week and I can't tell you that we're preparing any differently because I believe in the way we prepare and so hopefully I'll do a better job of getting our guys ready to play on Saturday.”
