TarHeelIllustrated.com - Postgame Quotes

September 16, 2006

Devils Illustrated
Devils Illustrated

Quotes from Duke coach Ted Roof, quarterback Marcus Jones, linebacker Mike Tauiliili, and linebacker Codey Lowe following Saturday's 36-0 loss at Virginia Tech.

Quotes as told to the Duke radio network

Roof on giving up too many big plays

"Our whole deal, we knew they were a big play outfit going into the football game, and we put a big emphasis on that every phase of the game this week and on the first series we give up a big play on defense and in the first half they returned a punt for a touchdown. We just didn't get it done today. They were a better football team and they are a better football program than we are at this point."

On the Virginia Tech punt return for a touchdown

"Well their specialty athletes are as good a group as there is in the country. They have a lot of explosiveness and that's part of what makes them tough on the big plays. We've just got to find a way to get guys on the ground and wrap up. They had a lot of yardage today after contact and we just have to do a better of finishing things, and that's what happened."

On the alterations to the game plan after Lewis' injury

"(The game plan) changed a good bit (when Lewis went out) but that's an unfortunate part of this game, is injury. He's a tough kid and he took some shots, but he'll bounce back and he'll be ready to go for Virginia. He got hit in the head in a head-to-head deal, and he was out of it for a little while but he's back and we'll get him healthy and get him ready to go. I thought Marcus came in and did some good things at times as well, so that's part of the game and we always have to have a plan for that and be ready to go in case something like that happens. He did some good things and we just have to get him on the perimeter and let him do some things. He made a couple of very athletic plays, especially there in the third quarter, there when he picked the ball up and completed a pass but we just have to get better in every area and we'll go back to work and get that done."

On plans for the bye week

"We're going to go back to some fundamental work and get some people healthy, and evaluate what we have done so far-what we like and what we don't like-and make some decisions and move forward."

Marcus Jones on his thoughts about potentially playing receiver against Virginia Tech and then having to play quarterback

"From the wide receiver mindset, I knew my plays, the plays they had for me, and I knew what I had to do and I was going to try and get in there and make plays. Unfortunately, we didn't get to get to those plays...Thad went down and so I had to go switch gears and be the quarterback."

On where the team goes from here

"We'll go back and put this behind us. We'll put this behind us today and tomorrow, come back to practice Monday. We've got two weeks to prepare and we'll go to work."

Mike Tauiliili on the defensive game plan

"Our defensive coordinator, (Coach Azzinaro) came up with a great plan and it was up to us to execute it, and for the most part I believe we executed it as much as we could but the (big plays is what hurt)."

On missed tackles

"Early in the game we were missing a lot of tackles and those are the fundamentals that come down to us. We've got to work hard. We're put in the right position and we just have to make a play and that's what we'll tighten up with."

On the coming bye week

"I think it's really good we have an open week. We'll be able to watch the film of these last three weeks and I think it will really help us. We've got two weeks to prepare for Virginia and there shouldn't be any excuse."

Codey Lowe on the team struggling to stop big plays

"Stopping the x plays is the biggest thing we have to do. Anything over 20 yards is not good. It changes the game when you make a big play on the first play. It changed the ballgame, so we all need to try and stop those and make them have to work for every yard they get."

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