News and Notes from the ACC Coaches Teleconference 09/18

Audio files and full transcripts of the  teleconference can be found later this afternoon on theacc.com.

Al Golden of Miami:

Coach Golden talked about getting the older players healed up and bringing along the younger guys during the bye week.

On DE Shayon Green:

"Shayon is strong and plays with a high motor. He is a very unheralded player and is one of our captains and leaders. He makes a lot of plays on the backside and is strong at the point of attack. I am very pleased with his development for sure."

On being favored by 60 against Savannah State:

"I really didn't worry about the spread 2 weeks ago.  We made the week about us,  This week is no different."

Golden added, "I hope we are 13 days better than when we played Florida."

On the prolonged NCAA investigation and the team state:

"I am proud of what we have accomplished so far, but we have a long way to go. In terms of what we have to do as a team we  have everything in front of us. What I am proud of is everyone who stood with us during this tough time. They had a chance to punch through and see the sun a little with the win over Florida."

News and Notes from around the rest of the ACC:

• Dabo Swinney, of Clemson talked about his team's preparation in getting ready for their first road test, this Thursday in Raleigh against NC State.  He called the Wolfpack's defensive line "disruptive." He also credited NCSU's offensive for "getting the ball to the perimeter"  and called them "simple but complex." On his own offense and the comparison to last year's O, he credited experience and having a healthy Sammy Watkins as reasons why he felt they could be just as good. Swinney added, "There is no reason for us to not be very successful on that side of the ball."  He called the loss of WR Charone Peake to a torn ACL a big loss, but expressed confidence in Adam Humphries stepping in. "Losing Charone will not affect how we call the plays."

• Jimbo Fisher, Florida State's Head Coach was proud of his team's performance in a 62-7 win last weekend against Nevada. He compared this week's opponent Bethune Cookman to Nevada in terms of offensive strategy.  He said he would remind his team of the success of FBS schools this year to prevent FSU from overlooking their opponent. On his freshman kicker Roberto Aguayo's range, "Probably 62 or 63."  He called recently converted RB Karlos Williams a "spark for the team" and said RB was his most natural position.  Fisher praised the leadership ability of QB Jameis Winston and said "he was very vocal" even with upperclassmen.

• Randy Edsall, of  Maryland was happy with his team's 32-21 win over UConn, despite struggling at times to get in the end zone. On facing West Virginia this week, "They are running the ball with much more efficiency this year, they present you with a lot of problems with the multiplicity they have offensively."  On LB Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil,  Edsall said the walk on, came in with a "chip on his shoulder" and he was "playing very well."  On freshman DB Will Likely, "He's fun to be around, and I just love the way he competes."  He also praised QB CJ Brown, but said he expected continued improvement from his signal caller. 
  

• Scott Shafer, of Syracuse said he team was looking forward to continued improvement this week against Tulane. On facing Nick Montana, son of Hall of Famer Joe Montana, "I idolized his dad, he gets better every week. He has a very good receiver in Ryan Grant, we will have to be aware of every play."    Schafer said his team had targets of 60% for holding opponents to 3 yards or less on first down, and gaining 4 yards or more offensively 60% of time, and the team was getting closer to these goals.
  

• Jim Grobe, Wake Forest's Head Coach was disappointed in losing to LA Monroe, but hoped his team would bounce back against Army. He talked about Army being an under center option team, and said he hoped his team would be a "throwing team that ran the option."  Grobe talked about WR Michael Campanero being a very good football player, but the need for more balance.  On his defense, he was pleased over all but felt they needed to limit the big plays. Grobe also added that if his offense improved it would help the defense overall.
  

• Paul Johnson, of Georgia Tech was happy with his team's play against Duke, but felt like they left a lot of points on the field. Johnson said he looked for improvement for QB Vlad Lee. On Lee tossing 4 TDs against Duke, he credited play action and said "he made some nice throws."  On the "diamond formation" - he said it was mostly for an additional look and a "change of pace." 
  

• Larry Fedora, North Carolina's Head Coach looked forward to facing the Yellow Jackets after a week and a half of preparation following the bye week. On slowing down the triple option, "We need to get as many hats to the ball as possible."  He also added,   "No matter what you try to do in a week with a scout team running that offense, you can't duplicate what Georgia Tech does."   
  

• Paul Chryst, of Pittsburgh talked about facing Duke, but said there was uncertainty in facing Brandon Connette instead of Anthony Boone, at QB.  Chryst felt like game experience was helping his QB Tom Savage improve and "get much more comfortable."  He added it was too early to tell if the emergence of WR Tyler Boyd had helped divert attention from Devin Street.  on DT Aaron Donald,  "I love talking about Aaron, he's not the tallest guy but he has very good strength and explosion. He does a great job of preparation. He has a great motor to him.  He has a lot of things coaches love."
  

• Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech's legendary skipper,  called Marshall a "very complete football team" and said facing them would be another very good test. The Hokies go for their 700th win as a program this weekend. Beamer talked about creating competition along the offensive line in hopes of improving the unit.  He said RB JC Coleman was "close" to returning, but looked "rusty" in practice.  On true freshman corner Brandon Facyson, who has 3 INTs so far this year, he credited Facyson for being in the right place at the right time and called him "impressive" overall.  He called the youth of his team "unique" in his experience, and said the Hokies has already played 10 true freshman so far this year.
  

• Mike London, of Virginia spoke about wanting to involve QB David Watford more in the running game, and advised that Watford going through his progressions had prevented that development so far. On having a bye week, "Most coaches like to take care of the things they are deficient at, also it is an opportunity to develop guys that don't always get in the games."   London, who was raised in Westpoint, NY,  said he was very proud of his father's Air Force background, and said it does factor in in scheduling the academies. UVA plays Virginia Military this weekend.
  

• Steve Addazio, of Boston College, called his team's loss to USC disappointing. He credited the talent of the Trojans and their ability to keep the ball away from his offense as a key.  Addazio said that maximizing themselves on both sides of the ball would be a focus in the bye week.  He said that facing them and their team speed would help prepare for his next opponent in FSU on 9/28.  On his pass rush,  he credited scheme in the improved sack totals, adding  "We can't just sit back." 
  

• David Cutcliffe, Duke's Head Coach spoke about this week's game against Pitt being "huge" after dropping their first Coastal Division challenge against Georgia Tech. Cutcliffe,  who coached Todd Helton in football as an assistant at Tennessee, credited Helton's vision and ability to see the game in "slow motion" as two traits that helped Helton both on the gridiron and the diamond. He credited CB Garrett Patterson, with showing "great leadership" in the week after a tough loss.  On his team being ranked #7 academically in the latest US News College Rankings, he called it more an advantage then a disadvantage in recruiting.
  

• Dave Doeren, of NC State said that his team faced a "lot of challenges" this Thursday against Clemson, but was happy to be doing so in front of a home crowd.  Doeren minimized the win over Clemson in 2011. He said he expected a huge crowd for the game and that there was a buzz in Raleigh about it. 
  

Be sure to check in every Wednesday for weekly updates from the ACC Coaches'  Teleconference.