Oct. 21, 2008
Press Conference Video: Coach Grobe | Adams | Arnoux | Nenon | Vaughn
Head coach Jim Grobe
On bouncing back after the Maryland game...
"We had a good practice last night. I think our players are embarrassed. I know our coaches are embarrassed. It's unfortunate but we've really followed up two great wins with really poor performances. Hopefully, we can find some sense of consistency over the last six games."
On trying to be consistent every week...
"One of the things that we really want our team to be is a team that plays really consistently every week. You hate to get too high after a big win but that happened to us a couple of times and we came back the next week against Navy after the Florida State win and didn't play well. Then I thought we learned our lesson, but we had a good win against Clemson and then turned around and didn't play well at Maryland. Hopefully we'll get off this up and down deal and start playing some good football every Saturday."
On Miami...
"They're very athletic. They have skill and speed. They're a typical Miami football team. They're very similar to Florida State in that they have great athletes. They're playing some young guys but they're some of the most talented guys in the country."
On if he's comfortable with Russell Nenon moving to center...
"We'll find out today. We're going to have a pad practice today. We were out in shorts last night. We recruited Russ to play center. With Steve Justice at center, we felt like we were wasting Russ so we put him at guard and he did some good things last year as a guard and he's played well this year. The problem is depth. Trey was starting to play pretty well for us and that gave us a little bit of depth. Now, we've got to bump Joe Looney to starting guard. That's more of a concern for us than Russ moving to center. He'll have to play more snaps than he's used to so that's our biggest concern."
On if this is the most balanced he's seen the ACC since he's been at Wake Forest...
"I don't think there's any question. I don't think there's a team in our league that feels very comfortable week in and week out. That's maybe the only consistent thing in the league right now. Every week if you don't play well, you're not going to win."
On the advantage of playing at home...
"It certainly helps. Going on the road, playing in someone else's stadium and having a crowd that's behind the other team, certainly makes it tougher on you. I think that's probably going to be what determines things down the stretch. The team that plays the best on the road will be the team that's getting to the championship game."
On if other teams have figured out Wake Forest's offense...
"We really haven't been much of a misdirection offense. We've been more of a spread offense. We've kind of hung our hat on throwing the football. The problem is we've had two days where we didn't play very well. Riley (Skinner) didn't have a very good game against Navy and this past Saturday the receiving corps didn't have a good day. It's disappointing because we had opportunities, but to be in the spread, you have to be able to throw and catch. We've had two games where we haven't done that very well and we lost both of those football games. We probably need to be a little bit more balanced, but sometimes that's easier said than done."
On Sam Swank...
"He was actually out jogging last night. I think the trainers feel like he's much improved. His thigh is starting to loosen up and hopefully we can get him back. It's still going to be a day-to-day type thing."
Senior linebacker Stanley Arnoux
On rebounding from last week...
"Well you know it was a tough loss so we have to get in the film room, and get on the field. Practice is going to be key this week. We have to make sure everyone is up for practice and ready to go."
On how to make corrections from the Maryland game...
"They just outplayed us. We have to get in the film room and figure out our mistakes on offense, defense and special teams. We let up a lot of points and we couldn't score on them. So there wasn't one aspect of the game that stuck out in which we did well because we didn't do anything well."
On whether the mistakes were on the lack of execution...
"I think it definitely was. We had some good play calling by coach (Brad) Lambert and we just didn't execute when it came down to it. They had a lot of 3rd down conversions. They just outplayed us."
On whether it's tough to get a gauge on the ACC this season...
"Yes, it's a little tough. Usually you have a team that stands out and you that they are one of the teams that will make it to the ACC Championship game. But right now, I'm pretty sure there are a lot of ties for first place and it's pretty crazy this year. The teams you would expect to be ranked in the top 25 aren't and teams that you wouldn't expect are. It just goes to show that it's a crazy year this year and anything can happen."
On what threatens him about Miami...
"Everybody says they're young but man they are fast. We have to try and slow them down."
On how key home field has been in the ACC this year...
"Home field is key. To have fans on your side is huge. But with that being said, you still have to be prepared and come out ready to go. You have to execute every week whether your home or away because that's not a good enough of an excuse to lose."
On playing at Dolphin Stadium...
"It's a big stadium. It has really nice facilities. It's also a nice stadium with really nice grass and you know when you go in there your going to have to play a tough football team. It's going to be fun but we do have to execute on both sides of the ball."
On whether this year's Miami team has the same swagger as the Miami teams of the past...
"I don't know too many of their players but watching their games on TV, I think they're getting back into it. Their coach is doing a good job of getting them back into it and having that Miami swag."
On whether Wake has the advantage having so many fifth-year seniors compared to so many young guys for Miami...
"You'd like to think that but their young guys have been playing for six games or more now and they have some experience. We just have to go out there and execute. If we're fifth-year seniors and we don't execute like we need to, then it doesn't matter because we're not going to do well."
Redshirt Sophomore Running Back Josh Adams
On feelings about last Saturday's loss at Maryland...
"The past is in the past. It's gone, and we've really just got to focus on this week and work on all the mistakes that we had last week, me personally as well, and get ready for Miami. It's not easy but we have to make it easy because we can't let this one game affect all the other ones we have coming up. That's what's important right now - this week."
On if team has seen film on Miami yet...
"No, we haven't really had a chance. We've really just been working on putting in our new offensive scheme for this week. I'm sure coming later in the week we'll be able to watch some film on Miami. And when we have our own individual time, it's best for us to come in to watch."
On Miami defense...
"They're really revolved around speed and they're a real tough group of guys. I know that it's going to be fun for me after growing up hearing about Miami and Florida teams. I think it's going to be fun and interesting just to see what all they can bring to the table."
On balance of the ACC this year...
"I think that's been stated this year. That's what I like about the ACC. Week in and week out, you don't know who's going to be the dominant team."
On what offense needs to work on...
"Just being consistent, week in and week out. One week, we might have a lot of playmakers, and the next week we might not have anybody making plays. So really being consistent week in and week out, we think that's the thing that will help us be most successful."
Offensive Guard/Center Russell Nenon
On which position he likes playing the best...
"To be honest, when I'm playing and I'm healthy, as long as I'm on the field I'm good. There are obviously perks for each. You get to pull quite a bit at guard in our offense, so that's always fun. At center, knowing you always start the play is a real perk to me. Honestly, I just love being out there so I could care less which position I play."
On biggest transition to playing center...
"The defensive line goes from being about 10 inches away to two inches away. Especially against Miami - those guys are huge. Just getting the ball back to Riley [Skinner] while still doing my job and being effective is the biggest change because I don't only have to think about my assignment now, I also have to think about snapping the ball and making sure I've made the right call, and then doing my job."
On his mindset ...
"I mean you can't be nervous - obviously you're going to be nervous the first couple of plays. When I switched from guard to center at Maryland at the end of the game, I had to look up and think, `I've got to remember my center rules now and can't remember my guard rules.' It took me a second to kind of adapt so definitely this week of practice is going to be very beneficial to me so I can get the second-nature feeling of center back. I'm the guy who starts the play so I can't be the one who screws up."
On ACC...
"It's crazy to see the parity in the league. It's obviously frustrating to lose but to see that we're very, very equal is kind of cool actually."
On execution...
"Coach Grobe preaches everyday that everyone on our schedule is capable of beating us and we have to do our jobs to be able to win. Obviously, the redzone is the big thing we're struggling with. We haven't executed well. Execution is vital for success and we need to grasp that concept."
On Miami's speed...
"Watching Miami football, their main aspect is how athletic they are. Even for how big they are, they're very, very athletic. As a little kid, I watched the Warren Sapps, the Dan Morgans, and you're in awe of how athletic they are. But we're athletic too. If we do our job, good things should happen."
