Mike Elko Press Conference Quotes: North Carolina A&T – Duke University

DURHAM – Duke soccer head coach Mike Elko met with members of the media on Monday afternoon for his weekly press convention.

The Blue Devils welcome North Carolina A&T to Brooks Area at Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday. The sport will likely be broadcast on ACC Community Additional with Mike Morgan, Mike Glennon and Jalyn Johnson on the decision. Kickoff is slated for six p.m. The sport can be heard on the Blue Satan Sports activities Community from LEARFIELD via the Varsity app or goduke.com
 
Mike Elko Duke Soccer Head Coach
(Ref.: Opening Assertion)
“It was an incredible win for our program for us to go on the street and journey to a Large Ten opponent. Actually, an opponent that we now have quite a lot of respect for however we found out a approach to come out of the sport with a win which was one thing that we had been very blissful about. I assumed our crew began quick. I assumed we embraced the problem of getting to go up there and be bodily. I assumed we did that. Clearly, getting out to a 21-point lead was big. We knew they’d hold coming and so they did. They saved battling and quite a lot of respect for his or her program, however our children simply saved combating and we saved discovering methods to make performs. I assumed we made some stops defensively at essential instances within the second half. Clearly, the landing move that we obtained to Jordan Moore was big. Then we had been in a position to get the massive play on the finish to seal it and really excited to stroll away with a win. 2-0 is a superb factor for our program, however now it is on to the following and it will type of at all times be that mantra.
 
“A few guys to simply single out from the sport. I assumed Jaylen Stinson clearly deserves some credit score. He had an amazing sport, was each our defensive participant of the week and our particular groups participant of the week making performs all around the discipline. Then clearly made the large one to win the sport. I assumed Brandon Johnson performed exceptionally effectively within the secondary and was accountable for an interception and a fumble restoration that was necessary. Ja’Mion Franklin was our defensive lineman of the week. I assumed he actually did job controlling the road of scrimmage and serving to us. We out rushed them, 221 yards to 76. That was one thing that we took quite a lot of satisfaction in. Offensively, Jordan Waters was our participant of the sport. I assumed he ran as laborious as we have seen him run and actually it might have been both of the 2 backs. I assumed Jaylen Coleman did the identical. We completed runs and ran behind our pads the way in which we wish our working backs to do this. Then general, on our offensive line, I assumed we performed exceptionally effectively. I assumed we created area, I assumed we opened holes. I assumed we protected Riley [Leonard] very well. Graham Barton was our offensive lineman of the week. I assumed we obtained some actually good performances out of our offensive line. Like I discussed, Jaylen Stinson was our particular groups participant of the week, did a extremely good job in protection and in addition we thought made an enormous play on the sky kick that he got here working as much as begin the second half and discipline as a result of I assumed that was a little bit little bit of a tough kick that they put collectively.
 
“Shifting on to subsequent week, we have got a extremely good North Carolina A&T program coming in right here. Anytime we get an opportunity to play an in-state program, that creates a little bit bit extra buzz and a little bit bit extra environment. We’re definitely excited to host them this week. Coach [Sam] Washington has carried out a extremely good job with that program in the previous few years. Received quite a lot of respect for what we see on movie. They’re very quick, very athletic crew. Defensively, they’re similar to what we noticed final week, and Coach Washington has been a defensive man. You realize, they’re a four-down entrance. They are going to actually make it laborious so that you can run the soccer. They are going to pack numbers into the field, so we will have to essentially do job with our run schemes and creating motion up entrance. Offensively they unfold you out. They have actually good athletes. They have a extremely proficient working again. They’ve type of been bouncing round two quarterbacks thus far to this yr, so it will be fascinating to see type of the place they decide on that coming into our sport. Final yr they took the opening drive and went 20 performs proper down the sphere to take a 7-0 lead on us, so we have got quite a lot of respect for this crew. Our focus is on the now and it is on this sport and ensuring that we get higher every single day and are available out and play this week to our customary. That is our aim of the week and the place we’re attempting to go.”
 
(Ref.: On the general evaluation of the protection via the opening two weeks)
“I feel we’re persevering with to progress in route for certain. I feel we’re giving up, 11.5 factors a sport proper now, in order that definitely is progress. That is actually the largest factor that we’re targeted on with this group proper now. It is simply protecting factors off the scoreboard. That is a giant emphasis to us. We do not wish to hand over a bunch of yards. That is by no means the aim, however that is not going to be the end result thought course of for this group with who we’re and the place we’re proper now. We wish to hold factors off the scoreboard. I feel we have proven a capability to carry up run sport protection. I feel that is one thing that is been an enormous emphasis. I assumed from a physicality standpoint via two weeks we have carried out that. I feel our run protection has been actually good. I feel for us to carry Northwestern to 2.2 yards a carry is de facto good. The passing sport elevated this previous weekend. That was a a lot better passing sport that we went up in opposition to. The Hull child offered an issue. That was one thing we have got to do a greater job with. We have got to be a little bit bit extra sound in our assignments and what we’re attempting to do from an execution standpoint. We have got to do a greater job as coaches of getting us in higher positions to achieve success. That is type of the problem this week, is elevating that a part of the protection. However I am proud of how laborious we’re taking part in. I am proud of how laborious we’re competing. We simply should be sure that we proceed to work and get higher every single day.”
 
(Ref.: On how the large receiver room has continued to progress)
“Now we have weapons in that room and clearly weapons are an enormous a part of the fashionable school soccer period. And so, you realize, Jalon [Calhoun] is in a extremely good headspace proper now. I am simply actually proud of the place he is at. He is competing every single day. He is obtained a extremely good focus. He is clearly extraordinarily athletic. He at all times has been. He is gone out and he is made massive time performs for us within the sport. I assumed Eli Pancol’s massive catch was big and he is offered that for us each weeks as he is gone out and made some actually heavy contested catches. Jordan Moore, clearly Sahmir Hagans has proven up a little bit bit extra week one than week two, however he is been a man who’s been on the market for us and Jontavis Robertson and Darrell Harding Jr. are offering us high quality snaps. So we really feel like we have got six in that room proper now that may actually exit and be productive and assist us.”
 
(Ref.: On being shocked that Jordan Moore has picked up a brand new place so rapidly)
“Sure and no. You by no means know what it’ll seem like. We even talked about it. We had been nervous the primary day as a result of, you’ve this great athlete and now he will exit at large receiver. We have all seen that not translate. You did not know what it was going to seem like, but it surely took us most likely about three minutes to appreciate he was going to transition easy. You then put in the truth that he is an amazing character child and he is such a tough employee that you simply simply know he will get higher each time he goes out to follow. He nonetheless has loads to work on and enhance simply from the methods and the on a regular basis understanding of being a large receiver, however he’ll proceed to work, and he’ll proceed to get higher and I feel every week you may see a distinct product and a little bit bit higher product.”
 
(Ref.: On the character of Jordan Moore)
“Yeah, I imply, he might have transferred, proper? That is what 90 p.c of youngsters appear to wish to do these days when this stuff do not go precisely the way in which they write them up. That is simply type of the world we dwell in now. He did not. He jumped on the alternative to assist the crew. He jumped on the alternative to play large receiver and he believed in what we had been speaking to him about by way of even simply being the very best for his future and what we see him probably past school as. He is jumped at it and he is carried out an incredible job.”
 
(Ref.: On the main target of the now and shifting gears towards this weekend after a giant win)
“That is what we wish to be. I feel we began that within the press convention with the entire dialog about how necessary the now was. It is the rationale why that’s a part of our acronym is as a result of that is the one factor that is ever going to matter, proper? You can simply go searching school soccer each single weekend and notice that in case you don’t remain targeted on the duty at hand, it’s totally laborious to have success. That is simply the character of faculty soccer in the present day. So, there’s quite a lot of proficient packages on the market. A number of instances while you’re 2-0, there’s much more unsuitable with you than the bare eye sees. While you’re 0-2, there’s much more proper with you than the bare eye sees. Each week is its personal problem, and also you simply should dwell into it and turn out to be the very best you will be.”
 
(Ref.: On the arrogance the blokes have proven day in and time out)
“Confidence comes from preparation and confidence comes from how a lot you place in to turning into the very best you may turn out to be. These children know they’ve labored laborious. These children have labored for eight-and-a-half months to get themselves prepared for this season. We simply hold reminding them of that. The work you have put in is rarely going to go away. That is the place confidence ought to come from. It should not come from the rest apart from, you are totally ready for the duty at hand.”
 
(Ref.: On the stability of instructing moments throughout massive video games, but additionally letting the crew have fun)
“It is simply an understanding that that is at all times going to be the case. Whether or not you win or lose within the sport of soccer, you placed on a tape while you win and also you count on each play to be proper. It by no means will likely be. There’s going to be 5 or 6 performs that if that they had gone one other manner, can be the rationale why you misplaced. While you lose a soccer sport, you count on to come back in and see each play be unsuitable. That is not what occurs both. You see three or 4 performs the place you had been this shut to creating them and you would have gained. That is simply understanding how soccer works and ensuring that your children perceive that it is a actuality. You are at all times this shut from the end result being in a distinct route. Our job week in and week out is to arrange as laborious as we will to be sure that these performs go in our favor. I feel preparation performs a task in that. I do not assume what occurred in that sport was luck. I feel Jaylen Stinson performed extraordinarily laborious till the tip of that sport and popped the ball out and clearly that gained us a soccer sport. I do not assume issues are fortunate. I feel issues occur due to preparation. I feel we’re getting ready very well proper now.”
 
(Ref.: On creating extra consistency with the offense)
“It has been a few issues. Beginning quick is big and definitely you may’t maintain that. We scored touchdowns on our first three drives. We definitely will not rating a landing on each drive. So, there’s going to be some ebbs and flows of it. What we have got to do a greater job of is and we talked about this with the blokes this morning is simply persevering with to be comfy doing the unusual issues and never becoming bored doing what’s working. I feel once we hit that lull there was a handful of performs the place perhaps we simply did not hold doing the issues on the identical stage, we had been doing them. I feel that is the place we have simply obtained to proceed to take care of our focus, proceed to take care of our edge and simply hold pushing via it. The largest lull was the second quarter. We had the back-to-back three-and-outs within the second quarter. We did not execute effectively on these two drives. You then return, and also you take a look at the primary drive of the second half and we go proper down the sphere and, we now have a man, and we simply do not execute the play. I feel everyone noticed that. We definitely had the flexibility to show that right into a landing and it simply did not go our manner. Then we now have one other drive the place we get down there and we simply type of lavatory up a little bit bit and we miss a discipline aim. There have been factors left on the board even when, we had been in a lull. I nonetheless assume there have been factors there for us to have. We simply did not execute on the highest stage. I informed our guys, we’re 2-0, we’re doing effectively. We have performed at about 60 p.c of our capacity at this level and if we will proceed to push there’s an opportunity we will do one thing actually particular.”
 
(Ref.: On if chasing historical past is offering additional motivation to go 3-0 this week)
“No additional motivation. The truth of it’s this and I inform our guys this on a regular basis too, it places an even bigger x in your again. That is all it does. You do not get something from a bonus standpoint going into subsequent week as a 2-0 soccer crew, apart from you get the opponent’s full consideration. We all know we will get the very best from our opponent. That is what 2-0 will get us. So, to me, it simply will get us an even bigger problem. The arrogance is rising due to our preparation. I feel perception is rising in our program of what we’re able to turning into. I feel that is thrilling. These are the issues that I spend extra time specializing in. These are the issues that I feel are actually tangible ways in which we will turn out to be a greater crew.”
 
(Ref.: On what the largest factor is heading into an in-state opponent)
“We wish to proceed to start out quick. I feel that is the factor that we now have carried out effectively in each video games. I feel we have come out of the blocks and began quick. I feel we have performed our customary of soccer at a extremely excessive stage to start out every of the primary two video games. Now what we have got to have the ability to do is come out, begin quick, have success, after which maintain it. That is the problem. That is what we’re engaged on, however clearly I might like to proceed to start out quick. I feel that is apparent from a bonus standpoint what we might wish to proceed to do.”
 
(Ref.: On Ja’Mion Franklin’s success all through camp and the primary two weeks)
“I feel he is in a a lot better bodily form than he is ever been in. He is dropped 20 kilos from once we obtained right here. He is coaching at a extremely excessive stage. He is training actually laborious. I knew he was proficient from highschool. I recruited him and signed him at Notre Dame. We at all times believed he was a proficient participant. I feel we simply type of obtained again the very best model of him and I feel you are beginning to see that on the sphere proper now.”
 
(Ref.: On the physicality of each fronts and the main target being on Northwestern’s offense line)
“I feel they took that very personally. I actually do. We made certain we reminded them of that fairly a bunch. It is no disrespect to anyone, however we wish to satisfaction ourselves on being a bodily soccer crew. We follow actually laborious. You guys have been on the market. Our practices have turn out to be much more bodily. We wish that to be one thing we will hold our hat on. Clearly, we knew that was the rhetoric, proper? We knew that the rationale why folks thought we had been a two-touchdown underdog is as a result of we would not have the ability to go up there and match a Large Ten crew’s physicality. We took that personally. After all, we did.”
 
(Ref.: On John Gelotte seeing his first motion this weekend)
“He was good. It is good to get rotation. I feel that is one of many issues that having John again we’re in a position to get extra rotation. That is one thing we wish to be about. I feel we will be at our greatest once we’re in a position to play contemporary. We have got it going within the backfield, we have got it going at large receiver, we have got to proceed to get that happening the offensive line. Having John again gave us a stable seven-man group that we had been in a position to go on the market with. Simply as you speak via that group, Jacob Monk’s flexibility to have the ability to play guard and heart is de facto necessary to us. Jack Burns’ flexibility to have the ability to play guard and heart is de facto necessary to us. That permits us to essentially maximize what we’re attempting to do after which clearly having the ability to rotate John with Dre Harris and with Graham [Barton], it simply retains everyone taking part in at a greater stage as a result of they’re brisker as they undergo the sport. Then I feel it permits them to maintain over a 12-game season much more as a result of hopefully you do not have that burnout from the snap rely.”
 
(Ref.: On how the protection held as much as almost 100 performs)
“We did not wish to be up there in these numbers. I feel it was a extremely fascinating sport as a result of the way in which the primary half performed out. I do not assume I might change it, but it surely simply was an ungainly one from a snap rely standpoint. You realize, we went out and we scored actually quick and we did not actually have these lengthy, methodical drives like we had been in a position to type of go down the sphere and rating. Then we had the back-to-back three-and-outs. So actually, we had 5 pretty quick drives on offense, three that resulted in touchdowns, proper? In order that’s half of soccer, however they weren’t lengthy drives. Then defensively we actually did job of limiting explosive performs, however we did not do an incredible job of getting off the sphere. We simply felt it constructing on the sideline. Once I obtained in at halftime, I feel it was like 46 to 23, is what the snap rely was at halftime. We challenged our defensive guys within the locker room at halftime as a result of we knew the place it was going and it simply was like, ‘hey, pay attention, that is what we educated for. That is what the summers had been about. This factor would possibly stand up to 100 and we’re simply going to should go and we do not have a selection and we will should go.’ I do not know that there was something we might have actually carried out. We tried to handle the clock a little bit bit within the second half on offense to attempt to assist. We knew a part of our benefit was taking part in a little bit bit quicker. So, it was just a bit little bit of a stability that we had been looking for. However it simply was not what we needed for certain, but it surely was one thing I feel we purchased into and overcame.”
 
(Ref.: On if there have been any changes as a head coach that he has already needed to make)
“Certain, an entire bunch of them. I’ve realized tips on how to perform on the sideline via two video games. That is been good thus far. I’ve type of apologized to the referee crew upfront for me getting in anybody’s manner. I have not tripped anybody up. I have not fallen but, in order that’s been good. It is a studying curve for me and I am entering into a little bit bit higher rhythm. I feel from a sport administration standpoint and from simply being useful on the sideline and seeing issues and being a man that may be a constructive affect on what we’re attempting to do. So yeah, I feel these can be the areas I am type of targeted on.”
 
(Ref.: On if there’s a sure sort of penalty that bugs coaches worse)
“What you don’t need is quite a lot of pre-snap penalties. I feel pre-snap penalties present a scarcity of focus. So, if our guys are lining up offsides, if our guys are leaping offsides, if we have got quite a lot of movement procedures, if we’re concentrating on folks out of bounds, if there’s penalties like that in my view, we now have to do a extremely good job as coaches of not permitting it to occur. We did not have a lot of these. I feel we had perhaps one offsides on protection that we attempt to leap a snap rely within the two-minute drill. Our penalties had been all in movement, proper? And so in movement penalties, they are going to occur. You are going to have aggressive penalties happen in a sport. Clearly, we had too many. We have got to do a greater job as coaches of getting them to know tips on how to be aggressive and never commit aggressive penalties. However these ones as a coach are definitely loads simpler to handle. I used to be a little bit bit extra pissed off after the primary sport, to be sincere with you, as a result of I assumed we had some procedural issues. I assumed we jumped offsides a few instances. I assumed these to me are loads simpler so that you can management than tugging on the left shirt of a receiver whilst you’re 40 yards downfield attempting to not let him catch a bomb. These are loads more durable. These are much more aggressive.”
 
(Ref.: On the play of the secondary on Saturday)
“I assumed there have been instances the place we had been tighter in protection than we have been historically. I assumed there have been instances the place we had been on them and actually stopped the passing sport. Then there have been instances the place we weren’t. There have been instances the place Hull was an issue. I imply, Hull obtained matched up and so they did job schematically of getting him matched up, and we might have carried out a a lot better job leveraging him. We might have defended screens loads higher. After which there have been instances in some off yardage conditions the place we performed some zone, and we simply did not execute it the way in which we might have appreciated to have executed. So, we have simply obtained to do a greater job of teaching them up on. And that is one thing that is new to those guys. They have not been an enormous zone crew. So simply attempting to get them to know how that should look and the way the spacing on the sphere must be. I feel that was the place among the actually dangerous spacing performs got here from was simply us needing to do a greater job of teaching them up on zone understanding.”
 
(Ref.: On Riley Leonard’s poise in opposition to a more durable opponent in Northwestern)
“I assumed he performed effectively and managed the sport effectively. I assumed we had a distinct plan. I assumed we needed to run the ball on the street to be efficient on this sport, and we had been ready to do this. It wasn’t fairly as massive within the passing sport. He nonetheless made some performs and made some throws and I feel we had two 100-yard receivers and that is one thing that we will hold our hat on. I am proud of the way in which he performed and managed the sport. We’re nonetheless doing job of defending the soccer on that aspect and in order that’s necessary.”
 
(Ref.: On how poetic it was to have a tipped move intercepted, but additionally get a giant acquire off one)
“There was definitely some backwards and forwards breaks on that for certain. We talked about that once we had been watching the movie. Solely while you win the sport, they solely level out the breaks you bought. Actually, that was a really unfortunate interception on our half. It was a deflection that then pops off Eli’s head. And that is actually what retains the play alive to permit for it to turn out to be an interception. Credit score to their child, he saved combating and saved taking part in and he made the play. Then the flip aspect of that’s credit score to Jalon Calhoun, as a result of on a ball that is not thrown to him, he retains competing and he retains combating and the ball will get deflected and he runs beneath it and makes a play, you realize? So these issues are inclined to stability out much more than folks assume they do over the course of the sport.”
 
(Ref.: On the feelings throughout the sport for some Duke coaches who used to teach at Northwestern)
“It is probably not a bizarre dynamic. It is definitely emotional for them and for Coach [Adam] Cushing as a result of he is from Chicago, his spouse’s from Chicago. He coached at Northwestern for 15 years. He was there when this system obtained began with Coach [Pat] Fitzgerald and was there throughout the event of it. So, I am certain he had quite a lot of feelings going via it. I do know that John’s household obtained collectively and began when Coach [Kevin] Johns was teaching at Northwestern, after which Coach [Patrick] Dougherty was a GA up there at Northwestern. So, everytime you return, there is a sentimental feeling, but it surely would not actually have an effect on this system as a lot because it impacts these people.”
 
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