ECU Coach Houston press conference quotes
Opening Statement:
"Quick turnaround. Saturday to Friday means everything got sped up pretty well. We came back yesterday and took a look at the film with the players. The coaching staff was back in the office early Sunday morning preparing for Cincinnati and got the corrections and adjustments from the Tulane game taken care of. We had a shorter practice yesterday. Concerned about getting the kids fresh for Friday night so we will go a touch shorter than normal early in the week. Tough matchup. Good football team we are playing. One of the top teams in the country obviously. It's an exciting matchup for our players. Being able to go on the road against an opponent of Cincinnati's caliber and playing on a national stage has our players and staff excited.
On Cincinnati's Defense:
"It's not just their defense but, looking at all three phases, it's their team speed. I think they run really well at all three levels. They have good size on the defensive line and those kids can really move. They run really well in the secondary and at the linebacker position. You'll see them play some drop eight where it's just a three-man rush and they are still getting pressure on people. They also bring a variety of pressures just like we do. People have struggled to run the ball against them this year. They've been very stingy."
On What Could Be Similar To Last Year's Game Against Cincinnati:
"It's the same players. When you look at their roster, the same guys have been playing for multiple years. They are seniors backed up by juniors across the two deep. We played well against them offensively last year. Tough game. We lost on a kick there at the end. Obviously, having to travel up there and playing on the road will be tough.
"I think they are much improved, even from the team I saw at the beginning of the year. Great depth across the board so I just think we are playing a really good football team Friday night."
On The Opportunity To Beat A Top 10 Team In Cincinnati:
"Having the opportunity to play against a quality opponent like Cincinnati is something I certainly cherish. I am excited about it. I think our kids will be too. Right now, Cincinnati is the top team in our league and will be until someone knocks them off. I've been there. I've been the bunch that is at the top. The tough thing about it is that you'll get everyone's best shot each week. It's hard to get the top, but it's also hard to stay there."
On Playing Well In American Athletic Conference Road Games:
"Our team has shown it can handle the travel schedule and playing at night. They have confidence in what they need to do to get ready. The big focus, home or away, is our preparation. When we have had great weeks of preparation, crisp practices and competition, we've played well that weekend. That's been my big focus with the team yesterday and will be today. They know it because they feel it. They go through it. They know when they practice well, they play well. Hopefully we will be ready to play at a high level Friday night."
On Cincinnati Quarterback Desmond Ritter's Threat As A Runner:
"He's obviously a legitimate run threat. He's their second-leading rusher. They have a lot of quarterback design stuff with reads off the back side of the run. With the way he runs, you have to account for him. It's something that will be a challenge this week. When a play breaks down, he can get a lot of yardage in quarterback scramble runs. I really think he's improved his play from the beginning of the year. He struggled some with turnovers, but I think now he's more consistent in taking care of the football and decision making. His ability to run certainly gives them more of a threat offensively."
On Attacking Cincinnati Offensively:
"We would like to be balanced. That's been consistent throughout. I don't want to be one dimensional. Tulane made us one dimensional last week. We've got to do a better job of being balanced this week. We're going to have to throw the ball effectively against Cincinnati, but we'd also like to run the ball effectively also. Coach (Donnie) Kirkpatrick and his staff have been working diligently since early Sunday morning to try to come up with a game plan that will give us the best opportunity for success."
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