Neal Brown Duke's Mayo Bowl Preview
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00:00 All right, and also just thanks for being here on a Sunday.
00:04 This is a busy time, so this worked out the best.
00:12 So hopefully, you all can get what you need and it's not too inconvenient.
00:17 We wrapped up our third North Carolina practice today.
00:22 We'll practice tomorrow morning, and then we'll give our guys off when we finish
00:27 from about noon, they'll get off the rest of the day tomorrow, Tuesday, Wednesday,
00:31 Thursday, and then we're coming back Friday evening, and
00:35 we'll start a normal game week.
00:37 So in our mind, Friday will be a Monday practice, and
00:42 we'll carry on through that.
00:43 Extremely busy, I think most of you all know that, in college football right now.
00:50 So signing day on Wednesday, so I'll see you again on Wednesday.
00:55 We'll try to keep, ask all your North Carolina stuff now, today.
01:00 That way we can keep, we'll talk signees and if we have the GA or
01:05 whatever, GIAs for the portal guys, we'll talk about them too then, if we can.
01:11 But obviously recruiting, been gone for most of two weeks during the week, and
01:16 we've practiced the last two weekends.
01:18 Portal is obviously open, so you work on retaining your own roster and
01:24 trying to add the pieces we need.
01:25 And so a lot going on.
01:28 I wanna congratulate, cuz I don't think I have an opportunity.
01:31 First, starting with Beanie, I mean 13th Consensus All-American,
01:34 huge, huge honor for him, and he earned it.
01:37 Zach Frazier also, several All-American teams, and
01:42 the Campbell Trophy went out to Vegas with him the week before last,
01:47 and that's a huge honor.
01:49 And then Gene White, he's made a bunch of freshman All-American teams, so
01:53 proud of those guys.
01:54 And then we've also, during this time, we've been scrimmaging our young guys.
02:01 So did it twice last weekend, we've done it three times,
02:05 we'll do it a fourth time this weekend.
02:07 And so just some guys, cuz I know that you all wanna know this, but
02:12 I think defensively, these are the guys I think are making progress.
02:16 Are Corey McIntyre, Hammond Russell, Josiah Jackson, Asani Redwood.
02:21 They've really had, this weekend, they've really stuck out.
02:23 I think they've had nice weekends.
02:25 Our Monday Night Football,
02:28 our scrimmaging with our developmental guys, and then offensively, DJ Oliver.
02:32 Nico, Nico's had a really good month of December.
02:36 And Tyler Evans, who's a walk-on that's really coming on,
02:41 and then two young tackles, Nick Cray and Johnny Williams.
02:45 And so we'll scrimmage those guys tomorrow again, and then on Friday, and
02:50 that'll be kind of the last developmental scrimmage that we'll do
02:54 during this bowl prep, but it's been really good.
02:57 And I think you all know this, but the red shirt rule,
03:02 the bowl game doesn't count for red shirts anymore.
03:04 And so even these guys that have played four games, like a DJ Oliver,
03:07 he'll be up and be able to compete, which really helps.
03:11 That's one of the rules that's been passed that actually makes sense, all right?
03:16 That actually makes sense.
03:21 So, and then our plan is in the bowl game,
03:26 is some of these guys have really come on, cuz you think about this.
03:30 These guys that we made decisions on in fall camp that they were gonna be
03:35 red shirted, they've gone through a 14-week off-season program with our
03:40 strength conditioning, and then they scrimmage once a week during every regular
03:45 season week, and we did it two times on our mini, and then we've done it.
03:50 We'll have seven total during December, and so
03:56 these guys are quite a bit better than they were in fall camp.
04:03 So there's gonna be some guys, especially on special teams.
04:05 We didn't play very well on special teams toward the end of the year, so
04:08 we're gonna give those guys some opportunities.
04:11 Injury updates, Zach will miss the game.
04:13 I think we've already said that.
04:15 CJ Donaldson will miss the game, and that's really my decision.
04:19 He had surgery, and I thought it affected him right at the end of the game,
04:24 especially in the Baylor game.
04:26 And for him, as a head coach, you gotta make decisions,
04:30 the betterment of the entire program, but also for the right reasons for
04:34 each individual, and I felt like that an off-season was more important than him
04:41 than not being able to play full speed in the bowl game.
04:43 And so he's rehabbing, but he will not be available.
04:49 And then I think Preston Fox is too early, and so
04:52 we'll have a better idea when we get down to Charlotte.
04:57 He's practiced a little bit, but we'll know more closer to the game, and so
05:02 unsure on that one yet.
05:04 But with that, I'll take questions.
05:06 >> So besides that, and obviously you know the portal guys who are leaving,
05:09 who I assume aren't going to play.
05:11 Anybody else who's opting out type thing, not going to play?
05:15 >> Not to this point.
05:17 Yeah, not to this point.
05:18 And I'm trying to think here, Greg.
05:21 I don't think we have anybody that's in the portal right now that's gonna play.
05:28 And those have already been publicized.
05:34 You all seen who's out.
05:36 You can ask if you got somebody that's here.
05:39 But everybody else is gonna play and be available.
05:44 >> So with that, your defensive backfield sort of very, it was thin to begin with.
05:49 Now it's thinner with the portal losses.
05:52 How do you adjust back there?
05:53 >> Well, Hirst is the guy that was playing some.
05:57 And then we've been playing, I mean, you've watched.
06:01 We've been playing Marcus Floyd.
06:03 We've been playing more of a kind of a five defensive backs
06:07 toward the back half of the year anyway.
06:09 So Marcus Floyd will play there.
06:13 And what we'll do is we'll have a rotation.
06:14 We can play, Aubrey can play some nickel.
06:19 And then Malachi can bounce back and play some safety.
06:22 And we can get Jacoby some more snaps at corner, which I think he's earned.
06:27 And so we'll just move some pieces around and try to get them,
06:30 spell them by drive, all right, and just try to make do.
06:34 Raleigh Collins could play a little bit more at spear.
06:36 So that's how we'll kind of work our numbers.
06:42 >> Talking to Beanie before you got in here, and
06:45 he had a pretty good testimonial for your program.
06:47 He said, some people go places for NIL money.
06:51 I came here because I wanna be a better football player.
06:54 And he was a better football player.
06:55 What's that speak?
06:56 And he's the first portal guy that's ever been a consensus All-American here.
07:00 So what's that say for your program?
07:01 >> Well, I think he's got, first of all, he's a good fit, right?
07:05 This is kind of an underdog program.
07:08 And so you think about his career, he goes to Western,
07:13 kind of under recruited out of Louisville.
07:15 Goes to Western, has three really good years, transfers to Minnesota.
07:22 And he played, he played, I think, close to 350, 400 snaps last year.
07:28 But was a rotational guy and wanted to have a better opportunity.
07:33 And he came here and he just worked.
07:35 And the thing that, first of all, I'm really happy for him individually.
07:41 But then it's been not just his on-field performance has helped us, but
07:46 his work ethic, how he practiced, how he prepared has really helped our defensive
07:50 backfield.
07:50 Like some of the younger guys,
07:51 even some of the older guys that have eligibility.
07:54 He's really made a difference back there.
07:57 And we're better, we're significantly better because of him.
08:01 But I think it's a good story.
08:02 It's gonna help us in the portal.
08:04 It's gonna help us not only this year in the portal cycle, but moving forward.
08:09 It's gonna help us for sure.
08:10 >> You mentioned when I asked you about if you'd welcome four Mountaineers back,
08:16 that it depends on how they chose to leave, professionalism, things like that.
08:20 Since it is out there in the ones this year that did choose to depart,
08:24 were there any that you were surprised about?
08:26 What are your thoughts on them?
08:27 Do you understand why they made the decision that they made?
08:29 >> Yeah, I gotta think back here, Mike.
08:35 We lost, let me say, I'll use Hershey as an example.
08:42 Hershey, I really like, but he graduated.
08:48 And I always, he finished his obligation, which he's got one year eligibility,
08:54 but he finished his obligation.
08:56 He handled it in the right way.
08:59 I understood where he was coming from.
09:02 I didn't want him to leave, but I do understand.
09:07 And for the most part, there's probably one, and
09:12 I'm not gonna mention names, but there was one.
09:14 And he wasn't even the guy that played, but there was one that I was surprised by.
09:19 And but other than that, I understood.
09:22 >> TJ Oliver, is he a guy that could potentially play in the backfield?
09:28 >> Yeah, yep, he's gotten better.
09:31 He is, if you look at two of the guys, I think, in our freshman class
09:36 that have changed their bodies the most are him and Corey McIntyre.
09:41 And they're both gonna play a good amount of snaps.
09:46 And so I'm excited too.
09:49 I think, and this is one thing I'll say about North Carolina,
09:51 is so North Carolina's had a few opt outs.
09:57 They've got some guys in the portal,
09:58 just like everybody else in the country right now.
10:00 But I also think in bowl games, it always goes to the team that's most excited.
10:07 And they're gonna play a lot of new guys in the game.
10:10 And those guys are gonna be really excited.
10:14 And I think our guys that are gonna play more, like a Corey McIntyre,
10:18 cuz he's gonna play more snaps on the defensive line cuz he's earned that right.
10:22 And there's more opportunity since Mike left.
10:24 So I'm excited to see him play.
10:27 And I know, man, he's gonna play with a lot of energy.
10:30 And some of these other guys that are gonna get some more opportunities on
10:32 special teams and on our offensive defense,
10:36 man, they're gonna be really fired up about the game.
10:38 And so, but DJ, yes, he definitely, how many carries, I don't know.
10:42 But he definitely has the opportunity to play a running back.
10:49 It's gonna be Jaheim, he'll start.
10:51 And then Jalen and DJ are gonna be the guys that play.
10:55 >> Preston can't play, who returns punts and kicks?
10:59 >> So Beanie or Rodney will be the punt returner.
11:05 And then kickoff return, it'll be either Rodney or DJ.
11:08 >> Yates will play center.
11:11 >> Yates will play center, yep.
11:13 So Yates will play center.
11:15 And then Malone will continue to play and we'll have a little rotation there.
11:20 >> Yeah, it's kind of like the first, I didn't mean to cut you off, Mike,
11:22 but it's really kind of a peak into 24.
11:28 We talk about this too, it's like, it's your finale for 23.
11:31 And it's an opportunity to get to nine wins and it's really important.
11:35 But it's also kind of your start of your 24 too.
11:39 And for our line, that's really the case, cuz Yates is playing.
11:43 And so, but yeah, he'll start, I'm sorry, Mike.
11:46 >> I was just gonna just to clarify, in terms of the returners with Rodney and
11:50 Beanie, is that only if Preston can't go?
11:52 >> Yeah, yeah.
11:53 >> Right now he's rushing Bulls or so?
11:54 >> Yeah, if Preston, now we'll probably mix up kickoff return.
11:59 We're gonna give Rodney an opportunity on kickoff return cuz we haven't been good
12:04 enough there and that's not Preston's fault, we just haven't been good enough.
12:07 And Rodney's to the point now, we've worked it for a month, so
12:11 he'll do the kickoff return.
12:14 If Preston can go, he'll do the punt return.
12:15 If he can't, then Beanie will go.
12:17 And he's done it in games and it'll be a good showcase for
12:21 him too, cuz that's another add on for the next level.
12:26 >> You're looking at North Carolina,
12:29 what was the difference their first half of the season versus second half?
12:34 >> Yeah, that's probably a question for them.
12:36 They're talented, I think offensively they're in the top ten in the country.
12:42 And they play pretty well, offensively they had some turnovers late.
12:49 But yeah, it's probably a question for them.
12:54 Here's what I see, I see a group that's talented, I think they're dangerous
12:58 because they're gonna have some new people playing.
13:01 And I think sometimes that's underestimated, especially in the bowl season.
13:06 Everybody pays attention to who's not playing, but
13:08 all these other guys got new opportunities.
13:11 And they've been recruiting at a pretty good level.
13:13 And so we're gonna see some pretty good players.
13:16 The scary, and I think I said this on that Zoom,
13:20 it seemed like forever ago, I guess it was, but it seemed like forever ago.
13:26 The scary, their running back is a really, really good player.
13:31 And we've played a bunch of good running backs this year, but
13:34 he's as good as anybody we've played.
13:37 And then defensively, they've got the ability to rush.
13:42 They've got a couple pass rushers.
13:44 And we haven't seen a lot of elite pass rushers this year.
13:50 And they've got a couple guys that can really,
13:53 they have great speed off the edge.
13:54 And so, something we're really working on.
13:56 >> Who's not playing, I mean he said it's been hard just to find film of Harold.
14:02 >> Well, yeah, he's played a little bit.
14:07 The thing that I'm using, I go back and watch him at Thompson in Alabama.
14:12 And he won a couple state championships there.
14:14 So when you think about him, I think two things stick out.
14:19 First of all, he's really fast.
14:22 He's a big kid that's really fast.
14:23 Second thing is, he throws a deep ball really well.
14:27 And if you go back and you watch his high school tape, his post and
14:31 go routes, he threw really well.
14:32 And they've got some big body guys at receiver.
14:35 And so, are they gonna look the exact same they did when Drake May played
14:40 quarterback?
14:41 I don't know.
14:43 I think they're not gonna ask their line to do a bunch of different things.
14:49 But I think they're definitely gonna have some quarterback run game.
14:52 And I can see them throwing the ball off some play action stuff and
14:58 getting the ball downfield.
14:59 And I know he has a lot of confidence throwing the ball on those deep throws.
15:03 And he's talented doing that.
15:04 >> The way you describe him sounds a whole lot more like the way you
15:08 describe Garrett.
15:09 >> Yeah, he's just bigger.
15:10 >> [LAUGH] >> He's bigger and
15:12 he's making his first start.
15:13 But I tell you what, I think they'll do some things that are similar to what we've
15:17 done with some quarterback run game.
15:19 And, but I would bet, and I don't know this, okay?
15:26 Cuz I've been going to a bunch of different directions.
15:28 But sometimes, and as good as May's special, right?
15:33 He really is.
15:33 He's gonna be the first or second quarterback taken in the draft, and
15:36 he's special.
15:36 But also, when you're playing in these games,
15:41 there's gonna be some energy around them playing.
15:45 It's a chance for him.
15:47 This is an opportunity for him.
15:49 Now, on a good stage, they brought in a transfer quarterback.
15:53 And I guarantee you, he's using this to show, hey, you know what?
15:56 You might be bringing a transfer in, but I'm here and I'm ready to compete.
16:00 And this is my job.
16:02 And so, this is, even though he hadn't played, he's really talented.
16:08 >> [INAUDIBLE] What's the difference around here,
16:13 a year later from last year?
16:15 You got a blue jersey, and you didn't get a bowl bid.
16:19 Scooter unknown, after this year, and the whole program.
16:24 What difference does winning make?
16:27 >> Well, winning makes it, but I think the process of what got to the wins is, so
16:32 this had a different feel to it, going back to really when you get your whole,
16:39 cuz you really don't feel like you got your, as a coach,
16:44 you have two portal dates and all that.
16:45 But you don't really feel like you can exhale and go, okay,
16:47 this is my team, until the first day of fall camp.
16:50 All right, first day of fall camp, you got your team.
16:52 And so, it's really had a different feel the whole time.
16:58 I think some of it is just our leadership's better.
17:03 We made some significant changes, schematically, defensively.
17:10 We really changed kinda who we were offensively.
17:14 And the locker room dynamics are a lot different and are a lot better, right?
17:21 And so I think that enabled some success.
17:24 And so this December's quite a bit different than a year ago.
17:31 I think our outlook is much more positive, both in-house and outside here.
17:38 But yeah, I mean, there's no doubt, it's significantly different.
17:44 >> Stuff going on outside, I don't know if you caught it,
17:48 probably the basketball cases and the transfer process.
17:52 That may be a blowback for you in your thinking and potential.
17:54 >> I think that it's, I think it's unsettled still.
18:02 It's gonna affect basketball more.
18:05 I think, I don't know, did y'all follow what Chip Kelly talked about?
18:10 I thought that, yeah, I mean, we've got,
18:13 here's what I'll say is our game's got a lot of issues.
18:16 But the product's still great.
18:21 So people are gonna tune in to these bowl games,
18:26 they're gonna have all high rankings.
18:27 People are gonna tune in to the CFP, it's gonna have extremely high rankings.
18:32 Still one of the highest spectator sports, if not the highest spectator sport.
18:37 But we got some issues and we gotta figure it out.
18:39 And to me, football's kinda grown into its own entity.
18:45 Who are we kidding?
18:48 We're gonna send our soccer team to Arizona for a midweek game?
18:52 I mean, come on.
18:54 And so I think there's some real issues.
18:59 The transfer piece, I probably, as far as the basketball goes, Mike,
19:05 is I don't know enough about it to really comment on it.
19:09 And I don't have a solution.
19:16 But I think we've got a system, man, that's really kinda, it's broken.
19:22 And we need some real outside the box thinking to kinda get it fixed.
19:27 The, just our calendar, football calendar.
19:32 Think about the kid that's leaving Texas, the quarterback, right?
19:40 And he's having to make a decision to leave right in the middle of a CFP.
19:47 And I get it, I get it.
19:49 He's trying to secure a new home.
19:53 But we think about that, he's having to do that.
19:57 And what we're doing is we have a professional model, but
20:02 we're still operating on an academic calendar.
20:06 And the two worlds are so different.
20:08 And so we gotta figure out some solutions.
20:13 I don't have one right now, but we gotta figure some things out.
20:15 >> Does it wrinkle any of your roster management stuff?
20:17 Cuz you've been doing work for so long, and all of a sudden,
20:19 guys who transfer once and go again, they can,
20:20 it just seems like that's, there goes the tablecloth on you.
20:24 >> Yeah, yes, yes.
20:26 [LAUGH] Yeah, so like, here's what I'll say.
20:29 Yeah, it's, it is.
20:34 I mean, just think about it from a roster management standpoint.
20:37 Is, so I keep a red folder on my desk, and
20:43 it is our high school signees, our current depth chart.
20:50 What we're looking for transfer portal wise and our scholarship list, right?
20:54 And it's so fluid, and it's hard to,
21:01 it's so flowing because you have, let's just talk about here in December.
21:06 So you've got guys that go in the portal, and
21:09 you know kind of where your roster numbers.
21:11 And I'm sure, I don't know how many, but
21:13 I'm sure after the bowl game we'll have a few more.
21:15 I don't know how many, and we may not have any.
21:19 But my assumption is just the way it kind of works is we'll have a couple more.
21:23 And so, but trying to figure out like what's the exact number of high school
21:28 players to take and what the exact number of transfer portal guys to take.
21:33 Those are moving targets at all times.
21:36 And so now if you add a second transfer into this, you're basically
21:42 saying that everybody's a free agent every time the portal opens.
21:46 Good luck.
21:49 But I'll say this too is like, I think fans suffer because of it.
21:56 But to the general public, it's not an issue because the product's still really
22:02 good.
22:03 Nobody gives shit if the coach's life stink.
22:05 I mean really, I mean, well compensated and all that kind of stuff.
22:10 But it's not a good,
22:15 it's not a good process.
22:17 It's not, we gotta figure something out.
22:20 Because if we're talking about, I think most teams, us included,
22:25 you're looking at a third of the roster is gonna turn over every year, right?
22:29 I think 30 going out and 30 coming in is about what we're gonna be dealing with,
22:33 okay?
22:34 But now you make it where it's 85.
22:36 [LAUGH] I mean, yeah, that's a challenge.
22:40 >> To that end about what's going on right now, we got to the point where there
22:45 are windows, which is a little bit less chaotic than it was initially.
22:50 >> That's better, you're fair.
22:51 >> Right, right, but there is still everything you're saying that's also
22:55 valid.
22:55 So what are your thoughts on the debate of, well,
23:00 maybe having a window prior to the bowl game delegitimizes the bowl season?
23:05 Should the window be after the bowl game?
23:07 Is that even possible with the academic calendar and
23:09 then trying to do one with spring game and then after that and all that as well?
23:13 >> Yeah, so I think the bowls, it's fine, okay?
23:18 We're gonna run into issues when we go to a 12-team playoff.
23:23 And now, yesterday would have been the first round of games.
23:27 And that's really tough cuz now you're really only dealing with four
23:33 teams that are dealing with guys at roster flux.
23:37 Now you're dealing with 12, and I think that's probably too many.
23:42 But anyway, we could debate the state of college football all we want.
23:48 Anybody got bowl questions?
23:49 [LAUGH] >> Yes.
23:52 >> You guys are gonna have a month layoff.
23:54 How do you not lose the rhythm that you had, especially that Baylor game,
23:57 you guys were kind of clicking there in the second half of the quarter.
24:00 How do you not drop off there in the month long?
24:02 >> Yeah, it's a challenge, yeah, absolutely a challenge.
24:05 So I think you're watching the bowl games yesterday,
24:07 kinda had them on in the background as we were hosting recruits and
24:12 getting ready for practice and those type of things.
24:15 And when you look at it, if you look at the teams that lost,
24:19 a lot of turnovers, right?
24:20 Rich Rod was really the only, they overcame turnovers to win the game.
24:26 But everybody else that had a lot of turnovers, they lost the game.
24:30 And the flip side of that on defense is missed tackles.
24:34 And so when you get into this where you have a big window between games,
24:38 is in back 10, 15 years ago,
24:43 people would try to have basically a spring practice session during December.
24:47 And there was still a lot of contact, a lot of physicality.
24:51 As kind of our world's changed now is that's, you can't do that anymore.
24:58 Your roster numbers are not as such.
25:02 You'd have a player revolt if you tried to do that, I mean, truthfully.
25:06 And so there's a mix where,
25:08 like we don't practice the same way during bowl prep that we do during in season.
25:13 Like bowl games are rewards.
25:15 They need to be treated different than a normal game week.
25:19 And so we're doing a lot of good on good.
25:22 We do a little bit of scout work, but it's mostly good on good.
25:26 And we got about a 30 minute per practice shorter
25:31 than we do during a normal in season.
25:33 And so the concerns from my perspective are twofold.
25:37 Is we're a running football team and we got to get our work in.
25:43 While also being cognizant of we don't want to be too physical, right?
25:50 And so we got to get our work in and we got to make sure that our O line is in
25:54 sync and our tight ends are in sync and they're coming off the ball and
25:58 doing those things.
25:58 Our running backs are, cuz they're young, so
26:01 we got to make sure that they're in rhythm.
26:03 And defensively, the concern is playing the run.
26:06 Making sure we can take on double teams,
26:07 make sure we can spill our counter and things like that.
26:10 But it is a challenge.
26:13 It is a challenge and we're not tackling.
26:15 We're trying to be as physical as we can, but keeping people off the ground,
26:20 cuz we don't want to get people hurt this late in the year.
26:22 But it is, but I think that's not only my concern.
26:25 If you, let's say if you went and asked everybody around college football,
26:28 they have the same concerns.
26:29 So we got to figure it out and go down and play.
26:33 And the expectation is we go down and play well and
26:36 kind of build off what we did the last seven games offensively.
26:39 >> One thing, just to make sure, Monterey Miller needs a waiver for next year?
26:44 >> He needs a waiver, yep.
26:46 And I don't know as much about it.
26:50 I think he, I would think he has a good case.
26:53 I would think- >> It would be an injury.
26:54 >> Yeah, yeah, he had surgery and missed a year, yeah.
26:58 >> Going back to what you made about goals or about who's more excited,
27:02 it's fairly common.
27:03 But the regular season's like that too, right?
27:05 Why is it more important or more difficult?
27:06 >> It is, but so when you get into these, when you get into both seasons.
27:12 So let's go back to the regular season.
27:15 And so that season, that's played out and you're in a rhythm, right?
27:18 Everything's in a rhythm.
27:19 Your Mondays are the same, your Tuesdays are the same,
27:21 your Wednesdays are the same.
27:23 And so guys stay in a really good rhythm.
27:25 And when you get into bowl prep, there's no rhythm.
27:28 And so I think it's about different people handle bowls different ways.
27:37 And what we wanna be is we wanna be the freshest.
27:40 And we want our guys to be really excited to play.
27:43 And I think how you handle your preparation, what kind of rewards you do,
27:48 I think those things really matter.
27:51 I think mixing in some young players really helps.
27:55 That's why I like the opt outs and some of that stuff.
27:58 I'm kinda like, or people going in the portal.
28:02 I'm like, we'll be a little bit different than when we played at Baylor, but
28:06 I don't know if that's all bad.
28:06 [LAUGH] And North Carolina probably feels the same way.
28:10 Anybody else?
28:13 Y'all good?
28:14 All right, thank y'all.