In a today’s weekly press conference, Canes head coach Mario Cristobal addressed the media, offering insights into the team's struggles, challenges, and the upcoming game against Clemson.
Cristobal initiated the conference by acknowledging the team's shortcomings, saying, "there's some good effort on the field and there's some good plays, but the obvious is the self-inflicted wounds that hurt us pretty good." He emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive outlook, stating, "zero self-pity, zero blaming, zero negativity" is the team's approach.
When discussing Clemson, Cristobal made it clear that they recognize the challenge ahead, stating that Clemson is "an excellent football team stacked with talent" and a "championship caliber program for a while now." He expressed the team's eagerness for the upcoming opportunity.
The struggles in the run defense did not escape Cristobal's scrutiny. He conceded that "the tempo got us" and praised the opponent for running hard and blocking effectively. Cristobal acknowledged the need for improvement, noting, "we got to coach it better" and that schematic adjustments are on the horizon.
Regarding the offensive line, Cristobal weighed in on the challenges they faced in a pass-heavy game. He mentioned, "that's hard at any level," alluding to the relentless pass-rushing situations they encountered. However, he commended the offensive line for their efforts in protecting the quarterback and adapting to the circumstances.
Cristobal reiterated the importance of the run game, explaining that success starts with the "line of scrimmage" and involves coordination among multiple elements of the offense. He emphasized the need to "get on track" and establish offensive rhythm while making prudent play-calling decisions.
Conditioning and depth were also addressed by Cristobal, who underscored the importance of players earning their playing time. He emphasized, "we're not going to use injuries or youth as any kind of excuse" and mentioned the need to develop more players capable of performing at a high level.
One of the central themes of Cristobal's remarks was resilience and unity. He praised the team's care factor, highlighting their determination to keep fighting even in adverse situations. Cristobal emphasized, "you can't bring people into the organization that aren't like that" and insisted on the importance of always sticking together.
