Des Kitchings and John Rudzinski preview the Virginia football game against Pittsburgh.
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00:00 >> Anybody practice today?
00:01 >> No more than what Coach Elliott said yesterday.
00:03 It's the same day to day status with these guys.
00:05 So today's Wednesday, we got a couple days left, see who shakes out.
00:10 >> Wicks, Thompson and Davis were yellow the other day, are they still yellow?
00:14 And is that nothing in practice or?
00:18 >> Yeah, same status.
00:19 >> And how does that, are you a guy who believe, can a guy come in and
00:23 practice on Thursday and play?
00:25 Or are you a guy who, if you're not back by Wednesday,
00:27 do you have a cut off in your mind or older guys a little flexibility?
00:30 >> Coach Elliott makes that decision.
00:32 So guys come out here tomorrow and go through our practice.
00:34 Cuz Thursday's a pretty good detailed practice.
00:37 We practice all situations, first down, second down, third down.
00:41 So it'd be a good review.
00:42 So if they're available, and can go, and if I can play, then they'll play.
00:45 If they're not available, then they won't play.
00:48 >> Junior Wilson obviously had a great name for you.
00:50 I know he came in with the injury.
00:51 He kinda thought he might redshirt because of that.
00:53 What is his progression, his progress been like?
00:56 >> Well, this is like any other freshman, right?
00:58 If you just come out, put in the work every day, and be studious and learn it.
01:02 And then just capitalize on your opportunity to come.
01:04 We talked about next man up.
01:06 He has been preparing.
01:07 We've been repping him the last couple weeks anyway.
01:09 He's gotten some games a little bit, but obviously that's stepped to the forefront.
01:13 And he did a great job with preparings.
01:14 Like I said, after the game, that walk through that Saturday morning with
01:18 the offensive unit, our prep on Friday with those guys, he and Demet.
01:23 Really sharp, and then showed up, showed for those guys on Saturday.
01:26 >> Was he pressing for playing time or take advantage of the opportunity?
01:31 >> No, if anything, we try to push him and say, hey, buddy,
01:33 you can step to the forefront.
01:36 Don't be in the back Saturday.
01:37 So hopefully that gives him some confidence after Saturday to do that.
01:42 >> Have you guys seen in practice the walk to build off of last week's performance?
01:46 >> Yeah.
01:46 >> One point touchdown.
01:48 >> Yeah. >> Have you seen that this week in practice?
01:50 >> I mean, it's the same thing, right?
01:51 I mean, cuz you got a different opponent, Pitt.
01:54 We know where they're gonna be.
01:55 They're athletic up front, they're physical up front.
01:58 We gotta be able to block them, to try to run the ball again.
02:00 And we know our matchups outside.
02:02 They're gonna play man coverage and dare you to throw it down the field and
02:05 see if you can make a play.
02:07 So that's been the challenge this week.
02:08 Saturday was Saturday.
02:11 That's over with.
02:12 We still thinking about Saturday.
02:13 We're not gonna win on this coming Saturday.
02:15 But I'll prepare properly to win on Saturday.
02:18 So that's been on my side.
02:19 >> I think Pitt held Syracuse to like one yard of counter.
02:22 >> Yeah. >> What made them play well?
02:24 >> They play eight guys and they're all athletic and powerful and quick.
02:30 It's a little different.
02:30 North Carolina was bigger, not as athletic.
02:33 These guys are twitchy and they're strong and they're powerful.
02:36 They play with low leverage.
02:36 So we just gotta be great in our fundamentals in the run game and
02:39 the passing game, the technique.
02:41 >> They're downhill, wanna run the ball.
02:43 What stands out?
02:45 >> Yeah, I know they've got great experience up front.
02:48 They're physical, do a nice job of the different personnels and formations.
02:52 And they present a lot of problems because they're so
02:55 committed to being disciplined as far as running the football.
02:59 And then which sets up play actions.
03:01 >> I was gonna say, how does their star running back stack up to some of the guys
03:05 you've seen this year?
03:06 You've seen Chase Browner and you've seen Sean Pucker.
03:08 How does Abakanda stack up?
03:09 >> Yeah, no, I mean, he plays behind his pads.
03:12 He can jump cut.
03:14 And then his ability to transition in power on contact is really elite.
03:21 You've seen him rush for 300 yards this year.
03:24 And so he's super talented.
03:27 >> How do you think your defense fares in these physical type of games?
03:31 Have you been impressed when you've been met with these kind of matchups?
03:34 >> Yeah, no, I think that it's a great challenge.
03:37 I know that our guys are excited for
03:39 the opportunity to play another good ACC football team.
03:42 So we'll need to bring our pads and make sure we got air in our helmets.