Duke struggled offensively in a 25-6 loss to Florida State last weekend, registering its lowest point total all season. Looking to win their first home game since 2005, the Blue Devils will play host to a defensively strong Clemson squad Saturday. Head football beat writer Matthew Iles caught up with offensive coordinator Peter Vaas to discuss the offense's problems last week and the efforts made to improve for this week's tilt.
Matthew Iles: What were some of the positives you took away from the Florida State game?
Peter Vaas: I felt going into the football game that that was the best pass rushing defense that we had faced to date. I thought coming out of the game our quarterback, offensive line and running backs did a fine job protecting the quarterback. The one sack we gave up was basically a schematic sack, not a physical sack.
MI: What were some things you need to improve on?
PV: The first negative is we don't score enough points. Another negative is we've got to not have negative plays. Whether those are sacks or runs, negative plays are something we cannot afford to have in down and distance. Another thing, we've got to do a better job in the running game. We need to have more run-game production. We don't have to run for 6,000 yards, but at the same point in time, we've got to have more run-game production.
MI: What has been the root reason for why the running game has struggled this season?
PV: Well, let me just answer it this way. We just haven't been successful at running the football. We just have to keep working at it and keep striving to get better.
MI: When you say you're working at it, is there any one specific thing that you...
PV: No, that's just it. There isn't one specific thing, there are a lot of things that add into it. Whether it's an individual missing a block, a back missing a hole, a schematic thing where it was poorly planned by the coaches, excellent defense by the [other team], there's a lot of things that go into on a constant basis.
MI: Did you feel more like you were shooting yourselves in the foot sometimes or was Florida State just beating you?
PV: I think it's always 50-50. That's the way you have to look at it. If you're any kind of a competitor, you always think that you can do better. There's an expression in the athletic world, 'Those kids are on scholarship, too.' They've got good players, we've got good players, but who can execute on a consistent basis?
MI: Are you disappointed or satisfied with the offense's progress to this point in the season?
PV: You're never satisfied. You're never satisfied. I think that the real measure of improvement will be something we take a look at in December. But right now, we're just trying to find a way to be good enough to beat Clemson on Saturday. We don't have to be good enough to beat anyone else on Saturday, just Clemson. We have got to be the better football team. That becomes so important because we are a function of our defensive football team, our defensive football team is a function of our offensive football team, and our special teams go into both facets of that. So when you say "team", that's really what we are. Our defense would be a much more productive defense statistically if our offense stayed on the field longer. One of my major concerns this Saturday is converting on third down. We're 1-for-15 and 2-for-12 in the last two games, and that's a statistic that's embarrassing. We've got to stay on the field to make us a better football team.
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