Transcript/video of Petrino talking Virginia
Bobby Petrino met with the media on Thursday to preview Louisville football's Saturday showdown at Virginia.
He provided several updates of importance, including a status check on healing running back Michael Dyer.
Opening: We still have a ways to go before kickoff. We do need to understand that it's an early morning game, so we have get up and get focused and get right after it, and not have all that time like the last two games. We'll learn a lot about our team. How do we get ready to go play a tough game on the road?
On the first road game: You have to get used to it and get your mind right. That's the one thing we've been talking to our players about. We'll travel tomorrow and have our walkthrough there and then have our normal Friday night routine.
On their game-day routine: We get them up at 7, 7:30 in the morning and have a walkthrough breakfast. We'll get to the game two hours before kickoff.
On game keys: The biggest thing offensively is taking care of the ball, protect the quarterback. They've kind of lived off the pass rush and the pressure and causing turnovers. We have to establish the line of scrimmage.
On prepping for two QBs: Defensively, we need to recognize the formations and not hesitate and play fast and really communicate. They'll give you formations and motions to have you adjust.
On getting more deep pass plays: We've been working hard on it. We're getting better at it. First you have to go ahead and call them and throw 'em down there. We did it a couple times last week and hit one really nice one. The Miami game, we had a couple nice throws down the field, a wheel route down the field that helped us score. We have to creating some bigger plays with our passing game. Right now all our chunk plays are in the run game.
On drawing pass interference on deep balls: That's a huge plus for the offense, when you throw the ball deep and get the PI. It's only 15 yards in college, unfortunately. I think mindset-wise, it helps the offense. It puts some fear in the defense that you are going to take some shots and it helps open up the field.
On Reggie Bonnafon: It was really valuable for him to be able to go out in the second quarter and line up and play. We showed confidence in him to just call the game, just like we would if Will was in there. I thought he performed well. He looked fast. He looked decisive. That's the biggest thing with the young quarterbacks is to see if he's decisive or if he's hesitant.
On team depth: You continue to work hard in practice. We keep giving our twos reps in practice. That second offensive line keeps getting better. Richardson on the D-line has to come in and give us some help. Nick Dawson's getting better. James Hearns is getting better. Trumaine Washington continues to get reps. I've seen Chucky Williams improve a lot in the last two weeks, which will help us down the road. I think if you really give them the opportunities in the practice, when they get in the game, they have to perform.
On Virginia's strengths: Like I said, their pass rush. Their defensive front is fast and physical, so we're going to have to do a good job with the formations they give us. We have to be able to know which quarterback is in and what he's capable of when he's in.
On scouting the two UVA quarterbacks: The good thing is they have different numbers. They're different, it's just a focus. It's just understanding what they like to do, what his strengths are, what his weaknesses are and then being able to change the channel, so to speak.
On the ACC's fast start: It looks tough to me. We're just trying to focus on doing our jobs and playing one game at a time. But you like to see all the big wins. Watch Virginia Tech, see how they beat Ohio State. Obviously Florida State's real good. I did get to watch a little bit of Clemson-Georgia, and Clemson looked really fast.
(Hat tip to Jared Stillman for the assist with the audio file and Kent Spencer for the video.)