Jeff Hafley Weekly Press Conference: Pitt

Jeff Hafley Weekly Press Conference Transcript: Oct. 6 (PDF)

Hafley: So I'll talk a little bit about Pitt. Obviously I have some experience, I was there for five years. That's really where I got started and got my first opportunity thanks to Dave Wannstedt, a guy who really changed my life.

I know coach Pat Narduzzi pretty well, I have a lot of respect for him. I've known him for a while, and actually he texted me before my first game, and congratulated me after our win. I have a ton of respect for him, he's been really good to me. He's actually a guy that early on in the Zoom calls, called me after and said 'hey if you ever need anything give me a call' so I really appreciate him for that. He's a defensive guy, you can see the way his team plays, he keeps them together, they play very hard, they're very disciplined, they're very tough, very physical, and that's a credit to him. Truthfully I think he has them as a team playing together, probably better than anybody we've played so far this year, so I have a lot of respect for him.

I know he's very involved with the defense, him and Coach Bates. He does a good job, they're very aggressive, and they get a lot of people down in the box. They have a really good front seven, they rely a lot on their corners and safeties in coverage, and they have a ton of sacks. I know Charlie Partridge well, their D-line coach. I think he's one of the best coaches in the entire country. I think he might be the best recruiter in the country, truthfully when he was the head coach at FAU, they're still playing off that talent that he recruited there. I have a ton of respect for him and what he's done. That will be a challenge on defense for us.

On offense, Coach Whipple has got a pro-style attack. I know Coach Whipple from being around the NFL. He's done an incredible job with that quarterback, who I think is a really good player. The offensive line is really well coached. Probably play together better than any O-line we've played all year. Combination blocks, pass protection, they work really well together, you can tell they are a very well coached team.

They're wide outs are very dynamic. Number 3,7,11,18 are all guys that can run. The freshman number 3, he's going to have a big-time career. I know that number 7 transferred in and I know he's physical. Then number 22, the (running) back is a guy that can hit it. Coach Powell on special teams, you turn on the punt game and watch them rush, turn on the PAT and watch with the effort they play with is a credit to him.

Like I said, a really solid football team that coach Narduzzi has done a really good job with. So we're excited for it, we respect them, and with that I'll take your questions.

Q: Just comment on having the second and third leading passers in the ACC on the same field, just talk about that dynamic at Alumni Stadium.

Hafley: It should be exciting. Like I said, their quarterback, he does a really good job with his feet. You can tell he's a tough kid too. He takes some shots, gets back up, and he's played a lot of football, the biggest difference is that he's started a lot of football games and that certainly helps. I think Phil is excited, he's a Pittsburgh guy. They're both good players.

Q: Pitt has 128 points total this year. We talked about red zone efficiency on Sunday, this weekend in particular it's going to be huge. What needs to be focused on this week? Or is it overall execution?

Hafley: Well you said it, it's execution. In the red zone, there's really such a small room for error. The space is so tight and you've got to be so sharp to go on top of it. So you've really got to be efficient and on your stuff. I'm just hoping that the further the season goes, the more experience we get, that will tighten up and we'll make the plays that are there. On offense and defense, that's where everything happens so fast where you've got to really be on it. Hopefully we'll play better on both offense and defense down there.

Q: Narduzzi texted you before the game and after the game. Can you share a little bit about what he said?

Hafley: He texted me before my first game as a head coach. He said good luck, have fun, get after it. Then I got congratulations after the game. Same guy, who, we're sitting on a Zoom call just like this with the ACC coaches, and again, I was the guy trying to be seen and not heard too much unless they ask. He texts me after and says 'hey if you ever need anything let me know' so I appreciate that.

Q: Coach you were talking a little bit about how Pitt has a defensive minded style, and they're focusing on the defense. The thing is, so are you guys. You've gone 125th last year in total defense to 25th this year in total defense. What kind of changes have you made, what have you been focusing on with on the defensive side of the ball to improve that ranking?

Hafley: I think that it comes down to fundamentals and technique. People might watch us and say that we're not doing a whole lot of things schematically. We believe on defense, that you win by playing with great fundamentals and technique. Whether it's your eyes, your feet, your hands, getting off blocks, tackling. Those are the things that a lot of times you get so consumed with drawing up these crazy blitzes and these great schemes but it all comes down to 'can you do the little things right?' You've got to play the game fast, especially now because of COVID. We didn't have spring, we didn't have all this time, so we can't do too much right now, we've just got to get better. I credit the players for doing that, and the coaching staff. They've done a really nice job.

Q: I was wondering about Phil Jurkovec, beyond the statistics, beyond the results of the games, how has he developed as a big time quarterback and how has he adapted in a new system?

Hafley: I think he's done a really nice job. I think you see the progress from the first game to the third game. Totally new system for him, he'd never had a play under center, shotgun. I know the pass game is a lot different than he's used to. He's gaining confidence, and I think that's the one thing, if you ask him, I don't know how much he had coming in. I think he's gaining it, and I think the more confidence we get him, the better he'll be, and I think that's going to take some time. I just think to come out, play, and be confident, and be fast and be aggressive. Then I think you're going to start to see some leadership from him. You see it late in the game, he turns into this different guy with these laser focused eyes and it's like 'okay man, this guy is going to go get it done.' I think you'll just see the development the more he plays the game.

Q: Jeff I know you had high expectations for Hunter Long, but he's putting up wide receiver numbers. Leading the league in receptions and yards. It's amazing numbers for a tight end.

Hafley: I give him a ton of credit. Coach Shimko has done a really nice job with him. They're really done a nice job of putting him in position to make plays, and he's made a lot of them. I know you couldn't be here for camp, but you would have seen the same thing. He gave us fits in training camp, and usually what happens in training camp shows up in the games, and the guy works so hard, he studies, he's just such a smart kid. Don't take away from him how well he's blocking. I think that's where he's going to separate himself and I keep telling him that, and it's just really impressive seeing him doing it in the running game and in the pass game.

Q: You mentioned the pro-style offense, I know that means a whole bunch of different things, there's the spread, last week was air raid, how does that line up with how guys line up, call the game, and what you expect there?

Hafley: Maybe that was a bad term I used there, because you're right, what does pro-style even mean anymore? Obviously you see a lot of pro elements in some of the stuff that he's done. It jumps off tape, some of the concepts, some of the run game. I smile, and say I haven't seen that in a while. I think he's got a really good scheme, he's got great experience. You'll see him lineup in lots of personnel groups. He might get really big people with multiple tight ends, or get in 10 personnel and do some unbalanced formations.

He just does a really nice job mixing it up. And again, the thing you have to credit him for is developing that quarterback. He's a great quarterback coach and you can see it, that's why that kid plays at such a high level.

Q: It's now three weeks into the season, you've played three games, what have you seen so far out of Jaelen Gill, and how was he progressing in terms of growing in your offense?

Hafley: I think he's getting better, he made some catches in the game last week. I still think he's learning the system. I think what you're going to see with him too, it's the same with a lot of guys. We're just so young on both sides of the ball in our systems, the more the guys know it and really know it, and don't have to think, the faster they're going to play. Hopefully with a guy like him you'll continue to see him go faster and faster and faster. Then ultimately we're going to move him around and do different things with him and give him a fair chance to play hard.

Q: More about David Bailey, I'm sure he expected more carries then he's gotten so far. Only 15 in the last two games, so how is he handling that mentally and physically just to make sure he's ready when he is called?

Hafley: That's a good question, I actually had a great conversation with him. He's a team guy, and I told him that his time is going to come. I know we threw the ball about 90 times last week, but there's going to be a time when he's going to get it 30 times and we're going to need him. I told him, the best thing I saw in that game was the run he had. He looked violent, he looked fast, he looked downhill and I was fired up. I saw the look in his eye in the huddle that I loved. His time is going to come, I told him to keep being patient and his time is going to come. I love coaching him.

Q: There's been a lot of excitement about Pat Garwo, out here for a while. Can you just talk about the contributions he was able to make a few days ago, and how you see him being used?

Hafley: I think he gives you a guy who can spread out and catch the ball out of the back field, line up as a wide out, he's good for pass protection on third down, and then he's certainly been good in the run game. He's had some bumps and bruises, we got to make sure he's 100% healthy. I think he's going to have his time here too.

Q: Coach just looking at the staff numbers from Pitt, where they only give up three yards per play, they hold teams pretty well off the scoreboard. Do you look at their performances and see something that you can adapt into your scheme, or see something in their film that you might be able to use?

Hafley: Yeah I do, and usually it's later in the week. You can tell when you guys talk to me, usually I can name the number of every player on offense and then when I get to defense it's a little bit harder because I spend more time early in the week watching the offense, because obviously I'm a defensive guy. So usually later in the week I'll start to watch and if I see something I like I'll write it down and if it fits within our scheme, sure. I've got no problem stealing good ideas, they're good defensive coaches. I know 14 and 15 are their corners, and 17 and 91 are their defensive ends, but I've got to spend some time watching the other side too.

Q: Just a couple questions about Hunter, coming into the season when you talked to him and got to know him, was there a sense to him of how good tight ends have been for a while here? And also, how does his role change?

Hafley: Speaking on behalf of this year, it's our job as coaches, when you have a guy like Hunter, you've got to use him. I think that's the sign of a good football coach. You realize the talent you have, and no matter what your system is, you put your kids in the best position to make plays. That's what our coaching staff has done with Hunter. It's like he's a wide receiver sometimes, and he has a wide receiver skill set, so we're going to do that. Then there's going to be times where there's some big people, and he's going to have to block. So when you see that in training camp like we did, if we didn't do that, we'd be doing an injustice to the kid as far as using his talent.

Q: Jeff could you talk a little about the process about bringing Phil to Boston College?

Hafley: We were looking for quarterbacks. When he entered the portal, I think it was Coach Cignetti that came up to me and said we have to watch this kid, and we did. We watched his high school tape, which was really good. We watched some of his clips that he played at Notre Dame, and we quickly got in touch with him and his coach. We had him up on an official visit, my first official visit as a head coach. I actually went to the airport myself and walked in. I was all fired up to see how big he was. His family, mom, dad, brother, sister, great family. Had dinner, spent a lot of time with Coach Cignetti and watched a ton of film together. We sat in my office and talked, and I got to know him. I felt really confident after the visit that we would get him and I think he was here like three days later. I've just really enjoyed him ever since. I hope that's what you're looking for.

Q: Did you have much competition from other schools?

Hafley: Truthfully, we never talked about the competition. He literally came up on the official visit the first weekend he could actually go on an official visit and then got him. So I'm sure other schools were talking to him. You're talking about one of the best quarterbacks in the country coming out of high school. Anybody that needed a quarterback should have been calling the kid. Look how big he is, he's got a strong arm, he can run, and he's an awesome kid. I never really got into who else was recruiting him, I just felt really good when we had him up and he was here the next day.

Boston College Athletics

Jeff Hafley Weekly Press Conference: Pitt

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David Bailey

Jaelen Gill

Phil Jurkovec

Hunter Long

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