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Virginia vs. East Carolina
Oct. 11, 2008
Virginia Player Quotes
Virginia Senior Tailback Cedric Peerman
On his two long touchdown runs:
“It was just a great job by the guys up front, and the wide receivers were blocking great downfield. All I had to do was run.”
On the importance of getting big leads in the first half:
“It is important, but this is a game where the momentum often swings. You have to stay ready for anything that comes.”
On the difference playing at home makes:
“It is nice to be at home, but great teams have to win on the road. So we are just looking forward to whatever the season brings us.”
Virginia Sophomore Quarterback Marc Verica
On the offensive performance today:
“It says a lot about everyone’s execution. Everyone is staying focused and concentrated, and focusing on their performances. We aren’t getting penalties, and we are getting big chunks in the ground game while taking what the defense gives us in the passing game. It is really fun to see right now.”
On how Cedric Peerman played today:
“I said it before and I’ll say it again: he is the heart of the team. He makes everything go. We had a tough first quarter there and turned the ball over twice. But we were able to come back and put a lead on them just because of him. There is a tremendous fight in him, a tremendous amount of resolve, and he just makes this team go. I couldn’t be happier to play with him.”
On his progression as a quarterback:
“There is still a lot to be improved upon. I still have to learn a lot. So we are just going to take it one game at a time here. It is good to see that we are 3-3 right now, but we are just going to focus on UNC.”
Virginia Senior Quarterback Scott Deke
On how it felt to throw the first touchdown pass of his career:
“It feels unbelievable and well worth all of the wait. To get the chance to come back and help the team out, I think that is what means the most. I feel like I helped the team, and we all did a good job. To be able to pull a win out against ECU is really great.”
On his touchdown pass during the fake field goal:
“We get lined up and JP (John Phillips) goes on out there. If no one is covering him, then it’s my job to throw it to him. We don’t line up that way for every field goal, and it is a game-time decision that can only be run in certain situations.”
Junior Offensive Tackle Will Barker
On the offensive line’s blocking for Cedric Peerman’s two touchdown runs:
“Both of those runs were our bread and butter runs. We just went one time to the right and one time to the left. When you get the backside linebacker and you run to the front side, things are bound to happen like that. Cedric had an explosion on a couple of runs and that really boosted our offense. He had a heck of a game today.”
On negating East Carolina’s pass rush:
“We focused earlier in the week on how this would be one of the fastest teams that we have played since USC. We practiced against speed and the games that they ran. We just did a good job out there; they came to play and we came to play toowe just happened to be better.”
On the improvement of the offensive line in the past two weeks:
“When things start rolling like this, everyone is bound to gel. We were kind of in a slump there for a little bit, we had to pick it up, and the offensive line was where it was going to start. We had to get our minds so that we could try and lead. Everyone stepped it up and everyone has been playing great for the last couple of weeks. Things are really looking up right now.
Senior Offensive Tackle Eugene Monroe
On how the offensive line worked together to block for Cedric Peerman’s two touchdown runs:
“All we did was our job. We got everyone blocked up like we needed to and Cedric did his thing.”
On his blocking pattern for Peerman’s touchdown runs:
“It was power. I had a down block so I took the backside linebacker. A lot of time when you get the backside linebacker, the run play is big because they are usually the ones who make the stops.”
On the improvement of the offensive line in the past two weeks:
“We are paying better attention and have a greater sense of focus during the week and it shows on game day.”
On defending East Carolina’s pass rush:
“They were a good front but communication was key because they ran a lot of games up on the front of the defensive line. I had to communicate with my guard and center and I am sure on the other side Will Barker did the same to make sure that we had everything squared away.”
On reading East Carolina’s defense:
“I am sure everyone does it, but the defense knows what we do when we get in certain formations but it works the other way around as well. We were clued in on their formations and that gave us a big advantage.”
Senior Linebacker Clint Sintim
On the improvement of the defense over the past two weeks:
“With the loss of Chris Long and Jeffrey Fitzgerald and all those guys, a lot of people didn’t think we’d be able to get as much pressure as we have but the coaches are doing a good job of putting us in the right schemes to make plays. Guys are out there getting a lot of pressure, like Antonio Appleby and John-Kevin Dolce. Dolce is one of the younger guys who has really stepped up and made a big impact on our third down defense. A lot of guys are stepping up to do their part and make this defense special.”
On recording two sacks and a fumble recovery:
“I just want to do whatever I can to help this team out. Whether it’s covering, rushing the passer, or however, I was just able to beat my guy a couple of times today. I just really wanted to step up and be that guy that the team depends on as a playmaker to help this team win.”
On stopping the fast East Carolina offense:
“That was just a good game plan by Coach Groh. He put us in the right situation to make plays. Obviously they are a very talented team; they beat two quality teams in Virginia Tech and West Virginia. We were able to come out there and withstand some of the charges that they made and were able to come and make plays. Hats off to them, they are a great team, they have a lot of talent and I am sure that they will be better off in the next couple of weeks.”
On the senior leadership among the linebackers:
“Me, Jon Cooper, and Antonio Appleby have been together for quite some time, we have played in this defense for quite some time. We all know what is expected of us and we are expected to lead this team. A lot of guys have been around and we are just trying to be the leaders of this defense. A lot of younger guys are on the defense right now and we are just trying to be the guys who step up and make plays for this defense. We have been able to do that the last couple of weeks.