Notes & Quotes | Knights Prepare for Navy’s Triple-option Offense

(Photo by Adrian J. Hernandez / New Day Review)

Oct. 16, 2017 at Wayne Densch Center for Student-Athlete Leadership

Availability: ATH Otis Anderson, DL Jamiyus Pittman, LB Chequan Burkett, OT Wyatt Miller, LB Shaquem Griffin

• The University of Central Florida defeated East Carolina University 63-21 in its third American Athletic Conference game of the season.
• With the win over ECU, UCF started a season 5-0 for the first time in school history.

ATH OTIS ANDERSON: “It’s still business as usual. [Feeling good about 5-0] feels like that after the game. After the game, maybe through Sunday. But Monday, we’re back to work. We know what we need to do to get where we really want to be. This is just a stepping stool, like I said before. So, as far as working hard during practice, everything is pretty much the same.”

 

DL JAMIYUS PITTMAN: “I take a lot of pride [starting 5-0]. Just because coming in with [former Knights coach George O’Leary] and everything we’ve been through since we’ve been here. My class and classes before me—I don’t even know what to say man. I’m just happy. I’m excited for us right now.”

 

LB CHEQUAN BURKETT: “It feels pretty good [to start 5-0]. You know, I was here the Fiesta Bowl year, and I was able to experience that. Just this year, it feels good. It’s not finished. I really don’t think about it too much. We get the victory, yeah, but we still got the opponent next week. So, just taking it one game at a time. Hoping to end the season with a big smile on my face.”

 

OT WYATT MILLER: “A lot of pride [starting 5-0]. It’s crazy to think that two years ago, right now we’re 0-5, 0-6. And I hate talking about that. But this team has grown so much. And it makes me so proud to be part of something like this. And it’s just unreal, you know, seeing the journey we’ve come along and what Coach [Scott] Frost has done here and what we’ve done as a team. It’s a pride thing. To know that you’re never down and out. So you never count yourself out. And that’s what we’re thinking about.”

 

LB SHAQUEM GRIFFIN: “It’s amazing [being the first UCF team to start 5-0]. I tell my brother all the time. You know, I’ve been there when we won the Fiesta Bowl, I ‘ve been there when we was losing. And being able to experience the fact that we’re winning so much and the enjoyment and having fun and dancing in the locker room. That’s the experience that you’re gonna remember the rest of your life, and I’m enjoying every single bit of it. And I’m definitely taking advantage of it, and I’m gonna live it up.”

 

“We all know [we haven’t earned anything yet]. So, it’s like, ‘Yeah, we’re ranked 20. Yeah, that’s’ great. But you get nothing for it.’ So, why not keeping pushing ‘til you get what you want. That’s the message we’re all giving each other. So, I like where our mindset is at as a team.”

• The Knights are ranked No. 20 in both the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll.
• UCF is the second-highest ranked Group of Five team behind the University of South Florida, which is ranked No. 16 in the AP Top 25 and No. 13 in the Coaches Poll.
• The highest-ranked Group of Five team at the end of the season plays in a New Year’s Six Bowl.
• UCF is ranked for the first time since 2013 and just two seasons after going 0-12.

OT WYATT MILLER: “At the end of the season [is when we’ll have a chance to feel like we’ve arrived]. Like I said, we don’t ever wanna be—we’re never gonna be happy, we’re never gonna be complacent. As far as after the season, when everything is said and done, if we’re where we want to be, then we’ll say, ‘Hey, we made it.’ But I think we gotta take the same mindset into every game. And knowing that this could be it or whatever. I was asked about the ranking earlier, and that’s a temporary thing. If the season were to end today, then good, whatever, we’re ranked 20th. But it’s not over with. So we gotta keep on winning. We gotta keep on building.”

 

“I think it’s not ‘scared of success.’ I think it’s embracing it and knowing we’re not happy yet. We’re never gonna be complacent. You never want to—‘complacency’ is a bad word in our locker room. We never want to get there. We never wanna be happy with where we are. And I think as far as if we never reach that, we’ll be fine, you know? We just gotta keep working and keep building on these things.”

 

“Obviously, [being ranked] helps us. It’s a motivator. Success is something that you have to take lightly. You can’t be too focused on it, or you kinda drive yourself crazy. It’s something that that’s kinda fueling this fire.”

 

“Most definitely. Most definitely. You never wanna be [0-12]. That was one of the worst times that I’ve ever been a part of. And it’s a—like you said, a fuel to the fire. It’s something that gives us confidence. Saying, ‘Hey, we don’t ever wanna be in that spot again, and we’re gonna do whatever it takes to never be there again.’”

 

LB CHEQUAN BURKETT: “Hopefully this is how [the young players] take [success] in. This is how it supposed to be, so in the years to come, they’re able to win and keep winning out. So, just trying to leave that culture behind. Make sure those guys be able to succeed after this year and the years to come.”

• The Navy Midshipmen (5-1, 3-1 in AAC) are receiving votes in the AP and Coaches Poll.
• Last week, Navy was No. 25 in the AP Top 25 and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll before losing to the University of Memphis 30-27.
• Navy is one of five teams in the FBS that runs an offense that relies heavily on the triple option, rushing for a nation-leading 397.5 yards per game.
• The Midshipmen are averaging 36 minutes in time of possession per game, tied for No. 1 in the country.
• UCF allows 110.2 rushing yards per game, ranking 18th.

DL JAMIYUS PITTMAN: “I went against one team in high school [that ran triple option], Lowndes. And that was hard to me. But I feel like this is a lot—this is similar. This is similar. And I’m coached up. I’m coached up on it, and I’m just gonna follow the game plan. And I know if I do my assignment, everybody do their assignment, we good.”

 

“I’m about to go watch film right after [media availability]. I just felt like today, in practice, I haven’t seen it enough. So, I’m gonna get back in there with a couple of guys, and we’re gonna go over and test each like later on in the week.”

 

 “I’m not expecting to come out walking the same, if that’s what you’re asking. I’m laying it all on the line. Whatever for the W. Whatever happens, happens, but I know I’m trying to get that win regardless. So, anything goes.”

 

“Like Coach [Erik Chinander] said, ‘We gonna play the same keys we’ve played since the season started.’ And that’s just our assignment. Do what you’re told to do. If everybody does what they’re told to do, we should be fine.”

 

“I watched [Navy] today, and they get after it. I mean, it didn’t make me look any kind of way, it was just like, ‘Okay, this is gonna be one of those game.’”

 

“Nobody can duplicate exactly what Navy does. But I feel like we got somebody that can do it—that’s coming close. And I’m getting a little early in the week, and I’m gonna play whatever block they give me.”

 

OT WYATT MILLER: “I was [in] a triple-option [offense] my freshman year and sophomore year [of high school]. And then my junior and senior year, we actually ran [Clemson University’s] offense. So we were modeled right after that. So, I’ve seen both sides of it. So I definitely like [the spread offense] better.”

 

“It’s unreal. It causes a lot of problems. But I think, our defense is ready. They’ve been seeing it for a while now. They’re gonna be prepared.”

 

LB CHEQUAN BURKETT: “Just different keys. That’s how Coach explained it to us. And that’s how we checking in. Just different keys that we have to read. You know, they have a different option each and every play. They can hand it to the fullback, quarterback keeper, or they can pitch it. Or it might be a play action. But we just stayed tuned in, dialed in and make sure everybody doing their assignment. So, going into the week, that’s all we focus on.”

 

“Of course we [practiced for the option in the spring]. That was a great idea by the coaches, knowing that we had those teams to face during the season. So, we didn’t have to wait ‘til the season came around, so it’d be just new now in our minds and playing skills. But we went over it during spring ball and during summer camp and even, like, touched points during [Hurricane Irma]. So, it’s not too new to us, you know? But now we can truly dial in on the triple option.”

 

“Yeah, [playing the triple-option’s] good. It feel real good. ‘Cause college football is more of a spread kinda system now. So, going back to the triple option, it’s like going to old-school football that you used to watch. So being a part of that is big.”

 

“I think the key to defeating this team is discipline. They’re so disciplined themselves in what they do, so we gotta be just as disciplined as them. So Coach is stressing that make sure everybody doing their assignment. Reading their keys and everybody playing the play within the play. So, we just focused on that: being disciplined and staying tuned into our keys.”

 

“Nah, you can’t be a selfish player. You gotta play your part of the play. Read your key you see. ‘Cause there’re three plays within one of their offensive plays. The quarterback can keep the ball, he can hand it to the fullback, or he can pitch it. So, we just playing the dive, playing the dive, playing the pitch. So it’s a team effort, and everyone’s bought in to what their assignment is.”

 

“It’s way important. ‘Cause we gotta stay tuned in and stay dialed in to our keys. And make sure we know our part of the play. And you can’t watch too much film, especially seeing the triple option. You can’t go over it—watching too much film. It’s playing it and watching the film.”

 

LB SHAQUEM GRIFFIN: “Our whole thing when we started meeting, our coaches was really talking to us about not really feeling like it’s a big difference ‘cause we gonna play the same defense. We still have keys. We still have assignments that we have to make sure that we’re doing. And our whole thing is, today, to make sure we trust each other. You know, it’s a different scheme obviously but, you know, going around our same defense. You know, we gotta make sure I can trust the guys on my left and my right to do their job. And it’s gonna create opportunities for me to make plays. And vice versa for anybody. You know, we doing our job and trusting the process of the plays and the situations our coaches put us in, and we gonna be just fine. We just gotta trust each other out there.”

 

“Obviously, it’s tough. Everybody wanna make plays, but, when it comes to this game and when it comes to this team, if you wanna be successful in this conference, you gotta be selfless. You can’t be that guy like, ‘I need this tackle. I need this play.’ You gotta be like, ‘Okay, if I do my job, I might not make the play, but my guy next to me will make it.’ And that’s how you live through the next down; that’s how you live through the drives. And that’s how we play as a team. We don’t worry about the stats. We don’t worry about how many tackles we can get. We do our job, we can get this W. And I think that’s what we have to keep focusing on. And making sure that we do our job. We don’t worry about our stats. Don’t worry about me being the guy who saves the day. We gotta be like, ‘If I do my job, we can win.’ And that’s a team that you wanna be on. You wanna be on a team that’s not selfish. You wanna be on a selfless team. And I think that’s what we got here this year.”

 

“It’s exciting when you go against a new offense. We’ve been going against spread offenses and speed so much. And now we get to actually slow it down a little bit. And get more—little  aggressive when it comes to the run. We got guys like Jamiyus Pittman and Tony Guerad and Trysten Hill who’s ready to get down and dirty with the run. And, you know, I’m kinda excited for ‘em ‘cause I’m ready to stick my head in there also. So it’s gonna be a fun game, and it’s gonna be very aggressive. But I feel like we got big guys in front of us who’s excited to get down and dirty. And I’m right along with ‘em.”

 

“[Third-down defense is] very critical. Always, if you wanna get the offense back on the field, you know, every time we’re on defense. And our whole thing is we gotta be able [to], as a defense. When it comes to third down, it’s very important that—I always tell my defense, ‘Boss up.’ ‘Cause third down, and it’s third and short, you can’t just be up there holding up blocks and looking around. You gotta be able to get in there. ‘Cause, obviously, it’s gonna be a running team, and they’re gonna try to overpower us, and we gotta be ready. And Coach Frost always said, ‘Take the attack to them.’ And I think that’s gonna be our plan this week. Is make sure that we don’t be the ones who are getting attacked, but we be the ones [who] are doing the attacking.”

 

“Yeah, we always been ready for it. Obviously, we knew that we were playing Navy. So throughout the entire spring and the summer, you know, coaches might throw a couple plays in where we going against an option team. And, you know, that’s kinda good. When it comes to this point, we won’t be surprised about what we going against. We already had an idea of how to play it and when to play it. And now it’s just us getting back in tune, getting our feet back wet. And. you know, it feels good, going against the scout team today. And going through the option and kinda already having a feeling of what to expect and how to expect it. I felt that we’re gonna be prepared for this upcoming Saturday against Navy. I feel good about the guys communicating. We did really well today, and it’s only the first day. And we get better every single day, and we started off with a good week of practice.”

 

“When you going against an option team, you know, it’s very important to be disciplined. And, like I said before, you have to be able to trust your teammates around you. Because if you out one gap, that’s a gap unaccounted for. And that can be the gap that can lead to a touchdown. And our whole thing is I trust all my players around me. I’m very confident that they gonna do their jobs, and I’m gonna hold it down for them just the way the hold it down for me. So, it’s no doubt in my mind, when it comes to this Saturday, gaps gonna be filled.”

• To practice against the option, Frost, who played in an option-reliant offense with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, has played scout-team quarterback during practice for the Knights.
• Frost was the starting quarterback at Nebraska when the team won a share of the 1997 National Championship.
• In 1997, Frost ran for 1,095 yards and 19 touchdowns while completing 55.3 percent of his passes for 1,237 yards and five touchdowns.

DL JAMIYUS PITTMAN: “It was about like a spring, like a spring practice when we we’re going against the triple option. It’s fast. I think we’re getting a good look from Coach Frost and the scout team. I think we’ll be able to execute a game plan.”

 

“Oh, yeah. [Frost’s] the quarterback. That’s a big quarterback back there.”

 

“Oh, yeah. I felt like I came in fast, and he ran up to the other side, and I didn’t catch him, if that means anything. So, that’s a great look.”

 

LB SHAQUEM GRIFFIN: “[Frost’s] been in there lately. It’s kinda funny ‘cause, he put on a helmet with no chin strap. So, when you see that, you’re not really prepared, but he’s that quarterback. I said, ‘Maybe this must be a back-in-the-day thing.’ You know, don’t worry about the chin strap, you don’t need it. But it’s kinda exciting to see him running around. You’re not gonna get a better look than having Coach Frost in there. ‘Cause, obviously, he knows what to expect and the expectation of what we gonna see from Navy. And just to see him in there and running around getting us prepared, and it’s crazy ‘cause he’s running so fast that you gotta be ready. ‘Cause if you slacking, it’s gonna show. And when you see Coach Frost out-running you, that means you doing something wrong. It’s kinda good when you get a good look form your head coach, and it’s gonna make you work throughout practice.”

• UCF held its first practice of the week on Monday, preparing for Navy.
• Since his first season at the helm, Frost has emphasized the importance of Monday practices with regard to his team’s preparation.
• During the preseason, players and coaches alike noted the significantly improved team chemistry compared to seasons past.

LB CHEQUAN BURKETT: “I trust my teammates. To the first-string, second-string, the scout team, the offense, offensive players, special-teams players. You know, the trust on this team is way above what you would think. So, everybody know they gotta do their assignments. So, I’m back behind my boys, and they back behind me.”

 

OT WYATT MILLER: “[Practice] was good. Yeah, we actually had a really good, clean, crisp practice today. It was a little shorter. You know, Mondays are shorter. But it was good. Everybody was dialed in and focused and knows what we need to get done for us to be successful on Saturday.”

• UCF enters the Navy matchup as the No. 1 scoring offense in the nation, also averaging the fifth-most yards per game.
• Navy ranks No. 81 in scoring defense, giving up 28 points per game.
• The Midshipmen rank 77th in yards, allowing 398.2 per game.

ATH OTIS ANDERSON: “Really, just win one-on-one matchups. At the end of the day, even if they run zone, you have to run your route. So, beat ‘em with speed. They’re very disciplined. That’s a very disciplined football team. So, we just have to follow all of our rules and be the best player I can be. And the team should do it perfectly.”

 

“Discipline. I say discipline. We understand what we have to do to contribute in everyone’s role. So now that we all accept our roles and know what we have to do, I feel like we come together as a team more, and it helps us pick each other up when we’re down.”

 

OT WYATT MILLER: “We just got in the film room this morning, so we’ve only seen ‘em one time. But they do some different things. They flip their front a little bit. So we got a game plan that we’re confident in, and I’m sure the coaches are gonna critique it and what not to put us in the right position to be successful.”

• Last season, the UCF offensive line gave up 36 sacks, including 25 on then-true freshman McKenzie Milton.
• This season, the offensive line has only given up one sack so far in a game against the University of Cincinnati.
• UCF is ranked 22nd in rushing yards per game, averaging 226.6 yards per game.
• Guard Chavis Dickey earned team offensive player of the week honors.

DL JAMIYUS PITTMAN: “When I go against [the O-line] every day, I tell ‘em like, ‘We getting better.’ Like, Coach [Greg] Austin says, ‘Iron sharpens iron.’ I take so much pride in when—like, Chavis [Dickey] got offensive player of the week. So, it made me feel like I got offensive player of the week. Because I go against Chavis. So it’s like, ‘Great job, bro. And I’m ready to get on you again ‘til Thursday.”

 

OT WYATT MILLER: “In the offseason, we knew we had something to prove, and it was expected of us. And I think for us to gain that confidence, it took a game. Say, ‘Hey, we knew we were there in the offseason.’ But as far as for it to show, ‘cause in the offseason, we’re not throwing passes, were not actually doing one-on-ones. For us to see our work, the fruits of our labor, I think that’s what it took a game or two just to kinda get in that groove and know what we’re doing.”

 

“I think as far as execution—and we had a couple mental busts on Saturday that we need to clean up. And knowing the game plan and knowing what we need to get done. And being more physical, I think, as an offensive line. We had a lot of knockdowns on Saturday, which is what we’re going for. We want to be physical and tough, and I think we can grow a lot in that department too.”

• Anderson was a three-star recruit out of University Christian in Jacksonville, Florida, according to ESPN, 24/7 Sports and Rivals.
• The freshman is being used as an all-purpose player on offense.
• This season, Anderson has 14 catches for 156 yards and nine carries for 101 yards.

ATH OTIS ANDERSON: “This is something that I dreamed of. You know, growing up watching [the University of Oregon] do it with De’Anthony Thomas, Byron Marshall, Kenjon Barner, LaMichael James. All of those players are pretty much how I am today. So it feels great being able to play receiver, running-back and then maybe punt return next year. Different things like that.”

 

“Oh, yeah. Every game is kind of a stepping stool for me to learn different defenses, different ways that people will play me throughout my college career. The coaches help explain things that I will see more often. And, you know, with [Adrian Killins] being in this offense before I got here, he helps explains that stuff. Just throughout this year, I’ve learned different things, and it feels great.”

 

“Everyone in [Jacksonville] is proud of me. They had big hopes of me doing things like I’m doing now. So, everyone there is just glad that I’m able to put the city up to a larger map, so everyone can see. ‘Cause, you know, we have the [area-code] sticker on our helmets. Coaches are glad I’m doing it. And I’m just glad that my city feel good about me.”

• The Knights have worn a different uniform combination every game this season.
• Against ECU for homecoming, UCF debuted a space-themed uniform.
• Players’ helmets also have a decal with their respective hometown area codes.

ATH OTIS ANDERSON: “We love [the area code on our helmets]. Its personal. It’s personal. If you put the wrong area code on our helmet, we get a little mad. The center, Jordan Johnson, he had pulled out his helmet. It had 404 on it instead of 904, and he got really hot. They had to change it before the game. That’s just something we take pride in. You know, everybody’s from different places, and we all come together as a team.”

 

“We loved [the space uniforms]. It’s something different. We didn’t really expect the decals. We knew we would have a different type of combination from before. But the decals—I really think that took it over the top.”

• Burkett’s wife, Megan, served in the United States Army.

LB CHEQUAN BURKETT: “I appreciate any military family, any military person that’s in the—doing service for this country. Especially [Navy]. They’re balancing their duties and football, and plus they have families and whatnot. So, it’s a big salute to those guys and how they handle their situation.”

• Burkett is a redshirt senior who was in the same recruiting class as Griffin and his twin, Shaquill Griffin.
• Shaquill, who is a rookie cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks, returned to UCF for the homecoming game.
• In Shaquill’s return, Shaquem recorded his second sack of the season.

LB CHEQUAN BURKETT: “[Griffin] faced a lot of adversity growing up and even faced a lot of adversity coming here. You know, having to redshirt his freshman year and just working his way up the depth chart and finally getting to start last year. It’s just—I’ve seen how this guy works and how much leadership he brought to the team. It’s really good. He always behind my ear saying, ‘Hey, bro. We gotta do this. 2013 year, we did it. Let’s try to go out with a bang this year.’ So, we got the opportunity to be on the field together, and it’s a wonderful thing to see him grow into the player he has.”

 

“[The Griffins] was the fastest recruits that we had, just like you heard about them. The twins coming in. So I knew they was a wonderful athlete once I saw ‘em and the way they ran. And the skill set that they had. It’s just amazing. I knew those guys were gonna be successful.”

 

LB SHAQUEM GRIFFIN: “It was the first time [since the summer that I had seen my brother]. And it’s been a long time coming. I was excited. I was very happy to see him on the sideline. And it was funny because every time I made a play, he was like, ‘I think I’m your good-luck charm.’ And then, next thing you know, right before half, I got a sack, and he was like, ‘You know what, I think I’m just gonna stay on the sideline.’ He asked me, ‘Do you want me to stay on the sideline or go in the stands?’ and next thing you know, he was like, ‘I’m just gonna stay here.’ He said, ‘Obviously, I am your good luck.’ And I was like, ‘Just stay here. Just stay put the rest of the game and start running around.’ And it just feel good to have that presence. It’s like I felt him on the field all over again. It felt good to have him right behind me.”

For more on the Knights, as they prepare to face the AAC West’s best team, follow Ryan Weiss on Twitter at @NDR_RyanWeiss.