Wake Forest football coach Jim Grobe talks with the news media on Monday. Wake (2-4, 1-2 ACC) will face Virginia Tech (4-2, 2-0 ACC) on Saturday in Blacksburg.
On losing nine games decided by four points or less since November 2008
“Number one is we are playing good teams. That’s the problem. When we’ve been successful in the past, we’ve won our share of those games, but in the past couple seasons we haven’t done that. It’s a problem. It’s a situation where we are doing almost everything we can do to win, but we’re not making the plays we need to make. In a lot of cases, we’re just not doing the things that good teams do. We’re mentally not doing good things, and we have to keep working on it until we get it right.”
On dealing with close losses compared to blowout losses
“Right after, it’s tougher to deal with when you lose a really close game like we did against Georgia Tech and against Navy. It stings really bad immediately following the game. The upside is you are playing bowl teams really close, so you know you’re not a bad football team. On one hand, right after the game it feels the worst when the game is close, but it feels better than it did at Stanford because you feel like you’re getting better.”
On Tanner Price’s performance against Navy as a sign of the future
“I hope it is. He played really well the other night. Offensively, we did some good things, and he directed that. You’d like to think that he’ll continue to play well, but we’re going to play some teams who are a better defensively. It will not be easy, but he certainly showed us what is possible, and that’s encouraging out of a true freshman.”
On what to concerns there are when facing Virginia Tech
“Everything. Of course, coach [Frank] Beamer has always done a great job with special teams, and they continue to do that. Defensively, we’re facing another great quarterback in Tyrod Taylor. It seems like we’re up against a great quarterback every week, and here’s another one. He’s a mobile quarterback and might be more mobile than either [Georgia Tech QB Josh] Nesbitt or [Navy QB Ricky] Dobbs. That will give our defense a lot of problems, on top of the fact they might have the greatest group of running backs in the country. I like their receivers who are really talented. Defensively, they have started coming into their own. They had a lot of young guys playing early in the season, and they struggled a little bit. They’ve got all that together, and they’ve looked really good the last couple of weeks.”
On making his first trip to Virginia Tech as the head coach of Wake Forest
“From what I understand, that is a pretty tough place to play. I played their when I was at the University of Virginia, but I don’t think they had started any of the renovations that they have had since then. Everybody I speak with talks about how impressive their stadium is and how hard it is to play because the crowds really get into it.”
On Virginia Tech’s backfield
“Their backfield is fantastic, but what makes those guys go are the guys up front. Their offensive line is really physical. They have a really good tight end who is not only a good blocker, but he can also run and catch the football. I also really like their wide receivers, and that offensive line will give Tyrod Taylor time to throw the football. This is an offense that everyone knew was going to be good at the start of the season, and they are playing really good right now. They are one of the top rushing teams in the league, which gives you problems.”
On the Virginia Tech defense
“The thing that is the most dangerous for us, is that they don’t have someone that we want to go after. A lot of times when you have a great player, you can look at that guy and say ‘We’re going to stay away from him.’ It’s hard to look across to their side and see anyone you feel real good about going after. They’re as talented of a football team as we’ll play all year, and they’re doing a great job coaching them in all three areas.”
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