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Video: Presser with Defensive Coordinator Steve Belichick and Offensive Coordinator Freddie Kitchens
Oct 15, 2025
Video: Presser with Defensive Coordinator Steve Belichick and Offensive Coordinator Freddie Kitchens
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0:00
Um had some ups and downs. Um good
0:04
having the by week this week. Um
0:05
definitely have some things to clean up.
0:07
Um always need to to work and improve,
0:10
but um have had a couple good weeks of
0:12
practice, so looking forward to get back
0:13
out getting back out on the field.
0:15
What were some of those areas of focus
0:17
during the the two off weeks around the
0:19
Clemson game?
0:20
Um always fundamentals. Um work on that
0:22
every single week. Um communication
0:24
fundamentals. Um just keeping work keep
0:28
working through the guys on the roster
0:30
and um yeah just taking it one day at a
0:32
time.
0:34
Yeah. Jeremiah Hollow with inside
0:36
Carolina uh in the three loss that you
0:39
all had uh seeing you know first quarter
0:41
first half you know the score kind of
0:43
get out of hand pretty quickly from your
0:45
perspective on the sideline and having
0:47
been able to look at it. Uh what did you
0:48
think were maybe some of those common
0:50
threads as to I guess how can this kind
0:52
of spice?
0:54
Yeah, I mean I think every game, you
0:56
know, plays out differently. Um, you
0:58
know, how it starts, uh, who starts with
1:01
the ball, the possessions, um, you know,
1:04
field position, all that type of stuff.
1:05
So, we've looked at all that, um, gone
1:07
through it with, you know, with
1:08
everybody and, um, we obviously have to
1:10
do a better job and and that's what
1:12
we're working towards, but um, just
1:14
appreciate the players working hard,
1:16
trying to keep improve, and, um, take it
1:18
one day at a time.
1:19
Yeah. the other day we were talking to
1:20
April Simpson. He was mentioning you
1:22
know how to start faster from a
1:23
defensive standpoint. I guess uh what
1:25
are some I guess practical ways to I
1:27
guess you know defensively kind of get
1:29
out and put yourselves I guess set the
1:31
tone that
1:32
um yeah I mean just just got to be ready
1:34
to go. Got to be ready to go out there
1:36
and play fast, not be thinking too much
1:37
about the game and and the calls and
1:39
stuff like that and just um go out there
1:41
and play free and so um trying to do
1:43
that every single week. So we've had
1:45
some good starts and we've had some slow
1:46
starts. So we just got to be more
1:48
consistent
1:48
on the left there.
1:50
Just like you mentioned the
1:52
communication aspect of it all. Players
1:54
are mentioning after the come game like
1:56
some blowing coverage and stuff like
1:57
that. How do you practically go about
1:59
building better communication and kind
2:00
of being on the same page?
2:02
Um just making sure everybody spends
2:04
spends enough time together so that um
2:06
so that everybody's on the same page and
2:08
um don't want to put too much on their
2:10
plate. um still building that um those
2:14
relationships out on the field where um
2:16
you need a little bit more verbal
2:18
communication. Sometimes you can just
2:19
have visual communication and look at
2:20
somebody and know you know know what's
2:22
going on out there. But um working
2:24
through those things and players have
2:25
been doing a really good job with it. So
2:27
um I think it'll improve.
2:29
Second row in the center. See Brad
2:31
Murphy with you. You spent time
2:33
obviously at Washington last year and
2:35
and time in the pros. How much have you
2:37
talked to other coaches, including your
2:39
dad, about the differences between
2:41
dealing with college kids and maybe
2:42
dealing with professionals and and all
2:44
that goes into some of that stuff?
2:47
Um, not too much to be honest. I mean, I
2:51
think every every relationship that you
2:53
have um with somebody is different. Um,
2:56
so you just got to, you know, build
2:57
those relationships with people and and
2:59
figure out what makes them tick. um it's
3:02
hard to to generalize that and just say
3:04
that this is how you deal with one group
3:06
and this is how you deal with another
3:07
another group. So everybody's different
3:09
and um got to treat everybody fairly. Um
3:12
not the same but fairly. So um just just
3:15
working through through those
3:16
relationships um it's hard to just say
3:18
you know this is how it is here is how
3:20
it is there. So um I think there's more
3:23
that goes into it. You obviously brought
3:25
Thad over with you or he came to to lose
3:28
him for Bill said a significant period
3:31
of time. What does that do to your
3:33
defense and what does it do for for him?
3:36
Um yeah, I mean you know he was he was a
3:39
really good player for us. It it
3:40
definitely um is unfortunate. Um never
3:43
want to lose a player. Um but it's also
3:45
you know it's part of the game. So um
3:47
we'll still play with 11. We won't play
3:49
with 10 just cuz he's out there but or
3:50
he's not out there. So, um, yeah, uh,
3:53
need need everybody to to step up and
3:56
and raise their level of play. Um, uh,
3:59
whether he was out there or not, that's
4:00
what we all all are striving to do. So,
4:03
um, it's it's unfortunate, but it is
4:05
what it is now.
4:06
Front row on the right here,
4:07
Noah White 24/7. Uh, do you envision
4:10
yourself spending a little bit more time
4:11
with the quarterback's room now with
4:13
Armen away from the team and I guess
4:15
also to Ryan's point with Thaddius out?
4:17
Um, I try and spend time with, you know,
4:19
with all the groups. Um, I wouldn't say
4:21
it's it's tilted um, you know, too much.
4:25
We're just um, wherever uh, wherever I
4:28
need to be is where I go.
4:29
Is Brian going to be primarily taking
4:31
over that position the ball runs away or
4:32
is there a different plan in place?
4:34
Uh, yeah. I mean, it's it's it's a it's
4:36
a group effort. The whole defensive
4:38
staff is is is working hard at at
4:40
everything we need to do. So, um, it's
4:42
hard to just pinpoint and say that um,
4:44
since this happened, this is going to
4:46
change. So, everybody's been doing a
4:47
little bit different stuff. Second row
4:50
on the left here.
4:53
Obviously, there have been reports of um
4:55
just tension, frustration in the locker
4:58
room, reports of fights in the locker
5:00
room. Just from your standpoint, give
5:02
you a chance to describe how you see the
5:04
team culture where it's at right now.
5:08
Just your evaluation of kind of the
5:09
team.
5:11
Yeah, I think we've had a really good
5:12
week of practice. Um I think anybody
5:15
who's a competitor is frustrated when
5:17
they lose. So, um, you know, it starts
5:19
with me on defense. I got to do a better
5:21
job and, um, trickles down through
5:23
everybody. So, we all got to do better.
5:25
But, um, I appreciate the frustration to
5:28
a point just because that means they
5:29
care. Um, we're putting in a lot of
5:30
work, um, to go out there and and
5:32
compete at a high level and, um, it
5:34
hasn't always shown. So, um, we'll try
5:37
and get out there and and do better,
5:38
but, um, should be frustrated when you
5:40
lose.
5:41
Yeah. I guess just follow that again
5:43
like the you know you should be
5:44
frustrated sometimes you know a a
5:47
scuffle or something like that guys can
5:49
get into a practice versus like a fight
5:51
just any sort of um can you eliminate
5:54
exactly fights?
5:57
Yeah I I I don't know anything about the
5:59
the fights or anything like that. back
6:02
row seating.
6:04
Obviously, your dad's had huge success
6:06
in the years. When you like this as a
6:08
son, how does that affect you and how
6:10
hard is that on you? How do you
6:13
uh I'm I'm my own person. I mean, you
6:15
know, I've been at some my whole life. I
6:18
don't really know any different, but I
6:19
got a job to do. He's got a job to do.
6:21
Um we're working together, obviously,
6:22
but um yeah, I mean, I'm my own person.
6:27
Third girl right here. on Miles ABC1.
6:30
Stephen, you guys are categorically and
6:32
statistically down in a lot of different
6:35
places, but is there anything I'm
6:36
curious in particular that you see that
6:38
you guys are doing good and you want to
6:41
continue to elevate?
6:43
Um, yeah. I mean, there's, uh, the stats
6:46
are the stats. I mean, um, you always
6:49
wish that they were better, but that
6:50
stuff, you know, can be skewed one way
6:52
or another. Um, all those things should
6:54
should be better. But no, I appreciate
6:56
the players work and um there's a lot of
6:58
lot of challenges this week from the Cal
7:00
Cal offense that we need to be ready for
7:02
and um I think I think we'll be ready.
7:04
And then just to follow up, is there
7:06
anything what gives you the confidence
7:08
that you guys can get this thing turned
7:10
around?
7:11
Uh just the work that the players are
7:12
putting in.
7:13
Second row on the left. Adam
7:16
Steve Anderson inside Carolina. Um you
7:19
guys when you guys kick off Friday
7:21
night, I think it will be played one
7:23
time. you really have played one time
7:24
over your last 26 days. It's been a ton
7:27
of time to sort of reflect on what
7:29
you're doing. Like what have you looked
7:31
at personally? Um I don't know play
7:34
balling maybe or just personnel that
7:36
that that you tried to sort of dig into
7:39
to get some improvement here like what
7:41
have you what are you looking at in
7:43
terms of your own evaluation?
7:45
Uh yeah, I mean you're excuse me, you're
7:48
always evaluating you know yourself and
7:50
and the group that you're with and what
7:52
you're doing. So, I mean, that stuff
7:53
happens constantly. Um, you don't want
7:56
to go back over it too much and and
7:57
start chasing ghosts and second
7:58
guessing. Um, you know, you go with your
8:01
gut instinct and you go with with the
8:02
information that you get. Um, you can go
8:04
through it a little bit um slower
8:06
because you have more time, but you
8:07
don't want to keep going through it and
8:09
uh I should have done this, I should
8:11
have done that. um you know, we put a
8:13
plan in place every week and um try and
8:16
go out there and execute it and um some
8:19
some has been good, some has been bad,
8:20
but then you reflect on it and and move
8:22
forward, but um I know those guys are
8:24
excited to go out there and play this
8:25
week.
8:26
Front row on the right.
8:27
Hey, coach Grals on that side. You know,
8:30
your dad mentioned on Monday about the
8:32
cows wide receiver core. Uh what have
8:34
you seen from them throughout the make
8:36
what in your opinion, what makes them uh
8:39
so weak? Uh yeah, I mean they got big
8:41
receivers outside, make a lot of good
8:43
plays on 50/50 balls. Um they got a good
8:46
solid receiver who um lines up all over
8:48
the place. Um goes in motion a lot. So
8:51
um we definitely have our hands full. Um
8:53
tight ends are good. Lines line's good.
8:55
Interior lines definitely
8:58
experience. They got a good back. Um
9:00
they got a young quarterback, but he's
9:01
doing a good job uh out there. So we'll
9:04
we'll be ready for everything.
9:05
And then Mason Minnie, their tight end.
9:07
You know, he's been great this year. He
9:09
hasn't had a drop all year. What have
9:11
you seen from this game? Uh, what are
9:13
some of the plays you guys have to kind
9:15
of limit him in the offense?
9:18
Um, yeah, I mean, everybody's got to be
9:20
ready to go. Um, you know, he competes
9:21
in the run game. He's good in the pass
9:23
game. Um, he's definitely a good player.
9:24
He's got good size, good attributes. So,
9:27
um, yeah, we're looking forward to the
9:29
challenge.
9:30
Front run a lot.
9:31
Yeah. Uh, obviously you mentioned that
9:33
being out. Who are some of the, I guess,
9:35
defensive backs that you kind of noticed
9:37
in the last week or so of practice
9:39
stepping up? Obviously, I know you know
9:40
Jaden was a guy that got a lot of reps
9:42
against Clemson, but who are some of the
9:43
guys that have been filling in with
9:45
that?
9:46
Uh, yeah, I mean it's a it's a group
9:48
effort from everybody. So, um, we'll see
9:51
how it goes uh once we get out there,
9:53
but um, everybody's got to be ready to
9:55
go. We've played a lot of guys this
9:56
year, so um, I don't see that changing
9:58
too much.
9:59
Two more here, Brian, then back to Adam.
10:01
Have you guys made any changes to, you
10:04
know, assignments or personnel or the
10:06
way you're calling plays or any anything
10:08
like that over the last, you know, since
10:09
the Clemson game? Anything? Are you
10:11
rolling out anything different against
10:13
Cal?
10:14
Um, yeah. I mean, everything changes,
10:16
you know, week to week. um you know, you
10:19
go back and and review the film after
10:20
the game and um see how things went and
10:23
see how um it worked against what what
10:26
the opponent did and then going into the
10:27
next week you change or adjust it based
10:29
on um what you've done and and what you
10:32
plan to do going forward. So yeah, we do
10:34
that do that every week.
10:35
But you're you're still qualified.
10:36
You'll still be on the field. All that
10:38
all that stuff's kind of the same.
10:39
Yes.
10:40
Adam, finish up.
10:42
Steve, was that about the worst first
10:44
quarter you've experienced in the
10:46
Clemson game?
10:48
Uh yeah, I uh that's one thing I didn't
10:50
do over the 26 days, I guess, is go back
10:52
through all the first quarters that I've
10:54
been a part of. But yeah, no, it wasn't
10:55
good, but um you know, hopefully it's
10:58
better this week. That's what we're
10:59
working towards.
11:00
And what would you say just just were
11:02
the things that stood out that that you
11:04
could the main things that need be
11:06
corrected from that start against? Um
11:09
yeah, just just doing our jobs and and
11:12
tackling. Um I think if you if you do
11:15
those things, then you'll be all right.
11:17
Thanks guys.
11:18
Thanks Dere. How would you how would you
11:21
assess where the offense is through five
11:23
games?
11:23
I think um you know some of the progress
11:25
we've made hasn't showed up on the
11:27
scoreboard, but I think we have made
11:28
progress from if you go back and look at
11:30
TCU, you know, moving on to Charlotte,
11:32
moving on to Richmond, UCF, and now uh
11:35
you know, Clemson. I think we've made
11:37
progress. um doesn't always show up on
11:39
the scoreboard, but we've made progress
11:41
in different areas and we just need to
11:43
continue to stay where our feet are and
11:44
and get better each and every day and uh
11:48
and uh eventually we'll get the results
11:49
that we want.
11:51
Specifically, what are some of those
11:52
areas you've seen progress over the last
11:54
few weeks?
11:55
You know, I think the communication's
11:57
gotten better uh from the standpoint of
11:59
the quarterback to the line, the line to
12:01
the backs, the receivers to the
12:03
quarterback. You know, there's
12:04
communication all over the field that
12:05
happens every play. Uh I think that
12:07
communication's gotten better definitely
12:09
which uh increases your chances to be
12:11
successful on individual play. Uh and
12:13
then you string enough of those together
12:15
and you get uh success. Um and it it
12:19
really can you know you can cut this
12:20
thing down into drives or plays or
12:22
whatever. But each and every play is his
12:24
own entity and has a different set of
12:27
problems or a different set of
12:28
communication rules and things like that
12:29
and then you get that going. But if you
12:32
have a misstep along the way, that's how
12:34
you get sometimes bogged down and don't
12:36
have the result that you want.
12:37
Front row on the right
12:38
for no waste time 24/7. Can you just
12:41
sort of break down for us over what what
12:42
you've seen the first five games between
12:44
Max and then Gio specifically?
12:46
Yeah, I think you know both those guys
12:48
uh offer uh leadership abilities,
12:51
capabilities. They've both made plays
12:53
and in different parts and uh and all
12:56
that sort of thing. U you know, I like
12:58
being around both those guys. um they
13:01
bring different a little bit different
13:03
aspects to the game uh from their
13:05
perspective and uh uh but both of them's
13:08
kind of stayed the course and understand
13:09
that they're trying to get better each
13:10
and every day and they've done a really
13:12
good job of that.
13:13
On their play specifically on the field,
13:15
what I guess what sort of difference
13:16
have you seen because I know there's
13:18
some uncertainty still with Gio's
13:19
ability or his um his health and those
13:21
kinds of things. Yeah, I think again I
13:23
think you uh you know evaluate once
13:26
they're on the field, you evaluate it
13:27
moving forward and stuff like that, but
13:30
the both those guys have had ups and
13:31
downs. They'd be the first to tell you
13:32
that. Um it's just uh just like
13:35
offensively, we just need to be more
13:36
consistent along the way and I'd say
13:38
they say the same thing, both of them.
13:40
Front row on the left.
13:42
Yeah, Jeremiah Hall
13:45
ask you about the winning game. Of
13:46
course, June had you know shown a lot of
13:49
flashes about the depart. I know Ben
13:51
Hall, they kind of split the carriers or
13:53
a couple weeks ago against Clemson,
13:55
right? Where do you kind of see that
13:56
room right now? And I guess from a
13:59
productivity standpoint, you know, what
14:00
are some things that you kind of see
14:02
that you look at and you say, you know,
14:03
maybe this can change, just kind of get
14:05
more yards, but very
14:07
Yeah, I think uh you know, first of all,
14:09
I really like the room. I think we're
14:10
very versatile in that room. U you know,
14:13
we got a couple guys that offer
14:14
different strengths and weaknesses and
14:16
things like that. And uh secondly, I
14:19
like the room because they they work
14:20
their tail off uh each and every day. Um
14:23
as far as getting more yards for carry,
14:25
it's just like the the it's a microcosm
14:27
of everything else. You know, everybody
14:29
needs to do their job just a little bit
14:30
better, communicate just a little bit
14:32
better. Um and they would be the first
14:34
to say that they need to do their job
14:36
just a little bit better. So everybody I
14:38
need to do my job better. Everybody
14:39
needs to do their job just a little bit
14:40
better each and every day. And then
14:42
you'll start seeing the results like we
14:44
want to see the results on the
14:45
schoolboard. you'll start seeing results
14:47
on yards per per carry if that's what
14:49
your, you know, if that's what your main
14:52
goal is.
14:53
And to follow up on that with with June
14:55
with Paul, how do you kind of see their
14:57
games, I guess, kind of complimenting
14:59
each other, you know, since they kind of
15:00
have this in similar looks and how do
15:02
you kind of see their their games
15:04
coming?
15:05
I think, you know, that's a good
15:06
question. you know, uh, Guju is still a
15:09
freshman, so he hasn't seen as many he
15:11
hadn't been to many circuses and fairs
15:13
that that Ben's been to, and he's seen a
15:15
little bit more. So, uh, just the
15:17
experience aspect, I think, gives, uh,
15:19
you know, Ben some different aspects and
15:21
protections and and, uh, run keys and
15:24
things like that that, uh, that Ju has.
15:27
Front row, far left, Adam,
15:30
Freddy, um, Adam Smith in South
15:32
Carolina. Uh people aren't happy about
15:35
the production on offense obviously. I
15:37
know you know that. Um to what extent
15:39
have you all talked about, looked at,
15:42
thought about changing who's calling the
15:44
plays offensively?
15:46
Uh that has not that's that's never been
15:48
brought up, never been discussed. But uh
15:50
you know, I think we always look to see
15:52
how we can get better each and every
15:53
every day that we come go out to
15:55
practice and each day that or each game
15:58
day and all that kind of stuff. we come
16:00
back and re-evaluate things and uh uh
16:03
you know go from there. So there's of
16:05
course things I could have done better.
16:07
Uh I think we can say that all the way
16:08
down the line and uh but sometimes you
16:11
just got to keep your head down and go
16:13
to work and and try to get better.
16:15
Front row on the right here.
16:16
Hey coach Gre Sachary Trails on the side
16:19
on speaking of the offensive line. I
16:21
mean protection and burn blocking has
16:22
been inconsistent throughout the season.
16:24
How much of that has been do you trying
16:26
to find the right piece on the on the
16:28
spot as well as the injuries throughout
16:29
the year?
16:30
Well, I mean that's always the um the
16:32
case every year you deal with injuries
16:34
and things like that. You make the best
16:36
of the situation that you have. Um but
16:39
you know when you start talking about
16:40
the game of football with 11 people
16:42
having to be on the same page uh
16:44
communicate on every play uh of course
16:46
it starts up front but it also has to do
16:48
with other positions as well. So
16:49
everybody has a hand in in all the
16:52
problems. But here's the beauty of
16:53
football is we're all problem solvers.
16:55
So we each and every day, each and every
16:58
week try to solve the problems that
16:59
present itself. And u you know those
17:02
guys want to be more consistent just
17:03
like you know I want to be more
17:05
consistent just like uh running backs
17:07
want to be more everybody wants to be
17:09
more consistent. Now it's just a matter
17:10
of doing it.
17:11
Second row Brian from W. Yeah. you're
17:15
the only holdover on the staff between
17:17
last year and this year and I wondered
17:18
if you could talk to the implementation
17:20
of Bill's culture uh to the guys who
17:23
were here of the Mac very different
17:24
leadership style it seems and if that's
17:27
caused any friction between the Mac
17:29
holdover guys and the guys that are
17:30
coming
17:31
yeah I don't I don't I don't I don't see
17:33
that uh from that standpoint what I see
17:35
is a bunch of guys trying to trying to
17:37
come together and be one team and I've
17:39
seen that from the very beginning and u
17:42
you know they're they're working hard at
17:43
doing that and they They've gotten
17:45
better at that. They've increased that.
17:46
But I think everybody here tries to work
17:48
hard and and uh tries to do the right
17:50
thing.
17:51
Is is there a giant culture shift
17:53
between the way you know background the
17:55
program and the way?
17:56
I I think you've got different you're
17:58
talking to totally different people
18:00
there. Just like you know I'm pretty
18:01
sure um you know my coaching style is
18:04
not like a lot of people's coaching
18:05
style. So you know I don't I don't want
18:07
to get into like a comparison or
18:09
anything like that. There's of course
18:10
they're different people. They they've
18:12
had different experiences. Um, but both
18:15
of them's very successful. So,
18:18
I try to learn from everybody I coach
18:19
for and uh I've been very fortunate to
18:23
have been coached under underneath both
18:25
those guys
18:26
right next to
18:28
um Shelson with the news and just
18:30
following up on that again as one of the
18:32
um more recently
18:35
talked a lot about um they were kind of
18:37
late coming here right to the uh Winter
18:40
Port obviously new to the whole kind of
18:44
today. What role specifically do you
18:45
play as one of the holdovers in kind of
18:47
building this this roster?
18:50
Yeah, I think you know as a coach you
18:51
kind of um I don't really what what are
18:55
you asking? I'm sorry.
18:56
Yeah. Like what was your role in terms
18:58
of kind of helping them and maybe
19:00
navigating some of the, you know, the
19:02
portal or just building the roster on
19:05
the opposite side?
19:07
You know, I think that goes from player
19:09
to player, position to position,
19:11
whatever. You know, as coaches, we're
19:13
asked to evaluate guys sometimes. And uh
19:16
uh you know, I really don't know how to
19:19
answer that question from the
19:20
standpoint, no offense, but from the
19:22
standpoint of uh you know, uh when I'm
19:26
asked to evaluate somebody, I evaluate
19:28
them. And of course, I was one of the
19:30
first guys here um to get things
19:32
started, but we were preparing for the
19:34
bowl game as well. So, it's kind of one
19:36
of those things where whatever you're
19:38
asked to do at that moment, you kind of
19:40
do. And um so hopefully that answers
19:43
your question. It probably doesn't, but
19:46
you know.
19:48
All right. Thank you.
19:49
Yeah. Appreciate you guys. First I