WATCH: Everything Rhett Lashlee said before SMU played Duke

SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee met with the media on Tuesday to break down the matchup at Duke. Here’s what Lashlee had to say ahead of his team facing Manny Diaz’ squad.

Opening statement: “Excited to have another great road challenge. Should be great. Two 6-1 teams. They’ve been incredible at home. They’ve got playmakers on all three levels on offense at quarterback, running back and receiver and then defensively, they’ve been incredible, especially in our league. Leading just about every category that matters from third downs to scoring defense, to the pass defense and total defense. They’re No. 1 in the country in tackles for loss, which is a a calling card of Manny and his defenses.

“There’s probably not a coach in college football that I respect more than Manny Diaz. I don’t like playing friends, got a bunch of friends over there from Manny and Patke on the defensive side, obviously Jonny Brewer and Gator Lamascus on the offensive side over here with us. David Feeley is the straight coach there. They’re great people, they do it for the right reasons. Manny’s awesome at creating winning cultures and I think you’ve seen them do that there and I’m definitely a better head coach for getting to work with him for a couple of years. Gonna be a big challenge for us. We’re excited about the opportunity.”

On Duke QB Maalik Murphy: “He can really throw the deep ball. He’s got a big arm. the deep ball, the RPO game. Gets the ball out of his hands quick. He’s big so he can see up over the lines. What he does a great job of and they’re doing on offense is get the ball out, not taking sacks. They’re one of the best in doing that, and they’re not turning the ball over. I think what they’ve done as good as anybody in college football is play great team football. Their objective is what all of ours is, it’s to win the game whatever that looks like week to week based on their opponent. Obviously, they’re leaning on their defense at a high level and they should. Defense is really, really good this year in all the major statistical categories and forcing turnovers and then offensively they’re just kind of wearing on people, throughout the course of a game. They’ve been excellent in the second half of a lot of their games when it’s time to win and finish it. You just create a lot of confidence in your program the more you win. They’re 6-1, couldn’t be playing with any more confidence, I’d like to think we’re in the same boat, so it should be good.”

On Duke RB Star Thomas: “I hope it help (seeing Brashard Smith) cause there’s some similarities there. Star’s have been a really good for them and they leaned on him to close out games really last several weeks. What I know they’re trying to do offensively as us is eliminate the negatively plays. We’re pretty good at negative plays on our defense in general, like we had 11, I think last week, but they’re No. 1 in the country defensively. Even if you get the ball moving a little bit on somebody as soon as you go backwards, it’s now 2nd and 13, or whatnot, it puts you in a tough spot. If you get to 3rd down against the Duke defense, it’s scary. I think it’s the same with our defense, we proven if we can get people 3rd and long. A guy like Star for them gives them a chance to stay ahead of schedule and not be in 3rd and long situations. Then when they get in score zone, he’s good at getting in the end zone. 3rd and short, he’s been really good. Then when they need to close out games, he’s been really good. We’re gonna have to gang tackle. One guy’s not gonna bring him down.”

Catch the video below for the rest of what Lashlee had to say about SMU vs. Duke.