Dave Doeren Talks to Media After Practice Before Ball State

Head Coach Dave Doeren spoke with the media one last time today after practice before NC State’s game vs. Ball State on Saturday at home at 7pm. The video is above, and a bulleted breakdown is below.

Young team…

• When it clicks, you’ve got a lot of talented guys out there. It’s just got to click.
• Fast football team.
  • Fastest team top to bottom we’ve had.
  • Speed doesn’t look fast when it’s confused or shell-shocked as they were some last week.

Deep Threat…

• Between Emeka Emezie and Keyon Lesane.
• Lesane is growing into his role now because he’s fast.
  • Banged up a little bit the first week, but made some nice plays this week in practice.
• Tabari Hines is a guy that can do some things down the field. As you’ve seen with
• Cecil Powell is a guy that can do some things.
• We’ve just got to grow.
  • Every time you lose a player it’s next man up, but it changes the chemistry

McKay’s chemistry with receivers…

• He threw a really good ball to Emeka in the game. Ended up about 6 inches out of bounds on the catch.
  • Trust is already there. Got to get the timing.
  • Made a nice back-shoulder throw to Emeka in opener.
• Have to get that going with Devin Carter, so it’s on both sides of the field.

Injuries…

• Redshirt Freshman Defensive End Joseph Boletepeli is good.
• Graduate Redshirt Senior Defensive End James Smith-Williams is questionable
• It helps now that Deonte Holden’s healthy.
  • Missed all of training camp. Now that he’s healthy, it helps to have another guy.
• Savion Jackson’s got to continue to get better as he continues to get reps.

Practice… 

• Tuesday was very focused.
• Always going to be a lot of mistakes on Tuesdays, because you’re introducing game plan.
• Energy was excellent.
• Wednesday was our best Wednesday that we’ve had this year.
• First night game of the year, so we’ve got to deal with that as well.
• I expect a very angry football team.
  • We’ve got to put that into execution and go out and do our jobs.

Night Games…