Dave Doeren’s Postgame Press Conference After FSU: BULLETED

Head Coach Dave Doeren met with the media last night in his postgame press conference after NC State fell 31-13 to Florida State in their 2019 ACC opener on the road. You can watch it here, or check out a bulleted breakdown below.

• Weird feeling after this game, you know?
• Really proud of the way our defensive kids battled.
• Struggled offensively in a lot of ways.
• Bailey Hockman came in and competed.
• Devin Leary came in and did some really good things at the end of the game.
• Our run game is more than adequate, but we’ve got to be able to throw the football better. That’s what we’ve got to work on.
• Defensively, there was a lot of improvement.
  • Just out there too much.
  • Biggest negative for them was not being able to get a takeaway.
  • Pressured the quarterback
  • Stopped the run.
• Offensively we mounted a lot of drives that never ended up in touchdowns
• Unfortunately, we had a couple players injured. Taking its toll on us.
  • Taiyon Palmer and Ricky Person.
• Florida State did a nice job
• A lot to work on in the bye week. Look forward to it.
• Our guys battled and had a good energy about them tonight.
  • Just weren’t able to score enough points.

Not finishing drives…

• Whether it’s penalties or drops, it’s about execution.
  • Got to make plays.
  • Whether it’s a throw not being on target…dropping a pass…a five-yard penalty setting you back

QB Situation…

• Hockman and Leary give us the ability to throw downfield.
• Put Hockman in earlier than we planned.
• Matt McKay was not doing what I thought he was going to do.
  • Obvious he was off.
  • At this point, didn’t have time to wait anymore.
  • I love him to death. Great young man, but it’s 1 thing when you’re not completing the ball down field…it’s another when you’re not completing it underneath.
  • He just didn’t give us what we needed tonight, and Bailey came in and competed and Devin did the same.
• Devin’s performance might complicate things. He looked great. Proud of him.

D-Line…

• They weren’t throwing the ball immediately like some of the teams we’ve been playing.
  • Had a little more time.
  • Obviously the coverage at times was closer to the receivers, where the Defensive Line or pass rushers have a chance.
• They played well. 1st half…really, really well.