NC State Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson met with the media yesterday after practice leading up to the Wolfpack’s season opener against ECU.
(Video above via PackPride’s YouTube Channel)
Gibson has a lot of respect for ECU Quarterback Holton Ahler’s.
“Holton Ahlers is a very smart player. He runs the offense really well, distributes the ball really well, and is a threat running the ball.”
He also has a lot of respect for the Pirate’s offense as a whole.
“They’re a great football team. We broke them down in the summer. We did another breakdown for game week. They’ve got some skill guys. Their quarterback and tailback are really good. They’ve got a veteran offensive line with three starters back. They do a great job. They can throw the ball. They can run the ball. It’s very scary. It’s going to be a hostile environment. They’re going to run a fast pace and tempo sometimes, so we’ve got to make sure we get our calls in and the guys execute.”
Gibson took some time to brag on Junior Defensive End Savion Jackson.
“Savion has had a great offseason. He’s playing fast right now. I love where he’s at. I love where his mind’s at. He’s just got to go out, execute, play with a lot of juice and energy, and be able to show up and make plays for us.”
Graduate Cornerback Derrek used to play for Gibson at West Virginia before transferring to Raleigh.
“I’ve been with Derrek Pitts since he was 18 years old, so he’s a lot more mature right now than he’s ever been. He came back for a reason. We’re looking forward to watching him play and be a leader back in that secondary for us. We’re going to play three or four corners, but [Pitts] has confidence. He’s played a lot of football. He understands the scheme. His motivation is to come back and win games. That’s his number one motivation. He’s a big team guy.”