Dave Doeren’s Postgame Press Conference After NC State’s Victory Over Charleston Southern: BULLETED

You can watch Dave Doeren’s Postgame Press Conference after NC State’s 55-3 victory over Charleston Southern here, or check out a BULLETED breakdown below.

• It was great to get a win like that…low-stress day.
• Proud of our guys…got better in a lot of areas.
• Always nice when you play a lot of your roster, too, for growth…walk-on guys, it’s hard to get some of those guys in the game at times.
• Proud of the way that QB Devin Leary played…responsible for 6 touchdowns which tied a record at NC State.
• Proud of K Collin Smith on the way he kicked off for us…huge area that we needed to improve, and he did a great job there.
• WR Thayer Thomas did some good things returning punts.
• PK Chris Dunn in a groove.
• Guys came out very focused…weather didn’t disrupt anything.
• Physical in the run game.
• Defensively, had to defend a lot of weird things (a lot of empty formations and motions they didn’t show on tape)…they managed that well.
• 3 takeaways on defense.
• “Appreciate the fans that stayed the entire game. You didn’t let the rain bother you, and we appreciate that. That means a lot to our players, and we appreciate you guys being who you are. I know sometimes the weather can drive people out of there, but it was good to see so many people stick around and be part of that experience.”
• Came out of the game very healthy…were able to rest a couple of guys.
  • LB Payton Wilson and CB Shy Battle didn’t play, but they’ll be fine next week. I feel good about the health of the roster coming out of the second week.

Tim Beck called the offense from up in the booth instead of from the sidelines

• It’s hard calling plays on the field.
• I remember being a coordinator, and I was on the field, and then I moved back upstairs because I could see better.
  • Had another conversation like that after the last game. I said, ’That’s enough. I’m not going to hear that anymore.’
• I feel good about Coach Roper being on the field.
  • He’s coached quarterbacks a long time, so having him down where he can talk to Devin on the field helps.
• We’ll see how he feels tomorrow and decide where we’re going.

Better tackling this week after many missed tackles at ECU

• We didn’t practice tackling more, we just ran to the ball better in practice.
  • Spent Tuesday and Wednesday hitting guys at the proper angles and not taking them to the ground.
  • Biggest emphasis was how hard we practiced and the angles we sprint to the ball, and the guys were a lot more diligent about that this week in practice.
  • They were embarrassed about what they put on film from a tackling standpoint in Week 1. They understood.
  • We used this week to get better, and I feel like they did.

Nickel Tyler Baker Williams

• Really excited for Tyler. Back-to-back series, we blitzed him to force the fumble on the pass rush, and then he got an interception for his 2nd pick.
• He’s one of the best DBs in the country
  • He’s eliminates slot receivers on a consistent basis.
• It’s good to see him get some production… a lot of times the ball doesn’t go his way.
• We need him to be a difference-maker, and he has been.

So many players saw the field

• It’s good from a confidence standpoint for younger players to get in…helps them when they get in again…they’re not nervous.
• To be able to put QB’s Jack Chambers and M.J. Morris in there to run the offense, not just hand it off
  • There’s going to be a point in time where Devin has to come out, and those guys have to go in during a big game.
• Awesome to see the younger guys make plays: Anthony Smith, Delbert Mimms, and Jalen Coit had a touchdown

Leary making plays

• It’s what he did all through fall camp.
• Happy with how he was sliding around the pocket and extending plays.
• Kept his eyes downfield and made some things happen.
• Any time a guy like Devin has more time to throw and the receivers have more time to get open, good things are going to happen.
• It wasn’t a defense that pressured very much…did blitz him a couple of times, but they didn’t play a lot of pressure defenses, and we were able to manage the 4-man rush throughout the game to give him time.