NC State Head Coach Dave Doeren met with the media yesterday after practice, two days before the Wolfpack’s season opener against Western Carolina on Thursday night. You can watch the video ABOVE, or read the transcript BELOW.
“He’s (WCU HC Kerwin Bell) done a great job. A veteran coach, led the FCS in seven categories offensively. Did a really good job. Did such a good job he lost a lot of coaches and players. He’s a vet. He’s been around. He understands how to do it. They’re tough. They’ve recruited well. They’ve got good size on the line of scrimmage, a lot of guys that can make plays in space. It’s a really good program. When you watch them play last year, they’re impressive on film.”
“I do (like starting on a Thursday) for a couple of reasons. We practice all Spring. We go through Winter conditioning, Summer conditioning, Fall camp. The guys are ready. They want to play a game. On the flip side it gives us a couple days. This season in particular we’re playing 8 without a bye. Every extra day we can get is a good day from a recovery standpoint. For the coaches too, to be able to have a little extra time to clear our heads and get ready for another opponent.”
“Being in FCS football for six years as a coach, those are huge games for programs (FCS vs. FBS). They make money for those schools as well. They help support their budgets. Those kids, to get to play in a Power 4 stadium, great life experience for them. They’re good opponents. When you’re playing these games you can’t take anybody for granted. You have to understand that they’re coming in here with nothing to lose when they play us. Having that perspective for me because I played that level, coached that level helps when talking to the guys.”
“Their (WCU) Quarterback’s a really good player. A coach’s son, you can see he’s a game operator. Manages things, makes quick decisions, accurate, doesn’t turn the football over. Last year their Tailback position was really loaded. They’ve lost a couple guys so we’ll see where that is. They did a great job getting the football to the Running Backs last year in the passing game and running game. Those two positions stand out.”
“It’s fun to see the chess match between Coach (Robert) Anae and Coach (Tony) Gibson in practice. The quarterback is a huge part of that. They have good conversations after practice, Grayson and Tony, on what you saw, what was hard today. It’s good information. Grayson has played football a long time. He’s seen a lot as a starter. He appreciates being tested. There’s not a coverage that he’s going to see all season that he didn’t see in training camp. He’s definitely ready for what’s in front of him.”
“It’s buy-in (winning turnover margin). All schools talk about the importance of getting the ball back. It’s buy-in by the players. It’s finishing plays. There’s a lot of DB’s, Linebackers, different guys where the ball gets in their hand and you see them not finish the play. Our guys finish plays. Pass rush, coverage tied together. The scheme helps too when you have an extra guy dropping in coverage at times. You got more people that can break on the football. It’s 11 guys, 15 when you get into the rotation of the game, that buy into it. They understand the value of there’s nothing more important in the game than possession of the ball. Defensively, we’re getting that back. It flips the field position, gains the momentum, puts their defense back on the field for our offense, all those things. It’s complementary football.”
“It might be team-to-team depending on how they communicate (whether in helmet communication or tablets on the sideline will be more valuable). Teams that are no-huddle are still going to be signaling everything. Teams that huddle have a bigger advantage with the headset technology. The tablets, for me, I’m more excited about. The real-time, exact information that you get without having to ‘What did you see? Are you sure you saw that?’ Then asking a player to confirm what he saw. No, this is what happened. You can make quicker, real adjustments as a coach. Sometimes you come into the office the day after a game, watch the film and you’re mad. You’re like ‘if I would have known that was happening, I would have done X, Y and Z.’ You don’t always get accurate information because things happen really fast on gameday. You don’t always get the replay on the jumbotron. For me, that is what I’m more excited about but both can help, depending on the offensive style.”
“A really versatile player (Ja’Had Carter). Played in a similar system at Syracuse. Played Safety and Nickel for them and played in a different system at Ohio State. He’s well versed fundamentally. He’s been coached by some good guys on defense. Very confident player. He fit right in. It was a very smooth transition with him.”
“I was fortunate and unfortunate at Kansas. We played three guys both ways because we didn’t have that many good players when we first got there. Charles Gordon played both sides of the ball. Aqib Talib played both sides of the ball. Our Tailback John Randall played both sides of the ball. That’s a tribute to their stamina and ability. What I learned from that is if you got a guy that can change the game then try to change the game with him. Sometimes 2-way players have the stamina to do that coming to college, sometimes they don’t. I’m open to it. We’re doing it now with Isaiah Shirley. There’s guys that we’re recruiting that I can’t talk about, but that’s something that is interesting to them. If they have the mental capabilities and the physical stamina then I’m open to those things because it’s been successful in my history.”
“It’s definitely got us more publicity (ACC Network turning 5). There’s more access which is the main thing. You’re in more homes, more countries, everything involved with that. As the years have gone, the network has improved. They learn each year how they can get better. I do appreciate that part. They’re not hard-headed. ‘This is how we do it. Get used to it.’ If you have ideas, suggestions, if they make a mistake, being able to improve year after year. The talent that they’ve put on gameday for us has gotten better. We’ve built relationships with some of these folks. It’s fun to have them. I really enjoy getting to spend time with some of the staff that comes in.”
“Every game is exciting for me. The 1st game, it’s been a while. The longer you coach, the more you appreciate the opportunity. Coming out of the tunnel with your guys and seeing the excitement, the energy, the anxiety, all of it. It’s impossible to explain when you have to be a part of it as a coach or a player. We work really hard for a few opportunities, 12 guaranteed. That walk down the tunnel with that group, that sprint out on the field, the fireworks, the flyover, the fans, the smoke, all of it. It doesn’t matter if it’s the first game. This is my 76th home game. Every one of them feels good.”
“They’re (WCU) going to make you defend the width of the field. They use space well, but they’re also physical in the run game. It’s an up-tempo offense. How you defend that is don’t let them have 1st downs. Don’t give them positive 1st down yardage either. If you can get them in what we call off-schedule play calling, it helps the defense. You’ve got to perform well in those 1st-and-10s. The 3rd downs are really big.
Those offenses really crank up when they start getting 1st downs. Getting them off the field. There’s a lot of spread offenses we’ve played. I don’t think they’re anything different than the others. They have their system. They’re really good at it. Their players understand it. They operate well and make you defend the field. You got to tackle well when you play spread offenses. That’s the key. The ball is going to be in space a lot.”
“We’ll be able to do both (huddle & no-huddle). You do end up in 2-minute. Offensively, you have to be able to operate as a no-huddle offense. We’ll be able to do both. Coach Anae has a good feeling on which one’s helping him. He’ll have the ability to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants.”
“He’s done both in his career. As a coordinator I’ve done both. There’s a serenity up there (up in the box) that you have that’s different. When you’re on the field it’s loud. It’s emotional. There’s people in your way. You get bumped into. You’re looking at your play sheet. For him, it’s an easier way to focus (up in the box). He feels like because it’s his second year with this staff it’s easier for him to delegate things and have confidence that they’re going to get done the way he wants.
Coach (Kurt) Roper has been on the field throughout his career. It’s an easy transition. As a play caller, personally, I always enjoyed being able to spread my stuff out on the desk. Take your time and look at it. You’re not as rushed. It’s a quieter space to do your work.”
“It’s not even the game planning. It’s whatever you put in front of them. It’s a good group of leaders in the locker room. Our captains do a great job. Whatever we’ve asked they’ve stepped up. It’s transitioning from going against each other to getting ready for an opponent. I thought it was very smooth. These guys, they want to win. When you tell them here’s what’s next, here’s why we’re doing it, this is how we’re going to do it, they get in line and go. That’s been fun. There’s no resistance. There’s a lot of guys working together.”
