WATCH: Dave Doeren On The VT Win, Wake Forest, Twitter, and Much More
NC State head coach Dave Doeren met with the media to discuss the win over Virginia Tech and the upcoming matchup against Wake Forest.
NOTE: Click the video above to watch the press conference.
Opening statement
An incredible comeback for our guys and our staff. To be in a program that continues to rise up and fight and never quit, it’s a blessing. Down 21-3, true freshman QB in the game, guys just kept fighting and MJ [Morris] sparked us. That slot fade to Thayer [Thomas] gave the team exactly what it needed at the right time. From there we just played lights out. I was proud of the defense. For the first half and the fourth quarter, I thought they played really well. The offense didn’t turn the ball over, they just kept grinding and working to find ways to score points. They made some good adjustments, had some good play calls. Our special teams, with the exception of a couple pooch punts where we could have covered better, did a really nice job. Felt like it was the best night that Shane [McDonough] has had punting the ball, I thought our kickoff coverage unit did a great job. We didn’t kick the ball the way we wanted to, but it had hang time and guys got off blocks and tackled.
Individually, Payton [Wilson] played really well, with the exception of the penalty on the sideline. Davin Vann really stood out with the way he strains and chases the football on the defensive front. It was just a good night collectively, there was a lot of good things where guys were playing hard and making plays. Offensively, it was great to have Trent Pennix back. He sparked us in some ways and had a touchdown. Terrell Timmons getting his first couple catches, Thayer and Devin played really well for us. Thayer had a lot of touches and explosive plays. Devin Carter really blocked well, had five contact catches and really did some physical things on the perimeter. We didn’t turn the football over, had three touchdowns in the second half. Time of possession was outstanding, we scored two touchdowns in the red zone and the other red zone drive was a field goal at the end of the first half. Jordan Houston probably didn’t produce throughout the game the way he normally does because of the different things we were doing, but when we asked him to, he was great and got tough yards.
Negatives, we had four false starts and one of them the defense used our cadence and the officials were able to get that stopped. We missed some opportunities in the pass game early in the game. We can create a few more explosive plays in the run game. Defensively, in three quarters they had 47 yards, the first, second and fourth quarters. The negative of that is they had 177 yards on three plays in the third quarter. That’s not something we’re used to doing around here, but we did respond. I thought we pressured their quarterback, we didn’t allow him to get into a rhythm. We were 90% on third down, we stopped the run and guys played hard. We didn’t get any takeaways on defense, so that’s something we’ve got to improve there.
On Wake Forest…
Another great team we’re playing. I know they’re coming off a tough loss uncharacteristic game from them, turning the ball over. They were, I think, second in the [ACC] in turnover margin prior to that game. They’re very well coached and their receivers really jump off the film to me. [Sam] Hartman is a tremendous player for them, but the receivers are big guys, they’re 6’4, 6’5, 6’3. They catch the ball very well, they use their bodies well. Sam is a gutsy competitor, he has a lot of talent, knows their offense back and forward. They’re scoring a lot of points, they’re ranked second in the league in scoring offense [with] 38 points per game. Fourth in third-down offense, big receivers are averaging 14 yards per catch, the running backs are averaging 4.5 yards per carry. It’s gonna be a great challenge but a great opportunity. We’re excited to play them. I’ve got great respect for Dave Clawson and he’s done a great job hiring defensive guys I have a lot of respect for as well. It’s an in-state game and a rivalry game. It’s an important game for both teams.
It’s critical that we have a great atmosphere for this one. It’s a night game, it’s Homecoming, and our team has overcome a lot. We’ve been through a bit trying to figure out these pieces as we were missing guys. At one point in the Syracuse game we had 10 guys off the field. I think we’re gonna have Demie Sumo this week, so we’re starting to get some key ingredients back on offense. Now that we’ve settled in on MJ Morris as our starting QB, we need the fans with us. There’s a lot to play for. You’ve got two 6-2 teams that are really good; they fight, they’re competitive. It’s gonna be a good football game. For us, being at home, we’re here. We’re fighting and doing everything we can to win games. We’ve had two incredible comebacks this season so for our players and staff and coaches, we’re asking that the fan base and the student body be the difference in this game. Make this stadium shake. We’ve got a 15-game winning streak at [Carter-Finley Stadium], let’s do everything we can to come out and support the team and make the opponent’s offense unable to hear their cadence. I think the night game environment on Homecoming night, it’s special for these young men. We want this football team to play their best ball, and that’s 100% easier to do when the other side of the ball can’t hear. Looking forward to that and the Homecoming atmosphere. Sounds like it’s our last night home game of the year since our kick time for next week got released as 3:30.
On his frustrations with the fans leaving the Virginia Tech game early…
You know, it’s funny. I was sitting there and was thinking, ‘I’m gonna play an experiment here. If I hit I “like” this [on Twitter], what’s different than if I hit retweet?’ So I just did it, and then this happened. It’s pretty comical to me. Going back 10 years, my first press conference after we beat Louisiana Tech I thanked the fans for coming and then pleaded with the fans to stay. This isn’t new that I want our stadium full until the end of the game, I don’t understand why that upset the Twitter-verse, I’m sorry if I upset the Twitter-verse. I’m here to support our team, I know it doesn’t always look that way when we’re not scoring enough points, but we’re trying. I was told when I got here that we really want to win a championship at this school and I care deeply about this program, I care deeply about these players. I’m gonna fight for them, and I think having a stadium that’s full for four quarters helps you win and I think it helps you recruit too. When a recruit comes to your games and he sees that you can sell out your stadium and the fans stay for all four quarters and it’s the coolest thing he’s ever seen, that helps you recruit. When you recruit better you play better, and when you play better, you win more. That’s an important thing for everybody to understand. If they want to go home they can, but I’m still gonna fight to make our program better. I’m excited to have a crazy stadium on Saturday night at 8 o’clock.
On the characteristics of the team that lends itself to comeback wins…
It starts with faith in what we do. I think there’s a love here between the players and coaches, and a grit and resiliency in our belief system and culture that quitting is not an option, period. No matter what, we’re gonna play until the last second on the clock expires. To me, losing is one thing, but quitting… I don’t think I can coach on that team. The last two years, we’ve done some remarkable things in the fourth quarter and it says a lot about the character of these young men and the culture we’ve built.
On if MJ Morris and Jack Chambers will continue to split snaps…
We haven’t talked about that. MJ is the starter. Obviously we have the ability to play both, but we haven’t gotten into that with the staff yet.
On the status of Savion Jackson…
Savion is out for the year. Unfortunately it was a knee injury that required surgery. He’ll be back healthy, but it was a season-ending deal that happened up at Syracuse.
On having CJ Clark to fill that void along with others…
It’s helpful. It’s unfortunate for Savion, but to have someone like CJ that’s been rotating and playing, and obviously Travali [Price] will take on more now. It would be different if we didn’t have someone who’s a returning starter. We have experience behind experience. It hurts the rotation. Puts a little bit more on those guys over the course of four games. I know CJ is excited about his opportunity.
On what makes Wake Forest so tough to defend, and if there is a most important position group…
Right now it’s the quarterback and receivers. For one, Sam is playing so well and he makes that thing go. The receivers they have are big guys who really catch the ball well and give them an opportunity to make big plays and earn pass interferences. That’s the hardest part of it. It’s not just, ‘Take away this one receiver and they’re one-dimensional’. They’ve got a lot of good receivers and they rotate guys in. Their running game is different because of the timing of it, so you’ve got to be patient and set edges, you’ve got to do your job. All the position groups are important.
On if Aydan White’s experience as a wide receiver has translated to ball skills at cornerback…
He’s got really good ball skills. In the secondary as a whole, we’ve worked really hard at that. Aydan is a natural ball catcher, Cyrus [Fagan] is a natural ball catcher. It helps when the guys you recruit are a natural at that and you don’t have to teach them. Some of them literally played one way their whole life and didn’t get that opportunity. Some of these schools don’t play guys both ways anymore, so a lot of kids don’t get the learning curve of being a two-way player in high school like they used to.
On the importance of MJ Morris getting more reps as the starting QB…
It’s hard to get three players ready, period. When you’re talking about quarterbacks, it’s impossible to do. To MJ’s credit, he would stand behind our offense and was very diligent about getting mental reps behind Devin [Leary] and behind Jack. Now he’s getting physical reps, so that’s only gonna accelerate his ability to function and do more within the system.
On if the emergence of Terrell Timmons was a result of him and MJ Morris getting extra reps together as young guys…
I’m not sure if I can answer that one accurately. Terrell’s been on the scout team and MJ has been on the varsity field. They haven’t been throwing the ball to each other every day. They have a friendship and they’re in the same recruiting class which could be part of that. But the rep part of it isn’t accurate. In the 1-on-1 stuff they’re together every day, but that’s only five or 10 minutes in practice. I think Terrell is a very gifted ball catcher. I don’t think it matters who is throwing it up there, he’ll go up there and get it. It’s just trying to get him more reps so you can trust that he’s gonna do the right things the whole time. He’s spent a lot of time on his own trying to pick up on little nuances. And he didn’t get here until the summer, so he’s trying to play catch up still.
On Payton Wilson’s season and if he had to change his play style after injuries…
I’m happy for him first of all. It’s been a long journey for him. His injury problem started in high school, he didn’t get to play at all his senior season. To see him healthy and playing the way he is, it makes me feel good. I’m happy for him and his family. I think he’s learned how to practice smarter. He still runs like he does during the games, but he’s learned he doesn’t have to run over somebody all the time, he can use his hands and be smarter in practice to avoid putting himself at risk. I think he’s learned how to do that so that he can be available and not just want to play.
On his thoughts on how the NC State-Wake Forest rivalry has grown during his time with the program…
It’s the second-longest standing rivalry in the country. It’s a historical event, for one. Both of us, coach Clawson and I, have built our programs from the ground up through developmental processes that we both believe in, and have created two long standing programs with long standing head coaches, and both of us have done it the right way through recruiting and development. I have a lot of respect for them. It’s a game that comes down to one possession almost every year, and it seems like whoever has the ball last comes away with it. Last year it came down to an onside kick that we felt like we got and they felt like we didn’t. I think the last 12 games we’re 6-6. I don’t know if you can call it evenly matched, but it’s two good football teams that are in the state and do things the right way. It’s gonna be a good game.
On Trent Pennix’s performance in his first game back from injury…
He makes a difference. It’s a position that has produced a lot for us over the years, and Trent brings a different element to the tight end room. He’s not just a guy that can catch; he can run after the catch. Instead of just catching the ball and getting tackled, he’s a huge run-after-catch threat, and that’s a huge thing to have. He’s a guy that blocks hard, he plays hard, he catches the football and runs good routes. He adds another piece to the offense that allows certain things to get explosive at times.
On if the absence of Demie Sumo similarly affects the offense…
I think so. Demie has had a lot of explosive plays in a limited amount of reps. The sample size maybe isn’t big, but the production out of it has been really good. We’d like to have that in the offense again. He won’t be able to play the whole game, but we’ll be rotating guys anyway. Adding another player to the mix that brings an explosive element to the game. He’s hard to tackle one-on-one, he’s physical and a really good blocker in pass protection too. Hopefully we’ll have him. I can’t guarantee it, but he’s feeling better than he did the last couple weeks.