Dave Doeren: "It's Going to Be a Competitive Spring"
NC State head coach Dave Doeren met with the media Wednesday morning following the Wolfpack's first practice of the 2023 spring camp.
NOTE: Click on the video in the player above to watch Doeren’s interview.
On if anything about Brennan Armstrong has surprised him…
I don’t think I’m surprised just because we’ve played against him and broke down a lot of his film as competitors. It is nice to get to know his personality. I think that’s the one thing when you recruit an older player. You don’t get that opportunity like you do with younger players that you recruit for years to get to know them. Just seeing how he treats his teammates and the way he directs guys out there on the field, he’s steady, he’s competitive, and he’s kind of a coach on the field at times. It’s good to see that side of him. He’s definitely got leadership value that comes from experience and hard work. The buy-in he has in the offense is pretty evident.
On Armstrong sharing his knowledge with the other quarterbacks on the roster…
Well, he’s a good teammate, and so are M.J. [Morris] and Ben [Finley]. It’s fun watching that room. Coach [Kurt] Roper has done a nice job building that up, and now Lex Thomas is in there as well. Those kids just want to get better. They want to learn. They are teammates. Obviously, they are competing to play, but they also care about each other. They’re helping each other and encouraging each other, and that’s what you want to see.
On the running backs…
They’re hungry to help the offense more and to be a bigger factor in what’s going on. They’re battle-tested more. They’ve had more film to learn off of. I also think there are guys like Delbert Mimms and Demarcus Jones that are chomping at the bit to compete and move their way into the rotation more. It’s going to be a competitive spring with Jordan [Houston], Demie [Sumo-Karngbaye], and those two guys, and having Kendrick Raphael here early lets us teach him the offense early and see what he can do.
On the new offense allowing the backs to excel…
Well, the thing that Coach [Robert] Anae is known for is giving his playmakers the ball. I can’t really say what position that is yet; it’s the first day of practice. It’s going to take some time. I think he’s going to learn what these guys can do well, where their weakness might be, and try to personnel things certain ways. It’s going to probably take until the middle of training camp in the fall to truly know which direction he’s going to take it as far as touches with certain guys.
On having Payton Wilson on the field with his leadership…
Yeah, these sixth-year players that you get to coach are just different. They’ve been through a lot off the field. Their experience on the field is unique. You don’t have a lot of those guys that you’ve coached over time and, in Payton’s case, has played as well as he’s had in the two years that he’s been able to play a full season. It’s fun watching his maturity, too. Just how he’s grown as a leader, his ability to speak in front of the guys, and to hold guys accountable, he’s really, really taken taken every step that way as a leader.
On the competition at every position…
The competition is a part of this, but the chemistry is a bigger part for me right now. The competition’s going to take time. You really don’t choose starters coming out of the spring. You just set your depth chart for fall camp. The chemistry of this team is really valuable to find out. The strengths, where our weak spots are, if we need to move guys around, recruit another guy, or just get some guys better just because of the reps they’re going to gain over the summer… It’s a really good evaluation period. We’re not in a rush. We’re not going to a game in four days. You can take your time, space things out, and really teach the game.
On how the new offense will help the tight ends and H-backs…
It depends on them. Again, I think this is an offense that’s going to use the talent. These guys have to earn the right to be out there and get the ball. We’re not just going to put people on the field because we have the personnel group. The guys that earn the opportunity, as Coach calls it, the “Circle of Trust” for him, the guys that he trusts are going to make plays, they’re the ones that are going to be out there.
On the new assistants…
Coach Anae’s brought an evolution here. He’s taking his time with it, getting to know the players. He’s got a good personality. He’s fun. He wants the guys to play fast, but he’s going to hold them accountable. Coach [Garret] Tujague’s really walked into a good room of people with that offensive line group. They’re really close together. We’re seeing him put his fingerprints on that group as time goes. Obviously, we’re just in helmets right now. It’s hard to judge the evolution of things without contact. I like their personalities, how they work, and how they gel with everybody.
On the No. 1 jersey…
It’ll be a fall thing when we get to fall camp. It’s going to take time. You’re replacing a guy who wore it for three years. There are several players in the running for it, but when I know it’s time, we’ll hand it out.