Robert Anae: "There's a Lot of Depth and Opportunity"
NC State offensive coordinator Robert Anae met with the media following the Wolfpack's second day of fall camp leading into the 2023 season.
NOTE: Click on the video in the player above to watch Anae’s press conference.
Opening statement…
It’s really too tough to answer questions as to where we are and what it’s going to look like and be like, other than we came off of a really, really successful and hard-working summer of conditioning and training. The guys look way better, they run way faster, and they’re way stronger. That part, we definitely hit the nail on the head. In terms of the X’s and O’s of the positions and the Tim’s and the Joe’s, we’re still working on that. It’s been a real treat to see how hard and how much the team bought in this summer.
On the biggest concern…
My biggest concern is that we jump to conclusions too early with reporters. That’s concern No. 1.
On the second-biggest concern…
Sometimes, Twitter and whatnot. Interference from the outside can really mess around with a team that wants to prove itself. In the proving process, way too many conclusions jump in the middle. That is a concern of mine. We want to be able to tune things out and focus internally.
On the wide receiver room…
There’s a lot of depth and a lot of opportunity. Boy, we’ve got some nice looking guys, and they are fast. Leading the charge there has been Keyon Lesane, and rightly so. He led the summer workouts, and boy, it’s really good to see his leadership. If the right guys are leading, then it’s going to be a great group.
On the value of having Brennan Armstrong…
Anywhere I’ve been, if your quarterback earns trust and confidence in the weight room and training room aspect of strength and conditioning, that means a lot to the team. You’re not just playing quarterback. You’re leading the team. I do think our guys working out in the [spring] and summer with him; Brennan has earned their respect with how hard he works.
On Armstrong’s knowledge of his system helping aid the rest of the team…
It’s the speed of information. What you did in the past may not mean much unless you’re going full throttle now. Everybody is in that boat.
On his experience so far with NC State…
Oh, bless, I love this place. I love the players. I love our team. There’s a really good vibe on this team. I think the core of our team, and it’s not this group or that group, the core of the team wants something. That’s noticeable. It’s not [common]. I haven’t been everywhere, and I haven’t done this the longest of anybody in the world, but I might be up there. The guys here are very bought-in. That is evident.
On the team retaining information…
It’s too early to tell.
On the offense wanting to make up for last year…
I don’t really think we’re making up for anything. I think we’re starting from here, and we want to see where we can go. I think that is the eagerness. They’re starting from right now, and they’d like to see how far and what we can become. I don’t want to compare it with anything else except with right now and where we can go from here.
On the uniqueness of his offense and Tony Gibson’s defense…
Oh my gosh, are you kidding? It’s like every day is football school. Our defense is hard. They’re tough, they play together, they’re very smart, and they’re well coached. You put all those things everyday on your offensive team, you’re going to have the opportunity to produce a really trial-tested offense. Spring was that way. The first two days of fall camp were that way, and the whole fall camp will be that way. It’s a great opportunity for us to grow on offense.
On the number of scrimmages he’d like to see…
We’re still in the planning process. When we do have a scrimmage, it’s an opportunity to see how well we secure the football as we’re tackled. I’m hopeful we’ll get a couple of those. We’ll see.