Robert Anae: "We are in a Race"
NC State offensive coordinator Robert Anae met with the media as the Wolfpack prepares for its home opener versus No. 10 Notre Dame.
NOTE: Click on the video in the player above to watch Anae’s interview.
Opening Statement
We are in a race. The time I’m speaking here is time taken away from evaluation and planning. Last week, I was really proud of the start our guys had. There were a lot of good things and a lot of things I do believe we left on the field. Hopefully, there’s improvement from game one to game two.
On what he wants to see improved from the last game…
Explosives. Next.
On how to get more explosive plays…
Well, we execute them.
On Notre Dame’s defense…
Oh, they’re well-coached and well-recruited from top to bottom. I have a lot of respect.
On handling the Fighting Irish’s front seven…
Our duty, our task for us, is about how we assign ourselves in that regard. Last week, we were very efficient on first and second down. That may be the calling card of this group. I’m not sure, but I look forward to being efficient as well this week as we were last week.
On balancing Brennan Armstrong’s running ability with letting pass plays develop…
Well, if guys are open, get it there. If they’re not, make your reads, and then play football. That’s really hard for me to give a percentage ratio on when that happens. That’s just part of the game.
On the biggest points of improvement he wants to see…
I think overall improvement is explosives. I would like to be a more explosive offense, but that’s going to be the challenge every week as well, not just this week.
On getting the ball downfield…
That’s where most of your explosives come. We had a few that we left on the table because protection was hurting us. That all gets tied together. We were not as explosive, and a lot of it starts with how it’s working up front, and the quarterback’s not able to see it and throw it because obviously the opponent’s got scholarships and coaching, too. In those areas of protection, they were better than we were when that explosive was supposed to hit.