Kurt Roper: "Getting on the Practice Field is Healing"
NC State quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper met with the media as the Wolfpack prepares for its upcoming game versus Marshall.
NOTE: Click on the video in the player above to watch Roper’s interview.
On the offensive changes with M.J. Morris at quarterback…
Well, I think you always start systematically with the offensive line with what your schemes are. When you watch a lot of football, we're largely the same: six-man protections, five-man protections, inside zone, gap scheme. We'll keep doing the things that we've done. Obviously, we think M.J. has got a really good skillset to throw the football, and so we'll keep pushing it down the field.
On the decision to make the change at quarterback…
Those are things that are obviously really, really personal, and it affects a lot of different people. As a football team, you'd like to keep those things private. What we need to do is play better, and so that's the choice that's made.
On Morris’ growth in practice…
I think M.J.’s growth has been great. Any time that you get as many practice reps as he's gotten — he's been around now and going into his second year, obviously, multiple meetings, multiple practices — you hope you're growing. What I keep talking to him about is that I want to see him play faster, play faster with his feet in the pocket, and [make faster decisions].
On the offense rallying around him in practice…
We have a great group of guys. You hear a lot of coaches when they finally get out of it, or a lot of players when they finally get out of the profession: the thing they miss is in the locker room and the camaraderie. Those guys obviously rallied around him, and they rallied around Brennan [Armstrong], too, because that's not an easy conversation for him to go through.
On continuing to utilize Armstrong’s running ability…
Obviously, you talk about everything, preparing for the game, and what your strengths and weaknesses are. Brennan is a highly skilled football player. Right now, we're focusing on getting ready for Marshall, and we'll see what comes of it.
On Armstrong aiding Morris’ transition to starting quarterback…
Brennan has been outstanding. He is just a great young man. He’s a competitor. He’s tough. This was not an easy conversation for anybody to take, but he handled it like a pro. He handles it like you would expect somebody with his experience and all the things that he's been through in his career. He handled it like that. I'll just say this: after all the conversations that I've had with him just in the last two days, I'm even more impressed with him with who he is.
On where he’s seen Morris improve…
To be fair, I didn't spend a whole lot of time with him last year. We started getting together in January. Always for a young quarterback, just their understanding of the game can go at such a fast pace if they'll work at it, and M.J. works at it. He's a thinker. I tell him all the time: this is a thinking man's game, and this is definitely a thinking man's position. He’s working at it. He's smart. He understands the game, and he's put in the time.
On the spark needed on offense…
It's always not always just one person. We all understand that. Sometimes, decisions are made, but there's more than just just one reason. The great thing about football: if you don't win, Sunday is hard, Monday is hard, but Tuesday, you don't even remember. You’re back out on the football field, and we're getting ready for the next opponent. I had it described to me a long time ago: you have a rearview mirror after the game, and after you learn your lessons and make the changes that you need to make, you rip that rearview mirror off, and you move on. Getting on the practice field is healing in a way. You move past last week, and you move really on to this one.