Robert Anae: "We've Got a Huge Task Ahead of Us"
NC State offensive coordinator Robert Anae met with the media ahead of the Wolfpack's upcoming matchup versus Louisiana Tech.
NOTE: Click on the video in the player above to watch Anae’s interview.
Opening statement
Coming off a disappointing loss and effort, I felt we had a good game plan going, and there were pockets in the first half that I was really proud of. You all saw the game, and as the game went on right there, the last three minutes of the first half that things started to skip away from us. Securing the ball, that's a big deal. Being able to block up front, keep all that pressure off the quarterback, that's a big deal. Staying on task with the chains, that's a big deal, and we missed that. That being said, I think that's enough to say about last week. I am in the business, as well as our players, that we put to rest the game, and we've done that with our players. For me to rehash, I really have nothing else to say but what I've said in that statement.
Looking forward, because I do believe this is the task for our team, is to be able to respond, and in a week like this where our country was called to do that years ago, there's a common theme. We look forward to having the opportunity, come Saturday afternoon, to get on the field and respond to show who we are.
On how the team’s responded in practice…
We make goals every day, every player in every position group. I can't speak for the other position coaches, but for my group, there was a deliberate attempt and step in the right direction with that daily goal. I do believe, if the daily goals are met, on Saturday I do believe the response will unfold.
On parallels between Grayson McCall and Brennan Armstrong…
A quarterback really is the last line of defense, and when your quarterback's struggling, that means all the other parts around him are struggling, and it just shows up on his doorstep. In both instances, no, we do not block that the fronts with a high enough level, so now the quarterback's in jeopardy. That's indicative to coaching, that's indicative to playing, and that's indicative to how physical we could be in the front. We look forward to developing ourselves earlier in the year.
On where the solutions begin…
[It starts with] everybody. Those other 10 guys, there's not one guy on there that's given a pat on the back. No, when that quarterback struggles and is not getting off to a fast start, there's so many elements around him that are disconnected. That's what we're seeing.
On his impressions of Louisiana Tech…
Well, Sonny [Cumbie] coaches the offense, and he’s a former player of mine, but his defense is well-schemed. It's a different version of our defense, similar but very different. The linemen, the backers, and the safeties, those all have the same names, but they play way different spots with way different things going on. It’s a huge task for us on offense to match that that cleverness. It's a college defense, and it’s very effective in its own right. We've got a task ahead of us that will require football IQ.
On what needs to happen to improve the run game…
Well, those 10 guys on the field — well now nine, because the quarterback is involved in that — now you're talking about a nine-guy event. When the run game is not clicking, we are not connected, so every time that ball's run, there's a nine-guy deal going on. It’s the same thing; I'm not blaming the running back one lick. When that thing's not working, it's those nine guys up there. That's the effect of going, "That thing's going great." Oh, you're going to see great play from our running back. That's our response. Nine guys run the football. Everybody needs to be on the same page: assignment, technique, pad level, and how much effort and strain you put in. That is what's at play.