WATCH: Doeren Talks Syracuse, Kickoff Strategy, Turning The Page

NC State head coach Dave Doeren met with the media for the last time before Saturday's huge road game at Syracuse.

A bunch of takeaways by Syracuse's defense.  What improvements have you noticed from the past?
They've got a good front. 

Their two defensive ends and two defensive tackles are playing really good. They've always been a disruptive defense as far as their pressures, but they're getting a lot more four-man rush out of their front right now.

Those two ends are really, really productive. They're experienced.

Their offense and defense, if you look at them, there's a lot of guys that are juniors and seniors on both sides of football.

Turnover margin is one of the biggest stats that you look for...
They are plus-eight, so it's a huge part of the game.

What have you seen from your guys in terms of turning the page and moving on?
They were great about it.   We said that we're at the halfway point of the season, and we're 5-1.  We have six games we have to focus on, one at a time, and get back into that.... forget about what happened. Just learn from it and move on.

Is it sometimes easier for the players and the coaches?
I don't know. I've turned the page, too. We have a great team we're playing this week. We just got to move on. 

It won't be a Syracuse game without some Dungey drama.
He's a really good player.

We expect to see both guys and how they do it is obviously going to be something we have to adjust to.

Do you pay attention to your Twitter account during the season?
Only for recruiting.

I imagine you get as many Twitter questions about your kickoff strategy that I do. I get a lot about your kickoff strategy.
I couldn't tell you. I'm not too concerned about it.

What is your kickoff strategy because there aren't a lot of touchbacks involved?
I'd love to have touchbacks.

That is the goal then?
Yes.

I didn't know if you were trying to sky it.
I can't just go give him a five-yard stronger leg.  He's doing the best he can do with what he's got so we are covering kicks the best that we can.

The one that got out, we missed a tackle on the 19-yard line with an unblocked player and I thought he got blocked in the back, but it didn't get called.

We executed it. We just didn't finish the play the right way, and then we lost leverage when it cut back on us. We're trying to kick the ball as deep as we can, as high as we can, and cover kicks.

I didn't know if it was a Saban thing... you were trying.
Not at all. I'd knock it in the stands if I could.

You don't have to answer those Twitter questions anymore.
I appreciate that.

Syracuse is sneaky good on special teams, too.
Their special teams coordinator is a really good coach and their kids play hard on it.  Their punter and kicker are playing at a high level for them and obviously No. 10 has been a good returner for them now for multiple years.

They do a really good job in those areas.