WATCH: Dave Doeren Talks QB Battle, Preparing For ECU
NC State head coach Dave Doeren met with the media today to discuss the Wolfpack's 2019 season opener against East Carolina.
NOTE: Click the video above to watch the full press conference. We’ve included a collection of quotes from Doeren below.
Opening Comments:
"The thing that was fun was just watching all the guys improve. I think coach Roper has done a really nice job, and I'm excited about the progress."
“The quarterbacks we look at three ways... the offensive system and mastering that, your situational IQ... and their ability to recognize defensive structure.”
"Throughout the spring this is an area that Matt has had a lead."
"It's been fun to see [Bailey] integrate with his teammates and have a lot of personality."
“Both Devin and Bailey have really good arm talent.”
"This is game one. At some point you have to name a starter at a lot of positions... all of those guys are preparing."
"I'm excited for Matt and what he's done."
"We will play a lot of young players."
"Having multiple guys at running back who can run is big for our system."
"Execution is the key [in game one]."
Thoughts on ECU:
"There is familiarity in a way, but at the same time you're facing a different system and a different staff."
"I think Mike Houston is a good man and good football coach. He was a great hire for them."
"I expect a hard fought, four-quarter game."
"The line of scrimmage battle is critical in a football game like this."
More on the team’s youth:
"Almost 45% of our roster is made up of freshmen and redshirt freshmen so there will be a lot of learning opportunities."
More on the QB situation:
"It's not a popularity contest to win the job, but I do think at some point the statistics and the way guys play with that guy on the field."
"Our offense will forever be an offense where I want that guy to protect the football team with the football first."
It's a learning process for those guys... we went through this with Ryan and Jalan. Jalan was a super popular guy on our football team and Ryan won the job."
"We talked yesterday with the guys. It really wasn't decided until probably four or five days ago. I wanted to give Bailey and Devin every opportunity to improve and they have. I think Bailey really came on at the end of camp."
"It's all about continuing to improve so when your opportunity comes you're ready for it."
More on ECU, Mike Houston:
"We opened with James Madison so had a lot of time last year to study their systems."
"He's a tough guy, straight shooter... takes a lot of pride of where he's from."
"In this scenario we probably know more than you might facing a new staff."
"We'll watch JMU for scheme, and we'll watch ECU for personnel."
Doeren on if he’ll rotate QBs:
"I'm not going to have a quick hook... I don't think that's fair to the kid."
"What you don't want is to have to make a decision because of an injury. We'll see where it goes and the other guys have to be ready."
Doeren on position battles:
"There's a lot of guys who got valuable reps at positions who are open and we had to make decisions on."
"Bryson Speas played really well in camp and he's going to play."
Derrick Eason moving to offensive line:
"I'm proud of Derrick for doing it. It's really about our depth. When you lose Jalynn Strickland... Kendall Brown we lost in the summer, and now Tyrone is out."
"We feel like with Josh Harris and CJ Clark, two of the guys we have signed, will be available soon. The depth we have inside will be coming back to the roster. On the o-line we don't."
“Derrick played o-line in high school and he was pretty good at it. He’s a big, long guy, and obviously it’s a thing where if it doesn’t work out we can move him back.”
“Giving us one more guy there gives us the best we can do right now.”
Keyon Lesane listed as the starter at kick returner:
“Keyon Lesane consistently made plays with the ball in his hands. He’s a fearless guy... he likes contact. He’ll tell you he likes running the football probably more than catching it, and as a returner, he’s one of those guys who will just go.”
“He gives us a guy who can do some things after he touches it... he’s fearless.”
More on Joe Boletepeli and the defensive end rotation:
”Joe Boletepeli has improved a lot. He was all over the place mentally a little bit. He's really applied himself and I think learning, understanding he has to grow as a player."
"[Boletepeli] really had a great summer."
"We have a good rotation at end too. Ibrahim Kante and Xavier Lyas who gives us two guys who have improved a lot."
"Savion as a freshman is doing some things that not a lot of freshmen do."