Dave Doeren: Devin Leary Will Play At Boston College

NC State head coach Dave Doeren met with the media for the final time prior to Saturday's road game at Boston College.

NOTE: Click the video above to watch the press conference.

Larrell Muchison redshirted in 2017, and you had four guys on that front he could learn from...
That was hopefully when we got him the plan.  We knew we were losing a lot after them, and it usually takes 12 months for a junior college player to truly get acclimated physically, because they don’t have the training or nutrition at those schools.

It helps you, but the learning part of staying behind those four guys and seeing how they work and prepare was really, really good for him. He’s now carrying that torch which is fun to see.

They run the ball well. Do you look forward to this challenge?
There’s a lot of strength vs. strength in this matchup, so it will be great competition. As you guys know, I have a lot of respect for Steve. They have a good offensive line with physical tight ends and big running backs.

I think Flowers has made them different offensively at receiver.  He’s really dynamic for them. It’s a very good offense.

What have you seen from the new quarterback?
When you watch him come in the last game it was the same play calls. I can’t predict what they are going to do, but it doesn’t look like they will change the offense with him.

Is he not as mobile as Brown?
He was a good runner in high school.  I think he was a dual-threat guy.  I’d be shocked if it’s any different than what it’s been.

When you’re facing a running back as good as Dillon, how much do you use that as motivation?
It’s absolutely a motivation. These guys want to play well every week, and when you can hold a back as good as him to less than what he’s used to having, that says a lot for your guys.

Anytime you play a guy as good as him, and he had a great game against us two years ago, you want to try your best to not let that happen.

Is part of the chess game which team will have how many guys in the box?
Potentially. I think it’s about the fundamentals, techniques, and the finish, regardless of the numbers you put in there.  You have to win.

If you’re on defense you have to win your gap, shed blocks, leverage the football, and tackle.  Offensively you have to sustain blocks and finish blocks. It’s a real fundamental game when you look at the two teams.

Does it help having won there two years ago?
I don’t know, because not many of them were there.  It’s the next step for this young football team. They have to be able to play the way they do on the road.

Are you guys expecting to have Chris Ingram ready to play?
I’m not going to talk about it.

Do you think the alignment switch has helped Murchison?
First and second down he’s playing our four and five-technique, so he’s on the edge, and on third down he’s the zero, on the center.  Moving him around has created opportunities... he’s on the tackle, the guard, the center, and sometimes he’s stemming from the 0 back out to the 3.

When we get into the package with him, Lyas, and Deonte [Holden] we have really good edge rushers, so it’s not like you can bury everyone down in there and leave those guys alone.

Did you talk to him about being a consistent force each game?
I didn’t have to. That’s his goal.

Talking to every player at the end of the season you find out their goals for the spring, and that at the end of the spring I’ll meet with each of them and find out their goals for the summer and season.  

I don’t have to put anything into his mouth.  That guy is wired the right way.

More on Bailey Hockman’s development...
Both he and Devin have got more confident.  The game reps have helped them slow things down.

He was competitive at Florida State when he wasn’t the starter; you saw his guts in that game.  I thought last week he came out and was very level-headed. He’s a very even-keeled guy who doesn’t get up and down. I like that in him and Devin.

The more they play the better they will get. They’ve had a lot of teachable moments in the last two games that can help them.

The way you were talking about Devin, does that mean we might see him a series or two this week?
Yes, you will.