DOEREN: "There's a Lot For This Team to Play For"
NC State head coach Dave Doeren met with the media for the final time ahead of the Wolfpack’s Saturday night matchup versus Louisville.
NOTE: Click the video in the player above to watch Doeren’s interview.
You can’t fix the injuries, but if you could fix one thing, would it be the turnovers?
The two things you look at: offensively, finishing every play with the football and every drive with a kick – whether it’s a punt, field goal, or an extra point.
Defensively, just tackling. Those two basic fundamentals of the game have to be better. If you tackle better, you create takeaways. If you stop the run and get them into third-and-long, you get an interception opportunity.
Those are the biggest two things fundamentally that we have to improve.
Have you noticed any similarities to what Ledford has implemented at Louisville this year?
They’re running the stretch, the same base play that we run. Their formations are sometimes the same. They’re using a lot more tight ends than we use, so that’s a lot different.
Obviously, they have a mobile quarterback, so that’s a lot different than what we were with Ryan [Finley]. It’s not as much of a quick drop back game that we had with Ryan.
They’re featuring their tailback, and the guy’s a good player, so I understand that.
Last year we talked about how fickle it was with Louisville, losing their coach and now finding their footing again. Does it say a lot about college football in today’s world?
You’re seeing coaches getting fired in their second season halfway through it right now. I don’t know. It doesn’t say a lot to me.
As far as Louisville goes, Scott’s doing a great job. His staff’s doing a great job. Obviously, they have talent. You can see that. He didn’t walk into as bad a situation as people thought. He’s got really, really good skill players.
Offensively, their three receivers, their tailback, and their tight ends are really good football players.
Does some of that Louisville speed worry you?
Every week in the ACC you play good skill. With every team you play, it doesn’t matter who it is. That’s just how this conference is built. It’s what makes it a great league.
Two guys for Louisville at 5’9” at running back and receiver. How difficult is it with guys that small and speedy?
Again, it’s kind of the same question over and over here. They have great skill. Whether they’re tall or short, it doesn’t matter. If guys can run, they can run.
In this game, speed is always something that you want on your football team, and they have a lot of it. I think a lot of those guys.
I think their tailback and No. 1, Tutu [Atwell], those guys are playmakers.
Do you feel like they are focused more on what’s left, despite the previous three games?
I think my job is to insulate. Because everyone else overreacts, we can’t. We’re not happy. Let’s not say that.
They understand that when we started this season we made a pact to not ruin that we’re going to go one week at a time. We’ll have to reassess our goals as we go, obviously, but there’s a lot for this team to play for – most importantly, their pride.
I think that’s the biggest thing, having a conference game at home coming off a tough couple of weeks. They want to fight hard to get that locker room the way they want it after a win.
What have you see from Devin Leary to show you he’s progressing?
He’s super competitive. He doesn’t get rattled. He stays coachable. He’s hard on himself, but he doesn’t lose himself in tough moments. These are very difficult, but also really rewarding, experiences for him right now. What he’s going through as a redshirt freshman will make him that much better.
The thing I like is how he comes to work. The guy’s in the office at night on his own every night for two hours watching film, not to mention when they’re here for practice and everything else. He’s very dedicated to being a good football player.
Is there any update on Nick McCloud?
No.