Doeren: "It's A Great Opportunity For Our Program"

NC State head coach Dave Doeren fielded questions from the media after Wednesday's practice.

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You talk about how big turnover margin is.  Is there something tangible where it correlates to wins?

We're 20-6 when we're plus-1 and 13-3 when we're plus-2.  That's pretty strong.

Fast starts... obviously you had to chase the game vs. South Carolina and Syracuse was the opposite.  Are you emphasizing that?

We are. Louisville is a really good first-quarter team and so was Syracuse.

Every week your goal is to try to take away the opponent's strength. If you make a team that's used to being in the lead play from behind, that's something that you want to try to do.

Particularly against a team like Louisville that has scored 57 points in the first quarter this year... so they're a very good fast-start football team, and it would be great to have the same recipe as last week in the first quarter. 

Do you want to make them one-dimensional?

They're the number one passing office in the ACC, that's what they do right now.  He can always run.

You want to be in a position the whole game where you're in the game and you're playing well.

For us to do that we've got to protect the football. We've got to make them have long drives, and we've got to be very successful as far as tackling and keeping him in the pocket.

Will tempo be a key in this game?

They are a fast tempo team just like Syracuse so it will be a lot like last week where we're trying to get lined up quickly and using our substitution packages the right way.

Lamar holds the ball longer... can that lead to fumbles and interceptions?

With him there are so many things that you can't plan for. He creates a lot of plays. He's done a great job of improving himself as a drop-back passer and he's got good players to throw it to.

When he scrambles we have plaster rules... when he starts moving we've got to be body-on-body on different people and our pass rush lanes have to do a great job and not allow him to do that a lot.

Can you see someone wearing down in the heat of Raleigh? 

We'll see, it's a night game. I don't expect it to be too hot and it's going to be loud. I think you know our crowd noise has got to be a factor. It's got to help us with their cadence and getting them to have some pre-snap penalties, but I don't expect either to be fatigued.  We'll have beautiful weather for the game.

Do you still get geeked up for night games in Carter-Finley Stadium?

Absolutely.

Coaching at environments like this is, is what it's all about playing... when you're a Power Five coach you want to be a ranked team and you want to play a ranked team and do it on a night where everyone is watching.  You relish that.

It's a great opportunity for our program.

Are you going to be wearing black?

No.

I'd be great if I did, but we're not promoting that. I know a lot of people are outside the program. I would love to see people support what we're doing, but red is a great color too so if they are wearing red we'll be happy about it.

Impact of this game for recruiting...

You get a great audience if that's what you mean.  I've been on the phone with several kids this week, and they're excited. Several of them are coming, and the ones that are out of state will be tuned in.

It's like a bowl game. You just have to play well.