Derrek Pitts: "We Know What Is At Stake"

NC State cornerback Derrek Pitts is excited for the next opportunity facing the Wolfpack.

NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.

Obviously, how important is the wide receiver-defensive back battle going to be this week?
The key is, how we do in practice. How we practice and prepare, and it's try our best to go out there and execute into ways that the coaches put us in the position to make.

They have some guys, they have some very explosive guys, and they have players that are playing at a high level. We just feel like, in a way, that we can slow all that down.. just come out, play fast, play physical, play tough, and just play together as one.

I know the motto every week is to go 1-0, and you guys have done a great job of taking it one game at a time, but do you get a little extra juice, a little extra pep in your step this week? Because there's so much on the line.
I wouldn't say any pressure. These last couple weeks we know what's at stake, we're in the playoff race.  So every week it's just about us and how we want to prepare, and they have guys on scholarship. We have got on scholarship.

It's crazy. Statistically, we just found out they have the No. 1 offense on third down, and we have the No. 1 defense in the ACC. That's going to be a very good matchup. It's going to be something for everybody to see. So ya’ll better tune on third down. It's going to get real.

How are you guys are playing with a playoff mentality each and every week? What is it like for you guys to be at this point of the season, in mid-November, and you guys get to play every game as if your playoff lives are on the line?
That's college football; you all have been seeing it.  This year has been so up and down, you just never know what's going to happen, so we just come into every week with that confidence that anything can happen.

We take that every week into our games with that chip on our shoulder... we know what we’re about in this locker room and practice... in our meetings... and we go on our field and everybody out there is not playing cocky, but playing with a chip on their shoulder. Like we’re going to show them we’re the best out here. 

That's just all we want, really, in this little scenario, man. We want our respect, and we’re still not getting our respect, like you said, in mid-November It's something that we just build off every week.

You guys have had so many injuries on defense, too. And yet you guys are still playing at such a high level. How have you guys been able to accomplish that?
Next guy up, and I'm a believer in that.

I've been seeing these guys that are stepping up into these roles right now, all throughout practice. I've been here since spring. So I've been seeing them work in spring, work in fall, how they prepare themselves in the weight room. How much film they watch. So me just seeing that, I'm not surprised, honestly.

They know what's at stake, and we all do at once. They know how to come in and fill roles. We have guys who are hurt that's in their position as a starter. People like Isaiah Moore. Cyrus Fagan, Payton, and CJ, they're out there every day out on the practice field with us, just encouraging them guys, helping them out.

It is just two times much better for us on defense.

Is this something also you guys can carry over into the future, too, knowing that there's younger guys, second or third streak, you can tell them, "Hey look, you guys got to be ready. You've got to stay ready. Because you never know when injuries are going to hit." And then they will be ready if their name's called.
Yeah. They've been doing a great job being ready for their number being called, and coach Goebbel, he's been doing a heck of a job, keeping those guys on special teams, keeping them involved with the game, just in case something happens on defense.

So that's just great to see, our twos, if that's what you want to call it, playing like a one.

You guys were without Tyler Baker-Williams this last week. He's supposed to be back. Just what does he bring to the defense? Especially going against a Wake Forest team that has a lot of production out of the slot.
T Bake, that's my guy, man.

He's an older guy in this defense. He knows this defense like the back of his hand. So like you got there with him, and I'm out there with him sometimes to the field, and he’s telling me what the play is before they even run it. It's so crazy that what he says is right.

So T. Bake is a great leader on this defense, and so many people listen to what he says. He did a great job with helping JBL, our other nickel, helping him out, who played a huge role in our victory over Forida State last week.

Was there a moment in the spring or over the summer, or even in fall camp when you realized Devin Leary, that he's the real deal that quarterback?
That boy is the truth, man.  You know that he's a magician back there.

What stood out to me in the spring, he was just so patient, and I didn't really get to know his style of play, but I used to watch them guys last year, when I wasn't here, on television. So I wasn't able to see how he prepares.

He prepares so professionally... there's times where I'm in here just getting an extra round the treatment at 4:00 or so, and he is in here watching film, doing what he needs to do to help his team prepare.

He's really the leader of this team on both sides, all three aspects, special teams, defense, offense. We can't do nothing without him scoring the points for us. So he knows that and we all know that. He's doing a great job as a leader on our team... and I'm very proud of him for that.

Can you just discuss the depth and chemistry you've got at your position group?
Every week we just want to communicate. I feel like the more you communicate, the more confident you will be. So the more you can help the back end... the more confident you would be.

If you're quiet, I feel like on the back end, nobody's quiet. But if you’re quiet, you don't really know what's going on. If you communicating, talking, you know what's going on, you’re helping other people out with their keys, you can give certain calls... certain leverages.

The more you talk, I just feel like the better you'll play, and that's what we’ve been doing on the back end, and our coach has been getting us very well aware of that.