LOCKER ROOM REPORT: Wolfpack Players
No. 18 NC State's Devin Leary, Anthony Smith, and Tyler Baker-Williams met with the media via Zoom following the Wolfpack's 55-3 win over Charleston Southern Saturday afternoon.
NOTE: Click on each player’s respective thumbnail to watch each interview.
Devin Leary
On his comfort level and success versus the Buccaneers...
First, it all starts with execution. We didn’t really execute well on certain plays that we were trying to take shots on. We made that a focus this week in practice. It all starts up front, so credit to the offensive line for giving me time, and giving my receivers a chance to do their thing. As soon as we get that rhythm down and our connection — it all starts in practice — it should translate into the game.
On tying the single-game touchdown responsibility record at NC State...
I found out after the game. I wasn’t really aware, but I think it’s an awesome honor just to be in categories with Mike Glennon and [Philip Rivers]. That’s an honor itself, but being able to play here at NC State, being able to represent this university, and playing to my best ability, that’s all I can really do.
On his aggressiveness running the ball...
Whatever Coach [Tim] Beck calls, whatever the play call is, whether that’s a run for me, a run for our running backs or receivers, passing the ball, anything he wants or needs me to do, I’m going to do it. I’m going to do it to the best of my ability. Even if it’s running the football, if I’ve got to get a little gritty, I’m willing to do it. Whatever he needs out of me for this team, I’m going to do it 100 percent.
On what was going through his head on the first touchdown run…
I got the call in from the sideline. I made sure I made all the right decisions: run the ball or pass the ball. Credit to my offensive line once again. They did a great job of opening up a huge window for me to run through, and I just saw that red end zone, and nothing was stopping me from getting into it.
On Beck calling plays from the press box...
I think Coach Beck does a great job each and every week. This was something we discussed. It was pretty cool. It was different for sure, but being able to see from his perspective up there, it wasn’t much different. Every single series, I was getting on the phone with him. We talked through everything like we always do. It was just a little changeup, but I think it works either way.
On how much of an emphasis spreading the ball around was…
I think it was huge. That really started in the offseason. We understand how many people can make plays for us. We understand how many receivers and running backs we have. We have so many different playmakers, and as the quarterback, it’s my job to distribute the ball to them. It’s Coach Beck’s job to call the plays, and however he calls the plays, it’s my job to operate it the right way regardless of who’s out there. I think that goes to show the trust we have in everyone. No matter whose number gets called to make a play, we expect them to make that play.
On playing on his birthday…
I must say It probably is the best. What topped it off was our band playing happy birthday to me after the game. I never experienced anything like that, so shoutout to them for sure. That really made my day.
Anthony Smith
On if he’s an answer to the Wolfpack's deep threat questions...
Absolutely. I definitely feel like I’m a big key to the deep threat. We have a lot of guys in the receiver room and the running back room. It’s not just me. It’s not just Julian Gray. It’s a whole lot of guys that can take things up top.
On comparing last week’s game to this week’s…
It’s definitely a big difference in the feeling that we have after this game. The point difference was huge. Knowing we can go out there and beat any team we want to regardless if it’s by one point or 50 points, it doesn’t really matter. We’re going to go out there and do it.
On if the criticism from last week’s game was unfair...
Not really. We try not to look at the social media, the politics, and whoever’s talking about us. We stay focused on our team and what we can do better to be the best us next week.
On if Beck’s play calling from the press box was a difference in this game and if it was a big adjustment to get used to...
I wouldn’t say it was a big adjustment. We have the right guys to execute the play on the field regardless of whether Coach Beck’s upstairs or on the field with us. He trusts the guys he puts on the field to execute the plays he calls regardless of the play, the personnel, or who’s out there on the field.
Tyler Baker-Williams
On the excitement of getting called to blitz with an open lane to the quarterback…
Yeah, it’s one of the main things I really wanted to work on this offseason: my blitz tracks, my blitz speed, and the violence that I blitz in. When they made that call, I knew what time it was.
On his assessment of the team’s tackling...
I’d say it was better than last week. We emphasized it in practice, and what we emphasize in practice, we try to carry over to the game. That’s what we tried to do this week, and we’ll continue to get better with that as well.
On the defense’s hunger after last week’s close win…
Yeah, we felt like we didn’t play up to the standard we know we uphold in our defensive room. We knew we had to come out this week with a new hunger and a new motivation and just go out and play the way we know how to play: fast and physical.
On the younger players getting playing time in the second half…
That’s the goal. That’s what we say in our nickel room. It’s a factory; we just keep on pumping them out. I go out, and the next comes in and gets a pick, too. It’s a factory with me, [Josh Pierre-Louis], Jalen Frazier… All of us go in there and make plays.
On the momentum built off of the fumble and interception…
We don’t really keep up with the play we just made. We just go into that next play mentality. The teammates celebrate it, and then it’s the next play. We clear our minds and go into the next play cycle. I try to emphasize that this season more: just getting rid of the last play. We start with a new play with a fresh mind and just make the new play.
On the positives the team can get out of this game….
Like you said, it’s the way we tackled. Some of our technical things like our man coverage, zone schemes, our disguises, and stuff like that, we knew we had to improve from the first game. When it comes to the second game, we put that on film so we can improve stuff and take that off the film as well.