NC State HC Dave Doeren: 'This team will respond'

NC State lost 45-24 to Notre Dame Saturday after the Fighting Irish scored 21 unanswered points as mistakes by the Wolfpack began to pile up in the fourth quarter. 

When the team met the following day, head coach Dave Doeren said “a true sense of anger” filled the room. The team knows it squandered a chance to take down a top-10 team, and goes into this week motivated and eager to improve as a result. 

Doeren believes in the leadership of this group. Going into a Sept. 16 matchup with VMI, he likes the vibe he sees around the Wolfpack. 

“I’m excited about the way the guys looked in the team room yesterday,” Doeren said. “There was a very, very good look, a very upset but driven look about the team.”

Quarterback Brennan Armstrong threw 3 interceptions, defenders took poor angles on tackles, the team committed critical penalties and the Pack only amassed 84 rushing yards against Notre Dame. Those are all things that Doeren said the team hopes to improve upon as the season progresses. 

The head coach said NC State did not play complementary football against the Irish, echoing a sentiment Armstrong shared after the game. Doeren said the staff stresses the importance of helping the other side of the ball constantly, and that really resonates with the team after seeing the result of Saturday’s performance. 

“Sometimes, something has to actually happen, versus being said, for a lesson to be learned,” Doeren said. 

Doeren mentioned a few positive takeaways from the game during his Monday afternoon press conference. Graduate student receiver Bradley Rozner continues to impress, freshman tight end Juice Vereen took his game to another level and the Pack increased its explosive plays from 4 to 9 in week 2.

Neither of the aforementioned players started Saturday’s contest, but Doeren said Anae rewards positive performances with playing time. NC State is still adjusting its offense after the first two matchups. 

“We’re still in the early stages offensively of figuring out what we are,” Doeren said. “It’s not there yet.”

Notre Dame’s defense came into its showdown with the Pack blitzing on 30 percent of its snaps but ramped that up over the weekend and brought pressure twice as much against NC State. 

The Wolfpack struggled to establish a rushing attack as a result. NC State played from behind for most of the game, which played into the pass-heavy approach. The unique blitz looks also threw off the offensive line’s pass protection at points. Doeren pointed out 1 sack allowed but 9 quarterback pressures. 

“We’ve got to do a better job there, keeping Brennan clean,” Doeren said. 

NC State did convert on both of its short yardage plays, which was a highlight for the offensive line. 

Wide receiver Kevin Concepcion led the team in receptions but also dropped a critical pass that led to an interception. Doeren stressed patience with the true freshman starter. 

“As he plays more, the game will slow down for him,” Doeren said. “These mistakes that he’s making now, they are freshman mistakes. He’s going to learn and grow a lot.”

Defensively, he shouted out the effort of graduate student linebacker Payton Wilson, who set a Wolfpack record by running a blistering 23.4 miles per hour on a chase down tackle. He also complimented all 7 members of the Pack’s defensive line rotation, including senior defensive lineman Savion Jackson. 

“It was great to see the first play of the game on defense Savion Jackson just blows it up and makes a tackle, his first play back from his injury,” Doeren said. 

Redshirt-junior defensive end Red Hibbler, who played frequently in pass rushing scenarios, also stood out to Doeren alongside fellow backup linemen Brandon Cleveland and Noah Potter. Cleveland forced a Sam Hartman fumble late in the third quarter with the Pack trailing by 7. 

NC State could not do anything with that possession offensively, and Brayden Narveson missed the ensuing 34-yard field goal. 

Doeren believes that drive was the turning point of the matchup but said the Pack played really well on special teams otherwise.

“I think the score was not indicative of the game, but I do think the score was very indicative of the plays we didn’t make at the times we needed to make them,”

The Wolfpack head coach gave credit to Notre Dame, saying the team was a well-coached, big and fast unit. He said the Pack learned a lot from that matchup, and NC State’s upcoming matchup with VMI gives the Pack an opportunity to focus inward.

“We acknowledge there was an opportunity there to do something against Notre Dame but also realize the improvement we need to make as a team and will make to be the team that we want to be,” Doeren said. 

“This team will respond. There’s really good leadership in this football locker room.”