Dave Doeren discusses NC State football spring game

After a wet and chilly spring game for NC State football, Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren was pleased with the experience. Doeren explained why and more in his postgame comments with the media. A slightly edited transcript for clarity and video courtesy TheWolfpacker.com YouTube channel are provided below.

Dave Doeren transcript

On the impact of weather

Dave Doeren: “I mean there are some things that wouldn’t happen obviously with the dry field, but I wanted to test the guys with what came. I think it’s an opportunity to see how they respond to something that’s out of their control.

“I was excited about the second half, to be honest. Just the way that they were wet, they were cold, you see guys making plays, and that to me, it’s exciting. The mental toughness piece, the chemistry, I think was there. Every now and then you get days like that where you can get out there. Does it give us a chance to really look at how we throw and catch the football? Probably not, but there’s a lot of other things in football.

“I thought we ran the ball effectively. Thought the defense did some good things, great takeaways and knocking the ball out. So those are positives.

“You got to see some young guys make plays. [Kevin] Concepcion makes a big play. Cool to see that. Porter Rooks made some nice contact catches, which that’s what he’s gonna have to be at times to make those plays.

“So I’ll watch the film and I’ll get a much better answer probably than I do right now, but unlike the fans I’m kind of happy we got a chance to do this. Go in the stadium and play in the rain. It’s going to be a huge recall thing for some guys. Center snapping the ball in those conditions.

On Oregon transfer Dawson Jaramillo playing center:

Dave Doeren: “We held Dylan [McMahon] out this week and to get the whole week of reps for Dawson was great. He’s a really versatile guy. I’m really glad he’s here. He’s played all five spots this spring on the o-line. As you guys know, Bryson Speas was kind of that for us in the past. So to have someone that can play multiple positions at his age is really valuable for our offense.

“And then Rylan [Vann] to get some key reps there. That’s the position that we need to continue to build and grow.

On super senior quarterback Brennan Armstrong:

Dave Doeren: “Well, today I know there’s some plays he wishes he had, like one of them wasn’t on him. Back is supposed to sit and kept running. So he threw to it the guy who wasn’t in the right spot, but the other [interception] was on him.

“I think the spring for him has been very consistent. He’s really good with the guys. He’s an encourager. He’s confident. He’s able to tell everybody what to do, and play calls come in, he knows the entire ins and outs. There are some new things in the offense from Coach [Robert] Anae’s year away from him. So that piece has been a learning piece, but it’s been fun to see him in the offense. And I like how he’s taken for the guys and how they’re taking to him.”

On four turnovers:

Doeren: “It’s one of those deals like as a head coach, you’re super excited for the defense on plays like that and you’re mad at the offense right, but yes, we need to get the ball back. We led the league in interceptions and two years in a row. That gives your offense opportunities to score more points. And obviously more points mean more wins.

“So we want to continue working hard at the takeaway aspects of the game. And on the flip side, we need to take care of the ball better.”

On MJ Morris’ strong second half performance:

Doeren: “We got the run game going which helps all quarterbacks, I think, and then he made some nice throws. I think all three quarterbacks had some tough snap moments, which kind of screwed up their ability to work on what they needed on certain plays, but MJ has done a good job throughout this spring.

“He’s come in and learned a new system and it’s been fun just to see the chemistry of those three guys. I like how they all work together.”

On the kicking competition:

Doeren: “Collin Smith and Brayden [Narveson] have been the most consistent of the three. And so that competition will continue. Obviously Collin will continue to be our kickoff guy as well, but that has been a good competition of back and forth throughout the spring. Kanoah [Vinesett] really started well, and then in the two scrimmages had a few misses.

“So this will be an important summer at that position. I think you guys all know that you can do a lot of things on the driving range that you can’t do on the course, and practice for a kicker, being the same as a game isn’t even close. So that competition may carry a little ways, see how many times we can get them in pressure situations.”

On starting second decade at NC State and recently endowing scholarship at the university:

Doeren: “Well, we’re super happy to be here. I can tell you that we love NC State and Raleigh, and the new program OnePack Empowered it’s a dream come true for Sara and I to be able to help so many young people and their families with programming for students that need that. We’ve been a part of that with Jacob [Doeren] and, to be able to give back to something that’s meant so much to us. It’s truly one of the coolest things we’ve done as a married couple, and so really excited about that.

“As far as the decade piece. It’s weird. We had all these former players back yesterday, over 100 of them, and some of the NFL guys and I just got to see Joe Thuney down on the field and those guys were part of the beginnings, and I owe them a lot. The relationships, the love between me and those guys and to be able to say that I’m seventh in tenure in college football, there’s something to that.

“It’s because I love working here for one, but it’s a great place to work. I mean, living in this city, living in this state, a lot of people would kill for that. So feel blessed to have the opportunity and look forward to continuing it. It’s still the same goal. I want to bring a championship to NC State, and so continue working my butt off to make that happen.”

On being more of a CEO as head coach now vs. 10 years ago:

Doeren: “I was a lot younger, a lot more involved, was coaching more probably on the defensive side of the ball then. I still work with special teams when I can to help out, but that’s the way this game has changed and the staff sizes have gotten so much bigger. As a head coach, it’s hard to be a play-caller in my opinion and run the organization the way it needs to be run.

“I also have a tremendous staff. I have such a great group of guys that coach under me. I don’t feel like I need to be that. I can be more of a recruiter and more of a motivator, more involved with the players on the day to day and making sure that people around me have what they need to be successful.”