What NC State head coach Dave Doeren said about Notre Dame football

NC State head coach Dave Doeren had the luxury of using his weekend to prepare his team to play Notre Dame. The Wolfpack opened their season last Thursday, so the coaching staff started their Saturday with an in-person breakdown of the Navy vs. Notre Dame game. Then they split up, went home and watched Notre Dame host Tennessee State on live television.

“In live mode, sometimes you can pick up some things you don’t get on a coach’s copy,” Doeren said.

The staff reconvened early this week to break down Saturday’s 56-3 Notre Dame victory. So, Doeren is well-versed on all things Irish, perhaps more so than he would be during a regular Saturday-to-Saturday game week.

Here is everything Doeren said about Notre Dame in his weekly press conference.

Opening statement

“We’re playing a 2-0 football team in Notre Dame that has an exceptional quarterback that we know a lot about with Sam Hartman. He’s playing really good, not a surprise. Really good offensive line. Maybe the best O-line/running back combo that we’ll see all year. With these guys, their backs, they play multiple backs. The big guys, they have good balance. They’re well coached. They won their first two games combined 98-6. They’ve done well in their first two outings. Very well.

“Defensively, they’re aggressive. They’re sound. Two really good linebackers. As a former linebacker coach, I enjoy watching that. [JD Bertrand] and [Marist Liufau], their two linebackers, are active. They use their hands, they play hard. [Javontae Jean-Baptiste], their defensive end that transferred from Ohio State, number one, is a difference-maker for them. Then [Benjamin Morrison] their battery corner, number 20, comes in. Had 6 interceptions, really good football player last year.

“It’s a good team. It’s exciting to play against them. A team that we don’t get to play a lot. A team that rotates through our league and plays five games a year. It’s our turn to get an opportunity to compete with them. Super excited about the test. It’s going to be a really physical game, for sure. A lot of good players, good coaches.

“I think Marcus Freeman‘s done a really good job. Going into his second year, he had some staff turnover and sometimes that’s hard particularly in replacing your coordinator positions. He’s done a nice job replacing good coaches with good coaches. Very familiar with some of them. Joe Rudolph, their O-line coach, is an exceptional coach. We were together at Wisconsin. Top-10 team coming to town. Or top 15, not sure where they are coming out of today’s polls. This is what you play and coach for. Looking forward to having them in our stadium.”

On Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman

“He’s a really good player. He’s been a really good player for a long time. He’s a winner, a champion in high school and we all know what we did at Wake. You can see his confidence and how he manages their offense. He gets the ball to the right people, makes plays with his feet when he needs to. He’s got a nice cast around him. They’re definitely able to help him in other ways with the run game, big tight ends and the things that they do. So, [he’s] a great addition to their offense, and obviously they’re playing well with him.”

More Notre Dame football

• How Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman threw 3 INTs for second-straight game in Wake Forest vs. NC State

• How the Aztec package succeeded for the Notre Dame defense vs. TSU

On Notre Dame being 28-2 vs. ACC teams since 2018

“It doesn’t matter who we play as a league, we want to do well. We want to perform well, we want to win games. This team that we’re playing against is quasi-in our league, in and out, however you want to say that. We need to perform better against them. There’s no doubt about it.”

On if having three games of experience against Hartman is an advantage for NC State

“It is and it isn’t. It’s a different system. What they’re asking him to do and how you defended him in Wake’s offense is different than how you defend him in this one because of the run game, the play-action game and the things that are unique about Notre Dame’s system. Wake’s system was completely, completely different.

“But we do know from experience what kind of player he is. There’s a great amount of respect from our staff towards that young man. We do know what we’ve done well and what we haven’t done well over the years against him. There is some good knowledge in that.”

On NC State needing a big game from defensive lineman Savion Jackson

“We’re going to need him. Their O-line is really good. They’re talented and big and they’re well-coached. It’s one of those games in the box where it’s going be a game of will in there. Imposing will and leverage, strength, fundamentals, inside hands, pad level. It’s going to be awesome in the box. It’s definitely going to be a game where we have to strain, strain, strain. Having a guy like Savion helps because he is a really, really good player. He adds to what we have in that box. Hopefully, we will have him, that’s the plan and [we’re] looking forward to seeing him back out there.”