CHAPEL HILL– North Carolina State Head coach Dave Doeren says he understands the magnitude of the Wolfpack-Tar Heels game Saturday in Carter-Finley Stadium.
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But Coach Doeren says his 3-4 team has been plagued by injuries all year.
“Well, we’ve dealt with a lot of adversity from an injury standpoint this year. It’s created some tough situations. Some we’ve handled well, and some we haven’t. We sit here 3-4. Obviously, we aren’t satisfied with that record or happy with it. But I am happy with way our guys continue to work,” Coach Doeren says.
One of the most dangerous weapons in the Wolfpack’s arsenal is running back Shadrach Thornton. Last week against the vaunted Florida State defense, he totaled an impressive 173 yards. But what makes Thornton so tough to bring down?
“He just plays hard. You know, he’s a guy that runs with an attitude. He’s a finisher. He’s a north and south guy. He’s not a dancer. He’s a hard guy to bring down because of that. He gets his pads down and runs behind them,” Coach Doeren says.
Coach Doeren says he wants to put the Wolfpack in position for postseason play, but a lot of those plans will hinge on the outcome of Saturday’s 12:30 kickoff against the hated UNC Tar Heels. Emotions will sure to be riding high.
“That’s the challenge. You have to be able to execute regardless of how excited you are to play, you have to execute. We talk about it a lot, but when you cross the white line, it’s going to come down to them being able to do it. […] We look forward to that opportunity to just play within ourselves and play for each other and execute the plan,” Coach Doeren says.
The Tar Heels, on the other hand, will be hoping to throw a wrench in those plans and keep their own run at the postseason intact.
http://chapelboro.com/sports/acc/ncsu-head-coach-dave-doeren-execution-with-emotion/
RALEIGH – North Carolina State is down to its final days of preparation for coach Dave Doeren’s first game with the Wolfpack. He’s eager to find out how his new players respond to game pressure.
Doeren said Monday the opener against Louisiana Tech will give the coaches a chance “to really see those pieces and how they interact.”
Doeren, who left Northern Illinois to replace Tom O’Brien, has spent the past month pushing the players to learn more of the offensive and defensive schemes installed during spring practices. But he said he won’t know for sure how much the players have processed or which guys will perform under pressure until Saturday.
Seven freshmen appear on the team’s depth chart, though the starting quarterback job remains open between Brandon Mitchell and Pete Thomas.
http://chapelboro.com/sports/acc/doeren-eager-to-see-nc-state-face-game-pressure/RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – North Carolina State is only a few workouts into the training camp that will reshape the Wolfpack under new coach Dave Doeren.
That leaves N.C. State with less than a month to figure out who is the starting quarterback leading a no-huddle offense and adjust to the faster tempo that Doeren wants in everything his players do.
Doeren says his players have had “bright eyes” and “good energy” to start training camp.
Receiver Rashard Smith says working at the faster tempo during spring practices helped prepare the players for the expectations that await them in August workouts. N.C. State opens the season at home Aug. 31 against Louisiana Tech.
Doeren led Northern Illinois to a BCS bowl last season before replacing Tom O’Brien, who was fired after six seasons.
http://chapelboro.com/sports/collegiate/wolfpack-searching-for-new-qb-faster-tempo/
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