North Carolina State University Athletics
O'Cain And Welsh Coaches' Quotes
10/13/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
NC STATE - Mike O'Cain
On gaining chemistry on offense:
"The injuries have made it difficult week after week. I do believe we have developed some continuity on our offensive line. We knew that Ryan Knudtson could be a center, but we needed time to make him a center. He was not a natural center. He went in there Saturday and just did a tremendous job. We had excellent exchanges, and that was something we were able to get done in the open week. We were able to isolate and concentrate on him playing center, and obviously that worked out well and I think that was the key to our success. If we can keep the continuity on the offensively line, then we have more of a chance to be successful offensively. I have confidence, as they did Saturday, in their (offensive line) ability to step up and make the plays their suppose to. As I will always say, the key to our success is our offensive line."
About playing Clayton White this weekend:
"The medical staff feels like he will be fine for Saturday. We will not be giving him any contact this week at all. He was a little bit dizzy and staggering around, but it wasn't like one of those knock you out cold and you can't remember type of things. If they (concussions) continue, then it will be a major concern."
On the game versus Clemson:
"I think we lost our composure a little bit. I even lost my composure some. I think we were trying a little too hard, particularly on our kick teams. We had two offsides with guys trying to time their runs with the snap of the ball. We did not give them the two yards you have to when they receive punts, and two other times we retaliated and you just can't do that. I thought all the penalties that were called should have been called, we deserved the ones we got."
On Virginia:
"Virginia has a lot of talent. You see big, strong, physical guys that run well. Their offensive line is one of the best in the conference. Not a flashy quarterback, but a guy that is very capable of throwing the ball well, a good core of wide receivers, and obviously a great running back. They are going through some things defensively that we are offensively with all the injuries they have had, and they have a young secondary. They just wore BYU and Wake Forest out."
On Thomas Jones:
"He has great vision, great acceleration, and he is strong. He sees things that a lot of backs don't see. If you watch him he'll start to his right then come all the way back and come out behind everything and that is hard to do as a running back if you don't have great vision. The best thing is his vision, but he has so many other things that goes along with that."
VIRGINIA - George Welsh
On Virginia's Offense Against Duke:
I don't think that we showed up Saturday on offense in the right frame of mind...it took us a half to get going..we were a much better offense team in the second half. We have got to play a full game....that is why it so important to be focused on the opposition.......otherwise you are not going to play well."
On Virginia's QB Dan Ellis and the Offense:
" It's tough to play as a quarterback for the first time in this league...it's just not easy. The teams that we have had to play have been a lot of veteran defensive football teams...and they are doing some things that we aren't doing so well against. We are trying to throw deep but maybe not enough... but we aren't even getting open when we do run deep even if the ball is not being thrown to them. We are playing good corners... you got to give the defenses some credit."
On Virginia's Special Teams:
"Right now we are not a good special teams..we are going to spend more time on it...meet more...but right now we are just not getting it done."
On the N.C State Game:
"Their offense [N.C State] seemed to look good to me on Saturday....I don't know what their percentage was but they did a good job...their guys did a good job of catching and running with the ball."
