North Carolina State University Athletics
Football Coaches Quotes on This Week's Game
11/3/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
NC State Head Coach Mike O'Cain
On how the injuries at wide receiver are affecting the team:"It affects your play calling, and it affects the number of things you do offensively in the passing game. Our young wide receivers are affected by the defense giving them some different looks, and our guys are not sure what to do."
On NC State having an advantage because they have been in late season crunch
time:
"Some of our players have been through those times, but a lot of them have
not been. I think for our seniors it will be a definite advantage. They
understand what is on the line and they understand the pressure. The key is
for us to make the freshman (McCall) beat us. We can't allow them to line up
and to rush for 360 yards, if they do that we are going to be
in for a long day. If we can control him and take him away to a certain
degree, then that enhances are chances of winning greatly."
On Koren Robinson's development:
"He is becoming a player. He has improved 100% from three or four weeks ago.
He is much more consist now, and not just in catching the football but in
all phases like his blocking and route running. He has also been more
consistent in his life off the field as well, and I think those two things
go hand in hand. He is maturing, he's growing up."
On stopping the Maryland running game:
"We are going to play hard. We have to do a great job of tying in playing
hard and of getting off blocks, that is something we did a very poor job of
against Georgia Tech. We got hung up on blocks way too long, and that
created seems for their backs. We just have to play hard and play with a
high intensity. The key for us defensively is for us to run.
We didn't look like a very fast team on Saturday."
Maryland Head Coach Ron Vanderlinden
On Saturday's game at NC State: "Offensively, NC State does a good job with the ball. Jamie Barnette, their quarterback, is very athletic and throws the ball very well. Defensively, they have many variations and have a good pass defense. This game will be a tremendous test for our team, especially since we are playing on the road."
"To be successful on Saturday, we need to run the ball well and hit the passes we missed last week (against Duke). Defensively, we need a consistent pass rush and got to avoid giving up the explosion play."
"We are all frustrated that we let the game against Duke get away, but we need to focus on the game against NC State. One of the things we have been good at this season is staying focused."
"Our only focus right now is on the game against NC State. A victory would give us a winning season in only our third year, which would be monumental.*
On LaMont Jordan:
"LaMont had another sensational day against Duke. His improvement this year
parallels the improvement of our team as a whole. Our offensive line has
been opening up big holes for him. He has especially run the option very
well."
On Delbert Cowsette:
"Delbert has been one of our most consistent defensive players. He has to be
one of the best noseguards in the ACC, if not the best."
On Brian Kopka:
"I hope all the place kickers I coach have the same work ethic Brian does.
He has made nine of his last 10 field goals. He is very focused an
determined."
