Florida State 31, State 13: Doeren's postgame comments

Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren breaks down his team's loss in its ACC opener in Tallahassee

Opening statement ...

" I'm really proud of the way our defensive kids battled. We struggled offensively, in a lot of ways. Bailey (Hockman) came in and competed. I thought Devin Leary came in and did some really good things at the end of the game. I think our run game is more than adequate. We've got to be able to throw the football better. That's what we've got to work on."

"Defensively, I thought there was a lot of improvement, they were just out there too much. Really, the biggest negative for them was not being able to get a takeaway in the game. I thought they pressured the quarterback and they stopped the run. Offensively, we mounted a lot of drives that never ended up in touchdowns except for the one touchdown pass."

"Unfortunately, we had a couple players injured, so that's taking its toll on us with Taiyon Palmer and Ricky Person. We'll see where that is and get the report back tomorrow."

Doeren was asked if he could put his finger on the reason why his offense is still having so much trouble puting the ball in the end zone ...

"I think whether it's penalties or drops, it's just about execution more than anything, you know? The margin for error is -- you've got to make plays. That's what the game's all about. Whether it's a throw not being on target or a guy dropping a pass or a five-yard penalty setting you back, it is what it is. So we've got to operate cleaner."

Doeren finally pulled the trigger on replacing struggling quarterback Matthew McKay with Bailey Hockman. Here, he explains what led to the decision ...

"We put him in earlier than we planned. Matt [McKay] was not doing what I thought he was going to do. It was obvious he was off. At this point, we didn't have time to wait anymore. I love him to death and he's a great young man, but it's one thing when you're not completing the ball down the field, it's another when you're not completing it underneath. He just didn't give us what we needed tonight and Bailey came in and competed and Devin did the same."

On the positive side, State's defense recorded eight sacks. Here's what Doeren had to say about what that after two straight weeks in which the Wolfpack had trouble generating a pass rush ...

"They weren't throwing the ball immediately like some of the teams we've been playing. Ball State just gets it out so fast. So we had a little more time and obviously the coverage at times was closer to the receivers, where the d-line or pass rushers have a chance."

"The D-line played well. Particularly in the first half I thought they played really, really well. But it takes them all. We roledexed a bunch of calls, gave them a bunch of different looks. It's just hard once you're down by three possessions, at that point it's difficult because they're max protecting and just going off their run game."