Young players learning to click, throwing the deep ball and the status of James Smith-Williams

Video highlights from Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren's postpractice session with the media Thursday

NC State coach Dave Doeren discussed a number of subjects during his brief meeting with the media following Thursday's practice, including the learning curve for young players, his team's problems throwing the ball downfield through the first three games, the status of injured defensive ends James Smith-Williams and Joseph Boletepeli, and the challenges of preparing a team to play a night game.

Here's the video ...

"When it clicks, you've got a lot of talented young guys out there. It's just got to click. It's a fast football team, it really is. I said that in the summer to my staff. This is the fastest team, when you look at it from top to bottom, that we've had. But speed doesn't look fast when its confused or shellshocked as they were in some spots last week. I think it's a group that can play with a lot of speed, that has a lot of depth in some positions. We've just got to get it to click."

On finding a replacement for injured C.J. Riley as a deep threat in the passing game ...

"Between Emeka (Emezie) and Keyon Lesane is growing into his role now that he's fast. He was banged up a little the first week. I thought he made some nice plays this week in practice. Tabari (Hines) is a guy who do some things down the field. As you've seen, Cecil Powell is a guy who can do some things. We've just got to grow. Everytime you lose a player its the next man up. It changes the chemistry and you've got to figure out where we go from here."

Speaking of next man up, will that have to be the case again this week at defensive end or will starters Smith-Williams and Boletepeli be back after missing last week's game at West Virginia ...

"Joe is good. James is still questionable. 

On the value of having a sixth-year player like Deonte Holden to plug in on the defensive line in case of injury ...

"It helps now that Deonte is healthy. He missed all of training camp, so now that he's healthy it helps to have another guy. That's kind of where we're at."

On the way the team responded at practice to last week's loss ...

"Tuesday was very focused. There's always going to be a lot of mistakes on Tuesday because you're introducing game plan stuff to the guys. But the energy was excellent. Wednesday was our best Wednesday that we've had this year. So we'll see how it translates. First night game of the year, so we've got to deal with that as well.

"I expect a very angry football team. We've got to put that into execution and thought into our jobs."

On preparing to play at night for the first time this season ...

"It's a long day. We're a morning practice team, so the guys aren't used to that. That changes things. The good thing is that we have three in a row, so this gets us in a routine, I guess.