Q&A with Dana Bible

N.C. State offensive coordinator Dana Bible discusses some of the team's freshmen and more:

Q: Can you talk about your rookie running backs (James Washington and Brandon Barnes)? Both of them got a shot last week.
A: In both cases it was a chance for them to play in a game situation. The value of that is tremendous. We didn’t back off. They had to work all aspects of the offense from running the football to blocking and protection to catching the football. A running back in this offense is multi-purpose, and it’s a position that a lot is asked of it, and they were excited about their opportunity.

Q: At the tight end position, (freshman) Asa Watson looks like he’s getting some snaps on offense now. What has he shown you that merits that?
A: He did a fine job in camp. He certainly has great energy and he has talent. And he is eager and anxious to do well. Our situation has allowed him to find his way on the field.

Q: How much do you talk to a Jay Smith about having a big chance go right through his hands?
A: We talk to all our players about a term that we use, it’s called GAPs. Game-Altering Plays. We talk about that every week. Often. Coach always preaches to the team and in particular the offense that you don’t know which play it’s going to be, the play that turns the outcome of the game to successful or not. Which is why you have to play every play like it is the game-altering play. So our approach never changes. No matter who the player is, you have to play each play like it is the play that will determine the outcome of the game.

Q: How much progress has your offensive line made from Week One to Week Two?
A: We feel like we’re moving in the right direction. It’s always good to get out that second game and that third game, because often those are the kind of games where you can really make some strides. It’s game speed. You have real evidence out there to build off and teach off, and you have a chance to improve.

Ken Tysiac