Brent Venables talks defense ahead of crucial matchup with Wolfpack
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On what he's seen from the N.C. State offense thus far on film:
"We got a great opponent. A really good football team. It's got a great defense, really good offense, terrific backs, and really good quarterback, and probably the most athletic offensive line that we've seen up to this point. A lot of experience coming back so there's a lot to be motivated about and we're gonna have to have a great week of practice, a great game plan and you're gonna have to play really well to have a chance to win the game."
On the play of ACC Linebacker of the Week LaVonta Bentley who made his first career start in place of injured Baylon Spector:
"Yeah, he did a nice job. He had like three or four minutes to find out he was gonna be the starter, but he's been ready. He gets starter reps in practice, and he's been doing well and has continued to make improvement. And so he did a great job. I'm proud of him. He's worked hard for his opportunity and was ready and a good example for what you want all your guys to be. Whatever opportunity you get make the most of it, and he certainly did that and help us to gut out a win.
On the fourth down game-clinching goal-line tackle by veteran linebacker James Skalski:
"He's got great instincts. The game's very slow for Jamie. You know 95% of the time he's doing everything right. Right reads, right eyes, right footwork. We went through a lot of scenarios and plays and formations and motions and things that they have put on tape the last couple of years -- that wasn't one of the plays. They hadn't run that. We see it. We do see it a lot in practice......He was telling me earlier in the game. I haven't made many plays. I'm like, 'Oh, yeah, they're coming.' And he made two great ones, the jet sweep with him and Nolan on two plays prior and then that one -- two of the biggest plays in the game."
On whether it takes a certain mentality to keep teams out of the endzone:
"I mean you hope so. That was an area that we talked about we got to get better than what we were a year ago. I think the year before that we were really good -- uhm, two years before -- 18 and 19 really good, last year, not quite as good. And that was one of our top three things going into this year. It starts with the mentality that you don't let people run for touchdowns and you hold people to field goals. You create turnovers. Games on the line [a] game seven mentality, and you find out a lot about your team that way -- good and bad."
