Miami coach Mario Cristobal: ‘They’re an impressive football team’

When Miami coach Mario Cristobal started to talk about NC State in his weekly press conference, the Wolfpack’s defense was the first to come to mind. 

“They are physical, they are violent when they tackle,” Cristobal said during his Monday media availability. “Their defense is extremely stout, fast, plays with great pad level, great technique, great fundamentals, great hands. They all get to the football. It’s evident.”

NC State’s ability to “chase down plays” was noted by the Hurricanes’ coach, who said that not many teams can get back behind the Pack secondary, but the red and white does a good job of tracking those down when they do. 

Not only was Cristobal impressed with that phase of NC State’s defense, but its ability to generate pressure. The Pack is third in the ACC with 24 total sacks this fall. 

“You see when they get to the quarterback, they get there with intentions to let them know that they got there,” Cristobal said. 

“Pressure comes from everywhere,” he later added about the Wolfpack’s 3-3-5 defense. “There’s internal pressure, field missile, boundary missile, corner fire’s incorporated, safeties come in with it. They’re so athletic that if a guy is out of his gap, it’s quickly filled. They can replace themselves, and the way it’s spaced out, it makes those passing windows difficult.”

Cristobal said his team has not seen a 3-3-5 defense this season, which presents a challenge for any offense. Though the Wolfpack can get after the quarterback, Miami has conceded just eight sacks, which is the second-fewest of any ACC team this fall. 

While Cristobal had a rave review for NC State’s defense, the rest of the team also got a glowing response from the Hurricanes coach, including graduate kicker Brayden Narveson and redshirt sophomore punter Caden Noonkester. 

“Just a really impressive team,” Cristobal said. “Their kicking game is equally impressive. … They cover down really well. Again, technically sound.”

Then came the NC State offense. And when Cristobal began about that side of the ball, freshman wide receiver Kevin Concepcion was obviously a talking point. But so was NC State’s offense line, the position group that Cristobal played at Miami in the early 1990s.

“Concepcion has done an unbelievable job,” Cristobal said. “But I’m always focusing on the trenches, and they are physical, they are really, really tough and athletic up front. They move people, they finish their blocks, they communicate really, really well.”

That might be a focal point for the Hurricanes since they too like to get after opposing quarterbacks. Miami is second in the ACC with 27 total sacks this season, three ahead of NC State. The Wolfpack, however, have given up the sixth-fewest in the league with 16. 

But Miami’s second-year coach had a simple description for sophomore quarterback MJ Morris and the rest of NC State’s squad: they’re a good bunch. 

“Quarterback’s playing really well. They’re an impressive football team.”

NC State hosts Miami on Saturday night at 8 p.m. at Carter-Finley Stadium, and the game will be televised on the ACC Network.