Comments by Mickey Andrews

On the Rice game:

"We got started a little bit slow. (Rice) came out and gave us some new stuff. They have not been a big `21 personnel' team in fact they hadn't run it all year and the veer option. We got fooled on a veer option pass. The cornerback didn't finish the play. He is responsible for his area of the field until he sees the block. We ended up giving up a 32-yard touchdown. It was very well executed on their part. We just weren't prepared for it because we hadn't seen it. We have to be more disciplined. That is part of playing your position, taking care of your assignment. You just got to do it."

On playing younger players:

"We got to play a lot of young people. That was good. They did OK. A couple times the first group had to go in and bail them out. That is probably one of the best things the first defense did. They finished the plays. They finished the game. They stopped Rice twice down in the red zone without any points. That's huge when you can do that."

On the improvement of the defense week to week:

"If you are missing a lot of tackles or you're busting plays, you are not making progress. We look for individual techniques and improvement. It should get better as the year goes along. We had too many missed tackles, missed assignments the week before. It was a part of the reason we didn't win the football game, a big part. We reduced that some this week. We had some missed tackles. I think we had 11 total which is not bad. Our goal is to hold them under 10. We missed it by one. Overall, you see progress. More importantly we see progress from young people that are getting to play a little bit more. Gaining experience is the only real way you learn how to play football."

On the injuries to defensive players:

"We started out the season having to replace seven starters, which we did. Then you lose one of you best defensive linemen in the second game. Then you lose your starting safety in the third game. Now you lose a guy (Marcus Ball) who wasn't starting on our base defense but he was on our yardage defense and about on every kicking team. He was not playing like a freshman. It will be a significant loss losing him. What it does is it gives an opportunity for somebody else."

On Tony Carter's punt returning:

"We didn't want to do it (let Carter return punts) to begin with. We let our better judgment get lost in his desire for an opportunity. He did a good job when he was there. We are probably going to have to limit his tries as a punt returner because he is so valuable to us at cornerback."

On the NC State game:

"They have beaten us too many times the last few years. It is one of those deals where you have to be prepared to play your best because you got to anticipate they will play their best. They looked pretty good the way they finished the ballgame up against Boston College."

On Myron Rolle's first start:

"It was a very nice start for his first time actually starting a ballgame and to get as many plays as he did. He was a little bit anxious early. He didn't do a couple things early (that he did) later on in the game when he got comfortable he was executing a little bit better. He is one of the guys you would expect to continue to improve as he gets more reps."

On facing a Chuck Amato coached team:

"That part doesn't enter into it. It is just about who can get their teams...the team that goes out there and plays the hardest and makes plays and hopefully you can make some adjustments to help the kids during the process. I don't see (it being a game versus an ex-FSU assistant) as being a factor really."

On the importance of the NC State game:

"I wouldn't say beating NC State is any more important that beating Florida or Miami or Clemson or Boston College. They are another ACC team that you have to compete with if you are going to compete for the championship."