Syracuse vs. NC State: Shafer Isn't Worried About Job & More From ACC Teleconference

Despite seven consecutive Syracuse losses, SU head coach Scott Shafer isn't worried about his job security, he said on Wednesday's ACC football coaches teleconference.

"It's just one of those things," he said when asked if questions from the media regarding his job security wear on him. "... We can't focus on anything that isn't right out in front of you that you have a chance to improve upon."

Below are a few other notes from Shafer and NC State head coach Dave Doeren on the teleconference. Syracuse and NC State will meet at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in Raleigh.

Shafer

On Syracuse's offensive red zone success:

"I think it was one of our focuses in the off-season. I think Coach Lester and the offensive staff have done a nice job in their preparation for red zone play. I think we've had a lot of consistent plays down there, and I think there's a lot of change agents that our guys have put into action that give us a chance, and the kids have executed well."

On Wolfpack quarterback Jacoby Brissett:

Shafer didn't stop short in his praise of Brissett, going as far as to compare him to Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisber, whom Shafer coached against while at Northern Illinois.

"He's very similar in that he's not going to beat you with 50-yard runs, but he extends plays, and it takes more than one guy to get him on the ground. A lot of his big passes over the last couple of seasons have been where things have broken down, and he's traded plays down the field by taking a play that initially was probably designed to be a three- or four-second play and turned it into a seven- or eight-second play, and he does a good job seeing down the field when he's under duress."

On recruiting with job status in question:

"Well, people that are with us in the recruiting process, young men that have pledged commitments and other kids that we're recruiting, they've been great. You know, they've stayed true to watching what we're doing and understanding that they have an opportunity to come in and play at particular positions of need. But it has not become an issue at this point."

Doeren

On Syracuse quarterback Zack Mahoney:

"He doesn't look like a guy that's been sitting on the bench for most of the season, and he's athletic and understands how to run their system. You can see that."

On preparing for SU's triple option offense:

"You can't have as many pressures. You've got to play more base defense. They're not running Georgia Tech's offense where you're getting all the fullback dives and everybody cutting everybody and all that. But there's a lot of elements to triple option that come out of the same family, where there's a dive, there's the quarterback and there's the pitch, and sometimes they're leading up on your pitch player. You've got to do a really good job of playing fundamental football and tackling in space."