NC State probably doesn’t prefer to a bye week after three games, but the usual off-week strategies still have occurred.

The time off has allowed for any bumps and bruises to heal up. NC State coach Dave Doeren said sophomore wide receiver Nyheim Hines “felt good” from his ankle injury suffered while blocking on a Matthew Dayes run against East Carolina on Sept. 10.

The Wolfpack coaches did their annual “self-scouting” from the first three games (2-1 record) through Tuesday and started introducing the game plan Wednesday for 3-0 Wake Forest on Oct. 1.

“The bye week has been really good,” Doeren said. “We’ve had really good meetings with the players.

“You look at what you’ve done well. You look at any tendencies you have, and how you can add things in to break tendencies. Then you look at your issues.”

The latter part, the team’s issues, is looking to see if it is scheme driven, whether the coaches are reaching the players on what they want accomplished or personnel driven.

Former NC State player Morocco Brown was also able to speak to the team over the last week.

“He was obviously a good football player here and led the team in tackles three years in a row and was a captain,” Doeren said. “He talked to our guys about life. I thought it was really appropriate.”

Doeren has always had a bye week later in the season his first three years at NC State. The Wolfpack played Clemson on a Thursday night, and got some extra time beforehand, having Saturday Sept. 14 off in 2013. NCSU then came back with a normal bye week Oct. 19.

The 2014 season featured bye weeks Oct. 14 and Nov. 22, while the 2015 campaign was Oct. 17.

The last time NC State had a bye week in late September was 2006, which was prior to a Thursday night win over Florida State on Oct. 5.

Doeren would prefer two bye weeks amongst a 14-week schedule, if college football would move in that direction. That extra time would allow for coaches to hit the road more for recruiting.

“That would be great if you can do that, from an injury standpoint,” Doeren said. “I think mentally it is great for the players, just to unload them a little bit. I think it is a grind for all of them, coaches as well.”

NCSU will get to watch WFU play at Indiana this Saturday, plus have an eye on former players quarterback Jacoby Brissett and left guard Joe Thuney of the New England Patriots tonight against the Houston Texans.

“That is great for the University and great for the football program and those players,” Doeren said. “That is what we want to do, to build people that can compete at the next level, not just in football, but in life.”