Well, See You All Next Year

by Akula Wolf on Oct 11, 2009 1:35 AM EDT

NC State's offense isn't likely to ease their pain, and unless they're able to get it done in the margins, the Blue Devils' inability to get stops should not only undo them on Saturday, but make this game academic by the fourth quarter.

What I meant of course was the exact opposite of that would happen. That's why they pay me the big bucks.

What seemed like a serious problem last week now appears to be an impossible one. TOB said afterwards that he thinks they're playing their best guys in the secondary, but I think we're at a point where it's no longer worth worrying about, since it's pretty evident that this group's ceiling is low regardless of who's playing where. We're at the halfway point, the coaches have had plenty of time to smooth some of the rough edges, yet the poor fundamentals continue. I keep waiting to see some signs of progress or direction; instead, the situation looks beyond repair.

For starters, it might be a good idea to take more chances defensively. For this team, the bend-but-don't-break strategy is basically an open invitation to complete a pass underneath, break four tackles, and run for another 25 yards. When that's compounded by a front four that can't get any pressure on the quarterback, today happens. A sad, embarrassing low point.

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Totally agree

Duke was pretty much using 3 and 5 step drops to not allow our d-line time to get to lewis. I’m no football coach, but I would think that if a team is almost exclusively hitting you with quick, timing patterns, that you place press coverage on the receivers and disrupt the route.

The coaches might argue that the secondary doesn’t have the skill for it, but they obviously don’t have the skill for what they are doing now. It is just frustrating to see an opponent do the same thing over and over again, and our coaches make absolutely no adjustments. I have not been a fan of archer’s philosophy since we hired him, but now it is pretty obvious to me that it doesn’t work.

Also, the tackling fundamentals are so poor, I can’t believe these guys have football scholarships. If a LB or DB completely whiffs to the outside of another ballcarrier I’m going to be forced to write more angry posts about it! It is comical that our Dlinemen are able to reverse direction out of the backfield and tackle the receiver somewhere upfield before any of our super slow LBs or DBs can manage to do anything. Happens way too often.

I will be pretty disappointed if their aren’t major changes to the defensive and special teams coaching staffs this offseason.

by PACKHOOLIGAN on Oct 11, 2009 8:11 AM EDT reply actions

It is comical that our Dlinemen are able to reverse direction out of the backfield and tackle the receiver somewhere upfield before any of our super slow LBs or DBs can manage to do anything.

I noticed that also. Willie Young can’t do everything, though bless him he does try.

Backing The Pack

by Akula Wolf on Oct 11, 2009 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions

If duke's receivers

caught every ball that hit them in the hands, Lewis would have been about 45 for 50. He was doing this when Duke had absolutely no running threat. I hate when coaches opt for the conservative play when it is obvious to everyone else that something needs to be done. I probably would have been booing my head off if I was at Carter-Finley yesterday, and it would have been solely aimed at our coaching staff.

by PACKHOOLIGAN on Oct 11, 2009 8:16 AM EDT reply actions

I'll only put so much on the players

At some point, the fact that Archer, TOB, and the staff continue to put the guys we have into positions in which they’re guaranteed to fail.

Bringing four and dropping 7 into coverage, allowing underneath balls, was the absolute worst game plan imaginable. Hell, we all knew it coming in. We knew it for DAMN sure after the first possession, and our coaches never went away from it.

Their job is to recruit as well as possible, put the best guys on the field, and give them a game plan that gives them a chance to succeed. The coaching staff gets a D for recruiting and an F for defensive game planning. Absolutely horrendous, and in my opinion, worthy of Archer’s dismissal today. If such a move is not imminent (as in, I MAY wait for the end of the season, but it better be a Sunday-after-Thanksgiving massacre, a la MOC), TOB should resign.

This was an inexcusable effort across the board… coaches and players alike. And to that point, the fans get an F for yesterday. Poor attendance, zero energy and crowd noise… we didn’t give them the boost they sometimes need.

Awful.

by wolfonthehill on Oct 11, 2009 9:18 AM EDT reply actions

i'm still having trouble fathoming what just happened

there is no way in the world we should have let duke have 500+ yards of offense…its unbeleivable

*yawn*

by raysfan81 on Oct 11, 2009 12:52 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe if we could figure out a way to drop 11 into coverage, that would solve everything! Imagine the look on the faces of those offensive linemen when our down linemen all back away from the line of scrimmage, LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!1shootmeintheface

All Wolfpack, all the time.

by YANCSSB on Oct 12, 2009 10:35 AM EDT reply actions

You laugh...

… but Par Shooter was saying to do exactly that the other day. I mean, if you’re not gonna get pressure, why try? :)

by wolfonthehill on Oct 12, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Outcoached

It was with a doubt a team outcoached and if NCSU continues to not make adjustments I look for beat downs. Duke is a crap team but they proved what can happen when a coach prepares with what he has got. For the years TOB has been here there has never been a game where he was the factor like was displayed by Duke Saturday.

by wuf238 on Oct 13, 2009 7:06 AM EDT reply actions