Bring On The Fortnight Of Terror; State Takes Care Of Wake, 38-3

by Akula Wolf on Nov 13, 2010 11:57 PM EST

	Plays	Total Yds	Yds/Play	Yds/Carry*	Yds/PassAtt
NCSU	61	387	6.3	3.7	8.4
WFU	58	188	3.2	3.1	6.0

(Yds/carry stats are sack adjusted.)

If it was Russell Wilson's last game at Carter-Finley Stadium, he went out in fine fashion: 24-35, 300 yards, two passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns. It was a big finale for many of State's key senior players; Nate Irving set a new school record for tackles for loss in a single game with eight million thousand; Owen Spencer had eight grabs for 138 yards and a TD and should have had two scores; Jarvis Williams found the end zone; the Gentrys created a Gentry sandwich on a kickoff return from which the Wake Forest returner has yet to emerge.

After a bizarre but blah first half that saw the Deacs possess the ball for over 20 minutes, State asserted itself and the game was never in doubt. Prior to garbage time, Wake Forest's longest second-half drive covered all of six yards. NC State's offense, meanwhile, scored touchdowns on four of seven second-half possessions.

And so we begin the FORTNIGHT OF SHEER ABSOLUTE TERROR.

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Thanks for reminding me...

… how many guys we rely on will be gone next year. So this is our high-water mark, eh?

Positives: Two years ago, we’d have killed someone’s first-born to beat Wake by 35. Glennon confirmed that he has a VERY strong, accurate arm… if RW goes, and if we can provide any protection whatsoever, the QB position is still in good hands… if he’s got anyone left at WR who can get open, he’d be set up to put up big numbers. Nate is 80% back – and that’s enough to make him scary good… I hope he’s able to continue on the path he’s on, as it’ll make him a very nice living for the next 10 years or so. Run defense overall looked good after that early drive.

Concerns: RW still didn’t get much time, as our OL could neither provide adequate pass protection nor lanes for our RB’s… and this is against a bad Wake team… if they can’t get a bit better there, and if unc-ch/umd dominate our lines, those games will be utterfly forgettable. Since I intend to either not watch or be inebriated enough to forget what happened, forgetting those games could be easy for me.

by wolfonthehill on Nov 14, 2010 7:19 AM EST reply actions

And reminding me...

WOTH, I hear ya with some of the potential we are losing. Losing Nate would be by far the biggest for me. No one person has made a bigger difference to our team than Nate. But I got to disagree with RW and our line. Neither are as great of concern to me. Our line hasn’t been great for the run, but then again, Dana Bible doesn’t run the damn ball… I think our backs attempted less than 10 runs total prior to the 4th quarter. And I’ve been disappointed with the play selection all year from the OC. VT game being the pinnacle of my examples (run the damn ball up by 17, come on man). But back to my point. I think RW has gotten plenty of time to throw this season, I think he just holds on to the ball too damn long. Curious how many of his sacks come after the 3.0 second mark???

Don’t get me wrong, RW is definitely one of the greatest NCSU players of all times and deserves to have his jersey up there with PRIV, but the biggest difference between the two is height. PRIV was 6’ mountain", while RW is not, so RW needs those lanes to develop – which also allow blitzers to come into the pocket. Glennon is a tall QB, which I think will rectify some of the problem with “protection.” Do still agree that UNX/MD may present problems with their lines if we don’t RUN THE BALL!!!

Looking forward to next year… do you think our DLine improves on what I think has been a mediocre effort at best (saw them sliding with protection, rather than driving into the backfield yesterday against Wake…disgusting)?

by chip24spb on Nov 14, 2010 11:01 AM EST up reply actions

I actually think...

… both lines (O and D) are on track to continue improvement next year. My fear is the loss of skill players on both sides of the ball (primarily QB, WR, LB). We’re so young at most other positions, we should be OK…

by wolfonthehill on Nov 14, 2010 12:35 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed.

If the offensive line continues to get better, I think that will cover up some of the inexperience at the skill positions. Should be fine at TE anyway, but receiver really worries me.

Once Russell is gone, I wonder if we might see a shift toward the sort of offense TOB ran at Boston College. Take pressure off the inexperienced QB and WRs. The OL may not be ready to thrive in that situation just yet, but I think they’re getting there.

Backing The Pack

by Akula Wolf on Nov 14, 2010 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

WR doesn't worry me

No disrespect to J5 and Spencer – both have had fine careers – but they are not irreplaceable. Neither is really an NFL prospect. Jay Smith and Howard have performed well in limited roles this year and I think they’ll step up (remember Howard’s catch against GT). I also like what Payton has done this year. And we’ll add two quick slot receivers in Underwood and Palmer – should give us a totally new dimension in the passing game.

DE is the real worry on next year’s team. We’ll have Reiskamp and…er…crickets

But overall we should be pretty good as long as Glennon can handle the QB spot, and I think he can. Don’t know if you’ve looked at the schedule – it’s a joke. 7 wins should be the bare minimum.

by TVP on Nov 15, 2010 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

And as for the fortnight of terror

We will beat UNC. No question.

RW and Nate will not let us lose this game.

Also keep in mind that TOB coaches against UNC like his life depends on it.

Maryland, on the other hand, scares the crap out of me. And if we make it to Charlotte, I see little chance that we beat VT.

by TVP on Nov 15, 2010 2:12 PM EST reply actions

Remember

we were up big on VT and let that game slip away. I think we are very well capable of beating VT we just got to play 60 mins of good football. I think Maryland is a fraud but we do struggle in college park. As for the UNC game, I hope the current trend continues.

Steelers football is 60 mins. The final 15 have been re-constructed with re-enforced steel and ready to withstand punishment and deal out some itself. HERE WE GO STEELERS HERE WE GO.

by tannofsteel84 on Nov 15, 2010 2:46 PM EST up reply actions