Ask a NC State fan questions
- Thread starter ncrebel574
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On your first trip ever to South Bend, what is the buzz for NCSU fans travelling? Another team that wears red bringing a million fans?
Personally, I am very bummed I am missing out. I scheduled a mini vacation to Denver before the schedule came out- so that is a huge bummer and just terrible timing.
For other NC State fans, there should be a good amount. Lots of excitement + a decent football team should mean there is going to be a decent bit of red up there. Everyone is excited to see a top 15 team (NC State fans havent said that in YEARS) and obviously enjoy one of the best environments in college sports.
Slow down? Honestly, yes, I think so. Completely stop? Doubt it. We have the 7th best rush defense in the country and that is including facing a triple option team (even though it was Furman) and arguably the best player in college football in Lamar Jackson. ND will get their chunks, but I think NC State should be a very formidable challenge when it comes to ND establishing their run game.
As for the secondary, it isn't the best. The top corner missed the 1st 3-4 games and it just rounding into shape. With him back they are maybe above average, but overall the secondary is kind of meh. But there are a couple of young guys back there who are growing so they should be getting better. However, I will say we have faced a couple very good passing attacks in Syracuse and Louisville (our back end of the ACC schedule isn't the best in that regard, so our overall pass defense should improve as the year gets going)
You didn't ask, but the linebackers are very experienced (both seniors with 3+ years starting) but athletically, they are just OK. They'll be in the right spot usually, and make some plays, but a great LB might make a play for a 1-2 yard gain, while our guys are a half step slower and will make it 4-5 yards away.
Mild seat. There was a rumor that if we didn't make a bowl last year he could have been out. He ended up beating UNC to get to 6-6 and then Vandy in the bowl to get to 7-6. IF he had another 6-6 season (or worse) with this senior roster, I could see have seen him gone.
The 2 deep is plenty deep. We have 6 or 7 guys that would be in the rotation for the majority of teams. Outside of Chubb, there isn't that much of a drop off when we sub in some DL.
Just did a quick look, and we had 8 guys play 10+ snaps vs Louisville. Our top 8 went, by snaps, 76, 76, 57, 47, 39, 29, 10 and 10.
My input as a State fan...NC Sate has an excellent O-line. Have not let up a sack in ACC play. The quarterback, Ryan Finley is very accurate...has not thrown an interception yet this year (knock on wood). We have some very good and tall receivers and two very good skill players in Hines and Jaylen Samuels.
This is the most complete State team that I have seen since the days Phillip Rivers was in Raleigh.
For those wondering how the Wolfpack lost to South Carolina it was special teams and turnovers. The Cocks returned the opening kickoff for TD, and had at least 17 points off of turnovers. Since that game the Pack has had excellent ball security and dreadful special teams (kickoffs and field goals), but we have an excellent punter. Here are the stats from USCjr game, FWIW:
To follow up on that- we missed 4-5 "easy" tackles that directly led to either big 3rd down conversions or TDs.
Just a very, very sloppy opener.
I'm expecting this to be the toughest game on ND's schedule maybe minus the Stanford game but that's just because it's a Stanford and Kelly hasn't done so well out there. Already can't wait for Saturday. Go Irish!!!
Hey Guys, Thanks for the info. Enjoy the game on Saturday. Are any of you making the pilgrimage? Do it if you can get a ticket. You'll never forget a Saturday under the dome -- win or lose. And this is going to be a very good and exciting game. May the best team win.
Where do you get 'snaps' data ? I would like to check NDs roster and see which players are getting the most snaps.
It comes from NC State (I assume) and is posted on our message boards. Sorry I couldn't be more help
I am coming in from Chicago with 4 people in red. Can't wait to see our D Line play your O Line. Will be a fun Saturday.
See above. Statistically, that game wasn't close, we dominated. But we had a couple turnovers and missed tackles that led to probably 17-21 points. We have been good taking care of the ball since then, but we played very poorly in game 1.
I'll let ncrebel answer this because it is his thread but in my opinion I think what makes us most dangerous on third down is the accuracy of our quarterback. He has thrown zero interceptions all year. We have tall receivers that run good routes and an O Line that has given up zero sacks in 4 ACC games. You see a lot of pitch and catch on third down for easy conversions. We also have great athletes that we utilize in misdirection plays. Expect to see a few trick plays. We always call them no matter the opponent.
My question for ND fans is, how confident are you in your passing game? Hypothetically speaking, if ND has a game winning drive with 2 minutes to play, do you feel comfortable in throwing your way to victory?
Offensive sets vary, honestly. We are pretty multiple. But, no doubt, our go to guy is #1 jaylen samuels. He was preseason All-ACC, on mid season all American teams and he literally lines up anywhere. I know people say that, but he's been a RB out of a single back, lined up in the backfield out of the gun, TE on the line, slot WR. You name it, you need to know where he is. We motion him a lot, try to get mismatches. On the year he has 31 carries for 191 yards and 7 TDs and 54 catches for 453 yards and 3 TDs. Expect him to touch the ball 8-15 times in a variety of ways. He's bigger, more powerful, at about 5'11 230ish, but he is just a very good player.
3rd and long we have two good WRs that we trust with jump balls, but anything 3rd and medium or less, we typically look for Jay Sam
For ND- if we slow down the running game, or somehow get a little bit of a lead, do you guys feel like you can throw enough to comeback and win?
Your input an opinion is definitely welcomed and appreciated. Always good to have a civil, knowledgeable, threads.
Also- we are on the same page for 95% of our posts, so that's always good haha
@Ncrebel and Alphapack,
First, great discussion. Always nice to sift through the detritus that sometimes frequents this board and have a legit conversation from fans around the country. Thank you for bringing this.
Second, I am no expert, coach, graduate assistant, or person who rewatches game after game with a legit critical eye. We have some posters who really break down plays and personnel that are better suited than me to respond to this. I played DIII ball and coached for 8 years of HS ball prior to moving to the dark side of public school administration...
That being said...
If it came down to a last drive necessity of completing big chunk passes in tight windows (ala ND vs. UCLA in 2006), then any honest ND fan can't do any more than speculate because we have not been in that situation. However, with Stepherson back in the mix and BW's ability to extend plays, you could very well see a broken down play go for 20+ yards at a critical moment. In my mind I think and hope that the offense is practicing those broken down plays for who moves upfield vs downfield on a scramble which we saw on a significant play in the USC game. The stats in the redzone are phenomenal. But none of those possessions happened with the game on the line with time running out.
So...a very prolonged answer...
BW has the skill set to move the team down the field with his arm or legs and conserve time
There are at least 2 WR with the skill set to break away for a clinching score...plus a few RBs but that's tougher in closing minutes
There is a definite positive change in the focus, attitude, and poise of the team
But the question of "can they do it" is something we haven't seen occur yet. If I pictured a final drive that ended in ND winning it would include a few scrambles by BW that picked up first downs to the sideline, a play or two of precise passing, a few balls thrown away/dropped/or off target, a key conversion by a RB, and a play that combines luck/skill/opportunity.
First, great discussion. Always nice to sift through the detritus that sometimes frequents this board and have a legit conversation from fans around the country. Thank you for bringing this.
Second, I am no expert, coach, graduate assistant, or person who rewatches game after game with a legit critical eye. We have some posters who really break down plays and personnel that are better suited than me to respond to this. I played DIII ball and coached for 8 years of HS ball prior to moving to the dark side of public school administration...
That being said...
If it came down to a last drive necessity of completing big chunk passes in tight windows (ala ND vs. UCLA in 2006), then any honest ND fan can't do any more than speculate because we have not been in that situation. However, with Stepherson back in the mix and BW's ability to extend plays, you could very well see a broken down play go for 20+ yards at a critical moment. In my mind I think and hope that the offense is practicing those broken down plays for who moves upfield vs downfield on a scramble which we saw on a significant play in the USC game. The stats in the redzone are phenomenal. But none of those possessions happened with the game on the line with time running out.
So...a very prolonged answer...
BW has the skill set to move the team down the field with his arm or legs and conserve time
There are at least 2 WR with the skill set to break away for a clinching score...plus a few RBs but that's tougher in closing minutes
There is a definite positive change in the focus, attitude, and poise of the team
But the question of "can they do it" is something we haven't seen occur yet. If I pictured a final drive that ended in ND winning it would include a few scrambles by BW that picked up first downs to the sideline, a play or two of precise passing, a few balls thrown away/dropped/or off target, a key conversion by a RB, and a play that combines luck/skill/opportunity.
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Ditto...and that scares me.
However, my wife is at a conference in Cleveland that I'll be travelling to with her. So, I'm checking the maps for restaurants that are on Diners/Drive Ins/Dives, Bizarre Foods, Best Place I Ever, etc., and will gorge myself for the first 8 hours of the day before getting to relax in the hotel to watch the game with my favorite 6 pack or small bottle of bourbon/whiskey/scotch to take in the game. Damn, life is good.
Wimbush has shown some maturation and improvement since game one. He did have two very nice TD passes against USC. Plus some good completions. If all else fails - he can take off and run for major yardage.
I have total confidence in Wimbush right now.
Exactly. We haven't seen the late game win on a deciding drive, but that kid is darn fun to watch!
USC vs NCST. Who wins? Look at State's body of work and then do the same for USC. Take a careful look at their schedules. Playing against Georgia has to be a teaching moment that can translate to this Saturday. I'm not making any predictions but don't make this out to be bigger than it is. It can go NCST's way this Saturday but they still aren't the '27 Yankees.
Should be a great game, I expect a slugfest this Saturday. On a side note, our kicking game is awful, I think any Pack fan will agree that even extra points are an adventure. Something to look out for in a close game.
Good question. For me, it's a toss up if the young man Chubb gets into a lot of plays. He could make 3 sacks, a FF, and change the tide of the game...or be silenced by scheme and game planning...man, isn't college football great!?!?!?
I think ND is really good. Like really really good. Do i think they are 49-14 vs. USC good? No, i don't. I think USC looked awful from the first snap. We will both find out a lot about our football teams on Saturday. There is no denying that ND looked unbelievable on Saturday night. But I think it is a mistake if the Irish are fooled into thinking they are unbeatable. State will have to play a great game, and probably get some help from ND too. I expect a hard fought game and would not be surprised with either outcome. Go Pack.
Based on what I have seen, I have to ask...How in the world did you lose to South Carolina? You guys look so much better than that game showed.
Turnovers, poor tackling and miscues....sloppy play. The better team lost.
http://www.espn.com/college-football/game?gameId=400933837
We outgained them 504-246. Possession time was in State's favor 36:41 to 23:19. Just one of those weird first games....
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