Dave Doeren Really, Really Needs To Beat Wake Forest

Sitting at 5-5 and fifth in its division in the ACC, the NC State Wolfpack is no one’s idea of a powerful football team, or honestly, even a very good one.  Led by second year coach Dave Doeren, its lone ACC victory in the past 1.75 seasons came a couple of weeks ago against an equally weak Syracuse team, leaving the team on the edge of bowl eligibility.  Now comes equally poor Wake Forest, a team like NC State that has shown some life against ranked teams but no major victories to call its own.  At 2-7 and with no wins in the conference, on paper, this looks like Doeren and the Wolfpack’s best chance to gain entry to the post-season.

It’s a win that Doeren really needs, as the last thing he and the Wolfpack faithful want is a trip to Chapel Hill with its post-season on the line.  While Carolina is not exactly the class of the ACC in its own right, it does have a powerful offense that will be difficult for the NC State defense to stop, and on defense, the Tar Heels probably have just enough to slow down a sputtering Wolfpack offense and win in a shoot out.  That said, State needs to take care of business against the Deacons and go into the Carolina game with a chance to not only have a seven-win regular season, but also a win against its arch-rival.  Two late season wins would erase the mid-season disappointment of Wolfpack football, send the team to a low-tier bowl after a couple of weeks of additional practice and a chance to go into 2015 with something it hasn’t had in years: momentum.

On the other hand the worst-case scenario is not pleasant: three losses in a row, no post-season and Doeren trying to close out recruiting on a seat that will be red-hot next year.  Murmurings of “who can we get” are already starting at tailgates and on message boards, and if on the afternoon of November 29th the Wolfpack is sitting 5-7, those murmurs will turn into a chorus, making it all the harder for the young coach to achieve success in Raleigh.  Add to the mix and Athletic Director not known for accepting mediocrity and you can see how Doeren would be coaching for his job in 2015.

While it’s hard to call State the favorites in any ACC football game recently, they have to like their chances for the late afternoon tilt this weekend. The Deacons sport the worst rushing offense in the Bowl Subdivision of college football, and managed to gain but 7 yards last week in a loss to Clemson.  They’ll probably do better against State, however, but at the same time, State should be able to control the Deacs on the ground enough to force them into a one-dimensional attack.  When they did that against Syracuse, they won.  They must do the same Saturday or the Carter-Finley faithful will again leave disappointed.  Or more likely, angry.

On offense, State should be able to gain yards on the ground if it utilizes its running backs effectively.  That will also take the pressure off of the suddenly shaky Jacoby Brissett, and will also serve to take pressure off of the Wolpack’s defense.

All of that is dependent on a good game plan, good in-game coaching adjustments and solid execution by the players on the field.  In other words, Doeren and his charges hold their future in their own hands.  How much they want to win may tell the tale of the tape not only this weekend, but also for the immediate future of the program.

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Home Forums Dave Doeren Really, Really Needs To Beat Wake Forest

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  • #61244
    Alpha Wolf
    Keymaster

    Sitting at 5-5 and fifth in its division in the ACC, the NC State Wolfpack is no one’s idea of a powerful football team, or honestly, even a very good[See the full post at: Dave Doeren Really, Really Needs To Be Wake Forest]

    #61245
    VaWolf82
    Keymaster

    In other words, Doeren and his charges hold their future in their own hands.

    Well said

    #61248
    Greywolf
    Participant

    ”Doeren and his charges hold their future in their own hands.” Well said

    Very well said.

    Alpha also says, “(If we lose to Wake) the Carter-Finley faithful will again leave disappointed. Or more likely, angry.” I’ve never left a football game that we lost anything but disappointed. As I trudge my way through the parking lots, I see a lot of people who are also disappointed but rarely do I see people angry. Only after I read the game day threads do I find people angry. I overhear very little murmuring about who’s available to replace Doeren. And then it’s usually people who’ve have a snoot full. I pay little attention to drunks tailgating or on these boards on any subject.

    I don’t know of DY firing anyone who has not had a fair chance to show they are the right ones for the job. Most of her early firings had long histories of unacceptable results. She is not a loose cannon, firing people who do not produce immediate results. I also don’t let her being a woman confuse me into thinking she doesn’t know what it takes to turn a ship as big as a D1 football program.

    I don’t expect to lose to Wake and if we do my confidence in Doeren will take a hit but I will not be on the “fire Dave Doeren” bandwagon.

    #61250
    TheAliasTroll
    Participant

    Umm we are 17 point favorites against Wake Forest. I won’t be angry, I’ll be embarrassed if we lose this one at home.

    #61253
    Wulfpack
    Participant

    This is just not a game he can afford to lose. The seat wouldn’t necessarily be hot but it would certainly be warm. I mean, you’d have to wonder what the freak is going on if we lost this one. There really would be no excuse for it. Wake is that bad.

    I’m not sure what world some are in, but I feel like I pay close enough attention nationally to know going 1-15 in two years is not good. And in fact a good many places would have nothing of it. That’s probably not the case here as unfortunately we have become a lightweight on the gridiron, but dudes he sure wouldn’t survive a third with similar results. At the end of the day, no matter how much you or I or DY loves him, it IS most definitely a results based business.

    Let’s hope we don’t get there. This is a big rung in the ladder.

    #61257
    Greywolf
    Participant

    but dudes he sure wouldn’t survive a third with similar results.

    My mistake. I thought this was about the 2nd year. You have a good point about the 3rd year BUT this is about the 2nd year or did I read it wrong.

    #61259
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    Like Alpha said, to have some momentum going into year 3, it has to start now. Right or wrong, logical or not, DD could make his life much simpler (and more pleasant) in the 3rd year, by notching a couple more wins in the 2nd year.

    #61268
    Wulfpack
    Participant

    You have a good point about the 3rd year BUT this is about the 2nd year or did I read it wrong.

    What he’s able to do these next two games, the last on the schedule, will have a direct impact on the tone for the off season heading into next yeear. Plus, the extra practice time would be a positive as well.

    #61270
    LifeLongWolf
    Participant

    I wonder which WF running back is going to have a career day?

    #61275
    Pack85EE
    Participant

    Recruiting is everything and so I really like what Doeren is doing on that front.
    The last time I looked at the Depth chart, we had three senior starters on Offense and Defense each. The two deep was maybe double that. That’s a lot of talent coming back. Of course one could say that good news/bad news, same players, how good can they be. But I think most agree the youth we have are pretty good and should be much better next year. I may be wrong but I think we will have a solid team next year. My expectations will certainly be higher than this year. If we suck next year – Yes DD would be on the hot seat if not gone, but we should not suck. But he should not be on the hot seat this year.
    As to Wake, the home team wins this every year. It should not have been that way as I thought we were the better team going to Winston. Yes we should win and better win and there would be no excuses. But it could happen. It would take more than the usual amount of NC State $#it. And that I think is the key, Brissett must not turn the ball over. He has to just let the offense move the ball and rely on our kickers Wake stops us. We can’t let Wake score through freak things (turnovers and big defensive breakdowns) where get behind and start pressing. Just doing that should be easy against Wake but …it happens. If we take care of business without mistakes, we cover the spread.

    #61283
    Texpack
    Participant

    This is always the most important game of the year since, way out here in Texas, the neighbor over the back fence is a Wake graduate. I have been know to hang the Wolfpack flag over the fence after a win.

    #61286
    MP
    Participant

    Umm we are 17 point favorites against Wake Forest. I won’t be angry, I’ll be embarrassed if we lose this one at home.

    That says it all for me. More like “damn well better beat Wake Forest.”

    #61290
    packof81
    Participant

    Doeren gets at least 3 more years.

    But it will be disappointing if WF wins.

    #61293
    travelwolf
    Participant

    Yeah, we need to win this game… Maybe I have rose-colored glasses, but I see improvement in the team every game (even against GT). I don’t doubt that we’ll win this game unless our QB can’t play the entire game.

    An improved team would win this game, so let’s hope it does.

    #61294
    Pack85EE
    Participant

    Did anyone else notice that the 3rd quarter offense really sucked at least two games in a row. I seem to remember both games we had at least 3 3 and outs in a row. Against GT it destroyed any chance we had. We could do it against Wake and survive by just winning the punting battle, but I would like to see a turn around this week on that particular stat. Is the other team just making great halftime adjustments and we are not? Offense needs to be steady, productive and error free (or near error free).

    #61372
    choppack1
    Participant

    Tomorrow’s game is huge. A win and we build some momentum for the future and recruiting will be easier. It would be nice to go into chapel hill as the team that could play loose.

    #61388
    Greywolf
    Participant

    Tomorrow’s game is huge. A win and we build some momentum for the future and recruiting will be easier. It would be nice to go into chapel hill as the team that could play loose.

    Great points. With the win we are bowl eligible, build momentum and could play the holes loose.

    Maybe I’m just picky but IMNSHO there is a critical distinction between a win being huge and a need to win.

    #61392
    bill.onthebeach
    Participant

    Really guys ? Really…

    #NCSU-North Carolina's #1 FOOTBALL school!
    #61398
    tjfoose1
    Participant

    I was angry when leaving the Clemson game in which we couldn’t even line up on sides.

    I was angry when leaving the Wake Forest game in WS the week before the Ohio State game. The game in which our dumbass OC would send out 4 and 5 receivers but none deeper than 12 yards. That is until we got down by 3 or 4 TDs. This with some kid named Philip Rivers at QB.

    I was angry when leaving Dowdy Ficklen in what turned out to be MOC’s last game. That timeout fiasco at the end of the game was enough by itself, but unfortunately, there was plenty more.

    It’s not often, but obvious dumbass coaching causes me to leave angry on occassion.

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