Saturday Football Bytes/Wake Game Entry
* N.C. State running back Andre Brown has been cleared to play at Wake Forest, the Wolfpack announced on Friday afternoon.
* S6 spoke with Old Gold Blog in this entry that will help prep you for the game.
* Speaking of the game – Wake Forest has scored NINE non-offensive touchdowns in ten games this season. I don’t know if NC State has scored nine non-offensive touchdowns in our last 40 games.
* The Wolfpack’s opponent from last weekend is also must travel. The N&O’s blog has a fantastic analysis of what that his meant over the last decade that can be seen by clicking here.
* Last year’s State-Wake game was decided by three field goals of 50 yards or more by Wake’s Sam Swank on a day that John Deraney struggled for the Wolfpack. The final score fittingly was 25-23 during the Wolfpack’s 2-year run of failing to score 24 points. It is always a little interesting to got back and review the game entries from past games; This link will take you to last year’s entry.
* Interestingly, State has scored more than 24 points in three of our last four wins. There is an awful lot of magic in that number.
* I would like to thank 850TheBuzz for dealing with an issue that I have watched develop this week as typical Carolina fans have continued to prove that they simply cannot grasp the game and rules of football. Of course, this ‘distinction’ puts Tarheel fans in the same boat as good old Steve Martin and Doc Walker who also didn’t know the rule while broadcasting the game on Saturday. So sad.
The inbox has been flooded with “Hakeem Nicks had a touchdown” emails. Folks, I understand that the ground can’t cause a fumble. It’s all well and good, but the Nicks non-touchdown was not a fumble, it’s an incomplete pass. It’s in the rules.
SITUATION: Receiver A85 is airborne in the end zone and possesses a pass but while airborne is hit by a defender, which causes A85 to fall to the ground. Immediately upon hitting the ground, the ball comes loose.
RULING: Incomplete pass. An airborne receiver contacted before completing all the requirements of a catch must still maintain control of the ball after hitting the ground.
* Please allow us to say something that you rarely will hear from us, GO DUKE!
47 Responses to “Saturday Football Bytes/Wake Game Entry”
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11/17/2007
CF76Dm I am so grateful for your blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Cool.
Awesome! Still think Eugene should get most of the carries tho after all he’s done to help the turnaround
I actually think they should sit Brown… or just give him 6-8 carries, that is if Eugene isnt TOO banged up. Eugene has been playing great, and has been carrying the load just fine by himself. Dont mess up the rhythm by trying to give Brown carries. I love Brown, dont get me wrong… but I think Eugene has proven himself as THE guy.
Good news. A little bit of lightning and some thunder, to go with our hurricane.
I’d like to see him get more like 10-12 carries, but with the progression of Underwood and it being his first game back I would expect he may get about 6-8. He’ll be ready for us next week when Maryland comes into C-F. He won’t take carries from Eugene, he’ll present a different running style and something of a home run threat. Eugene is the starter no doubts, but this will keep him fresh if it turns into a ground game. Eugene is the better inside runner surprisingly, but a healthy Brown can only help. The thought of AB behind our improved OL intrigues me, we should be seriously balanced.
brown just needs to maybe replace underwoods carries. if he gets more than 6-7 carries then something is wrong. no way you mess up the rhythm that eugene has.
We have a two headed monster again!
I suspect that what happens in the first quarter has been determined from practice this week. From there, the number of carries should be determined by how each back is playing today…and by how AB’s foot holds up.
The plan from spring practice thru the FSU game was to split carries. The plan for next year will be to split carries. If AB performs well today, why shouldn’t they split carries today as well?
This “rhythm” so many are talking about sounds like a BS cliche to me.
^ Don’t care about cliche’s but Eugenes running style IS a big part of our success.
We have been succeeding thanks to consistent positive gains. Jamelle seems to get 2-3yds more than he should on every play. He falls forward and leaves you with 2nd and 7 or 3rd and 4. He doesn’t stick you behind the 8-ball with 2nd and 14. These are the little things that keep your play calling flexible and fresh. These are the little things that keep your QB in game management, as opposed to save your bacon, mode.
AB will be a great addition, to change pace. He’s a stud. Doesn’t mean that Jamelle’s style isn’t superior for this team.
Can Brown be redshirted this year at all? I’d rather save the year of eligibility if possible.
I agree that Eugene is doing a great job, but Brown was averaging 5 yards a carry while our line was playing like crap. If he’s healthy, he has to play some.
Doesn’t mean that Jamelle’s style isn’t superior for this team.
Eugene has done a great job for the team. However, he wasn’t the starting RB when the season started….and there were reasons for that. So I am skeptical that JE’s “style” is superior….but his health may well be.
JE blocks better in the passing game, period. He was thought of as a great third down back before AB, and TB went down. Now he is seen as a great every down back by many, and this was especially true vs. UNC.
IMO, he helps Bibles paly calling by providing reliable pass protection on any down, giving us the element of unpredictabilty in the play calling/passing game we have sorely missed for years (or since PR left, your choice).
Having Hickman back for this game may be as important, if not more than the possible return to action of AB. We utilize the FB in the passing game with impressive efficiency in this offense. If teams are crowding the LOS, and covering oour TE’s well, then screens, draws, FB and TB square outs have been used judiciously in an effort to get us into a managable third down situation.
We don’t always convert well on third down, but I think all can appreciate that we have consistently put ourselves in higher probability situations on third don this year.
eugene has proven to be a more complete player. Say what you want, but go back to the ECU game and ask yourself if either Baker or Brown catches that wheel route TD.
He is more effective catching the ball out of the backfield and is better at chipping away 3-5 yards consistently which I think is what our Offense needs right now to give it some continuity.
I dont think you make alot of changes after winning 4 straight games and having the most effective running game we have had in YEARS.
Here’s a cliche for you, ‘if it aint broke, dont fix it’
Cliche’s become cliche’s for a reason.
Coach is obligated to do what is best for the team, he is not beholden to a preseason depth chart. If JE gives us the best chance to win, then he should start and get the majority of the carries. I was a big AB fans since seeing him play in high school, but he fumbles too much and tip-toes into holes. I have never understood the whole “he was the starter before he got hurt” mentality. Put the best player out there — if an out of shape AB (he hurt his foot, how fit can he be right now) is better than JE after a month of improvement, then let’s ride. But don’t play him just because he was the starter against UCF.
“most effective running game we have had in YEARS.”
Technically this is true. I guess the year before last was “YEARS” ago. Yes, our D got us to and won the Tire Bowl, but the running tandem of Brown and Baker was the ONLY effective menas of offense that season.
Look, if any TB is picking up 3-5 yards per rush today, be JE, AB, or CU, it will be because our OL winning the battle. If this 3-5 yard carries are to mean anything (first downs, time of possesion, field position, POINTS!) then DE is goind to have to protect against the TO’s (WIN THE TO BATTLE).
How about the article in the N&O this morning. Insight with details is a rare commodity when this paper covers NCSU programs, enjoy it while it lasts.
Also, for you history buff’s, how perfect is it that TOB picks a Coolidge
quote to demonstrate character? Calvin had a matter a fact way of portraying his ideals and purposes. He also gave very little “bulletin board” material to the press, always perferring short and complete retorts to the rumor mongers.
I would believe our OL is doing a much better job run blocking than when Andre was playing as well. I’m not abdicating forcing him back in, but there’s plenty of room for two backs in a successful offensive game plan. The key is maintaining possession and reduce the 3 and outs to where there is plenty of opportunity for diversity.
I have no problem with playing the best back….and that could change depending on the game situation. But aruging that Eugene should play instead of AB or that AB’s carries should be limited because of “rhythm” just sounds silly.
I hear you VA. A renewed OL and functional passing game should do a lot for AB and he is certainly good enough to get some reps, even when out of shape. I think the fumble risk is bigger with AB though.
I see it playing out as follows. JE starts and gets the bulk of the carries on our side of the 50 and in the offensive red zone. In the middle of the field, AB gets his shots on 1st/2nd down. He’ll be a decoy as much as a factor on those downs. However, he is a HR hitter and is perfect for off-tackle or stretch stuff that allows him to get a head of steam. Unless AB gets really hot, look for JE to out carry him 3-1. If AB looks good, we can really expand his role against MD.
There are plenty of carries to go around. Eugene is a better blocker and receiver than Brown.
Eugene, Underwood, Brown……hmmm.
IMHO, if the ‘Pack’s RB’s (yes, ALL three) can sustain good rushes and not put the ball on the turf, DE will have another GREAT passing performance.
The only thing that worries me is Wake’s excellent use of misdirection and play action passes. Our DL and LBs will have to keep their assignments, and try really hard NOT to bite on the fakes.
GO PACK!!
I wouldn’t work AB too much on his first game back. Let JE take about the same number of carries he had last week, and let AB and CU split the others this week. AB is cleared to play, but is he ready to be a feature back again?
E-RO, I agree completely about AB. The only rub on him is his propencity to fumble. Let him ease his way back in while coaching him on the finer points of ball protection. The last thing TOB would want is for him to re injure that break and have it possibly become a recurring injury (similar to TA McClendon’s issues).
We have effectively been using the pass to win these last 4 games. I hope we don’t change the pass run mix because AB is back. Bible should get a good share of the credit in our comeback from the play calling. We don’t need to force the run if isn’t there because we have an extra back. Eugene is our number one and AB should get some touches (5-8) to get back into the new winning football.
This is just not going well whatsoever.