The Wolfpack-centric, NFL story of the day was almost the San Diego Chargers’ amazing comeback led by Philip Rivers. Instead, we’ve got Brett Favre to J-CO.
Archive for the 'Football' Category
My reaction is somewhat mixed. It seems clear from the N&O’s writeup of Tom O’Brien’s comments that the coach and I saw Beck’s performance similarly. Beck was light years better than a shellshocked Daniel Evans (last night was his worst performance in a Wolfpack uniform - and that’s really saying something). However, Beck continues to be somewhat reckless with the ball, and makes at least half of his throws off his back foot. He can (and did) throw the ball 40-50 yards downfield that way…but it’s still not a good idea. A legitimate defense will bait Beck into serious mistakes, and have CBs better suited to defend the jumpballs that Beck frequently throws. The biggest red flag last night was not the late pick six - it was a throw that Beck completed. Harrison scrambled under pressure, and at the last second found the tight end across the middle for a seven yard gain. However, the throw was against his body, off his back foot, and in the general vicinity of five defenders. If that extremely difficult pass floats, or is off just a little bit, it’s intercepted, with 50/50 odds of being returned deep into Wolfpack territory. Simply put, it was a major risk for a fairly small reward - and over time, those kind of decisions will bite you in the ass, hard. Russell Wilson knows how and when to throw the damned ball away.
Georgia Tech will beat Boston College outright. Wake will cover against Ole Miss. West Virginia will cover at ECU.
(The following entry was originally logged by BJD and then “piggybacked” with more from Jeff.)
* First, I don’t know squat about William & Mary. I assume this is a team that 99% of BCS opponents would beat easily, so we must have at least a 50/50 shot. Know something about the Tribe? Put it in the comments. UPDATE: Section Six has one of their great previews that provides some mathematical insight into the match-up (Thanks, Trip). Pack Pride has the good old SID released generic game notes. CFN seems pretty accurate with their prediction…except for the part about Jamelle Eugene playing as he is questionable and probably won’t be risked in a game with William & Mary.
Want to talk about making an impact in the BIG TIME? I hope that someone from the football program is taking note of this since our embarrassment of a Sports Information Director would never get this.
NC State’s Mario Williams was featured on the cover of ESPN’s Magazine 2008 NFL Preview Issue. That stands alone as a great accomplishment. However, take a quick click to this link from November of 2006 and look who graced the cover of ESPN’s Magazine.
Frank Beamer’s decision to redshirt Tyrod Taylor instead of going with the two quarterback system that was successful last season didn’t last long. At his press conference today, Beamer announced that both Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor will get snaps going forward.
Following Saturday’s upset loss to East Carolina, Beamer announced at his Tuesday news conference that Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor will both see time at quarterback from here on out.
Beamer would not say who would start Saturday’s home opener against Furman or how he will use either quarterback.
Some great quotes and information came out of Coach O’Brien’s press conference yesterday and can be seen and heard by clicking here.
Fortunately for all of us - Coach O’Brien’s comments indicate that he employs a management style that in no way is consistent or congruent with the value structure with Lee Fowler’s Athletics Department or within the entire University since the departure of Bruce Poulton in the late 1980s - excluding the Marye Ann Fox years.
“McKeen played very well. He’s got a lot of pass rushing ability. I think he performed better than Markus Kuhn did. We’re a performance-based organization here so he moved up.“
As usual, we State fans “will get nothing and like it!”
Two noteworthy items from this week’s coaches presser:
1. Daniel Evans to start against William & Mary.
2. Anthony Hill is out with a chest injury.
Lord have mercy on our souls. Please.
Additionally, Coach O’Brien has announced the depth chart for Saturday’s game against William & Mary. You will note that Jamelle Eugene is also absent.
- It took less than a half for NC State to break Russell Wilson. No way, no how can we risk playing Mike Glennon this year. I don’t care if we have to play Bradley Pierson at QB. Tough question to ask yourselves - how could we justify putting Wilson’s baseball career at risk by letting him back under center with an OL like we have?
- In about 2.5 quarters of play, South Carolina’s starting QB threw 4 INTs and 0 TDs (with a YPA just over 4). He left the game ahead by 10 points.
I don’t care who wins or loses this game anymore. I just want confirmation that he can move his legs (Erin Andrews claims he was moving his feet). If you hear anything, please say so in the comments.
UPDATE: Andrews says they are calling it a concussion. More tests pending.
A great rivalry is renewed tonight, for all the nation to see in glorious high definition. That said, you are about to witness a major challenge - Tom O’Brien is bringing a knife to a gunfight (thank God he’s a Marine). But we’ll be watching and hoping anyway. Set your baseline appropriately - as long as we get everyone back to Raleigh alive and in one piece, that’s a positive after the week we’ve had.
Depressing fact for the day - South Carolina placed more players on The Sporting News’ pre-season all-SEC first team (4). That’s four more than NC State before everybody got hurt.
The last time that NC State and South Carolina played each other in football, the Wolfpack won.
The last time that NC State and South Carolina played each other in basketball, the Wolfpack won.
The last time that NC State and South Carolina played each other in baseball, the Wolfpack won.
Tonight the Wolfpack tries to extend its dominance over former conference brethren to the South.
There are two popular theories for why charter member South Carolina left the ACC after the 1970-71 school year.
(Somebody help these guys with their grammar)
Plus, we can’t forget our competition. The following was previously discussed here.
Last night, the 11 pm ESPN ticker had a wealth of one-liners of general interest. Here are the ones that caught my attention and a few more that I’ve run across today:
1) Beecher hopes to stick as Gamecocks QB
Although Beecher, a junior with the highest grade-point average on South Carolina’s roster, might make a couple of rookie mistakes when he makes his first career start Thursday night against N.C. State, the Gamecocks are betting he won’t repeat the off-field blunders that have haunted their quarterbacks the past couple of years.
“They are now the objects of that very same anger and wrath of God, that is expressed in the torments of hell. And the reason why they do not go down to hell at each moment, is not because God, in whose power they are, is not then very angry with them; as he is with many miserable creatures now tormented in hell, who there feel and bear the fierceness of his wrath. Yea, God is a great deal more angry with great numbers that are now on earth: yea, doubtless, with many that are now in this congregation, who it may be are at ease, than he is with many of those who are now in the flames of hell.”
There are a couple of interesting articles from the local paper today. Coincidentally, one of yesterday’s discussions centered around the shrinking local media and specifically the CharlotteObserver/Raleigh News and Observer and NC State beat writer Ken Tysiac. Tysiac delivered a must read article on Russell Wilson and his family:
Constant incentive
Russell’s father often told him that “there is a king in every crowd.”
As explained to Russell, the quote means that there’s always somebody — God, and perhaps a coach or pro scout — watching you.
That is constant incentive to do things right.
I’m sure that come Thursday night/Friday morning, Russell Wilson and State’s offense will fill up a lot of message board posts (regardless of the results on the field). And that’s OK, but let’s not forget about the poor performances from State’s defense last year. Ken Tysiac summarized the 2007 defense several weeks ago (and I don’t think that we talked about it here).
Nobody in the ACC forced fewer turnovers last season than N.C. State’s 16.
The Wolfpack ranked last in the ACC in rushing defense and 11th in total defense and scoring defense.
Sunday’s print edition of The Charlotte Observer included a few pages of college football coverage. 50% of page 17C was devoted to NC State Football with three articles - two of which had been run in the N&O and on ACCNow in the days before Sunday.
The other 50% of page 17C was devoted to college football’s “National Outlook”. At the bottom of the page they had a section labeled “Big East”.
Guess the big news coming out of the “Big East” over the weekend?
“University of Miami quarterback Robert Marve was told Friday that he has been suspended for the season opener against Charleston Southern….”
[Something bad happened to this entry and I have no idea what]
HOUSTON CHRONICLE: Whenever the Texans and Saints get together, whether for practice or a game, defensive end Mario Williams and running back Reggie Bush will be reminded of how different their careers could have been.
We have really enjoyed following Mario’s career and will continue to do so here at SFN. You can click here for a list of Mario-stories that you will really enjoy.
