How bad was Saturday’s defense?

Check out the statistics generated on Saturday by Boston College. (Even though Eagle in Atlanta is still mad at us, we don’t let petty grudges keep us from linking to good information) Despite the Wolfpack’s depleted roster, it is hard to come to any conclusion other than – Steve Logan made Mike Archer look like his whipping boy.

I still can’t get over the fact that NC State could lose a game where we forced three turnovers while committing only one penalty and not committing any turnovers!?!?

Despite all of those pass attempts, NC State’s defense had only one sack on Saturday. The Wolfpack has pathetic two sacks in the last four games. Oh yeah, those are the four games since Alan Michael-Cash was injured.

The Wolfpack’s poorly executed zone defense has definitely made the secondary look horrible, but it all starts up front. State’s (a) weak pass rush and (b) ineffective blitzes have done nothing to help the thin secondary. Of course, this kind of offensive line play doesn’t help the Wolfpack’s cause.

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62 Responses to How bad was Saturday’s defense?

  1. McPete 10/06/2008 at 3:54 PM #

    i hope so wufpaxno1. does anyone know when those guys will be able to play again? i think julian williams is just as important to get back. his replacement, vermiglio, i know allowed at least one of bc’s 5 sacks. he just fell down and completely wiffed on his guy.

    pack92,
    i do agree that TOB will build a solid program over time. i’m just being too impatient, especially since butch has so quickly built a winner over there.

    as far as recruiting goes, i read where jeranhie (sp?) boyd, the 4 star WR, was at the game on an official visit. can we get him?

  2. McPete 10/06/2008 at 4:01 PM #

    somebody mentioned Dean Haynes, the DB commit for next year. this is what a writer from scout.com said about him. it looks like the staff found a good one:

    “A home run threat anytime he touches the ball, Haynes has scary speed. He is also very strong and will not come down by an arm tackle alone. On defense, he is as physical a DB as I have seen. Could play corner but could easily move to safety due to tackling ability. Needs to continue flexibility program and harness his energy. A character guy in the truest sense, Haynes is a natural leader”

    http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=178&f=2515&t=3123880

  3. choppack1 10/06/2008 at 4:08 PM #

    McPete – We shouldn’t really compare what Butch is doing at UNC vs. what TOB is doing here…of course, that won’t stop folks from doing it.

    I was thinking this morning – the ACC has 6 coaches who have been at their respective instutitions 2 years or less:
    1)Butch
    2) TOB
    3) Jags
    4) Shannon
    5) Cutcliffe
    6) Paul Johnson

    It’s sad to say, but if the first half of the year is similar to the second half of the year, here’s the perception of the success of each coach.

    1) PJ or Butch -depending on their game
    2) Loser of matchup 1.
    3) Jags
    4) Cutcliffe
    5) TOB
    6) Randy Shannon

    It’s worth noting a lot can change between now and then. Last year at this time, Butch was certainly ahead of TOB, but we beat them head to head and finished stronger. The good news is that I don’t think UNC is hopelessly ahead at this point. I think this year may not work out well – but I do think we’re heading in the right direction…especially w/ our strong 1st year players and lots of returning starters from this year.

  4. ChiefJoJo 10/06/2008 at 5:09 PM #

    I’m glad folks are taking the long view about this team and program, because that’s truly the only realistic way to look at it. The injuries have only exacerbated an already subpar situation. The positives are that our 2008 class is very good, and will probably pay some real dividends next year… we just need a few more years like that in a row and will be bowling again. Goals… 2009: 6-7 wins, 2010: Division Title.

    I told everyone that UNC was good, but most State fans wanted to label them overrated. As tempting as that is, the facts just don’t support it. While Amato was struggling to sign OL and LBs, Bunting was doing a solid job of signing guys like Bruce Carter and Draughn, wo are now playing major minutes. Of course butch being hired mid-season (while Chuck led us down the tubes) helped him step in immediately and recruit an outstanding ’07 class (M. Austin, etc).

    Hey State Fans, during the off-week, a ’09 FB offense and defense positional analysis would be great. 😉

  5. SEAT.5.F.2 10/06/2008 at 6:51 PM #

    ’09 would be really hard to project since alot of the players who will need to step up don’t have much of a bio. You see for walk ons they don’t list anything except their chosen major on Go Pack.

  6. redfred2 10/06/2008 at 7:29 PM #

    Swofford wanted the football dollars, but it was actually Chuck Amato who lit the fire in the four NC football programs. He, being Amato, and we, being NC State, had a sizable leg up on everyone else in this state as far as enthusiam for ACC football, but as per usual when talking about NC State, any advantages were quickly and completely squandered away.

    unc, being oh so familiar with our inability to follow through ON ANYTHING, seizes part of the momentum that started in Raleigh, and swoops in for the EASY kill.

  7. RagingWolf 10/06/2008 at 7:35 PM #

    Butch to Tennessee?

  8. redfred2 10/06/2008 at 8:19 PM #

    If their fans are showing an interest, and no matter how that interest was first provoked out of their little BB loving souls, unc will cater to their faithful following and they will make a commitment, as well as putting forth an all out effort, to at least try to be the very best at whatever they do.

    AT NC State, on the otherhand, it’s one step forward, big pats on the back, then back to square one, then one step forward, more pats all around, and then back to square one and staying on step one for awhile, and so on, and on, and on…

    I have much hope for both the FB and BB programs, the coaches now in Raleigh are there for the right reasons. I just don’t see it ever happening, but if by chance some miracle should ever occur again in Raleigh, it will not last, at least not while the two biggest defenders of the “status quo” are still breathing air and taking up space at the tip top of the NC State food chain.

    Go ahead and hate unc with every fiber of your being, I know I do, but also know full well that the reason for all that hate is that they are now, believe it or not, exactly what we once were.

    THEY (speaking not just of their new found FB fans, but rather from top to bottom at unc now) WANT IT!!!

  9. tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc 10/06/2008 at 8:23 PM #

    With all the disappointment, do State fans understand that State played a great game dominated by both offenses? Yes, the D gave up a ton of yards. And would it of been a good idea to let BC go ahead and score when they got the ball with 3:35 to play so the Pack’s O had a chance to tie with a few minutes on the clock instead of only like 22 seconds? Who knows but I’m very proud of those kids and the coaching staff.

    Not to mention people seem to forget that Wilson had only played one game and one quarter going into this game against one of the highest rated defenses in the country and in my view could of been the ACC offensive player of the week.

    The future is looking much better than the recent past for Wolfpack football.

  10. choppack1 10/06/2008 at 9:33 PM #

    Seat 5 f 2 – I think when you look at the 33 returning currently on our “2 deep” – you see less of a walk-on influence than you have now…I know Meares Green, Robbie Leonard, and Goodman will be gone. Heck, we may start all scholarship players next year – and hopefully, scholarship players will replace the 2 starting former walk-ons…Note: walk-ons are invaluable to a football program. I don’t have a problem w/ them starting or on the 2 deep, but when you have 7 on the 2 deep, that shows that your previous coaching staff or the scholarship recipients themselves aren’t meeting expectations.

  11. Greywolf 10/06/2008 at 10:28 PM #

    Chop,
    Excellent comment regarding walk-ons being invaluable to a football team. We may not like having to use walk-ons but no doubt Robbie Leonared is doing a pretty fair job.

    I get a sense that our coaching staff has a surprise or 2 left for some unfortunate team coming soon to CFS.

  12. VaWolf82 10/06/2008 at 10:43 PM #

    Although, an entire class with NO off. linemen in it is just ridiculous.

    Just like four years without a point guard. 😉

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