Pack Football’s Real Area of Concern – WR

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Nothing’s sure to drum up emotions and post counts quite like the topics of replacing last year’s star performers – Russell Wilson and Nate Irving. That said, I think the real burning issue for 2011 (and 2012 – comprising the best two year window for NC State to land that long-awaited conference title) involves the WR corps. The N&O profiled one candidate to step up (Tobais Palmer – yes, apparently that is the correct spelling) here.

Hopefully, Palmer really is ready to step up. Because losing Owen Spencer and Jarvis Williams causes me more concern than losing Wilson and Irving. The only returning options who have logged significant playing time have been either role player/blocking types (like Stephen Howard, Jay Smith, and Quinton Payton) or come with serious question marks (TJ Graham’s questionable route-running and even more dicey hands). George Bryan returns for his senior year, and should be a great security blanket for Mike Glennon. But unless State can demonstrate the ability to spread and stretch the field, opposing pass rushes can tee off on the less elusive and experienced Glennon, and/or devote more resources to shutting down Mustafa Greene.

Other than that, I’m quite excited about what I hear and expect about the defense, returning loads of depth and entering their second year under the effective Archer/Tenuta leadership combination. As I’ve trumpeted frequently, you can also expect to see a more prototypical Tom O’Brien offensive line – especially in 2011 and 2012. And what Pack fan isn’t excited about Mooooooose, a fan favorite and dynamic wrecking ball type? Mike Glennon won’t be asked, or need to, win games by himself. Much as Russell Wilson was exactly what we’ve needed the past three seasons, I feel there’s a very good chance that Mike Glennon is exactly what we need now. He will be in a good position to succeed…as long as we get decent WR play.

And that, my friends, is the real open question for 2011 and 2012. God knows this fanbase needs a really special football season, and sooner rather than later.

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.

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53 Responses to Pack Football’s Real Area of Concern – WR

  1. wppride 04/20/2011 at 7:57 PM #

    Im sure the coaching staff will give the incoming freshman (Flowers and Morgan) a long look. The staff knows what they are doing and im sure they will put the best players on the field.

    Dont push the panic button just yet.

  2. camel77 04/20/2011 at 8:02 PM #

    BJD95. Good to hear from you. How do you feel about the basketball hire after a couple of weeks?

    Getting back on topic of this article. Even though we lost a lot of experience at wide receiver with the graduation of Spencer and Williams, I feel pretty good about the passing game. Glennon is a lot taller than Wilson and can see over the defensive front line better and should be able to make a quicker read and get the ball off quicker. We don’t just have the best tight end in the ACC but the whole NCAA. As far as TJ dropping passes right in his hands, I think Spencer and others dropped their share too. I am looking forward having Palmer and Graham on the field at the same with their speed spreading the field which should open up the middle for Bryan. The running backs for the most part have good hands and should help with the passing game. The offensive line should be a lot better with the size and experience that they have. We will miss Irvin but have good talent to feel his shoes.

  3. greywolfsixtyfive 04/20/2011 at 8:03 PM #

    I’m more concerned with Glennon’s ability to throw passes with adequate “touch” and throwing passes that lead the receivers, particularly out of the backfield. Too often he muscles the ball to a spot without finesse. Hopefully the line will give him confidence to relax in the pocket and receivers will learn to alter their routes when blitzes are picked up. I love the schedule; it should allow the QB and WR’s time to develop, albeit swiftly.

  4. wolffpride 04/20/2011 at 8:13 PM #

    I think our WR will be fine this year. Graham, Smith, and Howard are all seniors and have all demonstrated that they can make plays. I know TJ has not been spectacular at cathcing the ball and really had some bad plays, crucial plays, last year that erked us all. But he is a senior and knows that it is his time, he needs our support as a fan base. Look at how much better Owen Spencer got from his Junior to Senior year, especially at making catches. I think Payton looks like a good possession receiver and Underwood and Palmer could be dirty at the slot. And Big George, come on.

    I dont understand why TOB didn’t leave Tony Creecy at WR. It is his natural position…the best he will do as an RB is play behind Moose until his senior year and maybe start. Seems like a waste of good talent, especially since we will need WRs next year. This would have been a good year to break him in.

  5. Gowolves 04/20/2011 at 8:24 PM #

    What I believe is that Bryan opened the field for Spencer. They tightened the field to prevent him from getting open. Pulled the safety inside. That in my opinion made things open up on the outside. I think the secondaries will have to pick their poison. The difference is that the WR’s need to have to have soft hands!!!!

  6. BJD95 04/20/2011 at 10:08 PM #

    The difference between underclassman Spencer and underclassman Graham is route running. Spencer was always a fantastic route runner. Graham has always run poor routes. Granted, he didn’t come in with much experience…but he hasn’t much improvement in his routes. Hopefully the light switch flips on this year. We need him.

  7. tvp1 04/20/2011 at 10:12 PM #

    Gotta disagree BJD.

    Spencer and Williams both had nice careers and I thank them, but neither will sniff an NFL roster. They are not irreplaceable. We have enough WR that a couple will step up to become good options.

    I’m most worried about Kicker and Punter. We need two true freshmen to be ready from day one or we’ll have a serious problem.

    OL is the other big worry. We need to take a quantum leap forward there to protect the relatively immobile Glennon and give us some semblance of a running game. And Andrew Wallace is not likely to be back in top form at season’s start.

  8. wppride 04/21/2011 at 12:54 AM #

    tvp1 Says:
    April 20th, 2011 at 10:12 pm Gotta disagree BJD.

    Spencer and Williams both had nice careers and I thank them, but neither will sniff an NFL roster.
    ———————————————————

    You couldnt be more wrong imho. Spencer has turned himself into very draftable wide receiver that could go in the later rounds. At the very least, he will be invited camps based on his production alone.

  9. wolfwarrior 04/21/2011 at 4:39 AM #

    Who will be the X factor?

  10. ryebread 04/21/2011 at 8:02 AM #

    I’m not sure that I agree with the article as well. While admittedly, if we can’t catch the ball, then we can’t throw, I think we’ll catch the ball.

    With respect to the passing game, I’m far more worried about Glennon and the OL. I can’t help but shake that Jay Davis feeling when I look at Glennon. MG is a highly rated QB who hasn’t played much and has some massively big shoes to fill. Even if he’s above average (which Jay was), I think the fans’ expectations for him are way too high. I think we’re going to really miss Wilson and I personally still hold out hope for his return.

    The OL really hasn’t been that good for a long time. We’ve needed Wilson’s scrambling ability because we’ve generated no real rushing offense and because we can’t hold the pocket. If we have the same sieve up front this season, Glennon will get killed. It won’t matter whether the receivers drop the ball.

    IMHO, the season hinges on the following areas with respect to order of importance:
    – OL
    – QB
    – Kickers — we’ll have two true freshman which is pretty @#($)* scary
    – LBs — have to replace Nate which is a huge loss

  11. JasonP 04/21/2011 at 9:02 AM #

    After Mustafa, who’s our RB with reliable 100+ yd/game rushing ability?

    He’s got to stay healthy for any success this coming season.

    A good running game will ease the burden on MG and the WR’s provided they CATCH THE BALL. Hopefully the coaching staff has worked on cures for Stone Hands Syndrome, Peanut Butter Fingers, and Alligator Arms this off season. MG doesn’t have to be a superstar, just put the ball in a catchable position.

    The OL and rushing game are the biggest concerns I have. Defense won’t set the league on fire, but should be OK if they’re not dealt poor field position by special teams and the offense.

  12. PackFanInLA 04/21/2011 at 12:20 PM #

    EXACTLY JasonP – we need a better running game, and we need to use it. I do think we under-called running plays last year, and put ourselves in lots of 2nd and 3rds and long… that puts HUGE pressure on the QB and receivers.

    If we can have a more balanced attack, with a solid O-line and a few decent (if not spectacular) steady RB options, we will be just fine.

    If we expect an untested QB and unexperienced WRs to do what RW & Co. did last year and win with NO run game, we are in for big trouble.

  13. Ed89 04/21/2011 at 12:33 PM #

    ^^After Mustafa, who’s our RB with reliable 100+ yd/game rushing ability?

    James Washington.

  14. JasonP 04/21/2011 at 12:54 PM #

    Washington’s the back up but a 100+ yd rusher on a consistent basis? He’s always seemed more like a 3rd down back to me.

  15. JasonP 04/21/2011 at 1:15 PM #

    Tried but couldn’t edit my post:

    Washington’s never had a 100 yd rushing game:

    http://statsheet.com/cfb/players/player/north-carolina-state/james-washington

    Doesn’t mean he won’t ever have one but right now looks like State is potentially 1 RB away from being forced into a single dimension offense.

  16. Prowling Woofie 04/21/2011 at 1:25 PM #

    Until State develops an O-Line capable of gaining more than 1 yard off that damned dive up the gut, I wish they’d quit calling it ! Requires earthmovers up front, and unless you particularly like 2nd-and-long playcalling, quit running it until you can make something off of it !

    We’ve got a 250-lb fullback that we never give the ball to, but yet continue to place our offense behind the 8-ball by running our TB’s into brick walls.

    If Bible is going to contine to run this play, I’d at least like to see Gentry get a chance to carry the rock. The kid’s an animal…

  17. rtpack24 04/21/2011 at 2:54 PM #

    I do not understand Creecy being moved to RB. Friend of mine that is a coach thinks he is a fantastic WR. Never seen the kid play so I do not have an opinion.

  18. wppride 04/21/2011 at 3:15 PM #

    JasonP Says:
    April 21st, 2011 at 1:15 pm Tried but couldn’t edit my post:

    Washington’s never had a 100 yd rushing game:

    http://statsheet.com/cfb/players/player/north-carolina-state/james-washington

    Doesn’t mean he won’t ever have one but right now looks like State is potentially 1 RB away from being forced into a single dimension offense.

    —————————-
    How do you figure? we have four backs. we have good depth at RB.

  19. JasonP 04/21/2011 at 4:43 PM #

    I think after Mustafa there’s a significant drop-off. If he goes out, then you’re looking at a backfield full of specialists: Washington as a scat-back type/3rd down specialist, Gentry as your bruiser, etc. I think it will severely limit State’s rushing attack. Greene is a potential 1000 yd back. If he has to be replaced, it will be with a bunch of guys unlikely to even combine for 1000 yds.

    A healthy Mustafa is the key to a good season. Without him, it could get real ugly unless the team gets big time lucky or an unknown offensive superstar comes out of nowhere.

  20. john of sparta 04/21/2011 at 7:35 PM #

    given the NFL lockout for the Entire Season:
    SFN should upgrade its servers and backups.

  21. Wolfy__79 04/22/2011 at 9:25 AM #

    i don’t like to sugar coat the wr status.. i think we all will miss spencer.. jarvis and all the players that haved moved on.. but the dropped balls over the last couple of years was a killer at times. with rw, he made up for it with his mobility.. but i’m looking forward to the glennon era.. quite frankly, he scares the mess out of me.. until he gets into game situations and moves the ball.. shows off that cannon.. i will remain that way!! but, i like the fact that he’s a more pure qb type and i think he’s gonna develop into something really good. hopefully we continue to build that qbU reputation.

  22. wolfpackdawg 04/22/2011 at 9:42 AM #

    Brandon Barnes for Heisman!!!

  23. ryebread 04/22/2011 at 9:54 AM #

    The running game concerns me. It has been virtually non-existent since TA, minus the Brown/Baker year.

    The key though is the OL play. An average back can be made to look fantastic behind a good OL, whereas a great back will struggle to gain any positive yards if he’s playing behind a bad line.

    For instance, look at Alabama. Ingram looked amazing and won the Heisman, but I could run through the holes that line was creating. Then he went down and they plugged in the back up and that kid basically performed at nearly the same level. That OL is fantastic.

    We need the line badly. It’s not just the run game, but it’s also to protect Glennon. That’s the key to the season IMHO.

  24. BJD95 04/22/2011 at 10:08 AM #

    Ww do have good) depth, as far as being serviceable. But Mustafa is a game changing talent. I don’t want to lose that and settle for being “fine.”

  25. old13 04/22/2011 at 10:41 AM #

    I don’t know that I have great concern about the WR situation as there seems to be good talent there. But it is the area of greatest personnel turnover from 2010 to 2011 aside from STs. I would think this was a major factor in TOB naming MG as the starter at QB with the idea that he would work with the new WR corps through the spring and summer to develop the “chemistry” and timing needed for good results in the fall for the passing game. I think that RW not being in FB during the spring and summer of 2010 showed in the first few games in that, even with returning WRs, he had to get to “know” them again which didn’t happen fully until the third or fourth game. With a whole new set of WRs, this could take over half the season without the spring and summer work IMO. And that could be very bad for a team trying to win 10+ games in 2011.

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