Preseason football predictions all over the board

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I picked up my annual copy of Lindy’s preseason football magazine at the beach a couple of weeks ago and found myself a little perplexed in some of what I saw. While I don’t have a fantastically deep grasp of the inner-workings of all of the other football programs in the ACC/Nation, I do feel as though I have a pretty good feel/understanding of where NC State’s individual units should generally rank in relation to other programs. So, I was generally surprised (disappointed) when I saw that Lindy’s had chosen to rank many of the Wolfpack’s individual units a little lower than I think would be accurate. This general disappointment translated itself into the Wolfpack’s overall national ranking somewhere in the mid-to-low-60s.

Yesterday I ran across this link to a national football ranking countdown that respects NC State’s 2011 prospects a lot more than Lindy’s and some other preseason publications.

NC State in at #33

Strengths: Although Wilson stole most of the N.C. State headlines the last few seasons, defense has become the hallmark of the program since O’Brien’s arrival. Cole was the team’s leading tackler as a freshman in 2009, and ranked third on the unit last season with 86 stops. Manning ranked next, recording 75 tackles and breaking up three passes and recovering a pair of fumbles and forcing two more. The heart of the defense will be key once again.

Weaknesses: Glennon was one of the most coveted quarterbacks when he was recruited two years ago. With a lifetime completion rating of 63.5 percent in backup duties, he looks like he will thrive in the Wolfpack system now that Wilson has transferred to Wisconsin. Still, he’s unproven as a starter.

Outlook: Without Wilson, the Wolfpack will look vastly different. But if Glennon plays like most believe he can, 2011 could be a repeat of 2010. A 10-win season is within reach.

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16 Responses to Preseason football predictions all over the board

  1. howlie 07/14/2011 at 5:55 AM #

    The only interesting note was Phil Steele’s comment, “I haven’t had a very good read on NC State the last few years.”

    Of course, there was a new rag in which the author said he wondered how we would do, “… breaking in new QB Mike GLEASON…”

  2. Hungwolf 07/14/2011 at 7:42 AM #

    We could have a very good season given many returning starters and a favorable schedule that will be great for breaking in a new QB. With no Miami and Va Tech on the schedule, a weak non conference schedule (2 I-AAs), and Clemson, UNC, Ga tech, plus Maryland at Home. We could be favored in every game except at FSU!

  3. tuckerdorm1983 07/14/2011 at 7:44 AM #

    THE UNSPEAKABLE
    The badgers go on to win the big 10 title and play in the Rose Bowl and win that and RW gets the Heisman.

    meanwhile Mike “Gleason” struggles and we lose to that ACC team that probably will not be eligible for postseason play this year

    THE SPEAKABLE
    we beat that ACC team that cheats and go on to play in the ACC title game against the Hokies. The path to Charlotte goes right through Tallahassee. 10 wins in the regular season.

  4. lumbee wolfman 07/14/2011 at 8:11 AM #

    I’m telling you. We’ll meet Wisconsin in a post-season bowl – Orange or Sugar! — You heard it here first!

  5. Plz2BStateFan 07/14/2011 at 8:14 AM #

    Good God can we only dream about that happening…..aside from a national championship game 😛

  6. WolfBlood 07/14/2011 at 9:16 AM #

    I’ve got us at 8 or 9 wins and a bowl appearance. And thats just fine for a program that is trying to build. The fact that we are even able to discuss the chances of having a 10 win season is great!

  7. TruthBKnown Returns 07/14/2011 at 10:02 AM #

    Here’s what I think about our “weaknesses”. They aren’t weaknesses… YET. They are unknowns and unprovens. When Russell Wilson played in his first game, he was an unknown and an unproven. So was Philip Rivers. It’s not what I would call a weakness.

    A weakness is when you KNOW your punter cannot kick it beyond 40 yards, and with little hang time. But he’s your only punter. Or your place kicker can’t hit a FG outside of 30 yards. And he’s your only place kicker. Or you only have one good running back, and he blew out his knee in the spring game. Stuff like that would be a weakness.

    If our only weaknesses (Glennon and the new receivers) are just unproven and unknowns, I feel pretty good about things.

  8. tvp1 07/14/2011 at 10:24 AM #

    This website aggregates all preseason predictions every year:

    http://preseason.stassen.com/consensus/2011.html

    We really are all over the map: 3 publications have us second in the division, and 3 have us fifth. There’s no consensus on how the Atlantic will shake out between FSU at the top and Wake at the bottom.

  9. 61Packer 07/14/2011 at 11:32 AM #

    We ARE usually all over the map, but unfortunately it’s usually in the southern sector. To the national media, we look the same from their perspective as Iowa State or Mississippi State look from our perspective- a small fish in a big pond.

    The bottom line is that until we start winning in ACC football and basketball with some degree of consistency, the national media will never again take NC State seriously.

    They don’t take us seriously now because since the 1980s, we’ve given them absolutely no reason to do so.

  10. lawful 07/14/2011 at 11:40 AM #

    Good point, Truth.

  11. tvp1 07/14/2011 at 12:52 PM #

    Right now our secondary and OL have to be classified as “weaknesses” until they prove otherwise.

  12. wufpaxno1 07/14/2011 at 1:46 PM #

    TVP, I understand where you are coming from, but our “o” line will be a very solid strong point now that TOB has had time to develop some depth in those positions. And our secondary will be off the charts good, probably the best in the conference. They were much improved last year and what was youth two years ago is now a seasoned group of vertans. This is the one group that will allow us to challenge for the division title.

  13. PortAuthority 07/14/2011 at 3:32 PM #

    The defense should be solid, the key to this season will be the running game and with our O-line, we have a chance to be really good.

  14. HPWolf 07/14/2011 at 10:20 PM #

    Our season will hinge on how good the incoming kickers are. We will be solid on offense and defense but the special teams are a major unknown. Both the incoming punter and place kicker were ranked #3 in their class. A good punter is an offensive weapon and worth 50 to 100 yards of field position per game. A great place kicker is the difference between the Peach Bowl and the Orange Bowl. Lets hope they are both as good as advertised because according to TOB they are expected to start and deliver.

  15. tjfoose1 07/14/2011 at 10:46 PM #

    The DB’s and the OL are not weaknesses. Just because you don’t know it, doesn’t make it not so.

  16. TeufelWolf 07/15/2011 at 2:08 AM #

    Preseason predictions mean absolutely nothing The only thing they’re good for is generating talks like this. I, for one, am excited at our potential for a solid season this year. I don’t care if we were rated first or last; preseason rankings are meaningless.

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