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Keys to the Game: Pack Ready To Challenge #1 FSU

Published

10 years ago

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NC State is looking forward to a huge opportunity on Saturday when they host the #1 ranked FSU Seminoles. The Pack is coming in at 4-0 and after escaping a near disaster against Georgia Southern they have been pretty dominant. State has scored over 40 points in each of their past 3 games and have only allowed 17 points combined over the last 2.

While these are all great numbers and show an ever-improving football team, they task at hand is in a different stratosphere. Florida State is a team stocked full of future NFL talent and will be State’s first time this season lining up against these type of players. The Seminoles will be returning starting QB Jameis Winston who was suspended last game for disciplinary reasons and the Pack needs to be ready. Let’s take a look at the keys to this matchup.

– Hit them in the mouth early, Keep the fans in the game
The beginning of this football game will be huge. State needs to come out of the gate and punch the Noles in the mouth if they want a chance to win this game. They’re not going to be able to tire, or grind one out against this team. They are too talented and have too many elite weapons for that. But that’s not going to be easy. State has started pretty slow in all 3 of their games thus far. If they are able to come out and make some big plays then they can keep their fans in the game. This is important because Florida State doesn’t necessarily have a great track record at Carter-Finley Stadium. It was only 2 years ago that the Wolfpack took them down in a game that squashed their national title hopes. If the fans can get under their skin early on, then maybe the memories of two years ago will creep into the back of the Seminoles players’ minds.

“[Carter-Finley Stadium] is definitely wild. It’s always packed and the stands are right by the sidelines, so they’re right in your ear every second of the game,” Williams said. “It’s a great atmosphere. You have to be focused and locked in to succeed.” said FSU junior CB PJ Williams.

– Put pressure on their defense.
While this team is currently ranked #1, they aren’t exactly the juggernaut they were last season. This year’s FSU team still has great playmakers, however defense and consistency have already plauged them a bit at times. They narrowly escaped a Clemson team that did everything they could to throw that game away and they also were in a tight one against Ok State in their opener. The Noles gave up 31 points in that one and only won by 6. So this team is not invincible by any means, but they are talented and they are going to come to play. State will definitely need to take shots downfield and play to win this game. It’s going to take 2 or 3 big plays to come out on top here, so pulling out all the stops and opening up the playbook will be necessary.

-Brissett must come up big
We’ve already seen what this kid can do, but now we’ll have to see how he handles this type of pressure. He’s putting up pretty gaudy numbers thus far and has yet to throw a interception, but FSU is nothing like Presbyterian or South Florida. They are going to try to rattle Brissett with pressure, so Jacoby’s ability to get outside the pocket and makes plays with his arm or his feet will be paramount if State wants to shock the world on Saturday.

-Establish the pass?
Doeren has been trying to establish the run early in games this season, and while the ground game has been strong overall it has also been a reason we feel that State has started off slowly in the first 3 games. That doesn’t matter much when you’re playing smaller teams that are offensively challenged, but against FSU the Pack must be pedal to the metal from the opening kick. Opening it up for Brissett early and allowing him to make plays from the get-go could knock the Noles on their heels and allow State to get some much needed early momentum. Now, we’re not saying Thornton and Dayes shouldn’t be getting their touches. In fact, these two guys having big games is a necessity on Saturday, but if they can spread FSU out early on, they’ll be able to find more running room as the game wears on. Keep in mind, FSU gave up over 400 yards to Clemson, most of which came in the air.

-Expose their injuries
FSU had already been underachieving on defense this season, but to make matters worse they’ve lost defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr to a concussion and DT Nile Lawrence-Stample to a season ending pectoral muscle tear (both against Clemson). While they’ll likely bring a few 5 stars in to take their place, they obviously won’t be at full strength which could allow Brissett more time in the pocket and allow the backs a little more running room. State needs to take advantage of this.

-Stop Winston
Easier said than done, but do note that FSU hasn’t had a RB reach the 70yd mark in any game this season. They’re doing all their damage through the air, so it makes it a little easier to really key on the pass here. Winston is going to look to get going early and quiet his critics who have lined up in droves the past 2 weeks to question his maturity and leadership abilities. State will be hoping to take advantage of his eagerness and get a few early turnovers before he settles in.

and just for good measure…

 

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NC State Football

NC State vs. Tennessee: Offensive PFF Grades Report

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3 hours ago

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September 8, 2024

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NC State lost in a big way to Tennessee last night, falling to the Vols 51-10. Here’s the breakdown of the individual PFF Grades on the Wolfpack Offense.

Sophomore Wide Receiver Kevin Concepcion – 69.5
Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver Dacari Collins – 66.9
Redshirt Freshman Running Back Hollywood Smothers – 65.3
Freshman Wide Receiver Terrell Anderson – 58.8
Redshirt Senior Running Back Jordan Waters – 58.6
Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver Jalen Coit – 57.8
Redshirt Sophomore Right Tackle Jacarrius Peak – 56.4
Freshman Wide Receiver Keenan Jackson – 55.9
Sophomore Running Back Kendrick Raphael – 55.3
Redshirt Junior Left Guard Anthony Carter Jr. – 55.0
Junior Wide Receiver Wesley Grimes – 54.7
Redshirt Senior Center Zeke Correll – 54.4
Junior Tight End Justin Joly – 53.6
Redshirt Senior Right Guard Timothy McKay – 53.6
Redshirt Freshman Wide Receiver Noah Rogers – 53.0
Redshirt Senior Quarterback Grayson McCall – 51.8
Redshirt Senior Left Tackle Anthony Belton – 49.0
Redshirt Junior Tight End Matt McCabe – 38.8
Freshman Quarterback CJ Bailey – 28.3

For perspective, here’s a Snap Count Breakdown.

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NC State Football

NC State vs. Tennessee: Defensive PFF Grades Report

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3 hours ago

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September 8, 2024

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NC State lost in a big way to Tennessee last night, falling to the Vols 51-10. Here’s the breakdown of the individual PFF Grades on the Wolfpack Defense.

Senior Defensive Tackle Chazz Wallace – 80.2
Redshirt Freshman Defensive End Isaiah Shirley – 79.1
Redshirt Freshman Linebacker Kamal Bonner – 74.3
Senior Defensive End Red Hibbler – 73.6
Redshirt Freshman Nickel Tamarcus Cooley – 70.2
Senior Linebacker Devon Betty – 67.7
Senior Defensive End Davin Vann – 65.1
Senior Nickel Ja’Had Carter – 64.7
Sophomore Cornerback Brandon Cisse – 64.3
Senior Cornerback Aydan White – 64.3
Redshirt Sophomore Nose Tackle DJ Jackson – 64.2
Junior Nose Tackle Brandon Cleveland – 63.4
Redshirt Senior Defensive End Noah Potter – 63.0
Redshirt Junior Safety Rente Hinton – 61.2
Redshirt Junior Defensive End Travali Price – 58.5
Senior Safety Bishop Fitzgerald – 58.2
Senior Cornerback Corey Coley – 57.8
Redshirt Junior Linebacker Sean Brown – 54.9
Senior Safety DK Kaufman – 54.8
Redshirt Junior Linebacker Caden Fordham – 41.5
Senior Safety KJ Martin – 37.5

For perspective, here’s a Snap Count Breakdown.

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NC State Football

NC State vs. Tennessee: Defensive Snap Count Report

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6 hours ago

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September 8, 2024

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Last night NC State stumbled against Tennessee, losing to the Volunteers 51-10. Here’s Snap Count Report for the Wolfpack Defense in Week 2.

Redshirt Junior Linebacker Caden Fordham – 63
Redshirt Junior Linebacker Sean Brown – 63
Senior Cornerback Aydan White – 60
Senior Cornerback Corey Coley – 56
Senior Nickel Ja’Had Carter – 55
Senior Safety DK Kaufman – 51
Sophomore Cornerback Brandon Cisse – 49
Senior Safety Bishop Fitzgerald – 48
Redshirt Senior Defensive End Noah Potter – 46
Junior Nose Tackle Brandon Cleveland – 44
Senior Defensive End Davin Vann – 44
Senior Linebacker Devon Betty – 22
Senior Defensive End Red Hibbler – 21
Senior Safety KJ Martin – 21
Redshirt Junior Safety Rente Hinton – 18
Redshirt Sophomore Nose Tackle DJ Jackson – 16
Redshirt Freshman Defensive End Isaiah Shirley – 15
Redshirt Freshman Nickel Tamarcus Cooley – 14
Redshirt Junior Defensive End Travali Price – 12
Redshirt Freshman Linebacker Kamal Bonner – 11
Senior Defensive Tackle Chazz Wallace – 9
Redshirt Freshman Linebacker Kelvon McBride – 6
Junior Cornerback Devon Marshall – 6
Redshirt Sophomore Cornerback Jackson Vick – 6
Redshirt Junior Linebacker Jayland Parker – 3

Notes

  • Redshirt Senior Defensive End Noah Potter started over Redshirt Junior Travali Price.
  • Redshirt Freshman Linebacker Kamal Bonner took his first snaps of the 2024 season last night, playing in 11 snaps.
    • Bonner played in only 6 snaps last season.
  • Redshirt Sophomore Cornerback Jackson Vick saw his first action of the season, playing in 6 snaps. Last year, he only played in 3 snaps all season long.
  • Senior Nickel Ja’Had Carter played his first game as a member of the Wolfpack, after missing Week 1 due to injury.
    • He played 55 snaps.
    • He transferred in from Ohio St. this offseason.
  • Senior Safety KJ Martin didn’t play in Week 1 vs. WCU, but he made his Wolfpack debut last night, playing 21.
    • Martin transferred in from Akron this offseason.
  • Junior Cornerback Devon Marshall made his NC State debut, playing in 6 snaps.
    • Marshall transferred in from Villanova this offseason.
  • Senior Defensive Tackle Chazz Wallace made his NC State debut, playing in 9 snaps.
    • He transferred in from Colorado this offseason.

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NC State Football

NC State vs. Tennessee: Offensive Snap Count Report

Published

6 hours ago

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September 8, 2024

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Last night NC State stumbled against Tennessee, losing to the Volunteers 51-10. Here’s Snap Count Report for the Wolfpack Offense in Week 2.

Redshirt Sophomore Right Tackle Jacarrius Peak – 54
Redshirt Senior Left Tackle Anthony Belton – 54
Redshirt Junior Left Guard Anthony Carter Jr. – 54
Redshirt Senior Right Guard Timothy McKay – 54
Redshirt Senior Center Zeke Correll – 54
Redshirt Senior Quarterback Grayson McCall – 48
Junior Tight End Justin Joly – 42
Sophomore Wide Receiver Kevin Concepcion – 38
Redshirt Freshman Wide Receiver Noah Rogers – 28
Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver Dacari Collins – 27
Redshirt Senior Running Back Jordan Waters – 22
Redshirt Junior Tight End Matt McCabe – 20
Freshman Wide Receiver Keenan Jackson – 19
Sophomore Running Back Kendrick Raphael – 18
Redshirt Freshman Running Back Hollywood Smothers – 15
Junior Wide Receiver Wesley Grimes – 14
Freshman Wide Receiver Terrell Anderson – 8
Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver Jalen Coit – 7
Freshman Quarterback CJ Bailey – 6
Sophomore Tight End Juice Vereen – 5
Redshirt Senior Running Back Demarcus Jones II – 3
Freshman Wide Receiver Jonathan Paylor – 1
Redshirt Junior Dante Daniels – 1
Redshirt Junior Tight End Reid Mitchell – 1
Redshirt Junior Offensive Lineman Patrick Matan – 1

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