ACC Football Media Week

This coming week all of the coaches of the ACC will convene in Pinehurst, NC to talk about their schools and what they hope to accomplish. Each school will be represented by their head coach and two players. The two players who will be there to represent the Red & White will be a pair of redshirt seniors, QB Jacoby Brissett and DE Mike Rose. Both Brissett and Rose will be important leaders on their respective sides of the ball and key if State wants to contend for the Atlantic Division.

In the Atlantic Division there are plenty of questions swirling for perennial powers Clemson and FSU. Both of these schools have been hampered with off the field issues, with FSU’s image taking a much bigger hit. Recently the president of the university met with coaches and the team to address the seemingly endless amount of arrests and embarrassment caused by a lack of discipline. Clemson not only lost a few players to the NFL, but dismissed DE Ebenezer Ogundeko, after he was guilty of credit card fraud. Not only is Clemson dealing with these issues, but they are also concerned with getting star QB Deshaun Watson back from a torn ACL.

Conversely, NC State has had a positive offseason and are returning 14 starters and have a proven signal caller in Brissett. There is no reason not to be optimistic as the offense should be able to ride last seasons momentum into this season, especially with the talent at the running back position. The offensive line is a question on the outside, but the coaching staff has done an excellent job of building depth on the line.  Hopefully the defense can take an even greater step forward as the Pack returns 8 guys who saw lots of action a season ago.  When you mix in a couple of talented recruits NC State could be looking at one of the best defensive units they have seen in recent years.

Usually year 3 is when things start to come together for a new coaching staff as they have had the needed time to install their strategy and expectations for the program. Dave Doeren and his staff had a huge jump from year 1 to year 2, as the team went from 3-9 in 2013 to 8-5 in 2014.

Will 2015 be the year NC State Football takes front and center? We will have to wait until they reach ACC play as they have a very weak non-conference schedule. The first real test for the Pack will be October 3rd versus Louisville.