NC State’s Opponent: Old Dominion

NC State is playing their first game on the road tomorrow against Old Dominion.  Here is a preview of the Monarchs.

Dave Doeren’s Comments on Old Dominion at the Weekly Press Conference

“Old Dominion is 2-0.  Last year they came here, so we are familiar with what they do.  They are different offensively.  Their tailback, Ray Lawry, is leading the nation in rushing.  Last year they really featured their quarterback, who was a great player.  I believe he made the Vikings roster.  Their defense is active up front.  Their Defensive Line has gotten better.  They’re playing active and using their hands well.  They’ve tackled well defensively in the first two games.  They have 4 takeaways and 4 sacks.” (PI)

Strengths

Sophomore Ray Lawry leads the FBS in rushing though two weeks, rushing for 438 yards and 6 touchdowns.  He’s averaging a ridiculous 7.4 yards per carry.  You might be tempted to say that Lawry has produced at this level because of the level of his competition in the first two weeks, Eastern Michigan and Norfolk State, but he averaged 7.1 yards per carry last season on 134 carries.

As a team, Old Dominion is averaging 5.7 yards per carry, and averaging 283.5 rushing yards per game.

Unknown

The Old Dominion offense is producing 436.5 yards per game, but they are producing it in a much different way than they did last year.  In 2014, the Monarch’s passing attack (3,510) had almost double the yards of the ground game (1,793).  Taylor Heinicke was the signal caller last season, passing for 3,476 yards and throwing for 30 touchdowns.  Heinicke is now a member of the Minnesota Vikings.

Redshirt Freshman Shuler Bentley is the Monarch’s signal caller now, and through two games he hasn’t blown the paint off of the wall.  He has completed 30 of 54 (55.6%) for 306 yards, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception.   That all adds up to a passing efficiency rating of 105.6.   With that being said, don’t write Bentley off.  He was a 3-star prospect, once rated as a 4-star prospect by 247, and was an honorable mention for the USAToday Parade All-American Team.  He only has two starts under his belt, and has a dangerous target to throw to if they can get in sync.

Junior Wide Receiver Zach Pascal was named to the preseason 1st Team All-Conference USA team.  Last season Heinicke and Pascal were a dangerous tandem.  He had 59 receptions for 743 yards and 7 touchdowns.  If they can get in sync, the Monarch’s offense wouldn’t be so one dimensional.

Weaknesses

The Old Dominion defense has given up  an average of 355 yards of total offense in their first two games, and their two opponents, Eastern Michigan and Norfolk State, you could argue are worse than Troy and Eastern Kentucky.  The Wolfpack’s average of 417 yards of total offense don’t look very encouraging for the Old Dominion defense.