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NC State’s Pass Defense Needs a Remedy Fast

Published

6 years ago

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NC State’s pass defense needs to figure out a remedy quick, fast and in a hurry.

The Wolfpack’s run defense has been excellent in 2018, in fact it’s been better than last year. NC State is only giving up 91 yards per game on the ground, which ranks 2nd in the ACC, and 5th nationally. Last year, they gave up 130.9 yards per game on the ground.

While the NC State rush defense is carrying it’s weight, the Wolfpack pass defense is crumbling under it.

National Rankings 

Opponent Passing Yards Per Game – 304 yards – 127th out of 130
Opponent Completion Percentage – 60.35% – 68th
Opponent Passing Efficiency Rating – 136.1 – 75th

While things are worse this year, the Wolfpack’s pass defense has been on a downward spiral the past three years.

Year/Opponent Passing Yards/National Ranking

2018 – 304 – 127th
2017 – 257.9 – 107th
2016 – 255.7 – 95th
2015 – 213.8 – 44th
2014 – 210.9 – 39th
2013 – 211.9 – 27th – Beginning of Dave Doeren Era
2012 – 268.5 – 102nd
2011 – 221.0 – 49th
2010 – 235.2 – 83rd

From 2014-16, NC State ranked between 34th and 45th in Total Defense, but the Wolfpack have been hanging around the 60’s the past two years, which is in direct correlation to the decline of the Pass Defense.

Why has the Pass Defense been so bad?

For starters, the Wolfpack’s Run Defense has been dominant as of late, and their opponents have been throwing more than running as a result.

You might assume that with the defensive line NC State had last year, that there has been a decrease in pressure in the backfield, but that’s not necessarily the case. Last years team did have 6 more tackles for loss at this point in the season (47-41), but this Wolfpack team has 2 more sacks than last years team at this point (28-28). Through 7 games, quarterback pressures are the same at 27.

George Barlow has been the Cornerbacks Coach since 2014, so there is no change there. NC State did lose Clayton White, who was the Safeties Coach from 2013-16. Those were the best years against the pass under Doeren. After the exodus of White, Aaron Henry coached the Safeties in 2017, and the unit was split up this year, with Ted Roof taking the Safeties, and Henry taking the Nickelbacks. In my personal opinion, the play at cornerback has been much more consistent the past couple of years, in comparison to the play at safety and nickel, which has experienced coach turnover.

The drop off in the Wolfpack’s pass defense has also stemmed from an inability to fill the shoes of those that left.

Wolfpack Secondary 2013-18

2013: CB Juston Burris, CB Dontae Johnson/CB Jack Tocho, S Hakim Jones, S Jarvis Byrd/S Dontae Johnson
2014: CB Jack Tocho, CB Juston Burris, S Hakim Jones, S Josh Jones, Nick Dravious Wright
2015: CB Jack Tocho/CB Mike Stevens, CB Juston Burris, S Hakim Jones, S Josh Jones, Nick Dravious Wright
2016: CB Jack Tocho, CB Mike Stevens, S Shawn Boone, S Josh Jones, Nick Dravious Wright
2017: CB Jonathan Alston, CB Nick McCloud/CB Mike Stevens, S Jarius Morehead, S Tim Kidd-Glass, Nick Shawn Boone
2018: CB Nick McCloud, CB Chris Ingram, S Jarius Morehead, S Dexter Wright, Nick Tanner Ingle

When the drop off began in 2016, the Wolfpack lost Juston Burris and Hakim Jones, who had started the previous 3 years. 2017 saw the loss of Josh Jones and Dravious Wright, who both had started for 3 years. The past 2 years NC State has lacked the experience and stability it had in years prior.

Is it the wrong position coaches? Lack of talent? Lack of experience?

An argument could be made for yes to be the answer to all three questions, but it doesn’t have to be.

Henry and Roof are both in new positions this year, and need to get their feet underneath them. The secondary reminds me of secondary’s of the past, that were talented, but just needed to grow up.

I know it’s a process, but what the NC State pass defense needs in the final 6 games is for the Pass Defense to develop in a microwave, and not a crockpot.

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Matthew is Publisher and Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He is also the Lead Pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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NC State Football

Does the Addition of the UVA Series Equal the Elimination of NC State’s Series with App St.?

Published

24 hours ago

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May 17, 2024

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Earlier this week it was announced that NC State and Virginia would play one another in a home-and-home series, with the Wolfpack hosting in 2025, and the Cavaliers hosting in 2026.

Prior to the announcement, NC State already had their non-conference slate booked for both of those seasons.

As a result of the addition of the Virginia series, a previously scheduled non-conference game from each season would need to be dropped. While it hasn’t been officially announced by the school, Joe Giglio and David Glenn seem to think that the series with Appalachian State is going to be dropped.

It would make the most sense, considering the Mountaineers were the only opponent the Wolfpack was scheduled to play in both 2025 and 2026. It would also make sense, considering the fact that ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips isn’t a fan of ACC teams playing Group of 5 schools on the road.

I will tell you this much. The Mountaineer faithful certainly believe NC State is dropping the series with App State, and it just takes a little scrolling on X (formerly Twitter) to get a read on their feelings on the situation.

This situation brings to mind the bill that has been proposed in the North Carolina House of Representatives that would force NC State and UNC to play App St., ECU and UNC Charlotte in Football, Men’s Basketball and Women’s Basketball.

If the addition of UVA means the elimination of App St. on NC State’s schedule, what are your thoughts? Share in the comments.

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NC State Football

CBS Sports Ranks Dave Doeren as 1 of the Top-20 Coaches in College Football

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2 days ago

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May 16, 2024

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CBS Sports released their Top-25 Power 4 Coaches in College Football, and NC State’s Dave Doeren came in at #16. Heading into last season, he went into the season ranked #25.

16) Dave Doeren: The NC State coach finally gets some overdue credit. He’s always hovered around the bottom of our top 25 or just outside it, and now he finds himself firmly entrenched in it thanks to all the changes at the top. Coaches who take mid-tier programs and overachieve never get enough credit, in my estimation, and the consistency Doeren has established at NC State — where he spent most of his time in a division with Clemson and Florida State — is one of the most impressive things any coach in the country has done. I’m glad to see Doeren getting closer to the top 15. 2023 rank: 25 (+9) (CBS Sports)

Numerous CBS Sports’ analysts voted in the poll, and Tom Fornelli actually ranked Doeren #8.

ACC Coaches that made the Top-25

3. Dabo Swinney (Clemson)

8. Mike Norvell (FSU)

16. Dave Doeren (NC State)

19. Jeff Brohm (Louisville)

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NC State Football

NC State vs. Tennessee Kickoff Time & TV Network Revealed

Published

3 days ago

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May 15, 2024

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Kickoff time and TV Channel details have been revealed for NC State and Tennessee’s game in the Duke Mayo Classic in Week 2 of next season.

The game will be a primetime game on Saturday 7th, at 7:30pm on ABC.

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This game has the makings to be a Top-25 matchup.

Here’s a look at some of the Way-Too-Early Preseason rankings for the Wolfpack and the Volunteers:

Action Network: NC State #24/Tennessee #17

ON3: NC State #22/Tennessee #15

247: NC State #21/Tennessee #11

ESPN: NC State #17/Tennessee #15

DraftKings released their way-too-early odds for the game, and Tennessee is currently a 5.5-point favorite.

Here’s the deal, as NC State fans, if we want to be a big time Football program, NC State fans need to gobble up tickets to this game. Let’s do our part and make sure that Bank of America Stadium is painted RED. Buy Tickets HERE.

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NC State Football

NC State and UVA Agree to Home-and-Home Non-Conference Games

Published

3 days ago

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May 15, 2024

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NC State announced this morning that the Wolfpack and UVA will play in a home-and-home non-conference series, with the game in 2025 being in Raleigh, and the game in 2026 being in Charlottesville.

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To reiterate, despite the fact that both teams are in the ACC, these games are considered non-conference games, and won’t count toward conference records. This is similar to what UNC and Wake Forest did a few years back.

Here’s what’s interesting about the addition of these games in 2025 and 2026. Prior to the announcement, NC State already had 4 non-conference games scheduled for both years.

It would be my assumption that one of the previously scheduled non-conference games for each season will not take place now.

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