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Our Wolf-6-Pack of Takeaways From NC State’s Loss to Miss State

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Waited all Saturday for this?

There will be a select few that will look at this game half full. Some will see it as half empty. Most of WPN will see a bone dry glass.

In a highly anticipated matchup with a middle of the road SEC team, NC State falls short 24-10 in Starkville. To be fair, the defensive unit did more than their fair share to keep the Wolfpack in this game. The continual “shooting of self in foot”, became too much for the offense. Doeren needs to be held accountable for massive failures of fundamental plays. Here’s our 6-Pack of takeaways.

 

1. What the Heck, Beck?!
Don’t even know where to begin.

We could start with the fact we should have directly turned the game’s mojo around by getting a 3 and out and driving down for a touchdown to tie. How you can be on the two yard line and not think about just driving it home, is so Seattle Super Bowl-esche. The cute play, not only was the slowest developing play in State history, but was criminally called in that time of “worst case scenario, get 3 points.”

We could talk about this rushing crew getting 300 yards last week, before being handed the rock 16 total times. They weren’t moving it in huge chunks (still pushed the pile 3 yards a carry and every, single carry was an uninspired call to the left), but the balanced attack with quick pace was working against the Bulldogs.

We could talk about needing 11 yards and deciding on quick 5 yard out routes. Or not giving your young QB the setup to be comfortable. Maybe let’s throw some more markers at them while they take their written test next week?

This team has a formula for success, but Beck and company overthought and completely under delivered. They looked at the SEC logo and just fully assumed that they needed to use every damn trick in the book to get results, and it was easily the biggest mistake of the last five years.

 

2. Turnovers Kill Again

Reminder, this Miss State team had SIX turnovers last week against LA Tech. Five of those were fumbles. In order to find success, NC State needed to get turnovers and gain field position.

Nope.

Going to beat this into the ground so damn hard, but Person INT, shouldn’t have happened. Knight not putting two hands on the ball while running through a pile, is fundamentally a disaster. The Leary late heave INT is acceptable to some extent, but the no look “Let it fly” attempts are not. Carter couldn’t make a catch if he was alone in a field using a beach ball, but somehow bailed Leary out on a 3-v-1 jump ball. Go figure.

 

3. Redzone Deadzone
While I fully understand the Redzone is 20 yards and in, I’m going to open it up, because it rhymes folks. State averaged 2 points per trip when within Miss State’s 30. A handful of opportunities to get something, ANYTHING, and they continually fell short. It doesn’t matter the opponent; when you don’t score, you don’t win.

INT (2nd & Goal from MSU 2)
Missed FG
FG
Downs (2nd & Goal from MSU 6)
TD

We found ourselves within 2 and 6 yards and came away with ZERO points.

Whether it was the aforementioned “Tebow Time” or the inability to position yourself better for a field goal, it was sad beyond belief. Miss State gave the Wolfpack every chance to stay within striking distance and State failed. It’s going to be an awkward time around the practice facility with a defense that held strong, looking across at an offense that was worthless.

4. Happy Thoughts on Defense
Speaking of defense, I love these guys. Every single dude is doing everything in his power to make it work. Miss State ended at 3 for 13 on 3rd downs, and at one point, was 0-8. The dam wasn’t going to hold forever. While NC State struggled rushing, Miss State was even worse. TWENTY-TWO rushing yards. What more can you ask?

The Wilson injury didn’t look good and would assume we’ll be short a LB for the foreseeable future. Moore was also banged up. But this defensive crew hung in there regardless, even with questionable play calling leading to consistent dropping backs of 8 with no pressure on Rogers. We gave Leach’s Air Raid Offense all the time in the world and still somehow only gave up 17 points defensively.

5. All Fun and Games Until We Play SEC
NC State is now 7-32-2 against the SEC. Gonna let that soak in for a bit.

Does it matter for the ACC title? No. But these are games that NC State has to win and continually falls short. Point the fingers at DD, but just know, we have a losing culture in big games that no State coach has been able to fix.

I need to leave this topic because I just don’t want to think about it anymore.

6. The Road Ahead
This is very simple; just win. As you look at the schedule ahead and if State can get out of their own way, there’s still a chance for a successful season. Win the games you absolutely should and hang against opponents you shouldn’t. Florida State is in trouble. Louisville is in trouble. Miami is in trouble.

If we went into Starkville and got our faces blown off by a far superior team, so be it. NC State lost this game, Miss State didn’t win it. I said it. There was nothing outside of the opening kick return that I felt “Boy, MSU was perfect there.”

Our coaches overthought and underprepared this team. Our receivers’ hands were bricks. Leary looked unconfident throughout. The defense tried to contain all they could. We did this to ourselves, which means we can fix this IF we want to.

WPN is angry and completely, 10000% agree. Get fired up and let’s see what next Saturday brings. #GoPack

Passionate State fan that just wants to win...something...like anything...

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NC State Football

DJ Burns Had a Word for Wolfpack Fans After Winning the ACC Championship

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When NC State’s DJ Burns was giving his acceptance speech after receiving the 2024 ACC Tournament MVP Award, Burns had the following quote to say when asked what he wanted to say to the fans.

“I’m going to keep it real simple. Thank you to the ones who’ve been consistent throughout the ride, and welcome back everybody else.”

Burns’ words struck a chord.

Throughout much of this season, it was embarrassing to see all the empty seats in PNC Arena.

As the Wolfpack lost 7 of their final 9 regular season games, it was clear that this team wasn’t just losing games, but they were also losing much of the fanbase.

It’s clear from Burns’ words that the empty seats were noticed, and so were the words of fans online.

NC State finished the regular season 10th, and much of the fanbase was frustrated, and rightfully so.

But, frustrated doesn’t have to mean giving up.

‘Never giving up’ is kind of supposed to be NC State’s thing.

The words of Jimmy V reverberate throughout the history of NC State basketball.

This team didn’t always put W’s in the Win column this season, and it wasn’t always an easy watch, but never for a moment were these players not playing as hard as they could for their school, one another, and their coach.

They never gave up.

Fans have a right to be frustrated, but you can still show up for a team, even when they struggle, because that’s what loyal fans do. When players wear a jersey with NC State across the chest, and they don’t give up, their fans shouldn’t either.

NC State fans aren’t known to be fair weather fans. Let’s not get in the business of leading our players to think we are.

But, like Burns said, whether you’ve been along for the ride all season or not, it’s time to hop on.

 

 

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WATCH: PackInsider’s 2023 Sean Brown Highlight Reel

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This past season was a breakout season for Junior Safety, now turned Linebacker, Sean Brown.

This past season, Brown started in 11 of the 13 games that he played in, and ranked 3rd on the team in tackles (66) and pass breakups (5). He also had 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions and 1 forced fumble. Brown’s PFF Grade of 63.7 ranked 13th on the team. His Tackling Grade of 86.6 ranked 2nd on the team behind Payton Wilson.

As you will notice in our Highlight Reel ABOVE, Brown lived in the box, and is a very ferocious tackler. He will fit right in at Linebacker next year for the Wolfpack.

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NC State’s Aydan White Has All-American Aspirations on His Mind

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NC State fans are extremely happy that Senior Cornerback Aydan White decided to return to Raleigh for his final year of eligibility, rather than remaining in the Transfer Portal.

White is happy he’s back as well.

“I’m just happy to be back at NC State,” said White. “It’s a good group of guys here. Just want to keep building on what we have in this defense and offense, and be the best team we can be.”

It’s hard for White to believe that he’s an old man on the Wolfpack’s football team now.

“It’s crazy just thinking about how my time has flown,” said White. “I’m now the guy that drops Freshmen off at Wolf Village, when I used to be that guy that was picked up from Wolf Village to go to practice. Definitely just trying to encourage them and get them on the right path.”

Not only could White have remained in the Transfer Portal, but he also could have left for the NFL Draft, but after hearing from NFL Scouts, he determined he still had unfinished business to take care of.

“They want to see more on-ball production. Last year I had a drop off in on-ball production. The PBU’s are good, but they want interceptions, making a play on the ball more. Being more sticky around the ball,” said White. “Just being in that position to make that play, because when you get to the league, those guys are bigger, faster and stronger, so if you can make it here, it will translate to the higher level.”

When asked on Thursday what the next step was for him as a Senior, after already proving so much, he kept his responses simple and concise.

“Keep stacking accolades. Getting better,” said White. “Helping the secondary. All-American.”

NC State’s Football program has produced an All-American in 4 consecutive seasons, with Linebacker Payton Wilson being the most recent.

2020: DT Alim McNeil – PFF (1st) AP (2nd)
2021: OT Ikem Ekwonu – Consensus 1st Team
2021: KR Zonovan Knight (CBS Sports)
2022: PK Christopher Dunn – Consensus 1st Team
2022: LS Joe Shimko – AFCA (2nd)
2023: LB Payton Wilson – Unanimous 1st Team

Could White make it 5 years in a row?

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NC State’s Wesley Grimes Feels Good Being Back Home

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When Wake Forest Wide Receiver Wesley Grimes announced he was transferring to NC State on December 8th, he was committing to come back home.

Before playing his first two years of college football at Wake Forest, Grimes was a 4-star prospect at Millbrook High School, right down the road from NC State in Raleigh. ON3, 247Sports and Rivals all ranked Grimes as a Top-250 prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, with Rivals ranking him as the #36 overall player nationally, the #4 Wide Receiver, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina.

For Grimes, Raleigh is home.

“It feels great. I feel real comfortable. I’ve trained in this facility a lot,” said Grimes. “I’ve worked out here a lot. I’m used to a lot of the stuff around here. So playing here feels like home.”

Home is a place, but home is also people. Grimes isn’t just coming home to a place on a map that is familiar. He’s also coming back to people he grew up playing football with, dating all the way back to 4th and 5th grade.

“It feels great (playing with Noah Rogers). It’s not just Noah. I played with Coelson (Fields) in Pop Warner. I played with Lex (Thomas) in Pop Warner,” said Grimes. “Just a bunch of guys I played with around Middle School age, 5th grade…4th grade. I played 7-on-7 with Keenan (Jackson). I knew of Terrell (Anderson). We’re all close. Being back with everyone is a good feeling. When you play with your brothers, it’s a fun time again.”

Maybe the most noteworthy connection Grimes had was with Noah Rogers, who like Grimes, just transferred back to Raleigh (from Ohio St.). Grimes played for Millbrook, and Rogers played for Rolesville, but the connection went back way further than that.

“Noah (Rogers) and I started playing Pop Warner together in 3rd or 4th grade. We played against each other. I played for Cap City and he played for North Raleigh,” said Grimes. “7th grade year we went to Disney, and got close. We started training in Covid a lot together, and got real close. In High School we played against each other. We’ve always been competing, getting each other better.”

Check out the highlight reel of Grimes and Rogers that went viral a few years back.

In the end, some of the players Grimes had connections with went to NC State, while others, went elsewhere, like himself. Nonetheless, like Grimes, they all found their way back home.

“Out of high school, we definitely talked about it a little bit, but we all went our different ways,” said Grimes. “We were all at different times, and we decided to go our separate ways, but in kind of a full circle moment, we all ended up in the same place, and it all worked out for the better.”

 

 

 

 

 

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