Connect with us

NC State Football

NC State Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson Breaks Down His Players Heading into Season

Published

2 years ago

on

NC State Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson met with the media after practice today, with the Wolfpack’s season opener down in Greenville vs. East Carolina right around the corner on September 3rd. You can watch the video above, but below are some of the key notes from what he had to say.

Nickelback Tyler Baker-Williams

Gibson highlighted how the versatility of Baker-Williams. Due to his tremendous man-skills, they put him in a lot of pressure situations, and ends up being matched up against the best wideout. On top of that, he also fits the run game for the Wolfpack, being used in a lot of different ways in blitz packages. He plays, Nickelback, but has also played Safety for NC State, and can even be thrown out at Cornerback.

Defensive End Davin Vann

Beginning in the Spring, Vann began playing at a whole other speed. Gibson mentioned that Vann is in the best shape he’s ever been in, which is saying something. As he’s continued to understand more and more what they are doing schematically on defense, he’s playing with a higher level of confidence.

(Author Note: Vann started at Nose Tackle at NC State, but shifted to Defensive End)

How it works having Isaiah Moore at Inside Linebacker and Drake Thomas at Outside Linebacker

Thomas has played all three Linebacker positions for the Wolfpack, but Isaiah feels more comfortable playing inside. With both of them having experience on the inside, they are both great communicators and play well off of each other. Because of Thomas’ versatility, he can fill Moore or Wilson’s positions if they are ever out.

(Author Note: Traditionally, Thomas is an Inside Linebacker. It’s what he played in High School at Heritage. The fact that he earned 1st Team All-ACC honors last year, spending time at all 3 spots, speaks volumes to his Football IQ.)

Linebacker Jordan Poole

Gibson noted that Poole has had a really good camp and is running with the 2nd team currently, but is also getting thrown out there when they are in a Dime package as a pass rusher. He is confident Poole is going to be a really good player for NC State.

(Author Note: Poole, a 4-star player in NC State’s 2021 recruiting class, has been one of the players people have most anxiously anticipated seeing on the field. Poole was dynamic player coming out of West Stanly High (Oakboro, NC), rated as a 4-star prospect at both Running Back and Linebacker.) 

Nose Guard Cory Durden

Gibson made the point that when it comes to the Wolfpack defense, it all starts with the Nose Guard position. In the 3-3-5 scheme, they have to be strong in the middle, which begins with the Nose, followed by the Mike Linebacker and Safety. Durden is in the best shape he’s been in and playing the best he’s ever played.

(Author Note: Durden transferred prior to the 2021 season from Florida State, and started the season on the Wolfpack Depth Chart at Defensive End. After Nose Tackle C.J. Clark went down with an injury, Durden moved to fill the void in the middle of the Defensive Line, and ended up earning 1st Team All-ACC honors. Crazy.)

Gibson noted that this group no longer have to worry about getting lined up right. Now that they understand what they are doing, they need to focus on is becoming elite in communication, and reading and attacking the offense.

Handling Hype Surrounding the Defense

Gibson welcome’s the hype, and the pressure that comes with it. He wants to lead the best defense in College Football. He said they aren’t running from the pressure, they are running to it. But they still have to go out and execute.

Nose Tackle C.J. Clark

Gibson noted that Clark isn’t only playing in the middle, but he’s also playing on the outside at Defensive End. Clark is very athletic, and is good against the run and in pass rush. Gibson love’s where his head is at.

 

 

Related Topics:

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

Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

NC State Football

Proposed Bill in the NC House Would Require NC State & UNC To Play One Another, as well as ECU, UNCC and App St.

Published

1 hour ago

on

May 3, 2024

By

A bill has been proposed by members of the North Carolina House of Representatives that would force NC State and UNC to play one another, as well as East Carolina, UNC Charlotte and Appalachian State.

According to House Bill 965, which you can read here in full, NC State and UNC would be required to play one another annually in Football, Men’s Basketball and Women’s Basketball. The Wolfpack and the Tar Heels would also be forced to play a game annually in all three sports against either ECU, UNC-Charlotte or App St. Every six years, NC State and UNC would be required to have played a home and away game against each of the three school in all three sports.

Here’s the exact wording from the proposed bill:

Competition Required. – A high-enrollment institution shall do all of the following in each eligible sport: (1) Every academic year, play at least one home or one away game against (i) another high-enrollment institution and (ii) an eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution. (2) Every six academic years, play at least one home and one away game against each eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution. A high-enrollment institution shall alternate home and away games that are scheduled against the same eligible constituent institution that is not a high-enrollment institution.

For glossary of terms being referenced above:

For the purposes of this bill, “High-enrollment institutions” = NC State and UNC, while “Eligible constituent institutions” = East Carolina, UNC Charlotte and Appalachian State.

What are your thoughts?

For more details, check out this article at WRAL.

Continue Reading

NC State Football

Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. will Take an Official Visit at NC State Next Week

Published

1 day ago

on

May 2, 2024

By

Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. (6’1″/195) confirmed with me that he will be taking an Official Visit to NC State next week beginning on May 7th.

After receiving an offer from NC State yesterday, it didn’t take him long to set up the visit.

Martin Jr. is familiar with NC State, because he was recruited by Wolfpack Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson before he left West Virginia to come to Raleigh. Even though he never coached him, a relationship was established.

Martin Jr.’s connections to NC State are deeper than that. Former NC State Cornerback Derrek Pitts, who is currently a member of the Tampa Bay Bucs, is his cousin.

This past year, Martin Jr. recorded 45 tackles, 2 interceptions and 6 pass breakups for Akron, starting in 9 of the 11 games he played in. His PFF Grade was 68.9.

In 2022, he had 53 tackles, 1 interception and 1 pass breakup, starting in 9 of the 11 games he played in. Martin Jr.’s PFF Grade was 60.9.

In 2019, as a Freshman for West Virginia, Martin Jr. earned PFF Freshman All-American honors, recording a grade of 70.6, with 50 tackles and 3 pass breakups.

Continue Reading

NC State Football

NC State Sits in the Top-20 in 247’s Post-Spring 2024 Preseason Poll

Published

2 days ago

on

May 1, 2024

By

247’s Brad Crawford released his Post-Spring 2024 Preseason College Football Top-25 recently, and NC State moved up 1 spot to #20.

ACC Teams in the Top-25

11. FSU

14. Miami

16. Clemson

20. NC State

24. Virginia Tech

25. Louisville

Continue Reading

NC State Football

NC State Ranks 8th in Players Selected in the NFL Draft in the ACC in the Last 10 Years

Published

4 days ago

on

April 29, 2024

By

The 2024 NFL Draft has come and gone, and NC State had two players drafted: Linebacker Payton Wilson in the 3rd round, and Center Dylan McMahon in the 6th round.

Over the past 10 years, NC State has produced 25 NFL Draft picks, and 3 1st round picks. The 25 Draft Picks ranks 8th in the ACC, and the 3 1st Round picks is tied for 7th.

NC State produced 18 NFL Draft Picks in the first 5 Draft’s of Dave Doeren’s tenure. Only 8 Wolfpack players have been selected in the past 5 NFL Drafts.

Players selected in the NFL Draft under Dave Doeren:

2024

Payton Wilson, LB – Pittsburgh – 3rd – 98th
Dylan McMahon, C – Philadelphia – 6th – 190th

Continue Reading