Connect with us

NC State Football

Wolf-6-Pack of Takeaways from NC State’s Demolishing of Furman 45-7

Published

3 years ago

on

*Public Service Announcement: We are talking about a FCS opponent and thus, everything needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Fully prepared for part of WPN to roll their eyes at us breaking down State vs Furman, get over it dudes…*

Back in the win column and onto Clemson and the ACC schedule. Here is what we saw…

1) Defense Could Really Have a Special Season

Do we understand that they’ve faced both Furman and USF? Yes. But there’s a lot to like about this defense that through three games, has given up 24 total points (and if we’re focusing on starters and not garbage time, 17). While we’d like to see more quarterback pressures and sacks, the collective group is getting the job done.

Through the first half of Saturday’s contest, Furman was only able to gain ONE first down with about 50 total yards. Drake Thomas was an absolute beast, Moore had multiple heads-up plays and the freshman, Devon Betty, showed future potential.

If, IF, this defense can go two more clicks up for Clemson, Wolfpack might have an advantage this Saturday. (Again, don’t freak out folks…USF, Furman, yada, yada…but remember Clemson isn’t lighting up opponent’s defenses like in years past)

 

2) Leary was Better, but not Great

To his credit, he was making better reads and decisions as the game went on. It was great seeing him look WR1, progress to WR2 and then dumped off to Person or Thomas short. Sure does help playing at home versus a FCS team, don’t it? That said, accuracy still isn’t perfect, let alone 90%. Not leading receivers on slants and the ball to Smith (although he scored a TD) was a few yards short. In both categories, against a much, much faster Clemson or ACC foe, those are trouble balls.

Lastly, to all those asking for Finley to play more…stop…This is Leary’s team, until injury or a massive drop-off.

 

3) Redzone Recovery

NC State blew off their own foot with a bazooka in the Miss State game when in the redzone. It was nice to see a positive change for once. With the starters in, the Wolfpack were 6-6 in the redzone with five of those possessions being touchdowns.

What we’re more excited about, was balance of attack once inside the 25. The pass and catch to Thomas was perfect. Leary scrabbling to find open space for a seven yard gallop was great. And we just let Person and Bam run the damn ball in, when inside the two…HALLELUJAH.

Could make the case that this will make or break State in the upcoming Clemson game. Tigers’ defense is stout and if State gets in striking distance, they NEED to capitalize. No sh*t jump passes. No end arounds or wide, parallel to line draws. Just get us points and make the throws/runs you need.

 

4) Team Energy

Could you feel it? State came ready to play from the get-go (ignore the Bam fumble, haha). Far too often, whether it be a Richmond or an Old Dominion, we let super small schools just kinda hang around. After what we saw last week? There were nerves from WPN that this game could be catastrophic.

Yet the team looked refocused, the energy was up all night, there seemed to be a “no more bs” stance on both sides of the ball.

 

5) Thank you, WPN

On a Saturday night in Raleigh, after fans spent a week stewing about what happened at Miss State…WPN showed up and showed out. 56K filling Carter-Finley with a flyover and fireworks, all to see the Wolfpack play FCS Furman. That is absolutely incredible.

Saturday afternoon is going to be ELECTRIC.

 

6) Looking Ahead

And here we go. Other than a visit from LA Tech, we’e officially into the ACC schedule. If there is one takeaway from this conference, nobody is standing out amongst the crowd. Not saying to get your hopes up or that we are declaring an ACC Championship appearance, but the ACC has never been this wide open. Hopefully the dreams can continue beyond just this next month or so. Regardless, this team has the skills and capabilities to perform at a top level. It’s just a matter of if coaching and in-game mindsets can keep up.

#GoPack

Related Topics:

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

1 Comment
Subscribe
Notify of
1 Comment
newest
oldest most Upvoted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Papajohn
Papajohn
2 years ago

Clemson favored by 10 at this point

0

NC State Football

NC State Offers FCS DT Brandon Lane

Published

5 hours ago

on

May 6, 2024

By

NC State offered Stephen F. Austin (FCS) Transfer Defensive Tackle Brandon Lane (6’3″/300) yesterday.

Lane started in 6 of the 11 games he played in for Stephen F. Austin this past season. He finished the year with 44 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. His PFF Grade was 74.6, which ranked 4th on the Lumberjacks Defense. His 79.9 Run Defense Grade ranked 3rd on the team. In 2022, Lane played 7 games as a reserve for Stephen F. Austin, recording 11 tackles 2.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack.

Lane spent his first two collegiate seasons at South Dakota State (2000-21). In 2000, he played in 1 game. In 2021, he played in 3 games as a reserve for the Jackrabbits. The 2000 season was the Covid Year, and the 2021 season was his redshirt year. As a result, Lane still has two years of eligibility remaining.

Around a week-and-a-half ago, Lane committed to Michigan St., but then he decommitted from the Spartans on May 2nd.

I don’t think Michigan St. is necessarily off the table, and he has visited Washington and West Virginia.

Continue Reading

NC State Football

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

Published

3 days ago

on

May 3, 2024

By

Congratulations to the 7 NC State Football Players that just graduated this Spring.

Image

2024 Football Spring Graduates

Linebacker Devon Betty (1 year of eligibility)

Defensive End Davin Vann (1 year of eligibility)

Cornerback Aydan White (1 year of eligibility)

Offensive Guard Anthony Carter Jr. (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Matt McCabe (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Tackle Patrick Matan (2 years of eligibility)

Offensive Lineman Brendan Lawson (no longer on the roster)

Continue Reading

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

3 days 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.

It’s worth noting that NC State already has games schedule against each of these teams home-and-away in Football between now and 2031.

2025 – East Carolina (H)

2025 – @ App St.

2026 – App St. (H)

2028 – @ East Carolina

2030 – Charlotte (H)

2031 – @ Charlotte

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

4 days 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