Connect with us

Through five games, NC State has had a hard time coming by big plays through the vertical passing game.  Before the Louisville game, this wasn’t a huge concern as the Pack appeared to be content playing “vanilla” offense, and racking up huge numbers on the ground.

That all changed Saturday.  Louisville is a fast athletic team who gambles and will sell out to stop the run, and dare you to challenge their secondary.  Whether it was due to poor throws, poor protection, or poor play calling, the NC State offense just wasn’t up to that challenge.

This was probably the first game all season in which NC State took multiple shots deep downfield, but for a variety of reasons, nothing came from it.

1. The O-Line couldn’t give enough time.

There were multiple instances where Rankins, or one of Louisville’s blitzing Linebackers came free through the middle, and got to QB Jacoby Brissett just as he had completed his drop.  Brissett throws only an average long ball already, so adding any degree of difficulty only exacerbates the problem.

2. Brissett Was Not Accurate

Its hard to criticize Jacoby.  By all accounts he is a fantastic leader, and for the most part he has been a rock for the team, but during the 4th quarter he looked shaky.  Every throw seemed to be one hopped to the receiver. There were multiple times where WR Nyheim Hines got a step on his man, only to be under or overthrown.  It isn’t really time to be too concerned about this yet, but if this trend continues into next week, it might be.

3. Check Downs need to be check downs.

Matt Dayes and Jaylen Samuels are fantastic weapons, I get it, I really do.  I would even acknowledge that they need to get more touches in a game.  But when a passing play is dialed up, it seems as if Brissett only gives the wideouts a brief check before checking down to the flats.  Primary routes are named that for a reason.  On one play Maurice Trowell had about 10 yards of separation, and would have scored an easy TD had he gotten the ball. Brissett chose to instead pass the ball to Jaylen Samuels.  The play resulted in a big gain, but the drive didn’t result in points.

Where does it go from here?

If NC State wants to be a high scoring team, it is going to have to mix in some long passes. While they may have been able to manhandle inferior teams with the run, they just can’t do that versus ACC competition.  Simply put, the line needs to give a little more time, Brissett needs to be a little more accurate, and our wideouts need a few more chances.

 

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

NC State Football

FAU Transfer Defensive Tackle Decarius Hawthorne is Taking an Official Visit to NC State Next Week

Published

48 mins ago

on

May 4, 2024

By

FAU Defensive Tackle Transfer Decarius Hawthorne (6’2″/295) confirmed with me that he is taking an Official Visit to NC State next week, beginning on Tuesday. Arkansas is expected to host him on Sunday.

Hawthorne entered the Portal on April 26th.

This past season, Hawthorne had 18 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 12 games for the Owls. All of those numbers were career highs for Hawthorne.

ON3 ranks Hawthorne as a 3-Star prospect in the Transfer Portal, and the #46 Defensive Lineman in the Portal.

NC State is in desperate need for depth at Nose Tackle. They return Junior Brandon Cleveland and Redshirt Sophomore DJ Jackson, and True Freshman Justin Terrell will arrive in the Fall.

Continue Reading

NC State Football

Congrats to NC State Football’s Spring Graduates!

Published

18 hours 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

1 day 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

2 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