NC State Scouting Report: Take Care Of Business
By WFP
Hate Week and as everyone who’s ever followed this game knows you can throw out the stat sheets when bitter rivals face each other on the gridiron. Tomorrow Carolina (6-5) faces a familiar foe in NC State (6-5), an NC State team that despite a much improved record in 2014, doesn’t jump off the screen as a much improved team that the one that failed to win an ACC contest in 2013. Sure NC State has playmakers on both sides of the ball, but they also did in 2013. This NC State team while showing a 6-5 record should be broken down more to what it really is: a defense with more holes in it than swiss cheese, inconsistent offense and a team whose best win comes against a 3-8 Syracuse.
Nov 15, 2014; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback Jacoby Brissett (12) collides with Wake Forest Demon Deacons cornerback Merrill Noel (7) at Carter Finley Stadium. The North Carolina State Wolfpack won 42-13. Mandatory Credit: Liz Condo-USA TODAY Sports
The Wolfpack Offense
QB Jacoby Brissett (#12)
RB Tony Creecy (#26) or Shadrach Thorton (#40)
FB Tyler Purvis (#47)
TE Benson Browne (#89)
WR Slot – Bo Hones (#82)
WR (X Receiver) – Jonathan Alston (#15)
WR (Z Receiver) – Bryan Underwood (#80)
Key reserves – Matt Dayes (#21) RB, Bra’Lon Cherry (#13) Slot, Maruuez Valdes-Scalding (#84) Z
NC State’s offense rides or dies by their run game. The run game consists of the likes of Jacoby Brissett on the read option and the three-headed running back rotation of Shadrach Thorton, Matt Dayes and Tony Creecy. Combined, these men have piled up 1700 yards on the ground and found the endzone 18 times. If State can start strong in the run game, it opens up an opportunistic passing attack.
Even with Brissett’s ability to extend plays, Carolina shouldn’t be fearful in his ability to pick apart our shaky secondary
Like the run game, the passing attack is funneled through the effectiveness of QB Jacoby Brissett. In periods of 2014 he’s looked down right spectacular extending Heisman like plays against Florida State or picking apart secondaries when he’s been on the run or standing tall in the pocket. Brissett has done a solid job of taking care of the ball this year with a 19:5 TD to INT ratio however his completion percentage of 59.2 doesn’t put him in the upper tier of the conference (he’s 8th overall). Brissett has gotten himself in trouble, much like VTs Michael Brewer of holding on to the ball too long and taken the third most sacks in conference. When Brissett has the opportunity to extend a play with his feet he tosses the ball to a mixed bag of receivers, each with his own set of tools. Bryan Underwood has been the undersized mainstay that seems like he’s played in West Raleigh for a decade. He’s the fastest player on the team and with the attention he typically draws, Brissett’s found other options. The Freshman Bo Hines is State’s most targeted receiver while Matt Dayes has been dangerous in the screen game out of the backfield. Even with Brissett’s ability to extend plays, Carolina shouldn’t be fearful in his ability to pick apart our shaky secondary with a passing attack that averages just over 200 yards a game.
LT – Rob Crisp (#78) 6 foot 7 300 lbs
LG – Joe Thuney (#54) 6 foot 5 285 lbs
C – Quinton Schooley (#60) 6 foot 4 300 lbs
RG – Tony Adams (#50) 6 foot 2 305 lbs
RT – Tyson Chandler (#74) 6 foot 7 354 lbs
State’s offensive line is massive, which causes a concern for this guy with Carolina’s rather undersized defensive line front. The last offensive line of this size that Carolina faced came against Pitt and we saw the struggles Carolina’s front six/seven faced. Rob Crisp is a former 5 star prospect for Tom O Brien and he’s every bit of that ranking. The quickness Carolina’s defensive line has shown at the edge should benefit the Heels against what I consider a slower offensive line. Should Carolina force 2nd and longs and 3rd and longs it could be a very long day for NC State’s Hawgs.
Nov 15, 2014; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack running back Tony Creecy (26) runs the ball in for a touchdown against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Carter Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Liz Condo-USA TODAY Sports
NC State will most certainly play up for this game. Like we’ve seen all year, expect miss direction, jet sweeps, counters and screens from the spread offense. NC State’s best offensive weapon outside of Brissett is likely in the form of their Senior Kicker Niklas Sade (#32) who’s 5-7 who’s perfect from 40-49 yards.
Should Carolina force 2nd and longs and 3rd and longs it could be a very long day for NC State’s Hawgs
NC State offensive will try to get Carolina’s aggressive to take chances so it’s a must that the Heel defenders play with sound technique and play their given assignment.
NC State’s Defense
The Front Six
DEs – Art Norman (#95), Mike Rose (#90)
DTs – Thomas Teal (#69) Nose Tackle, BJ Hill (#98)
LBs Rodman Noel (#5) Will LB, Airius Moore (#58) Mike LB
Key Rotation Players: Drew Davis (#91) DE, Kentavius Street (#35) DE, Jerrod Fernandez (#4), Brandon Pittman (#39)
NC State’s front six heads a unit that’s produced a total of 24 sacks and 75 total tackles for loss. They’re a scrappy bunch that plays off of momentum as much of any unit we’ll face outside of Miami. While they’ve been solid in obvious passing and rushing downs NC State’s defense is ranked 85th overall among FBS schools, AKA not great. Most of NC State’s leading tackles are in the secondary if that’s indicative of their rushing defense. Carolina’s offensive line has the opportunity to feast on this NC State defensive front.
Nov 15, 2014; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack linebacker Rodman Noel (5) tackles Wake Forest Demon Deacons running back Isaiah Robinson (21) at Carter Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Liz Condo-USA TODAY Sports
State’s Secondary
NC State runs a 4-2-5 to combat the every spreading offensive trend running college football. Their Linebacker/Safety Hybrid called the Nick Backer. Much like Carolina’s Ram position this player is asked to do an awful lot in run fits and pass coverage. Dravious Wright has been decent, not exemplary. I’m convinced Carolina can exploit this undersized player as he’s the size of Ryan Switzer with half the speed. State does have talent in the back end especially at corner in the for of over sized Justin Burris and Jack Tocho. This duo is physically and Quinshad Davis and Bug Howard will make sure they gain separation from these two. Both of them have their fair share of pass breakup and are sure tacklers.
Nick LB – Dravious Wright (#8)
LCB – Jack Tocho (#29)
RCB – Juston Burris (#11)
FS – Hakim Jones (#20)
SS – Josh Jones (#2)
Key Rotation Players: Nick Buckley (#6) Nick, Germaine Pratt (#31) FS, Jarvis Byrd (#1) SS
Nov 1, 2014; Syracuse, NY, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack safety Dravious Wright (8) makes a tackle on Syracuse Orange running back Prince-Tyson Gulley (23) during the first quarter of a game at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Carolina, like most games in the last month in a half faces a contest against a very winnable opponent. In the honor of a holiday weekend I figured I keep my keys to victory very short a sweet against this bitter rival…
1. Play Your Game
Rivalry games were never meant for you to abandon your identity. Carolina has improved steadily since the Miami debacle focusing establishing the run game and putting Marquise in a place to win. I expect State will be open up their playbook to steal one from the Tar Heels. Like last year, Carolina shouldn’t get rattled, they should re-group in the face of any adversity and play their game. Run the ball north and south. Create mismatches on the perimeter. Play in the backfield and keep the Wolfpack offensive in front of you.
2. Win the game between the ears
Every football game is won in the trenches and no fact is more true in rivalry games. There will be late hits, cheap shots and highly emotional plays. Carolina must keep a sound head and make sure their no extra-circulars that will call for yellow. Play smart and this game will be in the bag.
Go To Hell State.
WFP