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State almost blew a 17-0 first half lead at home to East Carolina this past week, so let’s look at some gross overreactions to that game.
- These may be new coordinators, but this is still very much a Dave Doeren team.
- The offense with a lead takes its foot off the gas, giving life to the opponent they’re so close to finishing off.
- The defensive backs still play with far too much cushion on receivers. Doesn’t matter the DC, this is a constant under Doeren.
- Maybe that last point has to deal with a lack of speed from the cornerbacks. Former Wolfpack WR Anthony Smith routinely smoked State’s CBs. The Pack was lucky almost all those passes missed their mark. Granted, speed is the name of Smith’s game, but it was a pretty glaring disparity, and it’s not like Smith’s speed is something above what the Pack will see in ACC play.
- The defense looked like world beaters in the first half, with the looks pushing ECU into a horizontal passing game that NC State was prepared to shut down quickly. Once the Pirates adjusted to a downfield passing approach, NC State appeared to have no counter move to stop it. That’s a concern.
- State did a great job of stopping the Pirate rushing attack. It certainly helped State’s cause that ECU kept trying to push a run game that was clearly in neutral. NC State’s stop on ECU’s final offensive snap of the game, a 4th & 1 hold deep in Wolfpack territory, was set up by the defense’s annihilation of ECU’s run game. Had the Pirates found any success on the ground in the game, that play becomes something other than the horrible play call it was.
- Kudos to State’s secondary for sniffing that 4th & 1 play out from the start. That thing had no hope, even with the ball getting into the hands of hard-running TE Dessirio Riles.
- ECU’s hurry-up no-huddle offensive approach under OC John David Baker was nothing new, so the Pirates catching State in between substitutions when no offensive substitutions had occurred was doubly frustrating. Couple one of those occurrences with a poor missed tackle and that provided ECU with a touchdown and the momentum it so desperately needed heading into halftime.
- C.J. Bailey looked unreal as he led State to their 17-0 lead, but his comfort seemed to wane as the Wolfpack appeared to get away from their planned approach. That coincided with Bailey getting away from his foundational footwork, which resulted in some poor passes – including a late first half interception when State was driving to take back the momentum given on the aforementioned ECU touchdown. When Bailey sets his feet, his accuracy is amazing. As with most QBs, though, when he doesn’t set his feet his passes have a tendency to sail.
- Wesley Grimes is operating at a higher level than he was a year ago – faster and more confident. A rather quiet 2024 season squashed the hype around him, but maybe (hopefully) that was the wrong move.
- Teddy Hoffman was clearly an undervalued signing. The secret’s out on him, though. Can he duplicate the success now that teams are aware of him?
- Where was the run blocking? Hollywood Smothers put together some impressive runs that only went for a yard or two net, but were about six or seven yards of after-contact yardage. The OL has to provide better blocking up front.
- Kanoah Vinesett, you ready, buddy?
