What is the story about?
For
the second straight week, NC State found itself down double-digits, but – thankfully – for the first time this year, the game did not come down to a defensive stand. Let’s get to some gross overreactions.
- I’m willing to give Dave Doeren a break on the opening kickoff and chalk it up to a kicker not executing, but if Doeren is starting to revert to his old philosophy of trying to steal a yard or two via kickoffs, he should think again. Don’t be dumb, Dave.
- To give Doeren credit, I liked the aggressiveness on offense, especially on the 3rd/4th-and-short calls. Keep that going, especially with Will Wilson in there to pick up the tough yards. I’m sure there’s a wrinkle coming sooner or later from that look, too.
- And to keep kudos going, this might have been the best halftime adjustments of Doeren’s career. The biggest knock on him has been his teams inability to adapt to an opponent’s game plan. It was nice to see that turn on its head last Thursday.
- I’ll admit, I was ready to fire D.J. Eliot at halftime. I’m still not sure this defense is even average, but the team has at least looked the part in one half of each of the three games to date. If they put it together for a full game? Watch out (but I’m not holding my breath, especially with the pass defense).
- Winston-Salem, leave the BBQ to the folks in the eastern part of the state. Or, you know, at least don’t light your BBQ trucks on fire.
- That Isaiah Shirley pick-6 was amazing – and also so incredibly needed at the time. It was too bad State didn’t immediately take that momentum and shut down Wake then and there, but it eventually happened, so hard to complain too much. Also glad the turf monster didn’t tackle Shirley before the end zone.
- C.J. Bailey just continues to improve and impress as a QB. I would like to see him get rid of the ball a little bit sooner to avoid some of the hits. Wake rolled him a few times that had me worried for the health of his legs.
- Hollywood Smothers is a beast. For someone who looks like he’s jogging at times, he really covers a lot of ground. Dude can fly.
- The offense needs to work on the screen plays. Those plays need to be slow developing but they look rushed right now, allowing the defense to sniff them out real fast and react. If you’re looking for a bright spot, that’s a clear area where the offense is struggling right now but also something that’s 100% fixable.
- After Justin Joly was wrongfully ignored in the red zone last year by Robert Anae, it’s nice to see that Kurt Roper knows exactly who his big body, solid hands option is down there.
- 3-0 is 3-0 and we should all be happy. Now go beat Duke.
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