If thinking about our QB situation rightly makes you a bit squeamish, the RB position will be perhaps our one true area of strength. WRAL’s blog has a nice article on that topic.
Junior running backs Toney Baker or Andre Brown were each brought to Raleigh as former national top-100 recruits, and in their freshman year together, each showed flashes as why both were so highly regarded.
But in 2006, neither one built upon their freshman success, and so the N.C. State offense subsequently sputtered. The Wolfpack was ranked nationally 79th in the run and 101st in total offense.
Sometimes they just weren’t in the game plan, and that play-calling irritated and perplexed some Wolfpack fans. In a loss to Georgia Tech, Daniel Evans threw 53 times while Baker and Brown only received 12 carries. The next week, Baker carried 34 times and ran for 175 yards in a loss to Clemson.
According to Baker, the new staff won’t shy away from the run altogether as it did against the Yellow Jackets, nor will it rely on just the run as it did against the Tigers. Consistency is a trademark of Tom O’Brien coached teams.
Still, we have to find a way to keep defenses from stacking 8 or 9 in the box. I’m not convinced we can.
