Weekend Homework Questions from SFN

'07 Football General NCS Football49

SFN Weekend Homework. We thought it would be fun to see everyone’s answers after a humiliating defeat:

1. How many games will NC State win this year?
2. How will NC State fare against ECU and UNC?
3. How well do you think game day operations are run at the stadium
4. This is the worst NC State team since (what year)?
5. How many seasons will it be before we play in another bowl game?
6. Rank your top four teams in the nation

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'07 Football General NCS Football

49 Responses to Weekend Homework Questions from SFN

  1. choppack1 09/22/2007 at 9:21 PM #

    1) I have no clue. This is a very bad team. This looks like MOC’s 4th year – no talent, no QB, and not much hope. The best thing that happened that year was the emergence of Jamie Barnette.

    Please – for the love of all that is holy – put in Russell Wilson. If he’s a good baseball player he may be gone early and clearly, he can’t do worse than our other 3 QBs.

    2) Who knows? I will say this – the teams that we have lost to are a combined what 8-1 or 9-1? We may still end up being OK. We’ll see.

    3) Not giving the matter that much thought – what I wonder is why so many people need money at the game?

    4) See above – I guess it was 1996.

    5) Silly to even think about.

    6) LSU, USC, Florida – and Clemson.

  2. haze 09/22/2007 at 9:34 PM #

    1. 2
    2. 0-2
    3. Are the bathrooms open? Yes? OK. You’re fine.
    4. To be honest, I think it goes back to Tom Reed.
    5. 2009
    6. USC, LSU, OU, Tebow U

  3. dj9686 09/22/2007 at 9:44 PM #

    We’ve already won all the games we will this year. Guess Wofford is pretty good.

    We will lose to UNC but it will be close. This team truly has no heart.

    We’ll lose to ECU by 14 at least. Can’t wait to hear it from those graduates at work.

    Don’t know about the game day preparations at the stadium but I’m sure with Lee and whathisface they are lacking.

    Including this season we are at least 3 away from a bowl game.

    I’ve watched State since the mid-70s and I’ve never seen a team that had less of a chance to win a game or which cared so little if they did.

    USC, LSU, FLA (somewhat iffy after today), Wofford.

  4. bTHEredterror 09/22/2007 at 10:02 PM #

    1) 6, from here on out we can compete, but there are three run oriented teams on our schedule Wake, Miami, and Virginia, if the D-line doesn’t improve we could lose all 4 games. And FSU will prolly get us too. If Beck is seriously hurt, 1 and we won it already.
    2) Very well, neither are very good running the ball or stopping the run. I think we sweep ’em. Again depending on who the QB is.
    3)Ehh run of the mill, I’ve had very few poor expereinces at the games, or I wouldn’t go. The water thing today is ridiculous though.
    4)2006
    5)Two years out if not this year. As bad as things seem now, we lose a ton on our already porous D next year, and no apparent depth to take over.
    6)LSU, USC, Okla, Fla (I was wrong about UF and the Ole Miss game is par for the course in the SEC)

  5. rky 09/22/2007 at 10:14 PM #

    1. 2 W’s for this season
    2. I anticipate a loss to ECU but we will accomplish our only other win against the Holes. Please. Pretty please.
    3. Dunno . . . I’m out in CO. Looking forward to hearing more entertaining stories from those who were at the stadium.
    4. Last year . . . maybe. OK, seriously, I would have to agree with many of the posters above and say it goes back a while.
    5. Bowl bound in ’09!
    6. Louisville, Florida State, EZU, Virginia . . . ok, maybe not, but it will seem like it over the next 4 weeks!
    Regardless . . .
    GO PACK!!!

  6. vtpackfan 09/22/2007 at 10:17 PM #

    “Are the bathrooms open? Yes? OK. You’re fine. ”

    Haze, you must have been thankful that we ran Tanner of here and down to Columbia. The blue “port o’ johns” were always working.

  7. noah 09/22/2007 at 10:26 PM #

    1. I predicted three before the season. I think I’ll go with two now.
    2. Loss and a loss.
    3. Haven’t been this year.
    4. Oh…worse than O’Cain’s two 3-8 years. Probably the worst team since Al Michaels was the coach.
    5. This year will be bad. Next year will be bad. The year after that, we’ll be fine.
    6. #1, USC, #2 LSU, #3 Cal, #4 Someone other than Florida. I’m not impressed with them at all.

  8. noah 09/22/2007 at 10:35 PM #

    BTW, I have to say that after reading some of the “live blogging” comments on the game-threads, I am stunned by some of the comments.

    Bitching about the play-calling? Why? When you can’t run block and you can’t pass block, a) what difference does it make WHAT play is called and b) how can you tell whether it was a good play call or not?

    Secondly, with our linebackers being as poor as they are, how can anyone bitch about Mike Archer? Again….how the f can you tell??

  9. SaccoV 09/22/2007 at 10:39 PM #

    1. 3 — I think this team will show us uncharacteristic poise against two teams, probably the last two at home (UNC and Maryland). Also, O’brien’s tactics and discipline will only show itself with this group when it’s far too late for contention.

    2. Against ECU, we will lose, especially considering that the QB situation will still be up in the air. Hopefully, Wilson or Burke will get playtime by then but I’m seeing the Evans-Beck Shuffle in my Magic-8 ball.

    3. Have not been to a home game this year because the man who lends me his season tickets occasionally is committed to seeing O’brien’s 1st season in person. Additionally, I will not buy season or game tickets to an event as long as Lee Fowler is still our athletic director.

    4. 1996 was indeed bad, but we haven’t been this bad, since … well, 2006. Groundhog day is in effect until 2008 at least.

    5. Bowl games will be a possibility in 2009. I don’t foresee a huge turn around considering great role players to compliment the stars we have aren’t getting their lumps now. If some of our younger players get more time this year, then next year, I will be more optimistic.

    6. West Virginia, Southern California, LSU, Ohio State (although I’m just throwing them in … the first three will contend for the national title.)

    Do understand that this team is the epitome of a flawed leader, which puts O’brien in the worst possible place, rebuilding a balsa-wood replica of the Vatican. Although pretty, it could crumble with a stiff breeze. TOB needs 3 seasons to make this program his.

  10. vtpackfan 09/22/2007 at 10:50 PM #

    1) One. Our front seven on both sides of the ball did consistently well against Div 1 AA talent. Everywhere else, as TOB says it so well, “they can’t get out of the block’s”. That’s a nice way of saying we get dominated in that area.

    The other cause for concern in the W vs L column was the lack of pride. I wrote a little on the post or two prior and to some at the game. There is no leadership or pride being displayed on the field. This group has either grossly mistaken TOB comments after the UCF game or they are really taking a long time to digest the reality of what really going on.

    2) Road games are tough and I think Holtz knows where his talent is and isn’t. They have already taken the Holes so this game is for a sweep so I think they will give us everything they got. Also better then Div. 1 AA, not bodding well for Meares Green, “Cannon ball” Clemmons and the rest of our merry trench warriors. If UNX beats us it will be by the slightest of margins and it will because everytime Yates does something foolish in the passing game only to have our DB’s miss TO’s chances time and time again.

    3) People doing a decent job with waivering, fragile, mis guided managers and directors sitting over the top of them. I am part of the process at this University in the Facilities Operation’s, and I know far too much first hand then I would ever want to share with anyone who hasn’t already figured this out.

    4) Too subjective, but the year we sent three first rounders to the NFL, including # 1 overall has to be up there. Has a team with that much talent ever been so pedestrian?

    5) Alot of people want to say “when TOB gets his players in”, but I’m not going to hold my breathe. The ACC sucks right now and if TOB elevates this program up at the same time the entire league cycles back then improvements cancel themselve out a little. I’ll say ’10, and hope the wait is worth it’s weight in Oranges.

    6) USC, Oklahoma, Ohio State, BC.

  11. packgrad2000 09/22/2007 at 10:53 PM #

    Yeah today was nothing about play calling. We just got man-handled. They were faster, stronger, more talented, and pretty much had their way with us. I think if they wanted to get all 600 of their yards running they probably could have. Some of their backs just embarassed us today – they were cutting and making our guys miss all day.
    Every once and a while an Appalachian is going to beat a Michigan, but for the most part the more talented team wins. We were not that team today.
    But in answer to the post…
    1. 2 maybe 3
    2. 1-1
    3. I didn’t notice any problems today (and my sister-in-law was one of those 100 people…she passed out in the first quarter)
    4. I prefer to make judgments after the season. A lot can change between the beginning and the end.
    5. 3 including this one
    6. I haven’t watched enough to tell

  12. noah 09/22/2007 at 11:05 PM #

    I was reading on another board people complaining about why we didn’t blitz more.

    Oh…I don’t know…maybe because Clemson was passing out of a west-coast type offense with three step drops and quick, short passes after they had flooded the zone with receivers? Blitzing doesn’t do much for you against that scheme. In fact, the WCO was designed specifically to refute the blitzing, attacking defenses like the Chicago Bears and Buddy Ryan and the Iggles ran with with the “50.”

    Tell me if this sounds familiar: The QB takes the snap and fakes a hand-off, he rolls one direction or another, the FB and a WR both curl off to the same side and the TE blocks his man, holds for another second and then releases as well. Suddenly, the QB, in all of about three seconds, has three receivers running right with him anywhere at three targets that are five, 10 and about 20 yards down field.

    By rolling out, you cut the field in half, but you also eliminate half of the defense. The DL has to get off their blocks and get after you and most likely, the LBs either get caught in no-man’s land or are stuck trying to cover a WR or a RB. The DE who was engaged with the TE suddenly finds himself halfway to the QB and with the TE rapidly disappearing behind him.

    Did you see that today once or twice? One good thing you can do against that is zone blitz and hope the QB doesn’t read it well. You can force some interceptions that way. I don’t know if we even have a zone blitz package in our defensive scheme.

    Another big thing….our piss-poor linebacker play. I don’t have the stats, but I’m willing to bet that if you look at the defensive stats, you’ll see the DL made some tackles and the secondary made a lot of tackles….and the LBs hardly made any at all. The DL got a decent push at times…but no one filled the gaps. The LBs just disappeared.

    I’d love to ask Amato about his recruiting strategies. Apparently, he was planning on fielding a team with 11 WRs and RBs on either side of the ball.

  13. BJD95 09/22/2007 at 11:09 PM #

    1) 2 more wins

    2) 1-1, probably beating UNC. They suck just as badly as we do.

    3) This reminds me a lot of the MOC team that lost that dreadful home game against Baylor. Was that 96?

    4) Bowling in 2009. Won’t be good until 2010, but you don’t have to be good to make a bowl game. We will have decent LB and OL by then, and Glennon starting at QB. That’s enough for at least 6 or 7 wins.

    5) LSU, USC, Florida, Cal. All of the good football teams are in the SEC and PAC 10, IMHO. Speed kills.

    Think I skipped one. NC State can’t stage an athletic event for shit.

  14. BJD95 09/22/2007 at 11:13 PM #

    Agree with noah – we had no shot against these guys, no matter what we did. Actually, Archer’s “bend don’t break” worked out pretty well. They didn’t score 80, did they?

    We were dominated on both lines, and you will lose 99 times out of 100 when that happens (unless you block 3+ punts like we did at Texas awhile back).

  15. vtpackfan 09/22/2007 at 11:20 PM #

    Noah, again your right on cue, this time with the LB’s. Martin has said that he would like to play professionally or try making it as an FBI agent after he graduates with a Criminal Justice degree. Size him up for a flak vest ’cause they don’t want any of that in Canada or the Arena crap.

    Ware filled the gaps a few times really well and completely missed, I mean badly. After watching tape he will have rather been seen arm tackling then whiffing on the hits.

    I could go on, I really tried to key into their game today and watch them closely. I actually sat near and talked with Thomas Barnes’ ex football coach from Dublin GA. He has moved to Darlington SC and is the new head coach of a team that is strikingly the same in ineptitude as this years Pack. A good guy it seemed who really liked Coach McCullough going back to his Mid Tenn day’s.

    Anyways, I paid close attention to the LB’s and was shocked by how invisible they were all day. I could name a few other instances but why bother. I am learning that just because your are an active participant in an ACC football as a LB, OL, QB, DL doesn’t automatically mean you should be considered a worthy of the attention it naturally garners. I’m just going to start ignoring who is actually playing until something resembling a functioning unit rears itself.

  16. tvp1 09/22/2007 at 11:32 PM #

    1. 3
    2. 1-1. Don’t know which
    3. Haven’t made it back down for a game yet, but my guess is they are run about as well as everything else at NCSU is run.
    4. Umm…last year was pretty damn bad. It does not get worse than the UNC, Southern Miss, and Akron games last year.
    5. 2009, maybe 2010
    6.
    LSU
    USC
    Oklahoma
    Oregon. That’s my big sleeper team this year.

    And noah – I saw the same thread you did about the blitzing, and literally laughed out loud.

  17. noah 09/22/2007 at 11:38 PM #

    Today is a good example, also, about Amato’s round peg not fitting in O’Brien’s square hole. If you taped or Tivo’ed it and haven’t destroyed it, go back and look at how badly our DBs tackled. Watch Jimmy Sutton trying to stop people flat-footed with his arms out.

    It’s the difference between what Amato wanted in a DB and what O’Brien wants.

    It’s like hitching a big load to a Ferrari. It doesn’t matter what kind of horsepower the engine’s got…it’s not geared for pulling a big load.

  18. beowolf 09/22/2007 at 11:43 PM #

    No. 4 is the easiest. This is the worst NC State football team since last year’s. Difference is, this year, it’d be incredibly unfair to blame the coaching staff.

  19. dj9686 09/23/2007 at 12:14 AM #

    naaah…. the coaching staff is doing an incredibly poor job. I can’t believe I’m saying this but last year at least we were in games.

  20. #44 17 24 09/23/2007 at 1:33 AM #

    1. How many games will NC State win this year?
    –We will win three, but to who I do not know.

    2. How will NC State fare against ECU and UNC?
    –I believe we will play both of ECU and UNC effectively on both sides of the ball, but again, who knows if we will have put together a team till then.

    3. How well do you think game day operations are run at the stadium
    –I think game day operations suck. That stupid cartoon they have before the game starts is really embarrassing.

    4. This is the worst NC State team since (what year)?
    –Last year

    5. How many seasons will it be before we play in another bowl game?
    –We won’t get one this year (duh), and also next year, but TOB’s third year looks promising.

    6. Rank your top four teams in the nation
    –1. LSU
    2. USC
    3. Oklahoma
    4. Florida

  21. wolfpacker420 09/23/2007 at 1:36 AM #

    You’re absolutely right at least we were in some games last year. Herb 2 may never make it to a bowl, at least not at state!

  22. tooyoungtoremember 09/23/2007 at 1:38 AM #

    dj, for crying out loud, it’s not the coaching staff. This season was over three years ago when the former staff decided to stop recruiting a core group of players and focus on nothing but a few blue chippers at two or three positions. The talent we have at a few positions is like having a brand new sportscar put up on blocks out in the front yard. It looks nice, but it sure as hell isn’t going anywhere until you put the wheels back on. We could have hired Bill Cowher, Bill Belichick, or hell, even Bill Cosby and we wouldn’t have any more wins than we do right now, nor would we have a better outlook for the rest of the season.

  23. RochesterRedWolf 09/23/2007 at 1:56 AM #

    Questions [Answers]:
    1. How many games will NC State win this year?
    [Actually I think 2-3 more, look at what’s happening, i think we’ll step up]

    2. How will NC State fare against ECU and UNC?
    [2-0]

    3. How well do you think game day operations are run at the stadium
    [It’s been 10 years since i was at C-F so i can’t say]

    4. This is the worst NC State team since (what year)?
    [the last 2 years have been pretty bad, we’ll know at the end of Nov.]

    5. How many seasons will it be before we play in another bowl game?
    [2-3]

    6. Rank your top four teams in the nation
    [Oklahoma, LSU, USC, FL]

    If you heard TOB’s comments after the game, and him say that the problem was “we need to recruit players who play like their players…”, the State players will hear that, read that, and if that doesn’t light a fire under their candy-asses nothing will. I think it will/might. So this is the reason for some of my optimism, although today, i was hit with a mack-truck reality check.

    Which brings me to the last point. HOW THE FUCK, can anyone of you question at this point in the season, with this team, against THAT team we played today the coaches?? R E A L I T Y guys. I remember Amato once stating how he didn’t really care about 3stars, 4stars ratings on players. He said: “what’s the difference between a guy with 5stars that runs a 4.4-40 and a 2 star guy who runs a 4.4-40?” Well we saw it today. You also have to be able to pass, kick, catch, tackle, block. The announcers on 360 were damn good, ive been impressed with the announcing on every 360 game so far this year, (odd that State has been on 360 every week but awesome for me being out of the local coverage area) but they were mentioning how not only can Davis and Spiller run like track stars, but they can cut, make guys miss, break tackles, and they don’t fumble, they are football players.

    You guys already know what Andre Brown and Toney Baker can do with a mediocre OL. Imagine what they could do with a line like Clemson’s got? TB and AB run just as hard and mean,bruising as Davis and Spiller and we’ve all seen it, but you have to get past the line of scrimmage to see stuff like that.

    The Wofford win was nice, but this was Reality-TV boys today, and i half think TOB wanted them to witness it just so they know.

    Darrell Blackman said after the game that he thinks there’s still too many guys not playing team football and trying to be individuals.

  24. bTHEredterror 09/23/2007 at 2:02 AM #

    We were in games LY because we had a decent O-line and players recruited specfically for the styles of O and D implemented, and a more experienced team overall.

    The d-line is part of the problem with the LB’s. Jones and Michel played fairly well. If you look at the game again, count how many times a D lineman is submitting to a block, and there were three distinct plays where all that was needed was to TRY and a tackle could be made on a back right next to them. Young had a play where Davis rammed into him and he never lifted a finger. Because the Dline was gettin blown off the bowl routinely, the LBs had to navigate a minefield just to sniff the ball carrier.

    The change to zone coverage is not confined to the Secondary and LB’s. D linemen have different responsibilities now, and they have handled them poorly thus far. No contain, not occupying multiple blockers, and no penetration to make up for the first two failures. Plus it was nearly the fourth quarter before Harper even got dirty, there is no push even when the QB stays in pocket. It looks like a seven on seven drill out there.

  25. Mr O 09/23/2007 at 6:51 AM #

    To make matters potentially worse, I met an NC State fan out last night watching some games. He seemed to really know what he was talking about and mentioned that another of our basketball players has been injured. Said it was one of the big guns, but he would not tell me who. Sounded like it was a major injury that might mean somebody is out for the year.

    As far as football, I have now witnessed at least 16 games in a row(streak is actually longer, but don’t want to go back and look when the last game I missed was). We are 4-12 in those games.

    We were completely manhandled yesterday and it was obvious just how far we have fallen. The talent level simply isn’t there to compete with decent teams let alone very good teams. Clemson was lightyears better than us yesterday. I have the same feeling I had back during the MOC era when we had back to back 3-8 seasons. I go into each game feeling that we have no shot to win. Unfortunately for the players, I bet they feel the same way.

    It is a real shame that our program fell so hard so fast. It might take 3-4 years to get back to .500. We might win 1 more game this year.

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