State’s Wilson on ACCNow

'08 Football33

[Something bad happened to this entry and I have no idea what]

About StateFans

'StateFansNation' is the shared profile used by any/all of the dozen or so authors that contribute to the blog. You may not always agree with us, but you will have little doubt about where we stand on most issues. Please follow us on Twitter and FaceBook

'08 Football

33 Responses to State’s Wilson on ACCNow

  1. b 08/23/2008 at 3:14 PM #

    If he turns out to be the leader Barnette was, we should count ourselves lucky.

  2. baxman 08/23/2008 at 5:12 PM #

    In Tudor’s article, he says “Wilson, a redshirt freshman, had no legacy as a passer. He has no legacy at all, for that matter. But he is quick, and he can scramble for time.”

    Do you think Caulton is referring to Wilson’s as-yet-unstarted college QB career? Because as a high school QB, Wilson certainly appeared to have a legacy as a passer. I think 3,009 yards, a 59.7 percent completion percentage, and 34 TDs with only seven interceptions as a senior…and 3,287 yards and 40 TDs as a junior is a pretty doggone good passing legacy.

  3. BJD95 08/23/2008 at 5:27 PM #

    The coaching staff is VERY high on Wilson’s leadership ability. It’s one of his best qualities.

  4. primacyone 08/23/2008 at 9:19 PM #

    He can have all the leadership qualities in the world. It will not matter at the QB spot if the OL is getting flattened 2 out of 3 downs. We are still a year or two away, regardless of the QB.

    I jsut hope he has enough leadership quality to throw the ball away when needed, and the feet to get the heck out of the pocket when needed.

  5. BladenWolf 08/24/2008 at 7:32 AM #

    I’ll take Wilson over Evans on every down.
    Don’t get me wrong, I love Daniel and his work ethic, et al, however we all know he is not built for DI ball and is prone to making the same mistake of throwing into coverage when flushed from the pocket (which happens often when you have saran wrap for an OL).
    Maybe at least Wilson will have the feet and arm strength to make something happen down field when the enevitable happens again this season.
    It will be interesting to watch.

  6. Trip 08/24/2008 at 8:05 AM #

    Woo! Wilson!… I hope he doesn’t get murdered by the gamecocks D-line on Thursday…

  7. Dogbreath 08/24/2008 at 8:35 AM #

    Saran wrap? I would kill for even a saran wrap line. What we’ve had is an aluminum foil line.

  8. StateFans 08/24/2008 at 9:34 AM #

    Our third down conversion rate has been HORRIBLE in recent years because of the severe limitations at the quarterback position.

    If Wilson can simple scramble a busted play into a first down 2 or 3 times a game (that hasn’t happened in the past) while not throwing an average of one pick six every other game then we will be able to stay a lot closer in a lot more ball games.

  9. dbo2874 08/24/2008 at 10:24 AM #

    inside wolfpack sports has some good highlights from the last scrimmage, including about a 20 yard scramble from Wilson that made me tingle in my nether regions.

    gopack.com has this that you can watch for free. fast forward to about the 12 minute mark. nice Td Pass to Dre at the 12:45 mark. the 20 yard scramble at the 13:05 mark. The 16:05 mark will cause painful flashbacks

  10. whitefang 08/24/2008 at 10:39 AM #

    Certainly our OL is HIGHLY suspect and we do not have the several years of TOB recruits in place here that may take. But besides raw talent, OL play also consists of conditioning, technique, preparation, and teamwork. Yeah I know my bubble is about to burst in about 4 days. But I can still hope that our line sopmehow miraculously jells into an effective unit, can’t I?

  11. dbo2874 08/24/2008 at 10:49 AM #

    who did we lose off the OL last year that would make us think that this years wouldnt be better?

    i dont expect us to be dominant on OL at all, but i do think they will be better than last years OL.

  12. Dogbreath 08/24/2008 at 10:59 AM #

    I actually believe this is our best offensive line since 2004, and could potentially be as good as 2002 (Colmer, Riggs, Paulsen, Locklear, and Kooistra). Unless we are beset by numerous injuries, we have 3 reserves that can plug holes (Crouch, Roberts, Vermigglio). Bedics and Larsen were as roughly as good of DLs as Locklear and Riggs, so I have hope that they will be effective in their conversion. McCuller and Williams at tackle gives us two tall, rangy pass blockers and adequate athletes on the run. Green is a versatile overachiever that is serviceable at any of 3 positions.

    We are slowly building depth. We aren’t there yet, but we have 3 to 4 reserves that don’t horrify me, and we should be able to keep guys fresh through 4 quarters, something we haven’t been able to do in many years.

    I think we will be pleasantly surprised with this line.

  13. StateFans 08/24/2008 at 1:15 PM #

    I agree that we are slowly building depth at the OL; and really at all positions.

    We used to recruit so few OLmen that if one was a bust then we were really hurt. That is no longer the case.

  14. Dr. BadgerPack 08/24/2008 at 1:32 PM #

    Getting the third down conversion rate into an acceptable range will immensely help out the defense. Further hammering home SFN’s point– if Russell Wilson can scramble for 2-3 first downs/game, that’s probably 2-6 minutes of game clock the defense does not see the field.

  15. packalum44 08/24/2008 at 1:43 PM #

    The O-Line will be better. South Carolina won’t be the best or most talented team we play this year. Expect improvements in every position on the field. Linebacker is my biggest concern. How good will two true freshmen be??? Can the coaching staff utilize a speedy but undersized group??? Are they speedy???

    Look out for some deep bombs early in the game Thursday, maybe even the first play from scrimmage. Keep the defense honest. Wilson has a gun and staff knows we need to take risks. At least a deep interception is almost as good as a punt. TOB intentionally kept the spring practice play-calling very very very very conservative.

    South Carolina fans keep referring to the “SEC” defense because it sounds better than “South Carolina’s” defense.

  16. DuPack 08/24/2008 at 2:25 PM #

    Apparently RW’s leadership is having a positive affect on we fans. It looks like from these comments that the OL has improved just since friday. dbo2874 poses a good question, aren’t all of the player’s that logged the most playing time from last year back? I believe they are and that means they have now had 2 springs and 2 pre-season drills under TOB. I believe we will all be pleasantly surprised by the OL play. And if RW proves to be in the same mold as that kid from Mizzou, we are going to win some games we may be expecting to lose at this point.

  17. CLTres 08/24/2008 at 2:45 PM #

    TOB’s quote: “The decision always came down to who we thought would give us the best opportunity to win a football game. Right now, our offense and the way we are structured it will be Russell Wilson. That was the deciding factor.”

    Weighing the context of that statement, it sounds like we’re going to be running the ball …A Lot.

  18. b 08/24/2008 at 3:34 PM #

    South Carolina had severe problems against the run last year. They got a new DC of course, and Arian Foster and McFadden are gonna give most people headaches, but that weakness is likely still there. And if the OL has improved running the ball should be a distinct possibility. In any road game, the first few series are key on both sides of the ball. Doubly so for a fanbase that is as used to disappointment as we are. Maybe more so.

    Check out Cockytalk.com, they are convinced they will have an easy time of it against us. I’ve got a feeling they are gonna be as surprised as we proud Thursday. I won’t go as far as to say we are gonna upset them, but based on LY’s horrific opener (and closer for that matter) and the extra year of TOB fundamentals, I am convinced we will not be ashamed of our squad regardless.

  19. packalum44 08/24/2008 at 5:24 PM #

    we will definitely try to run the ball this year. controlling the clock will be our best “defense” however, owen spencer said it best, “my job is too stretch the field” They have ingrained this notion into his head. we have good, tall receivers, who can catch the jump ball. If they put 8 in the box and play man on our receivers, Dana won’t be scared to throw it deep.

    i will be looking for a well-balanced offensive attack this season. I doubt we are good enough to run the ball when opposing defenses know its coming every play. i also expect to see lots of QB options.

  20. El Scrotcho 08/24/2008 at 5:38 PM #

    Looks like we’ll see a few old names in the SC game…
    Marque Hall (SR)
    Chris Culliver (SO)

    Looks like Hall has had some injury problems, and Culliver was a good return guy last year. His speed that was touted during the recruiting wars seems to be legit.

  21. newt 08/24/2008 at 6:23 PM #

    That Jake Vermiglio is not starting gives me some hope for the offensive line, because I thought he looked pretty darn good last year.

  22. choppack1 08/24/2008 at 8:20 PM #

    Hopefully Jake isn’t starting because the others are really good.

  23. packalum44 08/24/2008 at 8:22 PM #

    USC lost to Vanderbilt, TN, LSU, Arkansas, FL, Clemson last year. Yeah, you know Clemson, from the weak that weak conference, ACC.

    They beat UNC, Miss. St, SC State, Lafayette, Kentucky, and GA. However, their win against GA came 2nd game of the season. We might not win but this team is a little too big-headed for their own good. Russell Wilson, teach them some humility.

  24. Greywolf 08/24/2008 at 10:41 PM #

    I thought Pack football practices, Spring and Fall, were closed. I’m wondering how the “Saran Wrap” line and the “tin foil” lines were assessed to be that way. Part of what excited me about TOB coming here was his coaching staff — in particular the OL coaches. So until TOB starts letting me in to assess the team so I can make dome and gloom preditions on the internet, I think I’ll reserve my assessment on the OL until they have had the opportunity to show what they can do.

    Of course I’m tempted to make derogatory remarks about the team so the other readers will think my standards are high — like I know my arse from a hole in the ground or something.

    I believe TOB has stated that his philosophy is to create a style of play that is best suited for his players until he can recruit players that are suited for his style of play. I trust want ever the OL is asked to do, it will be within their talents and capabilities. RW sounds like he has what it takes to play most any style of play. Evans on the other hand can’t which is why WR gives this team its best chance to win.

  25. Ismael 08/24/2008 at 11:00 PM #

    this ought to say all we need to know about TOB and Dana Bible,

    Rookie Ryan to start at QB for Falcons
    http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3551650

    Excerpt [after a preseason interception returned for a TD]:
    “He [Ryan] just shook it off and said, ‘I’m glad I got that one out of the way in the preseason,’ ” Smith said. “He’s got a very good outlook about the game of football. He’s got a good understanding to play quarterback in this league. He’s prepared for it. He’s mature beyond his years, and it’ll be a great season for him to come in and be out leader.”

    Hopefully Mr. Wilson and Mr. Glennon and any other QB, WR, and OL who is even remotely thinking about coming to play for Mr. O’Brien et al will see this. This is a big testament to the teaching of the coaches we have.

1 2

Leave a Reply