Let There Be Football!!! …and football conversation!!!

NC State’s 2010 football camp opened yesterday and there are plenty of articles and items for fans to review!

WRAL paints a solid primer on what to watch for as the Wolfpack opens camp in this entry. If you were fortunate enough to here Jeff’s appearance on Taylor Zarzour on Tuesday morning, then you heard him mention the importance that special teams performance and turnovers have on the fragile Wolfpack defense. WRAL included an interesting statistic that N.C. State’s average starting field position in 2009 was the 30 yard line compared to our opponent’s 36 yard line. Multiply that by the number of unique possessions per game and you get a staggering descrepency of ‘hidden yardage’. A major component of this was generated by untimely turnovers that started in game one when Toney Baker fumbled inside the Wolfpack 10 yard line to allow South Carolina to score its only touchdown of the game.

This team will be much better if…it dramatically improves in turnover margin. N.C. State doesn’t have enough talent on either side of the ball to overcome a spate of unforced errors and a lack of takeaways. A year ago, the Wolfpack had just 14 combined interceptions and fumble recoveries in 12 games, while turning the ball over 25 times. Finishing last in the ACC and 114th nationally in turnover margin is a sure-fire recipe for another losing season in Raleigh.

In this link, ESPN also summarizes some key topics heading into camp and touches on the current injury situation. Perhaps most importantly is to see that RJ Mattes is expected back in early September.

Sidelined: Cornerback Rashard Smith is out for season with the “Toney Baker injury,” a.k.a. cartilage damage in his knee that required surgery. Cornerback Jarvis Byrd, who started as a true freshman last year, is out with a knee injury. Brandon Barnes, who was in the mix at running back, is out with an ankle injury but should return for the start of the season. Guard R.J. Mattes is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last year. He missed spring ball but is expected to be cleared by early September.

Some specific details from yesterday’s camp have already started to trickle; and there is no surprise that the defensive backfield is the top area of focus and attention. The following mentions some names that you may want to start following:

The opening practice usually is the only one N.C. State opens to the media, and the focus Tuesday was on the position of greatest need. That’s the defensive secondary following a disastrous 2009 season for that group.

Redshirt freshman Dean Haynes appears to have the first opportunity to help fix the secondary. Haynes worked with the starters at boundary cornerback. Junior Justin Byers has played cornerback and safety and has more experience, but has struggled for much of the time he has played.

Haynes’ willingness to get physical with the receivers was impressive, but he did get hollered at by defensive backs coach Mike Reed for missing an assignment in run support on one play.

Freshman David Amerson also got an extensive look as a second-team player. Amerson, who was one of the most highly recruited players in North Carolina, is the team’s most impressive physical specimen at cornerback at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds.

His inexperience showed on one pass breakup when he knocked down a receiver in a practice where the players are instructed not to take players to the ground. But coaches can tolerate aggressive errors ahead of passive or timid errors any day. And Amerson also demonstrated maturity by staying home to stop a misdirection running play, earning shouts of congratulations from the defensive sideline.

The first-team field cornerback, C.J. Wilson, also made an impression with an interception in the flat that he returned for a touchdown. And if nothing else, first-team safeties Brandan Bishop and Earl Wolff didn’t make any glaring errors.

As always…anytime that you have the interest and the time to discuss anything Wolfpack-related we would encourage you to spend time with us in our increasingly active message board community by clicking here.

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26 Responses to Let There Be Football!!! …and football conversation!!!

  1. Sw0rdf1sh 08/04/2010 at 1:53 PM #

    I heard Byrd might make it back in October. I like that.

    It’s hard to believe in one month I’ll be standing in Carter-Finley rooting for the Pack and LSU!

  2. old13 08/04/2010 at 2:00 PM #

    There doesn’t seem to be as much enthusiasm this year as in the past – low expectations? Lagging 2011 recruiting? Too many gaps to fill?

  3. Sw0rdf1sh 08/04/2010 at 2:06 PM #

    I don’t know, I’m enthused about the entire next 6 months of Pack sports.

  4. StateFans 08/04/2010 at 2:13 PM #

    I think enthusiasm is lagging this year. Doesn’t seem to be nearly as much excitement.

  5. Trout 08/04/2010 at 2:18 PM #

    ^ I agree.

    I gotta think the secondary is a tough place to play as a young player, with all the reads you need to make, but that is what we face. Luckily, the best QB in the ACC is on our own team, but against Ponder, Harper, Taylor, etc – I worry about the youth, talent and inexperience in our secondary.

  6. StateFans 08/04/2010 at 2:49 PM #

    Even though we thought we had a solid DLine heading into last year…they really didn’t do much for us. Maybe the combination of having Nate Irving back and an improved DLine can help boost the secondary some. Right now, we gotta hope.

  7. Plz2BStateFan 08/04/2010 at 2:50 PM #

    The year before last we were being talked about as a dark horse. The year befoe last we beat duke. The year before last we wernt on the verge of throwing Archer uder the bus.

    etc.

    etc.

    There was just so much hype in the triangle for it. Almost nobody thinks we will have a special year. At best everyone hopes we go to some sort of bowl game.

  8. StateFans 08/04/2010 at 3:19 PM #

    I agree. Almost everyone with whom I speak defines the most minimal of bowl appearances is the definition of ‘success’ for this season. I can’t argue that.

  9. Plz2BStateFan 08/04/2010 at 4:25 PM #

    packinsider.com has an interesting description of the practice with the secondary.

    The secondary performed well(for a practice) and were really energetic and working their fannies off. Jawing at the receivers.

    I hope this is a sign they have found an attidute and the ability to back it up.

  10. gcpack 08/04/2010 at 4:30 PM #

    Does anyone know how good the linebacker xsferring from Syracuse really is?

  11. tvp1 08/04/2010 at 4:42 PM #

    ^^I’d take anything packinsider says with a grain of salt. Objectivity is not their forte.

  12. tvp1 08/04/2010 at 4:52 PM #

    “Even though we thought we had a solid DLine heading into last year…they really didn’t do much for us.”

    Statefans – I was doing some poking around on the excellent website http://www.cfbstats.com and found a stat that really quantifies our pass defense problems last year. You can sort stats by all kinds of game situations using the site.

    Take a look at our pass D in 3rd down with 4-6 yards to go:
    http://www.cfbstats.com/2009/leader/national/team/defense/situational13/category02/sort02.html

    We are 119 in pass defense rating in this situation. It was by far the worst in the ACC. Opponents completed an astonishing 72.7 percent of their passes against us in this situation – and got a first down 18 times out of 33. Note that UNC had the lowest pass completion percentage against in the nation in this category.

    Two observations:

    (1) The way our D was set up last year, it was those situations – 3rd and medium – where the DL could do little to influence the play. The ball was usually out of the QBs hand within two seconds with a quick throw and catch that would result in a first down. This shows that the back 7 was the main culprit in our poor pass defense last year.

    (2) Stating the obvious – if your D cannot make stops in 3rd and medium situations, the defense cannot get off the field.

  13. StateFans 08/04/2010 at 5:30 PM #

    ^ WOW! That is fantastic work. Thanks so much for sharing. We’re going to move that into its own blog entry at some point in the coming days. LOVE finding ways to use numbers to make points.

  14. Wolf1975 08/04/2010 at 8:27 PM #

    Reporters today felt like the team looked faster than recent years, I like hearing good thinks like speed, defencive aggressivness…….. no dark horse hype this year, can’t wait till scrimmage

  15. bone7483 08/04/2010 at 8:28 PM #

    Football season in and of itself is reason for enthusiasm. Unfortunately, for Wolfpack fans that is the only reason along side R. Wilson being our QB. As good as our O is, our ST and D are twice as bad.

    The thing that killed hope for a good year is the fact that TOB kept our special teams coach and D Coordinator after last years debacle. I can somewhat understand keeping Archer because of how bad our secondary was, but nobody was available to replace them. However, there is no excuse in my eyes to have kept the special teams coach. Every facet of special teams was an absolute failure.

    Either way, still looking forward to tailgating and the hope of out scoring some of our opponents.

  16. jpack 08/04/2010 at 8:29 PM #

    If Nate Irving is back to his old self, a lot of the defensive problems will be solved through his leadership.

  17. BJD95 08/04/2010 at 8:48 PM #

    I’m only really excited about firing season, to be truthful. I hope to be pleasantly surprised, but not expecting it or excited in the least (football or basketball).

    I would be cautiously optimistic if we adopted my “no punting plus many onside kicks” strategy. This defense isn’t stopping anyone, no matter the starting field position.

  18. rtpack24 08/05/2010 at 7:47 AM #

    If Nate Irving is healthy he makes everyone on the defensive side of the ball better. As bad as our defense was last year our special teams were as bad. We must improve vastly in these two areas to have a chance to win. I believe that Russell Wilson will have a great year.

  19. Statefan1998 08/05/2010 at 8:58 AM #

    What is the word on Good?

  20. Hot Sauce 08/05/2010 at 3:57 PM #

    if you listen to the mods on Pack Pride, our football team would probably be 3 point favorites against the 1985 Chicago Bears.

  21. Prowling Woofie 08/05/2010 at 4:21 PM #

    If our defensive front and/or LB’s can’t pressure the QB, it doesn’t matter if you’ve got 4 Deon Sanders’ in the defensive backfield – you won’t stop the passing game, and won’t get the D off the field.

    It will also help if the corners don’t give up 5-7 yard cushions on 3rd-and-3, too !

  22. VaWolf82 08/06/2010 at 8:59 AM #

    Andrew Jones ranks the ACC QBs

    .[Russell] Wilson throws so well on the run, is as cerebral as any player in the conference, and is a terrific leader, but must line up behind the ACC’s least experience group of blockers, have nobody of notable experience to hand the ball to, and must balance out what is likely the league’s worst defense.

    I don’t think that I’ve ever completely agreed with anything that Jones has written….until now.

  23. coach13 08/06/2010 at 1:28 PM #

    IDK…if you listen to Tenuta talk, he sure sounds confident, whether warrented or not. I think he’ll make something outta this crowd. All the D needs to be is 6 or 7th best…I would take mediocre.

    As for runningback, I think we’ll be fine, they are unproven but it’s really going to be up to the O Line…and folks, I am not sure O’Brien is all that, but I am confident that if I had to pick someone to make an O-line outta all ACC schools, TOB would be near the top. This is TOB’s O-Line. If I have any confidence in what he is capable of doing, it would be building a decent O-line.

    I think I share the feelings of many State fans…trying to stay positive…not terribly optimistic…but more than willing to be pleasantly surprised.

  24. PackMan2012 08/07/2010 at 9:05 PM #

    “Either way, still looking forward to tailgating and the hope of out scoring some of our opponents.” Bone, I couldn’t have said it better myself.

    So we’re not picked to by Heather Dinich to be a dark horse? Fine by me since she’s always wrong. Let the guys go out and play, at the very least we start by smashing Western.

  25. ADVENTUROO 08/08/2010 at 9:27 AM #

    WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL ARTICLE…..

    Did any of you read the WolfPacker this week. My wife made a comment on the RECRUITING….

    She said that it looked like the staff did NOT like TOB and cited some interesting statistics. If you read the comments about the TOP 20 NC Recruits (Page 146) and “SCORE” the UNC vs NCSU, it is PATHETIC.

    OFFERS MADE UNC 19 X 20 NCSU 18 X 20

    OFFERS ACCEPTED UNC 4 X 19 NCSU 0 X 18

    Still CONSIDERING UNC 7 X 15 NCSU 4 X 18

    So, basically, our INSTATE Recruiting SUCKS….and we (TOB, that is), did NOT retain our TOP RECRUITER when he came to town.

    I sure hope that TOB’s top hat has another “secret compartment” because when Wilson leave (as did Phillip Rivers), it looks like we can repost all the same $hit we wrote (some of us….I actually liked Chuck) about Chuckey.

    Really discouraging when your OWN inhouse RAG can not be positive….

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