The Abyss 34, State 27 (Sunday 10am Update)

'11 Football179

News & Observer:

“They had more energy than we did,” O’Brien said. “You can’t do that, especially on the road in a conference game. We have to look for leadership. We certainly haven’t gotten any out of anybody on this football team.”

You can say that again, coach. Keep in mind, leadership starts at the top.

*****

That went about as well as many of us expected. The losing in Winston-Salem (1997, ’99, ’03-’11) will continue at least until 2013; there are students that were in elementary school the last time State won in Winston. Once again, Jim Grobe outcoached TOB and Wake Forest was the better team.

Stat of the Day: TOB is now 0-11 on the road against Atlantic Division opponents. Wolfpack Unlimited!

Box Score

Feel free to meltdown below.

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

'11 Football

179 Responses to The Abyss 34, State 27 (Sunday 10am Update)

  1. cWOhLFrPAiCKs 09/11/2011 at 12:44 PM #

    “Quit handling Glennon with kid gloves and try to win games.”

    So are you implying that we are not currently trying to win games? How much better would our odds be if we force Glennon to make decisions he’s clearly not comfortable making yet and force our defense to be on the field even more? I think the coaching staff is doing their best to put Glennon and the TEAM in a position to win games, but we are simply not making plays when we need to.

    I seem to recall a lot of frustration last year after the UCF and Cincinnati WINS, and particularly the VT loss. We still had a GOOD season and won 9 games. There is still that potential this year. Wake may not be a great team, but they are an experienced team with a good QB. They made plays when it mattered yesterday and we did not. There are a lot of games left to play.

  2. Manu Ginobili 09/11/2011 at 12:45 PM #

    Meltdown!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Some people are really funny. Two weeks ago we were a BCS caliber team, our defense was among the best in the nation, Glennon was an unknown, yet he was a TOB/Bible type QB, so he was going to be next Matt Ryan, etc… Today most people is saying we will be lucky to win one more game this year, Archer/Bible should be fired, etc. I bet a lot of the posters here didn’t even watch the entire game, just checked the final score on their smart phones, and rushed to a computer to post their frustrations here. Come on, one poster said some pages before that our next opponent is South “Georgia”, enough said.

    We lost against a conference foe on the road, in a field that the great PR and RW also lost one game in their tenure as QB. I turned the TV about halfway through the first quarter, when we were 0-7 down. The game I saw may be different from most people here, but our defense was playing OK until 3rd down situations, when our tendency to give up the big play became apparent. The offense was sloppy during the first half as well, but at some point we established some kind of running game, it seemed that the OL finally came to play.

    I think we played better than Wake Forest during the second, but similar to last years’ game against EasyU, they were already up three TD I believe, making the comeback a real challenge. Yet, Glennon amassed something like 300 yards on the second half alone, and it could have been more, if some all-whatever TE and WR didn’t drop their passes. We even saw some RW magic (that 4th down pass for a long TD), I think Glennon played a very good game.

    We had one final possession that could have tied the game within two minutes to go, a constant in every game we lost last year. I loved the spirit the team showed in that second half coming from behind, I hope it would be a good lesson for these kids. I hated TOB decision to concede the game without using the timeouts, but honestly, it would have been a miracle anyway.

    My prediction is that this team will finish with the same record as last year and ranked again. Just beat Carolina.

  3. BladenWolf 09/11/2011 at 1:21 PM #

    Rocky start. This surprises people? Chill out and let the season unfold before your inner Nostradamus starts spewing sewage.

  4. Pack1998 09/11/2011 at 1:22 PM #

    – Defense is really weak . . . to win a lot our offense needs to be very good. We hoped that was NOT needed this year, but unfortunately it is the case.

    – This is going to be a year where we evolve and get better as the season progresses, aligning to the maturity of Glennon.

    – Wake Forest receive a lot of home cooked calls . . . a few close pass interfence calls missed. Hold calls missed. A few of those calls go the other way and the outcome changes.

    – TOB is a good coach, Bible is good . . . question not going to the run more early and always. I like the I-formation more.

    – Archer is suspect, and it is really the scheme which is the problem . . . gotta get pressure on QB or it all falls apart and you get sliced apart by a decent QB / WR combo.

    – If TOB beats UNC and gets us to 7 wins that is a solid season this year. Need Glennon to evolve and be mentally strong.

    – The sky is not falling . . . what did you really expect this year. The only gurantee for fans is a great tailgate!

  5. Wulfpack 09/11/2011 at 1:45 PM #

    I’m as disappointed as the next guy but the season is not lost – yet. The good news is we have a favorable schedule these next few weeks to work out the kinks. Our most meaningful games aren’t until Oct/Nov. The bad news is we have looked horrid for the better part of two games against bad competition. There are so many issues, you don’t even know where to start.

    I do agree that Glennon’s kid gloves need to come off. He clearly played his best ball yesterday when the deck was stacked and we began going downfield. Enough of this “trying to break him in” stuff. If we wait too much longer, it won’t matter when and if he figures it out.

    Coming in I thought we get 8 wins. That benchmark is certainly still attainable, but right with the way we are playing we’ll be fortunate just to have a winning record.

  6. choppack1 09/11/2011 at 2:17 PM #

    A couple of thoughts here:
    First off – Wolfpack fans deserve better. I don’t know of a more loyal bunch of fans who are continiously disappointed more than us. I was at the game Saturday, and it was probably 60/40 (Wake to State)…we deserve better.

    Now, for the truth:
    – Amato had a better record at FSU and at UNC than he did at Wake.
    – We’ve won what, once there since 1995?
    – Russell Wilson was 0-1 at Wake – and threw more INTs than Glennon did (and he threw worse passes vs. them as well.)
    – Rivers was 1-1 at Wake
    – If you thought we were going to walk in there and come out with a win, you probably still believe in the Easter Bunny and/or Santa Claus.

    On the team – on offense we’ve got to do a better job catching the ball, opening up holes for the running and Glennon has to do a better job of not staring down his receivers.

    On Defense – in the second half the secondary tightened up, but our pass rush was virtually non-existent. Watching yesterday’s game, I was thinking about our team 2 years ago…That year, our D did an OK job on 1st and 2nd down, but couldn’t make stops on 3rd down. We can’t afford another year of that, or we’ll be lucky to go 5-7 again.

    Now, on to the staff.

    I think there’s one big reason fans are not happy about our program right now…and that’s because TOB has yet to produce the results he had at BC. If has a winning year this year, I think things will cool down, but until then, I expect there to be a lot friction around here and every game to be a “referndum” of his coaching ability.

    I remember when TOB name first surfaced, SFN staff went on record as TOB > Paul Johnson (the preferred candidate at the time). I wanted PJ only because I knew under TOB we’d see what we saw last year (when we were good) and what we saw Saturday.

    But one thing to remember w/ TOB – is this isn’t the same staff. One key component is missing…his DC. His DC is now HC at BC (I’ll be here all week.) It’s pretty obvious that our D has been very bad more than it has been good since TOB arrived, and I’ll just say that I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the D has been below average and there was one large missing link.

    I did see some good things. I was impressed with our field goal kicker. I also thought our pass protection improved as the game went on.

    Finally, I liked how Glennon toughed it out after a miserable start. We lost the game, but we faced major adversity…He didn’t quit, he battled, his body language remained positive and he made plays. I feel much better about our QB than I do our receivers, QBs, OL, and defense right now.

  7. PackFamily 09/11/2011 at 2:52 PM #

    “So are you implying that we are not currently trying to win games?”
    Not trying hard enough. And the evidence was in the second half v. first.
    I am a huge TOB and Pack supporter but that doesn’t mean there is no room for criticism.

    D has been a major problem under Archer. I can post this after a win if you like.

    And my comment about kid gloves is supportive of Glennon. He has shown already he has the goods and we can trust him to open the playbook.

  8. PackFamily 09/11/2011 at 3:15 PM #

    I agree that getting on Bryan and Cole for what had been anomaly in their performance is unfair.

    What is fair, I think , is to criticize what have been some concerning patterns.

    We consistently start slow and try to catch up. We saw it on our first game with TOB v UCF. We saw it a lot last year v. Clemson and ECU. Also v. UNC but a series of lucky bounces allowed us back in that game.

    The zone D can work, but we need a new DC

  9. Spike 09/11/2011 at 3:22 PM #

    Am I missing something or does our defense have trouble tackling? I know this is not the only problem but it seems like we never just wrap the guy up and take him down and it takes about three or four defenders to take them down.

  10. MISTA WOLF 09/11/2011 at 5:17 PM #

    This L goes solely on the coaching staff. I still can’t believe I paid 60 dollars for my girlfriend and I to go to the game and watch us get beat down like we did but at least I did get to toss the football and laugh with some old buddies of mine. The only problem I have (granted there are many but this one particular) is when you have a team in 3rd and mid or 3rd and long you don’t drop 8 and rush 3 and give the QB 7 seconds to throw the ball. You dial up the blitz and make the QB throw underneath to one of his hot routes and stop them before the 1st down marker. I don’t know how many passes Price had yesterday in the 15 to 25 yard range yesterday on 3rd downs but I do know it was at least 3 to 5. You play to win the game and I didn’t see that yesterday. We played defense every series like it was a minute to go in the game and we didn’t want them to get behind us and to let the clock run out.
    Besides the interception Glennon threw right to a backer I felt he played very well yesterday. I wish the WR’s would be given some more option routes for them to read the coverage and make some plays. I felt like every route ran and most of Glennon’s passes were timed routes or right out of a break.
    Overall I am very disappointed but the sun did rise this morning which is always a blessing. 🙂

  11. Rick 09/11/2011 at 5:34 PM #

    “Some people are really funny. Two weeks ago we were a BCS caliber team, our defense was among the best in the nation, Glennon was an unknown, yet he was a TOB/Bible type QB, so he was going to be next Matt Ryan,”

    The only thing more annoying that meltdowns are the people who use complete hyperbole to try to make a foolish and irrelevant point.

    Please find me one post that says any of this complete crap. Otherwise make a point instead of spouting gibberish.

  12. GoldenChain 09/11/2011 at 5:38 PM #

    “Am I missing something or does our defense have trouble tackling?”

    AMEN!!!
    On the last TD on the runback there must have been 4 (or more) missed tackles. Too much trying to knock a guy down vs wrapping him up.

  13. GoldenChain 09/11/2011 at 5:55 PM #

    Rick is right. Seriously, the only person who mentioned Ryan was TOB. I posted last week that RW was like 1-5 and 20 yds in his 1st start vs Glennon’s 156. Yesterday Glennon threw for over 300 yds and 3 TDs (vs 1 pick). If your QB throws for over 300 yds and 3 scores w/1 TO and you lose I can promise it isn’t the QB’s fault.
    You guys can say what you want but in two games Glennon has thrown for 471 yds 4TD against 1 Int, that’s pretty good.
    But he’s been sacked 4 times …and thought the OL was supposed to be our string-point!
    And the DB’s have given up a total of 610yds in the air in two games! You won’t beat many people when you get lit up like that!

  14. mak4dpak 09/11/2011 at 6:21 PM #

    Hopefully TOB will resolve the problems from the WF game, as he seemed really pissed. And hopefully BC, will continue its losing ways, then perhaps we can reunite the BC defensive coordinator back with TOB and his staff, then rid ourselves of Archer. And hopefully TOB can convince Bible to be a bit more creative with his predictable play calling. We have all come to know the plays pretty well, as has our opposition.

  15. GAWolf 09/11/2011 at 6:59 PM #

    I sort of feel like a soothsayer with my pregame comment here:

    http://www.statefansnationforums.com/topic.php?id=5698

    While we didn’t score a TD on our first two possessions we also scored only field goals in the second quarter when Wake was giving us a chance to jump back in early. I knew Wake would score, as usual, on Archer’s D.

    hopefully Sweezy coming back and some others up front will give us enough QB pressure that our weak secondary can keep up briefly with opposing receivers.

    There’s hope for the future with Glennon’s second half, but that hope is dashed as long as anybody’s cousin’s offense can move the ball on us at will.

  16. 3boys 09/11/2011 at 7:52 PM #

    If you would have told me at noon yesterday that MG would have 17 more passing yards and two more passing TD’s than Price, I would have told you we would win the game. Starting the season, our D was suppose to carry us, I know that we have had injuries, but who hasn’t?

    We need the aggressiveness that Tenuta brought last year, not the soft defense we have played this year. O will continue to get better, Moose is two weeks away . . .D has me worried.

  17. 61Packer 09/11/2011 at 8:13 PM #

    I don’t think we’ll beat anyone in our division this season unless it’s Maryland or maybe Clemson, and right now we’d be a home underdog against either. I also think UNC is better and their defense is much better. What first appeared to be an easy schedule may backfire with games in Winston-Salem, Charlottesville and Chestnut Hill, places where we seldom if ever win. We’re not going to beat this FSU team at Doak, and I think Cincinnati could light us up like they did Austin Peay. Georgia Tech without doubt will move the ball on us at will unless something drastically changes.

    I don’t think Glennon is a bad QB, he just needs some game experience, but he’s nowhere near the level of player needed to single-handedly overcome a mediocre offense and a defense that has about as much confidence as a Clemson basketball team in Chapel Hill.

    Until we get a coaching staff that can put a competitive team on our opponents’ fields, things are not going to change. When we come in, the other team sees us as road kill, and we seldom disappoint, usually falling behind quickly. Only a cupcake schedule like the one this season will keep us in the bowl picture, if you consider a 7-5 record a successful season.

    I don’t care a whole lot for Mike Leach’s abrasive personality, but he’s out there, as are a lot of other quality big-name current coaches who could be brought here to fix this program, including Skip Holtz, Pat Fitzgerald, Bobby Petrino and Gary Patterson to name a few. These are coaches who would not only bring in highly-regarded recruits, but would also bring in highly-regarded assistants, something we badly need if I’m reading this website right.

    They would also bring confidence to this program, something we haven’t see around here for any sustained period since Dick Sheridan departed.

  18. tuckerdorm1983 09/11/2011 at 8:30 PM #

    I will follow the wolfpack sports into hell. PERIOD Yeah we could be better, but after all my belly aching when they kick they ball off every weekend I am full of hope and confidence that we can win.
    Sure we got off to a poor start and both the defense and offense were slow to get going. We almost came back to win. We fell short, but if we start where we left off against Wake we are going to beat a lot of teams.

  19. eas 09/11/2011 at 8:42 PM #

    I think a big change with the DC and OC would do wonders for our program. WF basically recruits nearly the same as we do with 2&3 star recruits that are coached up (obviously we get a few more 4+ star chances than they do). Grobe and TOB are very similar in running a good program.

    However, we can clearly see how an aggressive and “fresh” play calling can change the game. Heck…..the offense I seen on Saturday (WF) looked a lot like a Norm Chow style. Lots of misdirecting the D with unique plays followed by quick crossing routes. Not saying it was as good as a Chow offense but rather similar in the fact that it was actually enjoyable/successful.

    Friends or no friends TOB has got to bring in some fresh ideas or at least send his assistants to some clinics on how to keep the opposing team guessing. I really think his best bet is to demote Archer and let Tenuta have a shot. If that doesn’t work then be planning on bringing someone on at the end of the season or earlier. Bible….well he just has to scrap his OLD play book and really mix things up. Otherwise the obvious is needed.

    MG is fine by me and he will continue to improve with time.

  20. mak4dpak 09/11/2011 at 9:12 PM #

    Glad you agree, eas. I just don’t know if TOB is gonna do that. Though he should clearly resolve the OC and DC problem, and very soon.

  21. Wulfpack 09/11/2011 at 9:21 PM #

    TOB is going to rest his laurels on Bible and Archer — I don’t see any changes being made as he’s nearing the end of his career. I totally agree we need to mix it up and get some new blood in here. But TOB is about as loyal as they come. Wake completely out-schemed us for 3 quarters.

  22. ancsu87 09/11/2011 at 9:35 PM #

    I hope none of you quit your day jobs even though you all think you are some expert in coaching a major college level football team. It is embrassing to be a NC State alumni when reading most of these posts.

    On any given day any team can lose for a multitude of reasons. Perhaps they lost because they believed they were a 11-0 team like most of you jack-off on here felt before the season started. We are 1-1 and lost a conference road opener. The season is not over.

    Maybe you should be more upset that we never seem to be allowed to open the conference season at home.

    How about you guys just STFU and chill out.

  23. Tuffy2 09/11/2011 at 10:02 PM #

    Whether TOB is ready for the beach or DY is ready for him to go to the beach is a question they only know. I will say until the remains of Lee Fowler are gone it will take an individual like a RW to overcome predictable play calling like what we have. When plays brake down now the play is over period. No trick plays here! GOD FORBID!!

    In football if a coach has a dry personality he better be coaching a school that has no trouble recruiting and is a well established power. It is an emotional game and the emotion better come from up top especially if it is a program like ours.

    The last time I heard a coach say we need a leader like TOB stated, I believe that was Sid talking about the basketball team and we all know how that worked out.

  24. colapack 09/11/2011 at 10:39 PM #

    Looks like volleyball has turned things around a bit. Saw in the paper where they had one 9 straight games with a second year coach.

  25. Wolfy__79 09/11/2011 at 10:54 PM #

    i just listened to a bit of TOB’s post game presser, it was actually a little refreshing. he said he’s going to “get it out of them” and pretty much took responsibility for the slow start. well, that’s exactly what i wanted to hear. i hope he gets it “straightened out.”

    i still say kick archer to the curb though!

1 … 4 5 6 7 8

Leave a Reply