After Saturday’s victory over Liberty was in the books, N.C. State fans walked out of Carter-Finley Stadium with more questions than answers. How did the Wolfpack defense manage to give up so many yards? Why did it take the team so long to put the Flames away? And will this team be ready for Wake Forest next week?
While some of the questions may not garner the simplest response, the final one should be answered with a resounding “yes.” While the Pack’s debut was not what people had hoped it would be, they have the opportunity to open ACC play with a statement win and do something that no State team has done since the Philip Rivers era: win at Wake Forest. Even those who bleed red and white struggled to recall the last time the Pack returned from Winston-Salem with a victory. The fact is that it has been 10 years since they’ve won, and the losing streak will continue if State plays like it did last week.
Despite entering the showdown at 0-1, Wake Forest showed they are a different team than they were last season, when the Pack cruised to a 38-3 victory at Carter-Finley. Senior T.J. Graham watched Wake last week and was impressed.
“It was a pretty good game,” Graham said. “They should have pulled that one out. Unfortunately they lost, but they should’ve won…it just came down to the last second.”
Anchoring the Demon Deacon offense is sophomore quarterback Tanner Price. While young, he has a full season of experience as starter, putting up memorable performances along the way.
Last week, Price played what some might consider the best game of his career, finishing with 289 yards passing and three touchdowns before succumbing to a leg injury in the fourth quarter. He showed that he knows how to manage a game while employing a short passing attack that has been synonymous with Wake Forest football in recent years.
If the Pack wants to throw him off his rhythm and take away the passing game, they need to get to him early and often. Look for the Pack to mix up reads while liberally employing blitzes to exploit weaknesses in the pass blocking of the offensive line. If they can apply the needed pressure, the secondary should have an easier time matching up with Wake’s quick but inexperienced wide receivers.
While stopping the Deacons through the air will surely help, the Pack also needs to keep running back Joshua Harris in check. While his numbers against Syracuse were forgettable, he has shown that he has potential to open up the field with his explosiveness and blazing speed. State’s front seven will need to win the battle in the trenches against Wake’s experienced but shaky offensive line, which may prove difficult with the absence of senior J.R. Sweezy, who is out with a fractured foot. The Pack’s best chance to win comes with the success of the patchwork defensive line and their ability to prevent the running game from being established.
Mike Glennon should show improvement this week against a secondary that has been porous in recent years. Junior R.J. Mattes recognized that improved performance from the offensive line is imperative to the success of Glennon and the Pack offense.
“We had some blown assignments and beat ourselves [on last weeks sacks],” Mattes said. “It took us a while to get the running game started last week, so we’ll get it started in the first half instead of the second half”
The offense will take on a Demon Deacon defense that has frequently struggled to stop both the run and the pass, a result of an undersized defensive line and weak secondary. The Deacs often have to compensate for their lack of size by utilizing deception, showing one play, then audibling another. This trick keeps offenses on their heels and allows for Wake’s players to play to their strengths. Senior tight end George Bryan described the schemes as difficult, both as a blocker and a receiver.
“They give a lot of fronts to try and confuse you,” Bryan said. “[They] do a good job of confusing the offense and making people figure out what they got to do before the ball’s snapped.”
Expect senior Curtis Underwood and junior James Washington to see a lot of action in the first half while State seeks to both establish the run to counter mixed defenses and take pressure off Glennon as he adjusts to life as a starter. Don’t be surprised if the coaches try out a no-huddle offense as well; Wake looked tired and winded in the fourth quarter of their loss to Syracuse, an indication of a lack of conditioning. If State can get out to an early lead, Wake will struggle to respond as they typically wear down as the game progresses and struggle to come back from behind.
The Pack enters the weekend favored by a point and hoping to come home with their first away victory over their in-state rival since 2001. A win relies heavily upon the defensive line, who could be missing two starters, and Glennon’s performance.
“It’s real important [to get the win], especially being a senior and being my last year,” Bryan said. “But it’s also important for the team to get a win. We haven’t won there in ten years. That’s a big
