CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — An offensive line can make a quarterback look a lot better or worse than he really is.

And during Saturday’s game against Boston College, Harrison Beck looked horrible at times.

Beck made bad decisions. He rushed throws. He threw five interceptions and lost a fumble. But he isn’t fully to blame — especially when he doesn’t have much time to sit in the pocket and look for an open receiver.

When the first-time starter made a big play, it was for one of two reasons: he rolled out of the pocket or he escaped pressure and found an open man.

The first two offensive plays of the game for N.C. State were bubble screens to senior receiver Darrell Blackman — a quick, efficient play that doesn’t require the offensive line to block for more than a second.

When Beck found Blackman and junior running back Andre Brown for big gains, Beck had run out of the pocket in what looked to be broken plays.

And Beck’s running touchdown? A misdirection that had the defensive line running the wrong way, allowing Beck to walk into the end zone.

However, when the quarterback dropped back and tried to sit in the pocket, that’s when he got in trouble. He constantly tried to throw passes off his back foot due to the pressure, and he threw passes when people were in his face or already had him wrapped up.

Blackman said Beck can make the right plays and the right reads if he’s given the time.

“Hopefully, we can get more protection for him,” Blackman said. “Because when he gets that protection and that time, he can step up in that pocket and really let the ball go — we can have big plays.”

Aside from Beck’s performance, the running game was nonexistent.

Brown and freshman running back Jamelle Eugene had nowhere to go the entire contest. Not counting Nathan Franklin’s muffed punt, the Wolfpack finished with 67 yards on 23 offensive carries.

Take away Brown’s 47-yard scamper late in the fourth quarter against the Eagles’ second-string defense, and State had only 20 offensive rushing yards on the day — an average of less than a yard per carry.

And Brown and Eugene are no duds.

While coach Tom O’Brien said BC had a very talented defensive front, he said the offensive line has to improve.

“They beat us to the punch,” O’Brien said. “They looked like they got into us before we could get into them.”

There’s still some hope for the Pack with Jeraill McCuller, who could return whenever O’Brien saw fit. McCuller was slated to be the team’s starting right tackle before he was charged with a DWI and O’Brien “disciplined” him.

With offensive line coach Don Horton, State has a coach who has experience and is considered one of the best O-line coaches in the country. But in Raleigh, he has his work cut out for him.

And if he can’t do anything for this line, this could be a long season for the Pack.

Tell Nick if you think Beck is to blame or if he should keep the starting quarterback job at [email protected], or call him at (919) 515-2411.