NCSU Preview:

[ajoytoy]

NCSU Preview:
Info taken from Foxsports and The News and Observer

Last Year: 5-6 (no Bowl)

The Team that led the nation in total defense and pass efficiency and second in pass defense returns for the 2005/2006 campaign hungry to prove last year?s record was a fluke and the real team is ready to roll on Sept. 5th against the defending ACC champion Hokies.

To break down last season, it can be stated simply that they loses were clearly the fault of the offense. The Pack finished 114th in the nation in turnover margin, gave the ball away 32 times (16 fumbles and 16 interceptions). Returning QB Jay Davis is not the only one to blame. Injuries to the Offensive Line and bad ball handling by the RB?s contributed to the sluggish offense last year. Junior center Leroy Harris, who missed the last four games of 2004 with a shoulder injury, is healthy again. Junior tackle Derek Morris is slimmer. Senior guard John McKeon is a two-year starter and junior tackle James Newby was named the line's most improved player in the spring. Sophomore Kelani Heppe is pushing for a starting spot at guard.

The defense should be stellar again led by one of the nation's best front four, while the back seven has enough speed to cover up for inexperienced mistakes. New defensive Coach Steve Dunlap states ?We play denial coverage -- bump-and-run, man-up in people's faces, which doesn't lend itself to as many interceptions. The press man-to-man makes it tougher but also allows you to pressure the quarterback, so that's the trade-off.? Here's a quick look at the nation's best defensive
lines.
NC State Wolfpack
The Wolfpack's man-to-man defensive scheme is
predicated on front-four pressure, and defensive ends
Manny Lawson and Mario Williams provide more than
enough of it. There is not a unit in the nation with a
better perimeter duo than the one that resides in
Raleigh. Lawson is the smaller of the two, but he is a
freakish athlete. At 245 pounds, Lawson is one of the
fastest players on the NC State squad. Williams
doesn't possess quite as much speed but, the 6-foot-7,
285-pounder is a more well-rounded player. In 2004,
Lawson and Williams combined for 29 tackles for
loss and 14 sacks.

The unit lacks massive run-pluggers in the middle, but
powerful, high-motor DTs DeMarcus "Tank" Tyler and
John McCargo return as starters. The group will have
great depth if sophomore DT DeMario Pressley plays
to the lofty expectations that were set for him as a
top recruit.


Best Offensive Threat: Senior TE T.J. Williams. There isn't a lot to get too fired up about with the offense, but Williams is an All-ACC caliber player. He's big, can block, and led the team in receiving last year. State will have to get the ball to him to open up lanes for the talent in the backfield. Few teams in the nation are deeper at tailback than the Wolfpack; Bobby Washington, Darrell Blackman and Reggie Davis will compete with freshmen Toney Baker and Andre Brown.

Best Defensive Threats: Junior DE?s Mario Williams and Manny Lawson. The two future NFL?ers combined for 13 sacks, 27 tackles for loss and 36 quarterback hurries. These 2 phenomenal players will put a lot of pressure on opposing offenses, hopefully resulting in many ?3 and outs?. . In the secondary, Garland Heath and DaJuan Morgan are competing at roverback to replace Andre Maddox, and the fight at free safety involves senior J.J. Jones and sophomore Miguel Scott

The Pack replaced both coordinators after last season, bringing in Marc Trestman to run the offense and Steve Dunlap to oversee the defense. Trestman, a former NFL assistant, has installed a West Coast offensive system but will try to keep any new wrinkles a closely guarded secret until the opener. State must significantly reduce its turnovers and careless penalties that were a big part of the Pack's losing season in 2004.


Returning O Lettermen: 28
Returning D Lettermen: 23
Returning ST Lettermen: 3
Lettermen Lost: 17

ACC Atlantic Division: (projected finish)
FSU
NCSU
Boston College
Clemson
Maryland
Wake Forest

ACC Coastal Division: (projected finish)
Virginia Tech
Miami
Virginia
Georgia Tech
UNC
Duke

Projected Finish for the Pack: 8-3 (Peach Bowl)

 

[mw]

Why did Herring leave?

 

[ajoytoy]

http://www.chathamjournal.com/weekly/sports/football/arkansas-hires-herring-as.shtml

lateral shift

 

[Hokie Fan]

How can NCSU be a 5- point dog to my Hokies..????
I will be rooting against my money in that opener....

 

[ajoytoy]

cbs sportsline's :

cbs sportsline's :

Predicted order of finish:

Atlantic Division
1. Florida State: Bobby Bowden could play both quarterbacks (Xavier Lee and Drew Weatherford). The point is, in the old days both would have spent at least a couple of years on the bench before they got their chance.

2. Boston College: Does anyone else think BC can win the Atlantic? The Eagles last won fewer than seven games in 1998. They've won at least eight four years in a row. They are coming off a share of the Big East title and a 9-3 season. BC hosts FSU in Week 3. That might be a showdown for the Atlantic.

3. N.C. State: The shine has worn off Chuck Amato a bit. The defense led the nation last year but the offense didn't measure up. The key to a turnaround is better ball security. Only three teams were worse in turnover margin.

4. Maryland: There's little reason to think the Terps will be better than last year's unwatchable 5-6 squad. There are only 11 starters back from Ralph Friedgen's first non-bowl team. Fridge is upset at the lack of productivity at quarterback.

5. Clemson: How thin is the ACC at quarterback? Charlie Whitehurst (seven touchdowns, 17 interceptions) was the media's pick as the All-ACC quarterback.

6. Wake Forest: Hopefully, Jim Grobe can use Wake as a steppingstone to a bigger, better program. He drives opponents crazy with his game planning. The Demon Deacons believe they can shock the world -- sort of -- Sept. 10 at Nebraska.

Coastal Division
1. Virginia Tech: Beamer doesn't necessarily have to rely on Vick's arm. There are his legs and those of tailbacks Cedric Humes and Mike Imoh. Defensive end Darryl Tapp is set for an All-America season. The schedule comes down to opening day against N.C. State and a visit by Miami on Nov. 5.

2. Miami: Just can't bring myself to pick the Canes to win the Coastal. It comes down to this: Is Miami going up or going down? Larry Coker is breaking in a new quarterback and has lost one, two and three games the last three seasons. What would be a run of excellence at other schools is reason for concern in Coral Gables. Plus, Virginia Tech has won seven of the last 10 meetings.

3. Georgia Tech: Chan Gailey is off to the best three-year start by a new coach since Bobby Dodd (21-17). Yet high expectations and a mild heart attack in the offseason cloud the picture. Quarterback Reggie Ball has to have a breakout year.

4. Virginia: The best system in the ACC hasn't translated to the best record. Al Groh has recruited like a madman. Now the Cavaliers must take two out of three from Florida State (Oct. 15), Virginia Tech (Nov. 19) and Miami (No. 26) for the season to be a success.

5. North Carolina: John Bunting delivered an upset of Miami and a bowl when no one gave him a chance of surviving. Now with 16 starters returning, dare we say the Tar Heels might be on their way back?

6. Duke: Eight victories this decade. Twenty-three lettermen are gone from last year's 2-9 team. Next question?

 

[mw]

BC second in the Atlantic? I just don't get this BC hype. The ACC is a big step up from the Big East. They've lost to Wake each of the last two years, and could easily finish LAST in their division if they do it again.