Passing Game Looking to Stay Efficient After Bye Week
9/27/2016 7:35:00 AM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - After sitting through a bye this past weekend, NC State will start its conference slate hosting Wake Forest at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
With the past weekend off, the Wolfpack used the week to not only rest up for nine straight games, but to also look back on the first three games of the young season.
"I felt like we had a good opportunity to look at some of the little details and work on fundamentals," said head coach Dave Doeren. "We also got good recovery time for some of our key guys, which is always good at any point in a season. It's us first, what can we improve on. Then we look at our opponent coming up and what they do."
"During this bye week, we had to reflect on both the good and the bad thus far," said wide receiver Stephen Louis. "We regrouped, and will try to get better within ourselves. We game planned a little more on Wake Forest since we had some extra time, so we started to watch film early to get a head start on them."
One area the Pack hopes to pick up where it left off after the Old Dominion game is the accuracy and efficiency of the Wolfpack passing attack.
With a .763 completion percentage (61-of-80), first-year Wolfpack quarterback Ryan Finley is the most accurate thrower in the FBS so far in 2016. Only seven FBS quarterbacks have completed over 70 percent of their passes this year.
The Phoenix, Ariz., native has 80 pass attempts this season and has thrown for six touchdowns against no interceptions. In the last 37 seasons (dating back to Tol Avery in 1980), only one Wolfpack QB has attempted more passes before throwing his first interception as a starter at NC State: Philip Rivers in 2000 (99). No former Wolfpack starter has entered his fourth start without already throwing one INT.
Finley is one of just two starting ACC QBs who has not thrown an interception this season.
"Our chemistry on offense is all based on our preparation," said Louis. "What you see on game day is what we've been doing all summer and in preseason camp. We came in every other day to throw and it has been showing so far. Coaches put us in great positions, and (QR) Ryan (Finley) is leading us out there."
"Ryan is really good and accurate," said Louis. "He has a good mindset, and he prepares really well. I'm not surprised with his accuracy, he practices really well and you see that in games."
Last time out, Finley completed 24-of-28 passes for 281 yards and a career-best three TD passes against Old Dominion. In all, Pack QBs completed 32 passes to 12 different receivers in the win.
"We have more guys that can make plays after the catch now," said Doeren. "We're getting them out in space, and spreading defenses out. That helps our passing game obviously, but it's helping the inside running game as well."
The Pack has used the efficient offense to turn trips to the red zone into trips into the end zone.
"Every time we get into the red zone, we need to come away with touchdowns," said Doeren.
In 2013, Doeren's first year as head coach, the Pack struggle in the red zone, ranking 123rd in the FBS in scoring a TD in only 17 of its 39 (43.6%) red zone trips. Each of the last two seasons that figure went up dramatically, as NC State ranked fourth nationally in 2014 (73.1%) and 10th last season (72.2%).
So far in 2016, that percentage is even higher. NC State has found the red zone 19 times in the first three games, and has come away with 16 touchdowns. In the Pack's 49-22 win over Old Dominion, NC State was a perfect 7-for-7 in scoring a TD when reaching the red zone.
"We are in that part of our schedule, the start of ACC play, where the competition is getting better," said Louis. "We have to have no mistakes. Extra practice and paying attention to details in every game the rest of the year has to be our mentality."
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With the past weekend off, the Wolfpack used the week to not only rest up for nine straight games, but to also look back on the first three games of the young season.
"I felt like we had a good opportunity to look at some of the little details and work on fundamentals," said head coach Dave Doeren. "We also got good recovery time for some of our key guys, which is always good at any point in a season. It's us first, what can we improve on. Then we look at our opponent coming up and what they do."
"During this bye week, we had to reflect on both the good and the bad thus far," said wide receiver Stephen Louis. "We regrouped, and will try to get better within ourselves. We game planned a little more on Wake Forest since we had some extra time, so we started to watch film early to get a head start on them."
One area the Pack hopes to pick up where it left off after the Old Dominion game is the accuracy and efficiency of the Wolfpack passing attack.
With a .763 completion percentage (61-of-80), first-year Wolfpack quarterback Ryan Finley is the most accurate thrower in the FBS so far in 2016. Only seven FBS quarterbacks have completed over 70 percent of their passes this year.
The Phoenix, Ariz., native has 80 pass attempts this season and has thrown for six touchdowns against no interceptions. In the last 37 seasons (dating back to Tol Avery in 1980), only one Wolfpack QB has attempted more passes before throwing his first interception as a starter at NC State: Philip Rivers in 2000 (99). No former Wolfpack starter has entered his fourth start without already throwing one INT.
Finley is one of just two starting ACC QBs who has not thrown an interception this season.
"Our chemistry on offense is all based on our preparation," said Louis. "What you see on game day is what we've been doing all summer and in preseason camp. We came in every other day to throw and it has been showing so far. Coaches put us in great positions, and (QR) Ryan (Finley) is leading us out there."
"Ryan is really good and accurate," said Louis. "He has a good mindset, and he prepares really well. I'm not surprised with his accuracy, he practices really well and you see that in games."
Last time out, Finley completed 24-of-28 passes for 281 yards and a career-best three TD passes against Old Dominion. In all, Pack QBs completed 32 passes to 12 different receivers in the win.
"We have more guys that can make plays after the catch now," said Doeren. "We're getting them out in space, and spreading defenses out. That helps our passing game obviously, but it's helping the inside running game as well."
The Pack has used the efficient offense to turn trips to the red zone into trips into the end zone.
"Every time we get into the red zone, we need to come away with touchdowns," said Doeren.
In 2013, Doeren's first year as head coach, the Pack struggle in the red zone, ranking 123rd in the FBS in scoring a TD in only 17 of its 39 (43.6%) red zone trips. Each of the last two seasons that figure went up dramatically, as NC State ranked fourth nationally in 2014 (73.1%) and 10th last season (72.2%).
So far in 2016, that percentage is even higher. NC State has found the red zone 19 times in the first three games, and has come away with 16 touchdowns. In the Pack's 49-22 win over Old Dominion, NC State was a perfect 7-for-7 in scoring a TD when reaching the red zone.
"We are in that part of our schedule, the start of ACC play, where the competition is getting better," said Louis. "We have to have no mistakes. Extra practice and paying attention to details in every game the rest of the year has to be our mentality."
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