North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack moves up in AP Poll
9/6/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
The latest ACC statistics show NC State dead last in total offense, rushing offense and passing offense. But then again, the league doesn't list things like points off blocked punts. If it did, the Wolfpack would lead not only the ACC, but the universe as well. State's amazing punt block unit has put 23 points on the board with four blocks.
There are other more subtle statistics that have also helped State defeat its first two opponents. Between them, Texas and South Carolina converted just 6-35 (.171%) third downs against the Pack's opportunistic defense. NC State's nine quarterback sacks through two games is also significant. Constant pressure from the front seven has forced opposing quarterbacks to make a lot of forced throws.
Despite the positives associated with his defense and special teams, NC State coach Mike O'Cain was asked a lot of questions about his struggling offense at his weekly press conference on Monday.
"On any given play, we may have nine or ten people doing exactly what they're supposed to be doing, but that one who's not is hurting us," O'Cain said. "We need to really improve our passing game, which we weren't able to do on Saturday night. We had all intentions in going in there on Saturday night and throwing the football, but the weather virtually took away all of our passing game."
Assuming tropical storm Dennis is now gone for good, the Wolfpack will have a chance to tune-up that passing attack in practice this week before it host's William and Mary on Saturday night.
"We would like for the offense to step-up and be more of a contributor this week," said quarterback Jamie Barnette. "The timing and rhythm of the offense is coming around. We improved last week even though the statistics don't show it. I still feel very confident in this offense."
Barnette's ineffectiveness has led some in the media to speculate that the senior signal caller isn't 100 percent healthy. "As far as I know, everything on my body is doing great," he chuckled.
The rest of the NC State team is healthy as well. Though he re-aggravated an old ankle injury against South Carolina, tailback Ray Robinson should be back to full strength by this weekend.
