North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Closes Out Non-Conference Slate Against SMU
9/15/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Tony Haynes
Prior to the 2000 college football season, the conventional thinking was that NC State would need to emerge from its first three games, all against non-conference opponents, with an unbeaten record if it was going to have a chance of putting together a successful campaign.
Now that Arkansas State and Indiana have been disposed of, the Wolfpack is one win away from reaching that goal. Of course, the SMU team that will visit Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday night would like nothing more than to spoil the Pack's grand plan.
"Coming in we knew we had to take it one game at a time, but we also knew we needed to win these three," said NC State quarterback Philip Rivers. "I think it's very important we come in and take care of this one. SMU beat Kansas and they lost this last one, but they're going to come in here ready to go."
After opening with a 31-17 win over the Jayhawks, the Mustangs stumbled last week at Texas-El Paso, falling 37-20. Like NC State, SMU has had success moving the football-- especially through the air. Junior quarterback Josh McCown hit 22-of-46 passes for 420 yards in a losing cause last week. Overall, the Mustangs have averaged 406 yards and 25.5 points in their first two games.
"Probably the biggest thing we'll need to do will be to get ourselves lined up correctly," explained Wolfpack coach Chuck Amato. "They do a lot of shifting from one set to another in hopes of confusing the defense. Every time you do something like that on offense, you have to make an adjustment on defense. If you make the wrong adjustment it could be an easy six points."
Amato has expressed some concerns about his defense, which has yielded 69 points and an average of 207 yards rushing in two games.
"We've got to tackle better," he said. "We are getting to the football, but then we are fanning. That is something that is fundamental. Blocking and tackling are what football is all about. Another thing is that we are having entirely too many missed assignments. You don't win championships winning games 52-49. The fans love it, but the fact of the matter is we have to play defense to get where we want to be. Thank goodness the mistakes we are making are correctable."
Offensively, NC State has been better than expected. With the remarkable freshman Rivers leading the way, the Wolfpack ranks second in the nation in passing offense (399 ypg.) and third in total offense (506.5 ypg.). Individually, Rivers leads the nation in total offense (395.5).
"He's a very accurate thrower," said SMU coach Mike Cavan. "I hope we can put some pressure on him; he's a very efficient passer, and pressure is always the component you want when facing someone like him."
But if he's well protected, Rivers will likely have success exploiting a very young and inexperienced Mustangs secondary. SMU starts three freshmen and a sophomore in its defensive backfield.
Rivers has 'aired it out' in NC State's first two games, throwing a whopping total of 109 passes.
"The most I ever threw in a game in high school was 24 times," Rivers said. "I knew we were going to throw it a lot, but I didn't expect over 50 in two games in a row. This is the offense we worked on all spring and in practice, and it's the offense we're going to run. I'm sure there will be a game when we'll throw 40 times, who knows? It's just a matter of what's clicking. If they can't stop Ray in the backfield, then we may run it more times in that game."
To this point, the Wolfpack has used the pass to set up the run, but by no means is this a one-dimensional attack. Through two games, junior tailback Ray Robinson is the ACC's leading rusher with 204 yards on 39-carries.
NC State could add some depth at the tailback position this week with the return of K.J. Stone, who's been out of action since undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last fall. The 5'11, 190 pound redshirt sophomore appeared in six games last season before tearing ligaments in his knee against Clemson on October 9. During his weekly radio show on Wednesday night, Amato said Stone might be available for the SMU game.
This will mark only the second meeting between the Mustangs and Wolfpack. SMU holds a 1-0 lead in the series after posting a 35-14 victory back in 1968.
