North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Fights Through Frustration
11/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Tony Haynes
It would be hard for him not to be frustrated and disappointed during a campaign that has turned south in a hurry. Four straight weeks the Wolfpack has gone into the late stages of the fourth quarter with a chance to win, and four straight weeks it has come up short.
The result is a 3-5 overall record that has left the Pack no margin for error in its quest to become bowl eligible. In order to finish with an even 6-6 mark and qualify for bowl consideration, the Wolfpack must sweep
“If we could reach 6-6 and go to a bowl game, the season wouldn’t be as disappointing as it looks,” said Wolfpack wide receiver Darrell Blackman, who returned a kick off 95 yards for a touchdown in Saturday night’s 31-23 loss to Georgia Tech. “You’d still get to play in a bowl game and go somewhere and have fun.”
But the Pack hasn’t been having a lot of fun lately.
Although it is 2-4 in league play, all six of NC State’s ACC games have been decided by eight points or less. After opening conference play with close wins over
“It’s been real disappointing and frustrating because no one likes to lose,” Blackman said. “Every game has come down to either the last play or the last drive or the last series of the game. When you work so hard and play so hard in the game, it’s frustrating to go out that way. On the other hand, we did win two games that did come down to the last second and it’s a totally different feeling. We’ve experienced both ends of the stick.”
Penalties and untimely turnovers have often been the major culprits during NC State’s losing streak, but on Saturday night, another problem surfaced when the Wolfpack dropped anywhere from seven to nine passes against the Yellow Jackets.
After scouting Georgia Tech’s high-risk, blitzing defense during the week, Amato and his offensive staff concluded that the best way to move the ball against coordinator John Tenuta’s unit would be through the air. And boy did NC State air it out. Throwing 53 times, Daniel Evans completed 21 passes for a career-high 270 yards. Considering that Evans did not throw an interception and was only sacked once, the pre-game plan seemed to be sound. What neither Evans nor Amato could have planned on was a serious case of the drops that inflicted receivers, tight ends and running backs.
There were also a couple of potential touchdown throws that sailed just beyond the outstretched hands of open receivers.
“If we had to play that game over again, we’d have the same offensive game plan,” Amato said. “We really felt that was the way to go. You might ask how can you have Daniel throw 53 passes?’ How? Because that was his sixth start. In Philip Rivers’ first start he threw 57. I’m not comparing him with Philip Rivers but nobody knew what Philip Rivers was going to be like in that first game against
Amato also said that Saturday’s plan against Tech was more game-specific and wasn’t necessarily a sign that NC State would abandon the running game for the rest of the season.
Defensively on Saturday, it was sort of a mixed bag for the Wolfpack. After forcing only six turnovers through its first eight games, the Pack did come up with two interceptions against Georgia Tech, including a first half pick that linebacker Pat Lowery returned for a touchdown. But the Pack also gave up more yards and points than it’s allowed since yielding over 400 yards and 37 points at Southern Mississippi back on September 16. The productive combination of receiver Calvin Johnson, quarterback Reggie Ball and tailback Tashard Choice helped the Jackets pile up 409 yards against an NC State defense that had held its previous three opponents under 300.
Choice, who pounded the heart of the Pack defense with physical runs inside the tackles, finished with164 yards on 34 carries. Choice’s clock-eating runs were the biggest reason Tech owned the football for nearly 12 minutes in the fourth quarter.
“You want to stop an offense?” Amato said. “Let them sit on the bench for 11 and a half minutes. We couldn’t stop them.”
Choice’s success in the run game certainly wasn’t hurt by the presence of Johnson, who usually occupied at least a corner and a safety most of the game. Georgia Tech was certainly aware of the math. If NC State uses one safety to help on Johnson and another to protect the other deep areas of the secondary, then only seven are available for duty in the box to stop the run.
Speaking of stopping the run, the Wolfpack could again have its hands full in Saturday’s
“It’s a big challenge going against two guys who have the possibility of going over 100 yards as we’ve seen against other teams they have played,” said NC State safety Garland Heath, who had the Pack’s other interception on Saturday night. “We practice against [Andre Brown and Toney
Pack To Have
Harris Probable: NC State played much of the season half without its best and most experienced offensive lineman on Saturday night. Center/guard Leroy Harris, who injured an ankle midway through the third quarter against Georgia Tech, is listed as probable for this weekend’s game in
