North Carolina State University Athletics
Tony Haynes: Wolfpack Tries To Cool Another Hot Hand
9/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
BY TONY HAYNES
Still, however, through three games, Harper has given Tommy Bowden and his Tigers more productivity than they could have ever imagined from a junior signal caller who, prior to this season, had thrown only 22 career passes.
When No. 15 Clemson brings its 3-0 record to Carter-Finley for a
Even in defeat two weeks ago, the Wolfpack used a variety of coverage schemes and changing defenses to hold
“In the words of my [position] coach [Mike] Reed, you’ve got to put your name on things that you want to claim,” Wolfpack corner Jimmy Sutton said. “Being able to hold Matt Ryan to such a number, I think we definitely put our name on the right thing. As a secondary, we definitely want to do our best against any quarterback.”
Three games into the season, the Wolfpack is ranked second in the ACC in pass defense, allowing its opponents to throw for an average of just 125.7 yards per game. Of course, there’s always two sides to almost any statistic. The two other opponents that sandwiched
And because the Wolfpack defense has allowed 216 yards rushing per game, it’s not as if the first three opponents have needed to open up and throw the ball with frequency anyway.
Clemson, of course, will be more balanced than either UCF or Wofford, and is capable of moving the ball well on the ground and through the air.
Coming into the season, running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller were marked men, while Harper was the unknown. As a result, Clemson’s first three opponents have loaded up the box with extra defenders wanting to see if Harper could beat them.
So far, the strategy has backfired. Harper, the ACC’s leader in passing efficiency, has completed 50-of-69 throws for an average of 232 yards per game with 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
“Anytime you’re throwing at 72 and a half percent, you pose a problem,” said NC State head coach Tom O’Brien. “He’s reaping the benefits of all those players standing on the line of scrimmage trying to stop those two running backs.”
Not that Clemson’s running game has been completely stagnant. While Spiller, who rushed for 938 yards in 2006, has been less productive than he was at times a year ago,
The last time
Clemson coach Tommy Bowden is well aware of those numbers. So is O’Brien. The Pack’s best bet, still, is to do whatever is necessary to stop the run and find out if Harper can continue his torrid pace. Bowden will be just as interested to see what Harper can do in his first start on the road.
“The quality of competition in the last two games with Monroe and Furman won’t be anything close to what he’s going to see Saturday from NC State,” Bowden said. “The competition surely picks up as far as the heat that’s going to be applied. The pocket is going to be more compressed, the coverage is going to be tighter, the throws are going to have to be more accurate and with a little more velocity. We’re going to see this week and the upcoming weeks just how efficient he’s going to be.”
In an ironic twist, Bowden and the Tigers will again be meeting up with the defensive coordinator whose schemes gave them some problems in their 28-20 loss to
“We’ve got the same offensive coordinator and he did a good job of stopping us,” Bowden said. “Some of it will be implemented I’m sure based on the success he had against us in the bowl game. He’s got a little bit different personnel there at NC State and he’s got a different staff, so I’m sure he’s gotten different input from his other staff members. You can’t argue with success and he surely had it against us in the bowl game.”
Will Proctor was the quarterback for Clemson in that game and passed for 272 yards, but with three interceptions. The clipboard’ holder for the Tigers that day was Harper. The same hand that was holding the clipboard is now a hot hand, one that NC State will try to cool off on Saturday.
Injury Update: There's good news for the NC State defense this week. After missing back-to-back games with a knee injury, starting defensive tackle DeMario Pressley is listed as probable for the Clemson contest. The news couldn't come at a better time since another tackle, John Bedics, will be out this week with an ankle sprain.
Celebration: Two of NC State’s greatest teams will be honored this weekend. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Wolfpack’s first ACC title team in 1957 and the 40th anniversary of the famed 1967 squad that won the Liberty Bowl. Players from both clubs will take part in festivities on Saturday.
Third Down Looking UP: Third down percentage is a critical statistic in football and thus far, the Wolfpack has done well on both sides of the ball. Offensively, NC State is converting 35 percent on third down, a figure that would be considered satisfactory. The Wolfpack defense has been excellent, holding its opponents to a conversion rate of just 22 percent. The latter statistic is No. 1 in the ACC.
