North Carolina State University Athletics
O'Brien Expects Smashmouth Game Vs. Pitt
9/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Editor's note: The ACC announced Monday at noon that the NC State-Wake Forest football game on Oct. 3 will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. and will be televised by ESPNU.
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH, N.C. - The NCAA statistics say that NC State's defense is one of the best in the nation. The Wolfpack ranks No. 2 in total defense (168.33 yards per game) and No. 7 in scoring defense (9.33 per game).
But Tom O'Brien and his players aren't fooled by those numbers - they know that there is room for improvement on a defense that is still settling on its starters in the secondary and still needs some experience for its linebackers.
That's why defensive coordinator Mike Archer has come up with two new drills since the South Carolina game to ensure that his players make good tackles and keep running to the ball after the first hit.
That work in practice seems to be paying off, though O'Brien isn't exactly ready to declare his defense a concrete barrier after wins over FCS opponents Murray State and Gardner-Webb. (However, it should be noted that the Gamecocks have scored 75 points since being held by the Wolfpack defense to a single short-field touchdown in the season-opener.)
"It's no offense to the teams we just played, but going forward we will have a much better idea of what we have on defense," O'Brien said Monday at his weekly press conference at the Murphy Center. "Certainly, after three games, [the numbers] are good, but it is going to be much better if it is that way after 12 games."
The coach should know more about just how good his squad is after Saturday's 3:30 p.m. contest against Pittsburgh, which comes to Carter-Finley Stadium with an old-style smashmouth football team that O'Brien envies. It's the fourth consecutive home game for the Wolfpack (2-1).
The Panthers are ranked No. 42 in the nation in rushing offense, relying on 5-8, 185-pound true freshman tailback Dion Lewis, who leads the Big East and is sixth in the nation at 132.7 rushing yards per game.
Lewis' success comes on the heels of similar numbers by LeSean McCoy, a second-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2009 NFL Draft. And much of the credit for both backs is the experience of the offensive line. The same group has started all three games this season, a stark contrast to the Wolfpack, which will have its fourth different starting lineup on the offensive front.
"We haven't seen an offensive line like this one," O'Brien said. "They have pro prospects up there. They have guys who have played three and four years and four of the guys have started before. They have a ton of experience and they are committed to running.
"A lot of the teams haven't been as committed to the run as much as Pittsburgh has."
The Panther offensive line has also done a good job of protecting senior quarterback Bill Stull, who has been sacked just once in three games. That's tied for third in the nation.
It's the final tune-up for the Wolfpack, which will face eight straight ACC contests after four straight non-conference games to open the season. That run begins next week at Wake Forest, the Pack's first road game of the year.
"We have to play a great football game [against Pitt]," O'Brien said. "We certainly could use a victory heading into ACC play. This game is going to be like 60 minutes of middle drill with their offense and their defense.
"It's going to be a hard-fought, slug-them-in-the-mouth football game. I love it. They will line it up and run it and throw some play-action passes. Their defense tries to knock you back and create a new line of scrimmage. It won't be spread-the-field-and-play-touch-football stuff."
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
