North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Looks to End South Alabama's Winning Ways
9/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Game 3: NC State (1-1) vs. South Alabama (2-0)
September 17, 2011 • 6:00 p.m.
Raleigh, N.C. • Carter-Finley Stadium (57,583)
TV: ESPN3 | Radio: Wolfpack Sports Network | Gametracker
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If NC State head coach Tom O’Brien has his way, the Wolfpack (1-1) will not resemble the team that got off to slow, sluggish starts the last two weeks when it hosts South Alabama (2-0) Saturday night at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. Radio coverage on the Wolfpack Sports Network begins at 5 o’clock. The game is sold out.
Following last week’s 34-27 ACC loss at Wake Forest, O’Brien was blunt in his assessment of his team’s shortage of intensity and energy, especially on the defensive side of the football. He addressed his concerns during the week in team meetings and in impromptu chats with certain players he felt weren’t playing up to their potential.
The effectiveness of those motivational tactics, O’Brien hopes, will be apparent early in Saturday’s first ever meeting with the Jaguars. In games against Liberty and Wake Forest, NC State has gotten off to awkward first halves before playing better after intermission. After a surviving a slow start against Liberty, the Pack wasn’t has fortunate against the Deacons.
If this week’s practices are any indication, O’Brien’s calls have been answered.
"I think there’s been more intensity," he said. "There’s certainly been more of a sense of urgency, especially to a casual observer. It seems like everybody is practicing harder. I think that’s a good sign."
The fifth-year coach of the Wolfpack will particularly keep a close eye on a defense that has given up more than 400 yards of total offense two weeks in a row. Last Saturday in Winston-Salem, the defense simply couldn’t get off the field in the first half, allowing Wake to convert four third down plays of eight yards or more, and one fourth down conversion on a fourth and eight play.
A lack of pressure on the quarterback was the major culprit, as Deacons’ signal-caller Tanner Price found a comfortable pocket, throwing for 297 yards and a touchdown.
"We couldn’t get pressure with four guys, and when we blitzed, we still couldn’t get there," O’Brien said. "He had a lot of time to throw the football."
With veteran Jeff Rieskamp still nursing a shoulder injury, Art Norman will get a start at defensive end this week. The absence of tackles J.R. Sweezy (broken foot) and Thomas Teal (broken foot) has also taken away some punch from State’s pass rush.
"I think it hurts us, definitely," junior safety Brandan Bishop said. "Anytime you have some of your best linemen out it’s going to affect you. I don’t think that’s any excuse for the way we played on Saturday. We certainly have guys that are capable up front."
If there is a silver lining through two games, the Wolfpack defense does have eight takeaways, including five interceptions, a figure that ranks second in the nation.
"Forcing turnovers is a big part of our defense, but giving up 400 yards two weeks in a row isn’t getting it done for any defense," Bishop said. "We have to do a better job. That means getting off the field on third down, stopping drives early and limiting big plays."
Containing big plays on Saturday will certainly be a priority. Although South Alabama spreads the field with four and five receiver formations, the Jaguars have done most of their damage on the ground thus far. Dating back to last season, South Alabama has rushed for more than 200 yards in four of its last five games.
In last weekend’s 30-8 smashing of Lamar, quarterback C.J. Bennett threw only 14 times (9-14-144-2) as the running game produced 205 yards. Tailback Demetre Baker led the rushing attack with 82 yards on 13 carries.
Still, it figures South Alabama will have to throw more in order to move the ball consistently against a bigger, stronger NC State club. Like a lot of spread teams, the Jaguars like to get their small, quick receivers out in space where they can do damage running after catching short passes.
"The blueprint is out there as far as what teams can do to us until we stop it," said Bishop, who picked up his fifth career interception last week. "Tackling in space and limiting yards after the catch is a big thing."
Currently in a transitional phase with plans on becoming an FBS school and joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2013, South Alabama is a perfect 19-0 since starting its program in 2009. This will be, however, the school’s first game against a team from the FBS.
"Probably the biggest difference is we’ll be going into a stadium with 60,000 people at the game," said third-year coach Joey Jones. "Other than that, nothing is going to change for us. We prepare for every game the same. Our kids are excited about playing in an environment like that against an ACC school like NC State with its great reputation. Our kids look forward to it."
Jones did say that loud music was piped in during some periods in practice this week in an effort to simulate the type of crowd noise his team is likely to encounter on Saturday.
The Wolfpack is hoping the evolution of quarterback Mike Glennon continues this week. In his second career start, the redshirt junior completed 24-of-41 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns in the loss at Wake Forest.
Glennon thinks it would be a mistake for NC State to underestimate this week’s opponent.
"They have a good group," he said. "They’ve never lost a game. That’s the biggest thing about them is that they’re winners. They have some returning guys and some transfers that played at D-1 schools. They’re going to want to win and not get their first loss."
By Tony Haynes
