BY TONY HAYNES
When NC State faces South Carolina on Thursday night, it will be running up against an old, but familiar foe. The Wolfpack hasn’t played against a Steve Spurrier-coached team since it dropped a 27-10 decision to Florida in the 1992 Gator Bowl. But the real fun occurred from 1987-89 when the Wolfpack and Spurrier’s Duke teams produced some of the wildest, zaniest shootouts in ACC history.
Defense was an afterthought when the Pack edged Duke 47-45 in 1987. The next year at Carter-Finley Stadium, a late field goal allowed NC State to forge a 43-43 tie. The result sent the Wolfpack to the Peach Bowl and Spurrier to the suspended list. Disputing a late pass interference penalty that got the Pack into field goal range in the final seconds, Spurrier was suspended one game for saying the call was “the worst in football history.” Spurrier, however, got some measure of revenge in 1989 when his Blue Devils prevailed 35-26, despite 535 passing yards and 73 passing attempts by State’s Shane Montgomery.
So what does this history lesson tell us? Not much, other than the fact that ACC football has changed dramatically since the late 80s. The seeds were planted in 1992 when Florida State brought its emphasis on speed and defense into the league. Others in the ACC followed suit and started recruiting faster players at all positions on defense.
More than likely, Thursday’s opening night match-up with Spurrier’s Gamecocks will not at all resemble the wide-open, scoring fests that fans enjoyed in 1987, 1988 and 1989.
Both teams will be going with first time starters at quarterback and both clubs expect to be stronger on defense than they were last season.
NC State’s offensive keys: After winning a pre-season quarterback derby that started with five players competing for the starting job, redshirt freshman Russell Wilson now has the keys to coach Dana Bible’s offense. At Collegiate High in Richmond, Virginia, the athletic Wilson threw for 3,009 yards and rushed for an additional 1,132 yards his senior year. But that was when he was piloting a Cessna. On Thursday, he’ll be sitting in the cockpit of a 747. The control panel of a 747 is a heck of a lot more convoluted than a control panel of a Cessna, so the differences for Wilson will be dramatic.
Wilson can have success, but only if his teammates rally around him. A redshirt freshman with zero college experience cannot do it alone. His best ally would be an effective running game that allows NC State to control the ball, the clock and the game. But that best-case scenario could be difficult to come by for a number of reasons. South Carolina has some serious studs in its front seven on defense. Sophomore tackle Ladi Ajiboye (6-1, 298) was a second-team freshman All-America last season, while end Jordin Lindsey (6-3, 266) is a senior who was named the most outstanding defensive player in the 2006 Liberty Bowl. Linebackers Jasper Brinkley (6-2, 269) and Eric Norwood (6-1, 267) are among the best at their positions in the talent-rich SEC.
The question is this: Can a revamped NC State offensive line that features converted defensive tackles Ted Larson and John Bedics open up running lanes for backs Andre Brown and Curtis Underwood? Brown, who’s coming off a foot injury, will get plenty of work with starter Jamelle Eugene sidelined by a sprained ankle. Brown is what coaches refer to as a ‘bouncer,’ meaning he feels more comfortable bouncing to the outside even on interior running plays that are designed to go inside. In this game, Brown must be willing to grind out some tough yards between the tackles when asked to do so.
Of course, Wilson’s legs could be the X-factor.
“Coach O’Brien’s offense has never been that much of a quarterback run-oriented offense,” Spurrier said. “Russell Wilson is supposedly a very good athlete who can make plays throwing and running. We’ve been working on quarterback runs during the pre-season.”
Wilson shouldn’t be categorized as a ‘running quarterback,’ however. For NC State’s offense to function properly, he needs to be a ‘quarterback who has the ability to run.’
NC State’s defensive keys: Just as the Wolfpack isn’t quite sure what it will get out of Russell Wilson, South Carolina is wondering how junior Tommy Beecher will react in his first game as a starter. Beecher has played sporadically during his career, completing 16-of-25 throws for 194 yards.
“Tommy Beecher is an unknown,” said Spurrier. “He has the ability to make excellent decisions throughout the game and we’ll have to see if that occurs.”
Beecher’s number one target will be Kenny McKinley, a legit SEC wide receiver who is on his way to passing Sterling Sharpe on South Carolina’s all-time receptions list.
Of course, the most effective way to defend an experienced quarterback is to apply pressure up front and create confusion with a variety of defensive looks. Wolfpack defensive coordinator Mike Archer now has a group of players who have a better understanding of his zone coverage schemes, a fact that should produce more turnovers this season.
“The kids are now playing everyday and they’re playing faster because they know what they’re supposed to do,” Pack head coach Tom O’Brien said. “That should happen as you progress in a program. They’re not thinking about where they have to line up or where they’re supposed to go; they’re just playing football. We’ll be much better from that standpoint.”
South Carolina knows NC State finished last in the ACC in rushing defense a year ago and will likely test a unit that will be starting three new linebackers. But let’s not forget: the Gameocks ARE coached by Steve Spurrier. Even with a new quarterback, South Carolina will take some shots downfield, looking for a few big plays in the passing game that would be backbreakers for an NC State team trying to keep the game close and winnable in the fourth quarter.
Kicking game: This could very well be O’Brien’s biggest concern. South Carolina’s Ryan Succop is one of the top returning placekickers in college football. The senior was 13-of-17 on field goals last season and made all 37 of his PAT attempts. Succup also owns a respectable 42.3 yard career average as a punter. I’d love to give you NC State’s kicking statistics, but there’s not much to work with. Sophomore placekicker Josh Czajkowski has a long name, but is short on experience. Let’s put it this way: if Czajkowski makes his first field goal attempt on Thursday, he’ll be the most accurate kicker in NC State history because he’ll be 1-for-1. The starting punter and placekicker is also a sophomore. Bradley Pierson averaged a modest 37 yards on 62 punts last season.
NC State’s return teams took a hit with Eugene’s injury. Last year’s team MVP was expected to handle some of the punt and kick return duties.
On paper, the Wolfpack would seem to be at a distinct disadvantage in the kicking game against South Carolina. NC State will have a tough time leaving Columbia with a win if it gets dominated in that phase of the football game.
Courtesy: Tim Peeler
