Well, here we are 5 weeks into the season and I have no idea what to make of this NC State team. If I told you back in say, May, that NC State would be going into the bye week at 3-2, people might be disappointed, but a lot would say, that isn’t very newsworthy, or shocking at all. However, as each season does not play itself out in a vacuum, there is a reason to be nervous. I have mostly kept my opinions to myself, except letting a few of my frustrations get vented on Twitter. However, those are emotional outbursts and not the cold hard assessments that are needed.
First, while the overall QB play has been inconsistent and I would argue poor, the offensive play calling leaves a lot to be desired. In the offseason, Dave Doeren had to replace Eliah Drinkwitz, who departed to become the head coach of App State. Doeren decided to promote from within and named George McDonald and Des Kitchings to be co-offensive coordinators. Doeren stated that he wanted to keep continuity on the coaching staff and that it was the system, the “NC State offense” as he put it. Well, through the first 5 games of the season, I’m not sure what the “NC State offense is.” The running game has been spotty, there have been issues with the passing game. I am not sure if this is just the co-offensive coordinators getting their feet wet and learning on the job or if there is some bigger problem brewing.
I get why the move was made. Kitchings was ranked as the 27th best recruiter in the nation and the number 1 recruiter in the ACC by 24/7 Sports in 2018. When you have a dynamic personality that can land you the Savion Jackson’s of the world’s you want to keep him on your staff.
Second, before the Florida State game, there were problems on the defensive side of the ball. Those flaws were not exploited by the Ball State’s, Western Carolina’s, or ECU of the world. However, West Virginia exploited what they saw. They saw a defense that was susceptible on the edges.
West Virginia was able to run jet sweeps and exploit defenders not being in the right spot and poor tackling. Now, we can discuss that NC State has been without 2 of it’s defensive starters. Nate McCloud has been out for the previous 4 games and a timetable for his return is unknown at this time. NC State has switched from a 4-2-5 scheme to a 3-3-5 Stack scheme. The inconsistency of the first 4 games may be excused away because of learning a new system. And to be completely honest, the defense was not the reason NC State went into Tallahassee and lost on Saturday. The NC State defense sacked the Florida State QB 8 times and going into the 4th quarter had held Cam Akers to 16 carries for 41 yards. They just wore down because NC State had absolutely no offensive production to speak of.
Third, the offensive line has not gelled as of yet. When you go back over the last few years NC State has produced a lot of good college football lineman. Last year they lost Garrett Bradbury as a 1st round pick in the NFL draft, they lost all-conference performers at guard and tackle. That’s 3/5 of the offensive line gone and their replacements aren’t playing up to that standard as of yet.
Fourth and now this is where there is a lot of debate between the fanbase of NC State. Before Saturday night’s game fans fell into one of three camps. You were either a Matthew McKay fan, a Bailey Hockman fan, or a Devin Leary fan. Before the season there was no incorrect answer. You could look at the first 3 games and still back Matthew McKay and the argument was, he isn’t turning the ball over and they are somewhat productive on offense, and he is the better runner than the other 2. After the second half against Ball State, going 1-8 for 8 yards, the offense was sputtering, but it was a win. However, in the Florida State game, the first few series all of McKay’s flaws were exploited and was replaced.
Bailey Hockman, the transfer from Florida State, whom according to reports had outplayed James Blackmon and D’Andre Francois when they were all competing for the starting QB job a few seasons ago. He came in, played not terribly but didn’t spark the offense as everyone thought. Now, to be completely fair, he was getting hit and hit hard while he was in there, but that is what is going to happen until the offensive line sorts itself out.
Finally, there is Devin Leary. The wonder kid that his fans have been waiting to see. He was only in there for 1 series and what you saw was some good, and some bad. Leary has to learn to take some off of his short crossing routes and not throw it as hard as he does. But man, does that kid have a live arm. Truth be told, I fall into the Devin Leary camp. I think given what you lost after last year, you give the player with the most upside the opportunity to play.
And given NC State’s QB situation going into next season, with Hockman, McKay, Leary, another Elite 11 kid Ty Evans taking a redshirt year this season, and Ben Finley (Ryan Finley’s younger brother), being in that QB room, it’s hard to see all of them staying. I would bet 2 and probably 3 of those kids either transfer or decommit. It is my belief, that you put your eggs in the Devin Leary basket this season, take your lumps and play for next year
This is clearly a rebuilding year for NC State. They are going to go at best 7-5. Some of the toss-up games I thought State would win at the beginning of the season, UNC, Syracuse, and Wake Forest, I have a hard time thinking wins all three and might struggle to get 1. Hell, I can see where NC State losses all three and that means you have to beat Boston College on the road just to get to bowl eligibility. I say play all the kids you have on the roster. As the fanbase, we have to understand that this season is a wash. We need to live with the mistakes that young players are going to make.
Can we please stop calling for Dave Doeren to get fired? Do you really want to go back to the Tom O’Brien era where yeah you might beat a Florida State, but you won’t see the development of players like Bradley Chubb, Garrett Bradbury, Jakobi Meyers, and Germaine Pratt. Dave Doeren has made some mistakes this season, but he is still the best opportunity NC State has of breaking into the Top 25 consistently.
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