How good will NC State be?

[mountainmanvol]

WE can go a had and get the Atatlanta Dome jinx off the vols backs before we play in the SEC championship game.

[golfballs]

I'm not saying NC State is better than us. We definitely should be better. But it's not as wide of a margin as people on here think.

Their biggest loss on offense was George Bryan. He was a great target for Glennon. But he didn't have as good of a year as many thought he would, and Mario Carter should be an OK replacement. Their runningback tandem of Creecy and Washington will be decent. Tobias Palmer is good as well. The key for their offense will be on their offensive line.

As a DL we will have a lot to prove. So that matchup isn't totally clear.

Their secondary is pretty good. But, as with any team we play, should struggle to matchup man-to-man with our WRs. Linebackers for them is a disaster. But their DL is probably the most underrated part of their team.

I just think there are too many question marks on both sides to say we are a 3 TD favorite. Heck, the last time the two teams played, UT lost to UK and State won a bowl game. I just think 3 TDs is a bit much. If I were handicapping this game, I'd say 10pts would be the most I'd give.

[orangeblood79]

Originally Posted by fade route

I'm not going by his scrimmage stats.....I'm evaluating him based on his performance in important games over his career. NC State is a really important game, and if its close going into the 4th Qtr, history would suggest he has a tendency to force throws to try to make the big play and gets picked. Just hope he's improved in that area.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

In his career he's thrown 35 TD's and 16 INT's....

Before he broke his thumb last year, he'd only thrown 2 INTs and they were both against Florida--a game in which he threw for nearly 300 yards a 3 TDs, even after losing the most prolific WR on the field.

After he came back from injury, he threw 2 each against UK and VU....which I guarantee you had more to do with his thumb than his decision making. Also, IIRC, he had the Flu all week leading up to the UK game.

The MCB was arguably his worst "important" game, but lets not discount the work he did just before he threw the last pick. If not for him, Denarious Moore, and Gerald Jones, we're not in that game, period.

While Bray might not be elite with his decision-making and has a lot of room for improvement, the only teams he's under-performed against is Vandy and Kentucky (go figure).

[VolMaster14]

Originally Posted by orangeblood79

In his career he's thrown 35 TD's and 16 INT's....

Before he broke his thumb last year, he'd only thrown 2 INTs and they were both against Florida--a game in which he threw for nearly 300 yards a 3 TDs, even after losing the most prolific WR on the field.

After he came back from injury, he threw 2 each against UK and VU....which I guarantee you had more to do with his thumb than his decision making. Also, IIRC, he had the Flu all week leading up to the UK game.

The MCB was arguably his worst "important" game, but lets not discount the work he did just before he threw the last pick. If not for him, Denarious Moore, and Gerald Jones, we're not in that game, period.

While Bray might not be elite with his decision-making and has a lot of room for improvement, the only teams he's under-performed against is Vandy and Kentucky (go figure).

[strongj81]

NC State has a good team and they are similar to us. But in the end we will be victorious!!! Go GBO!!!

[fade route]

Originally Posted by VolMaster14

Having the flu during the practice week leading up to the KY games is very, very lame. Man up and play, or don't. Had we won, I doubt "the flu" would have been mentioned. Truth is, Dools lost the team at the end of the year and they didn't even want to win - the players said as much since that game.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

[82_VOL_83]

They will be the biggest, baddest, toughest team we will see right up to September the 1st. If the team doesn't approach it that way, we could be in for a bad surprise.

[orangeblood79]

Originally Posted by fade route

Having the flu during the practice week leading up to the KY games is very, very lame. Man up and play, or don't. Had we won, I doubt "the flu" would have been mentioned. Truth is, Dools lost the team at the end of the year and they didn't even want to win - the players said as much since that game.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

deflect, deflect, deflect....

It was a very minor point and one that wasn't meant to support my argument but it's one that bares mentioning.

Bray's decision making is not as suspect as Dooley's coaching...but what does that have to do with Bray's decision making? Nothing.

[82_VOL_83]

If the O could walk on the field and the last 10 games from last year be erased from their memory, NCST would be toast. The question is not whether we are talented enough or how talented NCST is, the question is where their heads will be on 8/31.

[SLOBBER_KNOCKER_U]

Originally Posted by strongj81

NC State has a good team and they are similar to us. But in the end we will be victorious!!! Go GBO!!!

Similar in what way? Stud receivers and TE's and a veteran o line for the most part? Ncstate is NOT on our level. I know it's hard for sone of you to believe but UT is a different team this year. Ncstate is in trouble. 35 to 17 UT wins by wearing them down in the trenches and our receivers will not be stopped. UT has faced better secondaries than ncstate in the SEC and it's not even close.

[theutvolunteers]

Vols win big.

[BIG ADAM]

I believe we should win by 10 pts at least. We are an sec team with plenty depth and talent. If dooley is gonna have a good year it HAS to be this season, with this team! If we lose it will be bc we were out coached (its happened a lot in the past). We have better talent on ALL sides of the ball, and they play in a very weak conference. I will put our DBs up against there QB and an unproven-weak group of wrs. And with Hunter Rogers and Bray all playing 100% healthy we will be very hard to stop.

[golfballs]

blah blah blah

[norrislakevol]

Originally Posted by Volview

UT O-line is unproven in the running game only, and it will be matched up against a very unproven D-line. If NCST's D-line can't put pressure on Bray...he will pick them apart.

This ^^^^

No pressure on Bray = a destroyed NC secondary....I don't care how good people say they are. Want to pressure Bray?? Fine, we will swing passes out to D Young or Neal, or Lane and burn them with speed. Or hit Da Rick on a quick slant....too many weapons for Tennessee.

[82_VOL_83]

Originally Posted by golfballs

blah blah blah