How good will NC State be?

[WA_Vol]

ESPN had them ranked 24th in their EARLY top 25 but since dropped them but here is what they had to say about them: College football's Way-Too-Early 2012 Top 25 - ESPN

24. NC State Wolfpack: After a 2-3 start, in which Wolfpack coach Tom O'Brien was criticized for turning quarterback Russell Wilson loose, NC State rallied to win six of its last eight games, including a 31-24 victory over Louisville in the Belk Bowl. Quarterback Mike Glennon ended up being a more-than-capable replacement for Wilson, throwing for 3,054 yards with 31 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He'll be without three of his top four receivers in 2012, with wideouts T.J. Graham and Jay Smith and tight end George Bryan each departing. Seven defensive starters are expected back, but the Pack will have to rebuild the defensive line and linebacker corps. The secondary should return intact, including ball-hawking cornerback David Amerson. NC State opens the '12 season against Tennessee in one of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game matchups and plays nonconference games against Connecticut (road) and FCS foes South Alabama (home) and The Citadel (home).

They since fell out of their latest poll: USC Trojans earn top spot in latest 2012 look - ESPN

[golfballs]

They will be better than people on this board think.

BUT, I think they have potential to be ranked because of their schedule. They have a shot at winning their division, IMO

[JOEY'S ALL VOL !!!]

They will be decent simply because Tom O'brien is a darn good football coach, but talent wise the match up with TN should be heavily in UT's favor.

[golfballs]

Originally Posted by JOEY'S ALL VOL !!!

They will be decent simply because Tom O'brien is a darn good football coach, but talent wise the match up with TN should be heavily in UT's favor.

TOB-coached teams are almost always at a disadvantage talent wise. He doesn't recruit.

[Biopsyman]

Good, not great

[vol2002]

Should be a fun game. I think we have more talent overall, but it sounds like some of our strengths and weaknesses are similar to theirs. They have a very good quarterback (Glennon). They have a decent O-Line (ours should be better). They have quality running backs, though no real standouts (similar to us, though they have more experience and production there in the recent past). On offense, I think we clearly beat them in terms of our TEs and wide receivers.

Defensively, it sounds like they have an experienced secondary, with some real standouts among that group (they probably have an edge here). However, they have lost a bunch of linebackers and have a lot of question marks heading into the summer in that group as well as on their D-Line (similar to us in terms of the D-Line). While we don't have much depth at linebacker, I think I'd take the four we expect to start against just about anybody, and especially in comparison to NC State (Lathers, Maggitt, Johnson and J. Smith). We are arguably at worst even and overall probably ahead of them at D-Line, especially if McCullers is in game-day shape when he gets here.

Depth-wise, I think we are stronger, especially on the O-Line.

Anyway - that's my take from what I've read. Others know more than I, I'm sure.

I think it'll be a competitive game, but we should wear them down and win in the end. In fact, while there's a chance it could be close, I think we'll blow them out by the time it's all said and done. I think people are going to learn that we actually have a really good team this year (not great or elite, but really good).

[fade route]

Been saying all along that this game is a toss up.....mainly because of the uncertainty that comes with a totally new defensive scheme in the first game of the year on aneutral field against a pretty good offense.
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[Yankee_Vol]

Should be a good game. UT should win but I'm worried because we have Dooley. He hasn't proved he's a good game day coach

[bigorange]

Originally Posted by vol2002

Should be a fun game. I think we have more talent overall, but it sounds like some of our strengths and weaknesses are similar to theirs. They have a very good quarterback (Glennon). They have a decent O-Line (ours should be better). They have quality running backs, though no real standouts (similar to us, though they have more experience and production there in the recent past). On offense, I think we clearly beat them in terms of our TEs and wide receivers.

Defensively, it sounds like they have an experienced secondary, with some real standouts among that group (they probably have an edge here). However, they have lost a bunch of linebackers and have a lot of question marks heading into the summer in that group as well as on their D-Line (similar to us in terms of the D-Line). While we don't have much depth at linebacker, I think I'd take the four we expect to start against just about anybody, and especially in comparison to NC State (Lathers, Maggitt, Johnson and J. Smith). We are arguably at worst even and overall probably ahead of them at D-Line, especially if McCullers is in game-day shape when he gets here.

Depth-wise, I think we are stronger, especially on the O-Line.

Anyway - that's my take from what I've read. Others know more than I, I'm sure.

I think it'll be a competitive game, but we should wear them down and win in the end. In fact, while there's a chance it could be close, I think we'll blow them out by the time it's all said and done. I think people are going to learn that we actually have a really good team this year (not great or elite, but really good).

Nice breakdown, you seem to have a pretty good grasp on them (I guess, I know nothing about them). How do you see the head-to-head match-ups? i.e. our OL v their DL, their OL v our DL, etc....TIA!

[Shaun1985]

The answer that sums it up...


Not Good Enough and that's all that matters ;)

[TennesseeRhett]

Any game we play in Atlanta worries me. I'm not superstitious but that dome has not been kind to us for some time.

[chvy1986]

We will need to watch out for David Amerson. He is a beast. Had a ton of picks last year

[golfballs]

Amerson and Wolff make up a very solid secondary.

[TnTech_Vol]

The teams will be even giving us a close game, maybe a slight favor to TN because of the QB/WR's. Should be close and in the end TN wins it.

IMO CDD will lose some credibility if NCST blows away TN

[Fijivol72]

"we will wear them down". There is no evidence that we can wear down the sisters of the poor. I think we squeek by with overall talent but that first team Off. line I saw in the O&W game will not be the difference maker. They have the coaching advantage O'Brien vs Dooley, we just have at the end of the day more weapons. (but it won't be on the ground)