Heels Handle Wolfpack, 23-9
Chuck Amato Audio + Quotes
Wolfpack Players Locker Room Report
Box Score
The Good
Second Half Run Defense: After getting mashed by the UNC ground game in
the first quarter, the Pack defensive front played extremely well from that
point on. The Tar Heels rushed for 108 total yards in the first period but
finished the game with just 123 net yards rushing and averaged three yards per
carry. The Wolfpack defensive front seemed reactionary in the first quarter and,
as a result, got pushed around on numerous running plays. However, they adjusted
and attacked much more- particularly in the second half and were able to get
penetration into the Heels backfield regularly.
John Deraney: Deraney was good on field goals of 44, 22 and 41 yards. He
has now connected on 11 of 15 field goals so far in 2006. He averaged a
respectable 40.5 yards per punt and had two touchbacks on kickoffs.
Defense as a whole: Make no mistake, the NC State defense had it’s fair
share of mistakes in losing to UNC but overall, played well enough to help the
Wolfpack win. The Pack defense held UNC to just 260 total yards on offense
despite the Heels having good field position all day. Their average starting
field position was the UNC 32. State also gave up no points to UNC on three
Wolfpack turnovers. Conversely, NC State’s average starting field position was
the State 17. Pat Lowery was a standout on the Wolfpack defense, tying for the
team lead with eight tackles while also adding a tackle for loss and a fumble
recovery. Although it is little consolation after such a painful loss, the
Wolfpack defense has now broken into the top 50 nationally on total defense and
is ranked No. 46 in the country. Given the losses to the NFL and graduation
after the 2005 season, we said before this year began that a top 50 defense
would be a nice accomplishment for the Wolfpack defense.
Imaginative Play-Calling: The Pack came up with several imaginative play
calls on offense Saturday. They ran a double reverse, flea flicker, attempted to
set up a half back pass and a screen to Eugene after Evans set up behind just
the center and two guards. Unfortunately, none of the plays were particularly
successful except for the screen to Eugene.
NC State fans: Although it’s impossible to get an accurate number of
Wolfpack fans that showed up in Kenan Stadium on Saturday, it was clear that
they came out in big numbers. There was a red tint throughout the stadium and it
was another impressive road showing by the Wolfpack faithful. Although State has
struggled on the field this year, few fan bases have been as loyal.
The Bad
Turnovers: Daniel Evans had a miserable day protecting the ball- throwing
three picks and fumbling near the UNC goal line late in the fourth quarter.
While the three picks didn’t result in any points for the Heels, they
effectively killed three drives and allowed UNC to keep the Pack bottled up with
terrible field position.
Penalties: NC State is ranked No. 101 as the most penalized team in the
nation and they didn’t do anything to help the cause against UNC. The Pack was
whistled nine times for 82 yards. The biggies were a personal foul call on
DeMario Pressley that helped UNC on it’s first scoring drive. Another personal
foul moved the ball to the NC State 21 and helped set up the Heels’ second
score. A 28 yard run off of a reverse by Darrell Blackman was nullified when the
Pack only had six men on the line of scrimmage.
Inability to run the ball: After running for 174 yards against the
nation’s number 18 rush defense, Toney Baker could muster just 68 against the
No. 103 rush defense in the country. The Wolfpack was without starters Leroy Harris and Curtis Crouch and that obviously hurt the run game to some extent.
However, the Pack could never get anything going on the ground consistently and
decided to take their chances through the air. State ended up passing the ball
45 times versus just 23 rushes. On first down, the Pack passed 20 times against
just 10 runs.
Pass protection: Again, the absence of Crouch and Harris definitely hurt
in this department. Evans was sacked four times and never seemed comfortable in
the pocket. Some credit must be given to the UNC secondary as well as
often-times, Evans seemingly had nowhere to go with the ball. Perhaps no play
epitomized the Pack’s ineptness in pass protection than at the end of the game
when State was attempting a fourth and seven. Melik Brown was completely
unaccounted for and came off the edge untouched to sack Evans for a 13-yard
loss. Evans fumbled and the Heels recovered for a touchdown.
Pass coverage by the safeties: Overall, the pass defense numbers put up
by the Wolfpack defense were not bad. Heels’ QB Joe Dailey completed just 8 of
15 for 137 yards. However, things could’ve been a lot worse had Dailey completed
several wide open passes. UNC did a good job of getting their wide receivers
matched up against our safeties and on several plays were wide open for huge
gains- only to have the passes over thrown by Dailey.
Pass Rush: The Wolfpack pass rush was almost non-existent as State
managed only one sack and never was able to consistently harass Dailey on
passing plays. Much of that was due to the UNC scheme. UNC effectively ran a
bootleg play where Dailey would roll out with a run/pass option. He hit the back
on four occasions and State never seemed to be able to adjust to shut it down.
Field goals instead of touchdowns: In the last five games NC State has
scored just four touchdowns. Instead of seven points, more often than not the
Pack has had to settle for three and that was the case again on Saturday. On the
final drive of the first half, the Pack chewed up nearly 35 seconds of clock on
a five yard run by Toney Baker. State was able to move the ball downfield and
would eventually kick a field goal but better clock management may have given
the Pack a shot or two at the end zone.
Earlier in the first half, State had a first and goal from the UNC eight yard
line. Evans dropped back to pass but never saw Marcus Stone come open in the
left side of the end zone. He threw the ball away and State ended up kicking
another field goal.
State was on the march in the second half and had picked up three consecutive
first downs. However, the Pack attempted an apparent half back pass by Andre Brown that resulted in him being tackled for a six yard loss. An incomplete pass
on second down and a two yard scramble on third down resulted in yet another
field goal by the Pack.