NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK 2002 PRESEASON FOOTBALL PREVIEW
(Game Eleven)
2001 Record: 7-5, 2001 Atlantic Coast Conference Record: 4-4 ( Tied for 4th)
Dubious Distinctions: North Carolina State may have replaced Virginia Tech as the Kansas State of the east when it comes to scheduling. Including the Packs 2002 opponents, two of which are Division 1-AA, State’s last 11 out of conference opponents have a combined 38-85 (308%) mark.
Stellar Stats: Since the beginning of the 1998 season, NC State has blocked 17 punts and 10 field goals.
Overview
In his preseason ESPN preview, analyst Mel Kiper Jr. wrote, “Entering his third year as head coach at N.C. State, Chuck Amato has elevated the Wolfpack program, which now can match Florida State's speed at some positions. But they can't yet be talked about in the same breath as the Seminoles. Rivers is a top-flight gunslinger with plenty of receiving weapons. But here's the big question: Who will provide solid, consistent performances at RB? Will Jackson be available? And if it's McLendon, how will a true freshman fare under so much pressure to become the featured back?”
Call us stubborn, but we didn’t buy a ticket for the 2001 NC State LuvFest and we haven’t bought one for the 2002 event either. In fact, we didn’t buy a ticket for the 2000 extravaganza either. That year the Packs’ victories came over teams with a combined record of 24-55 (303% winning percentage). State essentially dominated 3 teams, UNC, Wake and SMU and struggled in every other game. The Pack racked up a ton of passing yardage against 8 opponents who ranked in the bottom 22 of the NCAA pass defense rankings. They were losing in 6 of their 8 wins in the 4th quarter that year and needed overtime to win 2 of their games, and required last minute drives in 4 of their games to either force overtime or win. Last year their regular season out of conference opponents produced a 10-23 record. State finished the ACC season 4-4 but was outgained by an average of 38.3 yards per game.
OFFENSE
In their 2002 college football preview, the College Football News noted that Philip Rivers is the only name most college football fans will have ever heard of as the rest of the offense is full of unproven players with great potential. The receiving corps is young, but full of promise while the running backs will combine to try and replace the production of Ray Robinson.”
Bryan Peterson (5-11 190 Sr.), known as “Pete” to his Wolfpack teammates, has pulled down a catch in 25 consecutive games, dating back to the last game of his freshman campaign. That reception streak currently ranks sixth nationally and is the third longest in NC State history. Peterson, who has caught 105 career passes, ranks 10th in school history in receptions and ninth in reception yards (1,594). Peterson is the leading returning receiver for the Wolfpack with 51 receptions for682 yards and two touchdowns. The Pack's third-leading receiver last year with 41 grabs for 483 yards is Jerricho Cotchery (6-1 200 Jr.). His play maker mentality was rewarded when he was voted co-winner of the Special Teams MVP award back in 2000. Cotchery played more snaps in the regular season than any other Wolfpack wideout with 582. Dovonte Edwards (6-0 174 So.) is a shifty wideout who saw action in 219 plays during the regular season last fall, more than any other true freshman on offense. Edwards tallied 11 receptions for 164 yards and also rushed the ball 13 times on reverses. Another receiver to watch is heralded incoming freshman Richard Washington, an athletically gifted 6-1, 175-pounder who was rated 56th on recruiting guru Tom Lemming's top 100 board.
One of the main reasons that quarterback Philip Rivers has been able to move onto the ACC and NC State career lists so rapidly has been the solid play of his offensive line. NC State allowed just 17 sacks in its 11 regular-season games last season, the second-best total in the ACC. Even more impressive is that the Wolfpack O-Line allowed a sack just once every 22.6 pass attempts, a mark that led all ACC teams. They do need to replace three starters that combined for 33 starts last season and with the loss of Robinson look for the State run game to struggle some this season.
At center, the Pack will start a very inexperienced Brandon Sanders (5-11 281 Jr.) who saw action in just one game last season, playing three snaps versus Duke. The former walk-on will need to mature in a hurry in the middle of the Pack line. At left guard, Shane Riggs (6-3 290 Sr.) moved from the defensive line to offensive line in the preseason of 2001 and saw action in all 12 games last year and 10 games back in 2000 as a reserve defensive end/tackle. Left tackle Scott Kooistra (6-6 304 Sr.) played in only four games in 2000 after rupturing his patella tendon but returned to start all 12 games last year at right tackle. Scott has All-Conference potential. West Virginia transfer Sean Berton (6-4 260 Sr.) is projected to start at tight end. The right side of the Carolina line is anchored by Chris Colmer (6-5 305 Jr.). The Packs most consistent performer, he was an honorable mention All-ACC choice and won the Pack's Jim Ritcher Award for the Most Valuable Offensive Lineman. Chris earned the top blocking grade on the offensive line in almost every game in 2001. Colmer saw action at guard and tackle on the line in 2000 despite being hampered by an ankle injury. Only a junior, Colmer appears on the verge of establishing himself as one of the ACC's top tackles. State will attempt to make the successful transition of another former defensive lineman at right guard. Sean Locklear (6-4 286 Jr.) moved to the offensive side of the ball this spring after playing on the interior line and at end on defense. Locklear played 413 snaps during the regular season in 2001 starting in two contests.
State quarterback Philip Rivers (6-5 236 Jr.) can be described as fearless, poised, confident, not to mention exceptionally talented. Rivers is not speedy and his mechanics seem often appear awkward but he does have a knack for moving the ball and winning. That’s pretty important for a quarterback. With 5,640 career passing yards heading into this season, Wolfpack quarterback Philip Rivers had tallied more passing yards than any other player in ACC history upon completion of their sophomore campaign. In terms of wins by a starting quarterback, the All-Conference candidates’ 15-9 mark is the second best mark by a rising junior in the nation.
In the backfield, the Wolfpack will be featuring a new primary ball carrier due to the graduation loss of Ray Robinson. The tailback void opens up an opportunity for highly regarded incoming freshman T.A. McLendon (5-11 214 Fr.) to provide a major impact. McLendon is an explosive runner who set national records for career touchdowns (178), season touchdowns (71), career rushing touchdowns (170), and career points (1,076) Senior Cotra Jackson would be expected to compete for the starting job, but eligibility questions with Jackson won't be answered until the summer-school session is completed in early August. The team's third-leading rusher and fifth receiver, he tallied 10 receptions for 101 yards in the last four regular-season contests. With all that, the starter will likely be a former cornerback, Greg Golden (5-10 191 So.). Listed as a starter at corner after spring drills Golden moved to tailback on the first day of fall practice. After seeing action in seven contests at fullback and special teams last year, Chance Moyer (6-2 232 So.) will man the fullback spot.
DEFENSE
Amato has closed the gap by significantly improving the speed and depth of the Wolfpack, particularly at cornerback,” according to Kiper. “The Wolfpack also have plenty of pass-rush potential off the edge, an area Amato has stressed since taking over the program. Like corner, they also go four deep at defensive end, headlined by seniors Shawn Price, Terrance Chapman, Drew Wimsatt and George Anderson.”
At defensive end, one of the top performers on the Wolfpack defense, despite coming off the bench last year, Shawn Price (6-2 235 Sr.) tied for second on the team with 10 tackles for loss and six sacks. At the other end is Drew Wimsatt (6-4 244 Sr.). Drew was a backup defensive end who saw more action over the last half of last season and tallied 22 stops and a pair of tackles for loss for the regular season. Hampered by an ankle injury for much of last season Jerrick Hall (6-2 285 Sr.) will get the chance for significant playing time this season. Over his career, Hall has played in 31 games, starting two, accumulating 42 tackles including 4 tackles for loss. Junior college transfers Terrance Martin (6-3 290 Sr.) compiled 32 tackles last year and three sacks while top sub George Anderson (6-1 240 Sr.) added 40 tackles, 4 sacks and 6 tackles for loss in 2001. Both will split time at defensive tackle.
While the Pack looses all-world Levar Fisher, they return the heart and soul of their defensive unit, the overachieving Dantonio Burnette (5-10 233 Sr.). The Wolfpack’s leader on defense, Dantonio “Thunder Dan” Burnette is just 16 tackles from ranking in the top five in school history for career tackles. Burnette entered the season with 1,826 career snaps under his belt. Two promising sophomores will complete the linebacker trio. Avery Gibson (6-2 236) saw action in every contest, including the bowl game, ending the year with 18 tackles. Pat Thomas (6-1 224) also saw action in all 12 games backing up All-American Levar Fisher. Thomas delivered 15 tackles for the Pack last fall.
The Pack plays a 4-3 that has been big on risk-taking in the secondary but not terribly effective in rushing the passer. The lack of a pass rush was a big concern last fall. NC State improved considerably finishing 3rd in the ACC with 28 sacks and needs to continue that effort to keep the pressure off an outstanding but overworked secondary. This unit led the ACC in pass defense and was rated 15th nationally back in 2000 and finished a solid 3rd in the conference in pass defense efficiency last fall.
Free safety Terrence Holt (6-2 203 Sr.) is the 3rd leading tackler from last year with 104 tackles and is an All-ACC performer. Sophomore roverback Andre Maddox (6-0 191 So.) might have been the biggest surprise of 2002 spring workouts, when he beat out a rising senior and returning starter for the starter’s role overtaking Julius Patterson at strong safety job . Maddox played in 10 contests last season, mainly on special teams, seeing action from scrimmage on 80 plays. He tallied 13 tackles, with four coming on special teams. At the corners the Pack will start sophomores Marcus Hudson (6-1 193) and Lamont Reid (6-0 185). Hudson finished with 52 tackles and 5 pass breakups last season and Reid played in all 11 games last year delivering 21 hits.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Last season, almost a third (17 of 53) of the Wolfpack’s scores during the regular season were a result of big plays by the Wolfpack defense or special teams; either turnovers or returns for touchdowns or turnovers that gave the Pack the ball and led to a scoring drive.
Terrence Holt enters the 2002 season with a chance tie and likely break the ACC record for blocked kicks a mark set by Duke’s Ray Farmer, who tallied 11 blocked kicks from 1992-95.
Punter Austin Herbert 6-0 204 Jr.) ranked third in the ACC in punting in 2001 with a 40.9 yard average. Former walk-on Adam Kiker who took over the Wolfpack placekicking duties after Austin Herbert's ankle injury has sinced earned a scholarship and should get a shot at starting this season. Kiker ranked third in the ACC in field goals per game (1.44), fourth in kick scoring (7.0 ppg) and third in field goal percentage (92.9%) for 2001.
Lamont Reid will likely continue to return kicks. He began returning kickoffs versus Clemson last year and ended up tied for the team lead with 11 returns for 223 yards during the regular season averaging 20.3 yards per return ranking him eighth in the ACC in 2001. Jerricho Cotchery is the Pack's top punt returner with 10 returns for 100 yards last year.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Consider that over Chuck Amato’s first two seasons in Raleigh, 11 of State’s 15 wins have come against teams without a winning record. Of the Pack’s 9 losses, 8 came at the hands of teams with 500% records or better. In our opinion, State is more of a paper tiger than pack of wolves. Unless they prey is weak opposition.
All that said, Phillip Rivers is special and as long as he’s at the controls, North Carolina State will be competitive. And while we have pointed out that the Pack has been less than impressive against teams with winning records, their four losses last season were only by an average of 7.5 points per game and they did spank the Noles in Tallahassee. They do need to replace their leading rusher and receiver (Ray Robinson) from a year ago and all world linebacker Levar Fisher on the defense, both significant contributors a year ago. But they do return 6 starters on offense and 6 starters on a defense that gave up only 21.4 ppg; the Pack’s lowest total in nine years. The biggest question mark other than who will carry the ball may be who will block for them. State losses 3 starters from their offensive front that combined for 35 of 36 starts last season. How quickly and cohesively that unit gels will go along way in determining the fate of the Carolina season.
The Wolfpack haven’t defeated the Cavs in Charlottesville since 1994. With the youth on Virginia’s squad, State would seem to have a slight edge. But the game is in Charlottesville and late enough in the year that the 12-14 freshmen that will have likely been on the field for the Cavs throughout the season will no longer be freshmen. This game may well be the difference in a winning or losing season for the Cavs and we like the Hoos in this pivotal swing game for 2002.
UVA – 27 NCS – 21
Prediction: 3-5 ACC, 7-6 Overall
Greg Waters is the producer and co-host of the University of Virginia Sports radio call-in show CavTalk. The program airs from 7:00 – 9:00 PM on Wednesday evenings and originates from the studios of AM 950 WXGI and can be heard on the World Wide Web @ www.thesabre.com.
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