Column: A non-offensive win for NC State football
On ESPN’s College GameDay, a panel breakdown of the NC State football game against Texas Tech included a question, “Can we trust NC State?” The general expectations was that this could be a close game, although all but guest picker Luke Combs chose the Pack to win. Combs’ motivation for choosing the Red Raiders stemmed largely from his affiliation to his alma mater Appalachian State.
Related link: In-game blog of NC State win over Texas Tech
There had been plenty of reasons to be skeptical about NC State football in a regular season game against a Power Five team. Since 2000, the Pack has lost 3 times to South Carolina — in Carter-Finley Stadium, in Columbia, S.C., and in Charlotte. Road games at Mississippi State, Notre Dame and West Virginia all ended with multiple-score defeats.
The only win came when NC State beat Notre Dame on a water-logged Carter-Finley turf in the middle of a hurricane, literally.
So perhaps NC State’s 27-14 win over Texas Tech lacked inspiration and fireworks due to a lackluster, to say the least, performance by the offense, the victory still brings significance.
The inability of fifth-year redshirt junior quarterback Devin Leary to connect with his receiving corps against credible defenses is a problem that needs to be fixed. The wideout group collectively had 8 catches for 40 yards against Texas Tech. That will not work every Saturday.
The offense will have to get considerably better going forward. Whether upstairs or on the field, NC State coordinator Tim Beck needs to find a rhythm with his play calling, and the players need to execute the layups.
For instance, don’t fumble the football to the other team near the goal line, which has now happened twice. Don’t commit a penalty to negate a touchdown, as occurred Saturday vs. Texas Tech and led to a NC State field goal instead.
Don’t get flagged for drive-killing penalties, as unfolded twice in the Pack’s first 3 drives vs. the Red Raiders.
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Those are small fundamental steps that could go a long ways to at least making the NC State offense modestly more successful.
But that should not overshadow that NC State is now on the verge of navigating a perfect non-conference slate, presuming a win next Saturday vs. Connecticut, who has lost their last two games by a combined score of 107-14.
The victories thus far may not have been as pretty as desired, but the Wolfpack proved trustworthy in winning games they are supposed to, especially when luck smiled on them in Greenville in the season opener against East Carolina.
The special teams disparity saved the day at ECU. Defense carried the torch Saturday evening against Texas Tech. At some point this year, the offense will have to carry the weight.
NC State football coach Dave Doeren brought up a good point in his postgame press conference: that Texas Tech’s senior-laden defense deserves some credit. The Red Raiders were a veteran unit that performed well against Houston a week ago.
But Doeren also noted this was “an important” game.
He’s right. If NC State wants to be taken seriously by those making picks on ESPN’s College GameDay, the Pack needs to show something, mainly wins, in games against Power 5 competition. That is especially true in one like this Texas Tech team that was receiving votes in the Top 25 going into the week.
That also happened Saturday. And on this Saturday, that was just fine.
