After the performance put forth on the field during N.C. State football’s recent outing against Duke, it is safe to say that the inevitable grumbles that we hear each and every year from Wolfpack fans will start to get louder as the week progresses forward. It is not time to look toward the flashing red panic button just quite yet. For numbers as to why the panic button should not be applied just yet, first look toward the standings in the Atlantic Division of the ACC, where four of six teams have at least two losses in conference play.
The first place team is a Wake Forest team who has tough games coming up against Coastal Division powerhouses, No. 9 Miami and No. 19 Georgia Tech. There are three teams stuck in the middle of the standings and that is where the Pack currently is. Florida State rounds out the bottom of the division, having already suffered three losses in ACC play. Having such a weak division compared to the Coastal Division, which has three ranked teams, only benefits the Pack as they look to make a run at the ACC Championship Game.
Before even thinking about winning the division, it should be back to basics for the Wolfpack. A key area that is hindering the Pack’s ability to win is the lack of consistent coverage in the secondary. When examining the statistics from the past two contests, it is very clear the secondary is not getting the job done against opposing offensive units. Once again, it is not time to start grumbling, because State has a very experienced coaching staff that knows what it takes to win and can make the proper adjustments from this point forward. As the Pack goes back to the drawing board in search of some solutions, they will need to find their identity as a football team. Is it a hard, grinding team that fights on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, or is it a team that looks to put up basketball-like scores on the scoreboard?
Having Russell Wilson and company (Who?) on offense is a real relief when looking at the upcoming games for the Pack. The next contest for the team will be against a Boston College team that got rattled against a strong Virginia Tech squad, and then the Pack heads to Tallahassee to face a Florida State team in complete turmoil. In order for the Wolfpack to become bowl eligible they must win four of their last six games, but the good news is the only ranked team the Pack will face from here on out is Virginia Tech. Reaching a bowl game is still a plausible objective, so fear not, for there is no need to pull out the “there’s always next year” card.
At the halfway point in the season it can be said that some results of the football team haven’t turned out the way they were expected to. But on a positive note, look for All-ACC quarterback Wilson and the other veterans on the team to get on-field discipline back where it should be. Fans need not grumble about past results, but look forward to an improved team that can produce the results we are all looking for. So put those hands back in your pockets and keep them off the panic button for now.
