NC State football brought in a new quarterback, offensive coordinator and multiple skill position players to revamp its offense in the offseason. However, any hope that the offense would improve this season has vanished after a miserable start, which reached a low point when the Pack scored just 10 points against Louisville on Friday.
Most of the blame has been directed toward graduate quarterback Brennan Armstrong, who’s struggled with critical mistakes this season. Through five games he tossed six interceptions, while only throwing for 971 yards and five touchdowns.
This poor start prompted a change at quarterback, with sophomore quarterback MJ Morris set to make his first start of the season against Marshall on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium. Many Wolfpack fans have been begging for this change since the red-and-white’s 45-24 loss to Notre Dame, but will the move make a difference?
What Morris brings to the table
Last season, Morris flashed his potential against Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and Boston College. In these games, he showcased his ability to perform under pressure and displayed his impressive accuracy.
Against Virginia Tech last season, Morris found himself at the helm of an offense that was trailing 21-3 in the third quarter. To make matters worse, this sizable deficit was against a 2-6 team without much hope for even a bowl appearance.
While most freshman quarterbacks in that situation would crumble under the pressure, Morris gathered the offense and led three touchdown drives to secure a 22-21 victory. After showing an impressive level of confidence and calmness under pressure, it’s reasonable to expect Morris to provide more sound quarterback play than Armstrong has.
Additionally, Morris showcased an accurate arm with the ability to hit receivers in stride. One of Morris’ best throws was a 35-yard back-shoulder dime to wide receiver Thayer Thomas for a touchdown.
The ability to push the ball downfield and place the ball where only the receiver can catch it is a skill that Armstrong has lacked this season. Against Virginia Tech and Wake Forest combined, Morris earned a 66.7%completion percentage, a significant step above Armstrong’s accuracy.
Morris’ surrounding cast
On paper, Morris appears to be a clear upgrade from Armstrong, but in reality, much of his success will be dependent on the players around him.
Morris’ best weapon is freshman wide receiver Kevin Concepcion, who currently leads the red-and-white in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Primarily playing from the slot, Concepcion should be a reliable option for Morris that can turn short throws into long gains with his speed and shiftiness.
However, the rest of the Pack’s receiving core is questionable at best. With receivers constantly switching in and out of the lineup, there has been little consistency, and outside of Concepcion, only two receivers have averaged at least two catches per game. Drops and an inability to create separation from defensive backs have plagued this unit. If teams key in on Concepcion and force Morris to rely on his other receivers, the Wolfpack will need to significantly elevate its play.
The NC State offensive line has also experienced its share of struggles this season. The unit has suffered injuries to multiple starters this season, leading to inconsistencies. One key issue has been clearing holes for running backs to run through, leading to a pedestrian rushing threat.
Against Notre Dame, Virginia and Louisville, the Pack averaged less than four yards per carry, allowing opposing defenses to focus on the pass. If this continues, it’ll create an added challenge for Morris.
Will Morris jumpstart the offense?
As talented as Morris is, it’ll be very tough to elevate the offense if the surrounding cast plays the way it has through five games. With only one reliable player in Concepcion, who is a true freshman, Morris is not walking into a situation conducive to success. Morris also only has a very small amount of experience under his belt. Even with the upgrade at quarterback, don’t expect to see the red-and-white’s offense improving to the extent that Wolfpack fans are hoping it will.
