The NC State football team has a daunting task ahead on Saturday: Walk into Doak Campbell Stadium and beat the Florida State Seminoles on the road in Tallahassee, Florida, at 7:30 p.m. If the Wolfpack wants to escape with a win, it’s going to need to score points. Here is how the NC State offense matches up with the Florida State defense.
NC State offensive line vs. Florida State defensive line
The NC State offensive line has done a decent job keeping redshirt sophomore quarterback Matthew McKay clean in the pocket and paving the way for the Pack’s stellar ground game, but this week will be its toughest test yet.
Led by defensive tackles Marvin Wilson and Cory Durden, Florida State has 25.5 tackles for loss and 15 sacks in its four games. Wilson has 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, and Durden has racked up 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Florida State can put pressure on the quarterback seemingly at will, and when teams adjust and go run heavy, the Seminoles excel at blowing up plays in the backfield.
Coming off of a strong game against Ball State, in which the offensive line didn’t allow McKay to be sacked even once, the Wolfpack will have its hands full, especially after losing its best run-blocking tight end, redshirt junior Dylan Autenrieth, to a torn ACL.
NC State running backs vs. Florida State linebackers
If NC State’s three-headed rushing attack of freshmen Zonovan Knight and Jordan Houston and redshirt sophomore Ricky Person Jr. is able to hit the holes the offensive line creates and avoid Florida State’s big boys up front, they should have a field day against a weak Florida State linebacking corps.
The Seminoles have just one linebacker with more than 16 total tackles. Dontavious Jackson leads all front-seven players with 26 total tackles (15 solo, 11 assists). The team’s lack of talent at linebacker is a big reason why the Seminoles are allowing over 150 yards and two touchdowns per game on the ground.
In a loss to Boise State, the Seminoles allowed the Broncos to rack up 214 yards and two touchdowns on a whopping 57 rushing attempts. In another loss to Virginia, Florida State let the Cavaliers score three touchdowns on the ground, and in a close win over Louisiana-Monroe, the Ragin’ Cajuns gashed the Seminoles for 178 yards and three rushing touchdowns.
Knight, who is battling a hamstring injury, and Houston are primed for their fair share of big plays this weekend, while Person is likely going to carry the rock as often as he can as part of a run-heavy offensive game plan.
Matthew McKay vs. Florida State secondary
McKay will have to navigate a Florida State secondary that so far has been a double-edged sword. The Seminoles are letting up over 307 yards per game through the air but have been opportunistic in forcing turnovers, with four interceptions on the season.
Teams are averaging 7.8 yards per attempt against the Seminoles, and as a quarterback who doesn’t like to take risks in an offensive system that places emphasis on short, high-percentage passes, expect McKay to take what the defense gives him and work to get the ball to receivers junior Emeka Emezie and redshirt sophomore Thayer Thomas and allow them to do the work.
If McKay starts testing the Seminoles’ defensive backs too much or gets too aggressive, the team’s leaders in pass defense, cornerbacks Asante Samuel Jr., son of former All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel, and Stanford Samuels III, will be waiting to pick him off.
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Thayer Thomas catches on Saturday, Sep. 21, 2019 at Carter-Finley Stadium. Thomas had four receptions and 51 receiving yards.
