Six games down, six remain, and N.C. State sits at 3-3 and 0-3 in the ACC. Here’s a look at what has gone well and not so well through the first half of the season.
The good:
State’s rushing attack, a cornerstone of new head coach Dave Doeren’s offense, looked promising. The Wolfpack rank 57th in the nation in rushing yards per game, which is in the upper half of the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Freshman running back Matt Dayes has emerged as a threat alongside sophomore starter Shadrach Thornton, who has overcome disciplinary issues at the beginning of the season to take the starting job. Dayes had three touchdowns in the season-opening win against Louisiana Tech but an ankle injury suffered against Central Michigan has limited his production of late.
But the Pack’s run game looks to be in good hands moving forward. Running backs aren’t the only players who can move the ball on the ground–receivers Bryan Underwood and Rashard Smith have shown flashes of brilliance on end-around plays.
Smith has also stood out as the Pack’s punt returner. His 16.3 yards per return is good for second in the ACC, and he had a 67-yard return for a touchdown against Central Michigan.
Redshirt senior linebacker Robert Caldwell, a junior college transfer, has emerged as a leader on the defensive side of the ball. His 48 tackles lead the Wolfpack and rank seventh in the ACC.
Junior kicker Niklas Sade has made 12 of 14 field goals on the season, including a 48-yard game winner against Richmond and is tied for second in the ACC in field goal percentage.
The bad:
When graduate student quarterback Brandon Mitchell went down with a foot injury in the season opener, it opened the door for junior Pete Thomas to show what he could do despite losing the preseason quarterback battle.
Thomas has done his best to convert from being a pocket passer to the mobile quarterback needed for Doeren’s system, but he has looked shaky at times. Perhaps the most telling statistic of Thomas’ five starts are his eight interceptions compared to just three touchdown passes.
Speaking of injuries, the Wolfpack has been troubled by them in recent weeks. Senior safety Jarvis Byrd was just ruled out for the season with a torn ACL, making an already suspect secondary thinner. Byrd, Smith, Dayes, Mitchell, tackles Rob Crisp and Tyson Chandler, senior defensive end Daryl Cato-Bishop, and freshman wide receiver Marquez Valdez-Scantling have all missed time due to injury this season.
The Pack’s offensive line has given up 18 sacks so far this season, which is the second most in the ACC. State is also averaging seven penalties for 56.8 yards per game, a figure that needs to be reduced.
The conclusion:
Through September, State was exactly where everyone thought they should be. They defeated three non-conference opponents at home and lost to one of the best teams in the country. Starting off October on a two-game losing streak has instilled some discomfort throughout Wolfpack Nation, especially because both opponents in those games, Syracuse and Wake Forest, were easily beatable teams. But what’s done is done, and State still has plenty of time to get back on track this season.
I said it at the beginning, and I’m sticking to it– State is going to a bowl game this year. But as it stands now, the Wolfpack deserves a C+ at the midway point of the season.
