After his players filed into bleachers and posed for the team picture today, N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien expressed confidence that they can meet some of the team's goals for this season.
The Wolfpack has yet to post a winning season under O'Brien and is 16-21 during his three-year tenure. During his Meet the Pack Day news conference with reporters, O'Brien said this team can do better.
"We have enough weapons, I believe, offensively and defensively to have a winning season and get to a bowl game," O'Brien said.
O'Brien acknowledged that injuries could change that situation. Over the last three seasons, the Wolfpack has faced a devastating series of long-term injuries to key players such as Toney Baker, Anthony Hill, Donald Bowens and Nate Irving that have crippled the team.
This season, O'Brien said, the team doesn't have unlimited depth but has enough to weather some injuries. He expressed hope that injuries won't hit his team as hard this season.
"When you've been around long enough, it's going to even out," O'Brien said. "We've got to get some good bounces here somewhere another. We don't count on it, but you hope for it."
Creecy, Greene impress. After performing well in the team's second preseason scrimmage Friday night, freshman running backs Anthony Creecy and Mustafa Greene have a shot at earning the team's No. 3 running back position.
"Mustafa Greene and Tony Creecy look to be pretty talented," O'Brien said. "They're in there trying to figure out who's fighting for a spot on the team."
Junior Curtis Underwood and sophomore James Washington still are competing for the No. 1 spot at running back. O'Brien plans to rotate two running backs and get playing time for a third back.
High praise for Crisp. O'Brien said former Raleigh Athens Drive offensive tackle Robert Crisp, the jewel of N.C. State's 2010 recruiting class, is talented enough to be an All-Pro in the NFL some day.
O'Brien said Crisp's head is swimming during his first preseason camp because of the complexity of the college game, but said Crisp is everything the Wolfpack coaches thought he could be when they recruited him.
"He has that makeup where he doesn't get down and he gets back to the huddle and goes back out and forgets about the last play and goes on to the next one," O'Brien said. "And that's a good trait to have."
Players sorry. Defensive tackle J.R. Sweezy and offensive tackle Jake Vermiglio said they were sorry for an offseason incident that led to charges against them that were later dismissed.
Sweezy, Vermiglio and defensive tackle Markus Kuhn were cited April 24 for simple possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaing a dwelling for the purpose of using a controlled substance after police found about six grams of marijuana in their off-campus apartment, according to a Raleigh police search warrant.
A fourth player, tight end George Bryan, has a Sept. 3 court date on a single charge of maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of using a controlled substance. All charges against Sweezy, Vermiglio and Kuhn were dismissed after a judge ruled police improperly searched the apartment.
"I've thought long and hard about what I was going to say about this," Vermiglio said. "I thought the best way to say it is, we all made a mistake. It was just a bad decision. I'd like to deeply apologize to the Wolfpack Nation, my teammates, my coaches and my family. We embarrassed them, and hopefully we'll show that we mean business on the field this year."
'Perfect Storm'. Wide receiver and team tri-captain Jarvis Williams said offensive coordinator Dana Bible has come up with a nickname for a Wolfpack offense that averaged 30.3 points per game last season.
Bible is calling the offense "The Perfect Storm."
"We've got receivers that want to catch the ball," Williams said. "We've got a quarterback that can throw the ball. We've got a backup quarterback that can also throw the ball and make plays. We have one of the best tight ends in the country. We've got an offensive coordinator that wants to throw the ball. So there's just no way around it. And defenses are going to have troubles with us this year."
Comments
Which stadium is more user friendly.
Sun, 08/15/2010 - 01:07 — BigMonsterI like duke the best. Plenty of room for your legs.
UNC stadium was built for midget 70+ year ago. Won't go back there. I am only 6'1", 200 and I could not fit in the UNC football seats. What is the distance between stadium rows at UNC?? Got be be less than 24".
Have not been to NCSU FB stadium yet. It is so hard to get tickets.
I have been to the RBC. Same complaint about the small seats.
Impossible to predict at this time
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 23:41 — JPDOhioI expect the defense to be better than expected in all categories. How much better is an open question. There is talent and some experience, but everyone has to take a giant leap forward this year. Not impossible, but not the bet most would be comfortable making.
I think the real key is how quickly the offensive line grows and gels. If it can do well enough to sustain any semblance of a running game, then the offense can take time off the clock. Those quick strikes that RW and his receivers have become famous for are great, but they have a downside too. The defense gets back on the field too fast.
So, the key to any success the Pack will have this year depends on having an effective running game to keep the defense off the field for extended periods of time. And cut down on turnovers. And avoid too many injuries. That should do it.
Well
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 23:14 — Heels20It's August 14th and there's only so much we know at this point. We do know that State has experienced/proven talent at QB and WR. What we don't know is what they have to offer at RB or OL. The rushing numbers from the scrimmages would support the idea that State's passing game will have to carry them. However, it seems like State's just going over basic stuff in practice and that these aren't the types of numbers we should expect to see. That said, there is still a lot that needs to be proven as far as State's running game goes.
Defensively, we know they lost talented players in Willie Young and Ray Michel. Cash had lots of experience but was never really a game-changer. Despite how horrible that secondary was last season, Clem Johnson was a pretty good football player when healthy and his loss leaves a hole. I know Irving is coming back and Tenuta has been added to the coaching staff, but I just don't think State's D will be much better this year. I said a couple months ago that I see State as a .500 football team if Kyle Parker leaves. Surpringly, Parker returned. I'm predicting a 5-7 season for NC State.
True
Sun, 08/15/2010 - 01:19 — mad_maxThere are plenty of questions on both sides of the ball. However, don't underestimate the positive effect that RW's running ability will have on the potential of the new O-line and RBs.
The defense most likely won't be great, but they don't even have to be good for it to be an improvement from last year. With more experience in the secondary, the return of Irving, the hiring of Tenuta, and all off-season to think about how bad their tackling was last year, I don't see how State's defense couldn't be improved.
Can't wait to see what happens.
Russell Wilson
Sun, 08/15/2010 - 08:09 — Heels20Can't ever count him out. If State shatters my prediction by going 8-4, Wilson will be the reason.
IF
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 22:40 — unc098The Pack can stay healthy.....etc,etc..I suspect the offense will be at the top of the ACC in production but I also think the defense will be at or close to the bottom. Pack's offense has to outscore what its defense will give up to have a winning season. I think they are capable of doing it. Prediction 7-5. Is it enough to keep TOB on campus?
ACC Stealing 3 teams from the Big East was Huge Mistake
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 17:55 — BigMonsterThe local teams are rarely going to beat miami, VT, & BC.
The ACC might be raided itself. Then what???
?
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 21:51 — Heels20Carolina has won its most recent match-up against VT, it's last 2 with BC and last 3 with Miami. I don't know if Miami has ever defeated Carolina at basketball and BC and VT rarely get a chance to.
State has won its last 2 against Miami and usually at least plays VT close (with the exception of last year). As far as Dook and Wake go, they rarely beat anyone in football (yeah yeah, Wake won the ACC in 2006, but that's about all they did the past few decades). So honestly, I don't see why it was a mistake.
Why even respond to such a
Sun, 08/15/2010 - 01:12 — mad_maxWhy even respond to such a ridiculous and irrelevant post? Haha, he's not worth it 20.
Some?
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 17:39 — SurferUh, not much confidence there TOB? On the other hand, it is somewhat positive, but what do you expect him to say? "We only have a few talented players, our defense is better, but still stinks, heaven forbid if we have any injuries or we will have absolutely no chance to have a winning season then. Besides, Yow is going to give me a couple of years, so there is always next year."
You have to keep in mind
Sun, 08/15/2010 - 01:10 — mad_maxYou have to keep in mind that TOB rarely ever praises his football teams in front of the media. For a long time now I've been hearing him say stuff like, "We just aren't a very good football team". To hear TOB say positive things about his team right before the season is enough to give us at least a little bit of hope.
I think
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 17:23 — pauld315TOB had better be right or his time could be limited at NCSU with a whole different administraton running the show.
Breakout season?
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 15:46 — sasrkcBreakout season? LMAO.... still laughing....
stick around till thanksgiving
Sun, 08/15/2010 - 13:30 — peetiepupPack fans: There's plenty of reason to believe things will improve markedly this year.
sasrkc, you have to stick around if you have any credibility. Granted, this is just a silly message board, but let's see how bold you are in late November. Don't disappear on us then, ok?
True. Last year's Carolina State defense took whuppins like I haven't seen in decades. But the secondary isn't depleted this year, and those freshmen that looked bad last year have surely gained experience and training to improve. Things will look better - impossible not to - especially if one or two of the freshmen are good enough to play already.
Carolina State is getting back a couple players - one good and the other very good - that will help out up front. Although the defensive line starters are gone, all the starters this year benefitted from lots of experience. Some have been starters at times. They all played well as subs.
This year's defense won't spot the opponents 4 touchdowns by halftime, so the Carolina State offense won't be thrown out of their game plan. That will help the offense considerably.
It's early. So stick around to eat your words, whoever you are. And I'll stick around to eat mine, on the outside chance that you're right.
...
Sun, 08/15/2010 - 14:40 — Heels20"And I'll stick around to eat mine, on the outside chance that you're right."
The outside chance?
optimism
Sun, 08/15/2010 - 13:42 — SurferThat is a great optimistic view, and State might improve this year, but realistically, with the talent they have, they are already on thin ice. If the injury bug shows up, things could go south in a hurry, but at least TOB would have a valid excuse. As far as waiting until late Nov., I think you will have a good idea of which way they are going before then.
Sounds Good
Sat, 08/14/2010 - 15:00 — YAR8packHopefully this will be the breakout season the Pack's been waiting for. I'm going to continue to keep my expectations in check until about week 9 of the season. There are too many questions that have yet to be answered or can even be prognosticated upon: will the defense be able to stop anyone-especially the DB's; can the special teams not give up so much field position; will the the injuries finally subside. We'll find out shortly.
Best of luck to the Pack.