N.C. State did not make any lineup changes after Thursday night's 7-3, season-opening loss to South Carolina, according to the depth chart released Monday.
Coach Tom O'Brien said at his weekly news conference Monday that he feels confident he has the right players at the right positions on the offensive line even though the Wolfpack gave up six sacks to the Gamecocks.
N.C. State plays host to Murray State at 6 p.m. Saturday.
O'Brien said losing left offensive tackle Jake Vermiglio to a calf injury early in the game hurt N.C. State. The Wolfpack moved left guard Julian Williams to tackle and played redshirt freshman Andrew Wallace at left guard.
N.C. State was penalized just four times in the game, and Wallace was called for three of them. His fouls wiped out a deep reception by Owen Spencer and a run for a first down by Toney Baker.
Citing the ACC’s injury policy, which calls for status updates on players only on Thursdays unless they are out for the season or have had surgery, O’Brien refused to discuss Vermiglio’s status for Saturday’s game. He also wouldn’t talk about cornerback DeAndre Morgan, a returning starter who didn’t play against the Gamecocks because of an ankle injury.
O’Brien tipped his hand a bit on running back Jamelle Eugene, who missed the late stages of Thursday’s game because of injury. O’Brien said freshman James Washington, who took Eugene’s place against South Carolina, will play in a backup role behind Toney Baker if Eugene is unable to practice this week.
Sophomore quarterback Russell Wilson was the subject of much of the hype entering N.C. State’s preseason opener against South Carolina.
Even though Wilson failed to direct the Wolfpack to a touchdown in a 7-3 loss Thursday night, the demands for improvement are largely being directed at his supporting cast.
O'Brien said the offensive line didn’t protect Wilson well, as he was sacked six times. O’Brien also expressed frustration at five dropped passes.
Three of Wilson’s final four throws could have been caught – two of them in the end zone.
"We can’t be dropping five balls against a defense like that,” O’Brien said. “And the other thing that cost us on offense is two penalties that took away, 50, 60 yards of gain for us.”
For more on this story, read Tuesday's News & Observer
Comments
Murray State
Wed, 09/09/2009 - 11:25 — SurferI hate to say it, but I think that TOB may actually believe that State could lose to the Racers this weekend. Not that they will and certainly he is just making sure that his team doesn't overlook Murray St.
Listening to some of his press conf. he has me believing that M. St. has the tallent and experience. All they need is a little confidence early and they may make a game of it.
Of course M St.'s defense can't be as good as S.C., but 66 points in their first game,... at least they know where the end zone is.
Stranger things have happened.....nah.
Coachspeak
Wed, 09/09/2009 - 12:56 — JPDOhioTOB doesn't actually believe that State will lose to Murray State, but only a fool would take any team for granted, especially one that scored 66 points in their last game. And, when your own team has numerous areas in which it has to improve, overconfidence is not the mental approach you want to take into any game.
I think the Pack will rebound well against Murray State. This team is better potentially than it showed last week. The next two games should allow State get the kinks worked out so they will be better prepared to take on Pitt before diving into the ACC portion of the schedule. And there is no reason they won't be 2-1 going into the Pitt game, as long as they show up for both 1-AA games on a mission.
Half full
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 14:49 — SurferLet's look at another positive from State's game against S.C. last week ....... it has taken the attention off of the new NC STATE BB uniforms.
Seriously, it is already Tuesday and I have only seen one post (Ginoboli) stating that State will go undefeated, but only for the next two games. So I was wrong with my prediction from last week.
In a few weeks
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 13:21 — ginoboliCarolina will be 1-2 and State will be 2-1. It will be interesting to see where the teams go from there.
Risky
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 14:36 — SurferOoo, State 2-0 over the next two games? Wow, that is really going out on a limb.
upsets??
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 14:09 — gvillegatrso you are saying UNC will be upset in both games, ginobli??
they are already favored by 5.5 at UCant. they'll be favored at home against the purple n gold as well.
Yes that's exactly what I'm
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 14:17 — ginoboliYes that's exactly what I'm predicting, upsets.
what is your reasoning
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 14:45 — gvillegatrother than you just think it will happen or b/c you hate them? a single phrase like "over rated" won't do either.
give us some reasoning ... especially on the UCant game.
No reason to change the
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 11:58 — Heels20No reason to change the line-up. The defense played better than expected and there's no one you can plug in on offense. Offensively, State performed poorly against South Carolina. I'm sure O'Brien has been running them to death every day and forcing them to learn to execute. They'll bounce back and should be a different team by the time they play Pitt. It'll be a good game and I'm not sure who my pick would be.
wolfpack woes
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 10:03 — tarheelyankTo read the N&O, this wolfie team is the greatest thing since sliced bread, O'Brien is Vince Lombardi in wolf clothes and Russell Wilson is the second coming of Roman Gabriel. Wha Hoppen!!
im shocked...
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 00:56 — izzykareemtarhole fans used to chastise us for going on blog posts about their school and talking smack... you beat up on college football's equivalent of grandma (citadel) and you guys are world beaters now huh?
No reason to shuffle the lineup
World Beaters?
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 10:51 — SurferWho said that UNC is now World Beaters? UNC really hasn't beaten anyone, and neither has State for that matter.
Good idea for TOB to leave things status quo, that's probably how they get better as the year goes on, they learn and continue to improve.
Surfer
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 11:55 — Heels20Don't even pay any attention to izzy's posts. The dude is biased and has never said a positive thing about UNC. Sounds to me like he's holding a grudge because he got turned down. But wait, let me guess, he's an engineering student who would never go to UNC even if he had the choice??
haha
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 12:22 — izzykareemnice try, i got my acceptance letter to UNCCH in 1991 when it was still a good school. I went out of state and became a yankee who drinks iced tea. I'm old school son. I am however an engineer.
Actually it wouldn't bother me if you guys ignored me because 1) you really don't know sports and 2) i might get personally insulted a few times less. I mostly associate light blue with hypocrisy
Don't know sports?
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 15:16 — Heels20Coming from the trashtalker whose team hasn't had a winning season since '05. Oh, and whose basketball team has beaten the light blue just once since 2003. What's up mediocrity?
exactly, don't know sports...
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 21:19 — izzykareemjust because your team has a great basketball program and you are an observer of that program doesn't mean you know sports; you just observe. As evidenced by the fact that you think NCSU has been mediocre in basketball and most state fans will tell you we suck. Please no more snappy comebacks, they have no snap.
oh lil izzy
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 23:08 — Heels20You're still missing the point. You say that we don't know sports when you're the one running your mouth and failing to respect your authoritor. If you know so much about sports, why do you talk so much trash to a program that is more successful than yours historically, and currently, in the three sports that matter?
Don't know much about sports? Where do you even come up with that? I say your basketball program is a joke, and your football program is half decent, and that automatically means I don't know much about sports? Oh the excuses you resort to.
so
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 14:01 — gvillegatryou did not go to ncsu? I guess you are a wal-mart fan as well. thats the compartment you put UNC fans who didn't go to UNC.
so...
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 21:16 — izzykareemyou don't understand the term walmart fan and just how deep and apropos it is? no need to discuss any further.
your full of
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 21:22 — gvillegatrhypocrisy (msp?) today aren't you!!
I understand completely. You mock UNC fans who did not go to UNC yet you it is perfectly OK for you to go on rooting for ncsu as any other graduate does.
makes perfect sense to all of us here.
The Pack will beat Murray
Mon, 09/07/2009 - 23:16 — GoHeels1984The Pack will beat Murray Community College by 39 points and then lose by 10 points to Pitt. Mark it down....
Thank you
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 01:52 — mad_maxAt least that's a reasonable prediction.
max, keep spouting that drivel.....
Mon, 09/07/2009 - 22:09 — caldwellheel...you will give up on it after the Panthers take NCSC to the woodshed.
Talk about drivel
Mon, 09/07/2009 - 22:43 — JPDOhioPitt struggled for a while with 1-AA YSU before wearing the Penguins down with their advantage in size and speed. Pitt could come in a win, but it won't be a blowout.
Yeah, we'll see. That game
Mon, 09/07/2009 - 22:22 — mad_maxYeah, we'll see. That game is three weeks away and if you think our team isn't gonna be better by then (primarily the WRs' catching ability) then you're in for a big surprise. Pitt is no better than SC this year, and you can take that to the bank. I not only hope for us to win (like I did for the SC game), but I expect to win against Pitt. If Pitt "takes us to the woodshed", I'll wear Carolina blue to the remaining games in Carter-Finley this year. Don't write a check you can't cash Caldwell. I'd even be surprised to see you on here come late-season...and certainly not after the Pitt game. I'll be waiting on you though.
I'm not too concerned with
Mon, 09/07/2009 - 20:50 — mad_maxI'm not too concerned with our O-line after that SC game. I feel most people are being too critical of the performance. State is gonna be fine this year, and props to TOB for sticking with his guns.
then you are ...
Mon, 09/07/2009 - 21:40 — gvillegatraccepting mediocrity as well as saying ncsu has played its best opponent of the year.
that simply doesn't sit well with me (the ladder).
Not really accepting mediocrity.
Mon, 09/07/2009 - 22:53 — JPDOhioMore like facing reality. Shuffling the line is not the answer, unless injuries dictate it. It's not like TOB has got a bucketful of backups to throw in there. His best bet is to coach these guys up and give them a chance to get better.
Besides, as disappointing as that first game was, the absolute worst thing TOB could do is panic and dismantle the lineup after one game. Thankfully, he is smarter than that.
i did not say
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 14:11 — gvillegatranything about shuffling the o-line at state. Max said he wasn't overly concerned with the play of the o-line from here on out.
after what I saw, i'd be concerned unless you or he believes you have seen the best d-line already?? still got UNC, UM and FSU to play ....
Apparently, nobody did.
Tue, 09/08/2009 - 15:08 — JPDOhioNot sure where I got that impression from other than the somewhat misleading headline.
Fact is that there was reason to be concerned about State's O-Line even before the season started. The first game did nothing to alleviate that concern. It just made it worse.
So the breaking news is that TOB will not change personnel on the O-Line. Well, unless he turns into Paul Crewe and finds a ringer or two on campus, he has no choice but to go with who he's got.
Anyway, I seem to remember Ted Larsen struggling last year against the Gamecocks and he turned out ok. You never know what can happen as the season goes on.
I mean, you can call it
Mon, 09/07/2009 - 22:15 — mad_maxI mean, you can call it whatever you want. I'm just accepting that it is what it is. Did we play our best? No. Did we play a quality opponent? Yes. Regardless what kind of bashing people want to do of SC, they are in the SEC and they have a good coach. Spurrier is now 19-1 all time in season openers. Is it the best team we will play all year? Heck no. However, I do think their defense would rank in the top 3 of the teams we play this year, so 3 points against a team that shut us out last year really doesn't bother me too much.
Not sure if any Wolfpackers
Mon, 09/07/2009 - 19:19 — GoHeels1984Not sure if any Wolfpackers have seen this but I thought it was a nice "feel good" story about the Tar Heels and Wolfpack. Enjoy. See link below. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=mc-thompsonjordan090709&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Bringing Wolfpackers and Tar
Mon, 09/07/2009 - 20:55 — mad_maxBringing Wolfpackers and Tar Heels together for...well, the first time ever! Haha I'm glad to see that though. I own the dvd, "Skywalker: The David Thompson Story", and there are some clips of interviews with Jordan talking about how he grew up watching David Thompson. It's a good history lesson of a movie. I recommend it to any State or ACC fan.