At the beginning of preseason practice, N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien said quarterback Russell Wilson was a bit rusty after coming back from playing baseball for the Wolfpack in the spring and the Colorado Rockies organization in the summer.
But Wilson said today that he is in 'game mode' and in rhythm now.
"I feel great," he said during his weekly conference with reporters. "I’m working with the receivers, tight ends and running backs, and trying to continue the rhythm and continue the flow of the football game, and keep working hard and getting better every day."
Meanwhile, O'Brien alluded for the second time in two days to unspecified personnel moves that coaches are evaluating in practice. He said he won't decide until Sunday on a starting lineup for the Sept. 4 opener with Western Carolina.
"We haven’t made any decisions anywhere," he said. "We kind of changed things around and moved a couple guys around, and we still have until Sunday until we have to make any decisions. So no sense making them Wednesday if you don’t have to make them until Sunday."
O'Brien said Justin Byers, who has played safety and cornerback for the Wolfpack the last two seasons, has responded well to settling in at cornerback full time. For the past two seasons, O'Brien said, Byers has played with a shoulder injury.
"It was one of those things he could play with," O'Brien said. "It wasn’t as bad his first year. It got progressively worse last year. He had to have surgery. He got it in the offseason. Now he’s back to 100 percent and he’s back to playing his position. So I think he’s much more comfortable there. It’s a position where I think we needed him now, and he’s doing a good job for us."
T.J. Graham, meanwhile, who has made most of his biggest plays as a kick returner, is making strides at wide receiver according to O'Brien.
"He’s much more comfortable now as a wide receiver," Graham said. "He’s making many more plays. Maybe he came in more as a track guy than a football player. But now he’s a football player, and you can see it in all phases of his game."&
Comments
blowouts
Thu, 08/26/2010 - 04:11 — wolfpack426Yeah Peetiepup,
I was at one of those blowout's, to Duke; and I stayed until the bitter end. Ugly, ugly, ugly. Cutcliffe was in the paper saying we knew we were gonna throw the ball, throw the ball, and throw the ball some more. Here's hoping to a better season.
I think Wilson will be fine
Wed, 08/25/2010 - 22:28 — ncsfeddieI think Wilson will be fine this year. If the defense can get anything done on the field this year it will only improve Wilson's game. I know Wilson would never criticize his own teamates, but it had to be tough last year knowing he had to score on every drive just to keep pace. It was almost like our opponents had an open invitation to the end zone every time they got the ball. I'm not saying we need a great defense, just something respectable and I think we can be in every game on our schedule this year.
I wish Wilson a great
Wed, 08/25/2010 - 21:23 — unc098I wish Wilson a great season. Aside from playing Carolina; he is one of my favorite ACC players.I am sure he will be successful despite having mediocre support. Its one of the things I love about the guy. He is creative and has game. I hope he is healthy and playing well on Nov. 20. because I want UNC to beat him at his best.
Nice words.
Fri, 08/27/2010 - 00:30 — TDiddytNice words.
Your twin here
Wed, 08/25/2010 - 21:21 — peetiepupGood post again, 8. A certain heel poster referred to you as my twin, in so many words. He didn't mean it as a compliment, but i take it as one.
Russell Wilson, maybe this year the NCSU defense won't spot the opponent 4 touchdowns by halftime. The Pack will be able to stick to its original game plan.
Some folks are so closed-minded to opposing viewpoints, or facts that conflict with their imperfect knowledge base, etc... it's ridiculous. They actually consider themselves "genteel", but are anything but when someone states something they disagree with.
Last year was at least as bad as Amato's last year, when the Pack won only 3 games, (as I recall, 20), but was only blown out once or twice in Amato's last year.
How many times were we blown out last year? 3 or 4 blow-out losses in one year. What a nightmare.
But it's a new season. Maybe we'll have more to hang on to this year than just a W over UNC, if we need that this year.
Wonder
Wed, 08/25/2010 - 16:37 — YAR8packGotta wonder what those personnel moves could be for the Pack. Perhaps someone's getting switched to a DB position, because everyone knows the Pack surely needs help there.
Good to hear Wilson's in a good rhythm. Other than the o-line getting lit up all night by South Carolina's D, I really felt like Wilson was "off" his rhythm for last year's opener. Toney Baker doing a reverse handoff and Jay Smith having the worst hands of the night didn't really help anything, either.
I'm extremely pleased to get WCU the first weekend of the year. Nothing like playing a D-II squad to help iron out the opening kinks. Of course, allow me to be a strongwilled prognosticator about this one, this will be the first year since 2006 that NC State will have won their opening game of the year. And had App St. had a refined Armani Edwards at the helm in that 2006 game, there's really no telling if State would've lost that one. Gah. 2006 was "turrrable." State probably should've finished 1-11 if not for the last minute wins against FSU and BC. Oh, back to my original statement. You have to go all the way back to 2002 to when State beat New Mexico St. to find the last time State beat the first D-I team the Pack played in a season. Ugh, I just got sick.
JPD, do you have access to ESPN3? That's the only outlet carrying NC State's opener against WCU. It's a free service. All you have to do is sign up for an ESPN account, which is also free.
ESPN3
Wed, 08/25/2010 - 21:03 — JPDOhioNope. We have the worst internet and cable service providers in the Great Lakes Region. We don't have access to ESPN3 or the Big Ten Network, because the providers here are hold outs. Basically, I rely on ESPN Game Plan (and Full Court), gopack.com and ACC Select for games I can't get otherwise. I know a lot of you guys hate those Thursday night games, but I love them. At least I know the game will be on here.
In spite of all that, I too am glad State starts the season with a 1-AA school, even if I can't watch it. With new starters all over the place, this is a good first game for them. UCF will be a test in the second game and they will need the experience they get before heading to Orlando. I never had any doubt Russell would be ready, but I will withhold judgement on TJ Graham being more than a "track guy" until I see it for myself. I also think the defense will be better than most people think, although I know I am definitely in the minority on that one.
All this is just around the corner. Can't wait.