N.C. State defensive coordinator Mike Archer was surprised at how much he has in common with new linebackers coach Jon Tenuta.
"These past three weeks as we’re looking at what we’re trying to do and better our football team, a lot of his terminology and a lot of the things he says are similar to me,” Archer said as the Wolfpack prepared for the start of spring practice today.
Coach Tom O’Brien hired Tenuta after Andy McCollum left for Georgia Tech. Tenuta has been one of the most respected defensive coordinators in college football, particularly during his time under Chan Gailey at Georgia Tech.
Archer is the coordinator of a defense that ranked 11th in the ACC, giving up 31.2 points per game last season. It was logical to guess that there would be some friction between Archer and Tenuta.
But Archer said there hasn’t been. He said that when he was coaching under Bill Arnsparger at LSU in the mid-1980s, Tenuta was at Arnsparger’s camp.
That’s why some of their terminology is the same.
"Jon has come in here and adjusted very well,” Archer said. “And obviously with his ability to pressure the quarterback the way he did at Georgia Tech. . .he’s brought in a lot of good ideas. Now what we have to do is get our guys to understand the trigger terms.”
They will work with a defense that loses all four starters on the line but returns its 2008 leader, linebacker Nate Irving, who missed the 2009 season while recovering from injuries suffered in a car wreck.
Irving said nobody on the defense wants to go through another season like 2009. While incorporating Tenuta’s ideas, it’s Archer’s job to turn around that defense.
"It’s gone very well,” Archer said. “I think it’s been great. It’s been great for me. . . .Jon has been a coordinator for 16 years, and I don’t have all the answers. None of us do.”
Comments
TOB
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 10:27 — unc098As I said in a thousand posts ago, TOB is an excellent coach and I think NCSU made a strong move when they hired him in response to UNC hiring Davis. Rivalry aside, I would be surprised if TOB didn't have a solid enough of a season to keep his job or better. He has had some solid recruiting classes to start making a difference. I think the Tenuta hire was a good move. It certainly can't hurt. My prediction is 8 & 4 or better if Wilson returns.
I could be wrong
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 16:03 — willncsuBut I think we actually hired TOB first and BD was in response to that. Plus, we never fire anyone, he could have another 3 win season and not even be on the hot seat. You are confusing us with other schools where there is accountability for not performing.
Butch
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 22:10 — Heels20was hired first. UNC signed him before the season was over with. O'Brien would be on the hot seat if he only produced 3 wins this season and they didn't include UNC, but by no means is he on the hot seat right now. I think fans, players and the athletics department are all pretty happy with him.
Just Do It
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 08:28 — YAR8pack*Climbs up on soapbox*
Ahem...My fellow Pack fans and I can only hope this arrangement will work. Yes, of course there have been freak, terrible injuries that have occurred to hinder the Wolfpack. But some of the many mistakes the Pack continually made on defense comes down to coaching--the dink and dunk display Duke dealt the Wolfpack last year...and the blowout by BC...and the trucking by VT...you get the point. Yes, there were "playmakers" needed in those games, but the ability for the defensive staff to realize what the hell the other team is doing to abuse them and then coaching their way out of it has to develop. I understand a random whooping popping up every now and then, but if you look at NC State's bad losses last year, there were plenty, those teams did the same things to the Pack, and yet the Pack continued to run the SAME fricking defensive sets. Note to Archer: if you're facing a timing offense, perhaps you should play bump-n-run every now and then to disguise your weak zone defense that plays 10 yards off the ball!
This statement may be a lil too bold for some other ACC teams' fans: Russell Wilson and a good o-line will keep State in any game the Pack defense decides to also show up. Time to just do it.
Defensive coaching was a factor...
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 14:05 — Heels20...but lack of talent and experience didn't help. Let's be honest, the soft zone didn't help, but the inability of DBs to consistently make tackles was also a major issue.
NC State is undoubtedly the ACC's biggest question mark coming into this season. They could be 9-3 or 3-9 depending on certain variables. Does Wilson come back? Probably. Will the lack of spring practice hurt him, especially with an essentially brand new starting offensive line? Possibly early on. Will Nate Irving be back to 100%? No one knows. How can an already-atrocious secondary make up for the losses of DeAndre Morgan, Clem Johnson, Bobby Floyd and the absences from spring practice for Justin Byers and Jarvis Byrd? Can the defensive backfield get any worse? Will any of the freshmen make an immediate impact?
Tenuta should help, and if he and Archer work well together, then maybe they can establish a defense that improves the output, but stays consistent with how the players know how to play. Unfortunately, with so many players out for the spring, it will be September before any one can make any kind of judgment on this team.
Late Shift
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 23:52 — YAR8pack"the inability of DBs to consistently make tackles was also a major issue." Absolutely right. Didn't mean to leave that out of my morning rant. In fact, somewhere, Ryan Williams or Montel Harris are still dragging Earl Wolff.
I really don't want to make any call on the secondary until at least game 4.Til then, the Pack faithful can hope it comes together.
Alright. Back to work.
Might want to make that 5 or 6
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 00:20 — Heels20Because after 4 games last year, State was leading the country in total defense.
Yeah...
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 09:22 — YAR8pack...but as you non-Pack fans so readily pointed out last year, during that time span, State had played two D-II (or whatever the hell it's called now) teams, and a South Carolina team that wasn't very good, and a Pittsburgh team that was yet to come together.
It's true. Any likely prognosis should come after game 5 or 6. The Pack plays WCU, C. Florida, Cincy, GT and VT in that span. Every school will certainly put the Wolfpack DBs to an early test, and were I coaching them, I would too.
And, hey, after their first four games last year, Miami was supposedly in the National Championship hunt, and unc was supposedly going to be in the acc title game. Anything can happen. No one saw Auburn winning 8 games after bringing a coach who had only 3 wins during the previous two years at his prior job.
Back to the Pack: I really don't think Wilson's absence in the Spring will hurt all that much. The guy could probably teach the offense as well as anyone on the offensive coaching staff. I do wish he would get some work in with the new o-linemen and receivers, but I'm guessing that's what summer workouts are for.
I know this may sound terrible, but I'm really mainly concerned with coach Bible's health. Look, I'm all too familiar with what any form of cancer can do to the body. I just hope the guy is taking care of himself and not worrying about football so much. Football is secondary to good health.
Either way, OK GO STATE!!!
I hope
Fri, 03/12/2010 - 18:19 — unc098Bible can get back to health and the pursuits that make him happy, namely coaching the Pack.
Not unreasonable
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 09:39 — JPDOhioYAR8pack, although I have chided you (good-naturedly) in the past about your love for Mike Archer, you're points here are not unreasonable.
There has been enough continuity in the coaching staff and enough players who have been in the program for a while to expect results. The time for excuses is over.
Whether State is a championship contender is subject to debate. That they should be competitive in every game is not.
Advice for Archer...rent, don't buy
Tue, 03/09/2010 - 12:01 — heelzfanIf Mike Archer doesn't know his replacement is already on the State staff in Tenuta, he's either blind or stupid. As soon as the Pack D gets lit up one time, Archer will be out and Tenuta will be in. Don't get used to him though Pack fans, he will be gone as soon as someone offers him $5 more to coach.