Wolfpack quarterback Mike Glennon. ETHAN HYMAN - ehyman@newsobserver.com
DURHAM — Tom O'Brien lamented the loss of N.C. State's top receivers and all-star linebacker Nate Irving during the Triangle Pigskin Kickoff on Thursday in Durham. The Wolfpack coach also expressed his concerns about the special teams.
One name O'Brien did not mention in his comments during the annual luncheon was Russell Wilson, the two-time All-ACC quarterback who transferred to Wisconsin.
"The biggest losses come at the wide receiver position," O'Brien said. "That's the biggest concern on offense."
As O'Brien continued with his remarks he said the loss of Irving, a third-round pick of the Denver Broncos, would be "tough" but did not mention Wilson's name.
Wilson led the ACC with 3,563 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes in 2010. State finished 9-4, with its first bowl win since 2005, and ranked No. 25 by the AP.
But when Wilson left to play minor league baseball for the Colorado Rockies, and skipped spring practice, O'Brien turned the team over to junior Mike Glennon.
The school released Wilson from his scholarship in April and two months later he transferred to Wisconsin. Wilson, who graduated in May 2010, is eligible to play right away for the Big Ten champions.
In a follow-up question by moderator Don Shea about his new quarterback, O'Brien praised Glennon's patience and made a point to say that Glennon had attended all of offseason workouts and practices in his career.
"He's ready to go," O'Brien said. "He'll be fine for us."
O'Brien left after the 2-hour luncheon at the Washington Duke Inn without speaking to the media.
Glennon, who has played sparingly the past two seasons behind Wilson after using a redshirt for the 2008 season, will have to break in a new set of receivers. Gone are Owen Spencer (60 catches, 912 yards), Jarvis Williams (52-713) and Darrell Davis (26-327). The top target figures to be senior tight end George Bryan, who caught 35 passes for 369 yards last season.
State also has two new specialists in freshman kicker Niklas Sade and freshman punter Wil Baumann.
"They've never kicked the ball, they've never punted the ball, but both kids have great legs," O'Brien said. "And we think they have the right disposition to be successful."
State opens practice on Aug. 2 and the season begins Sept. 3 against Liberty.
Comments
The picture
Fri, 07/22/2011 - 20:05 — unc098Mr. # 90, is going to be getting there a bit quicker than 52......I certainly hope your recievers have their routes down by the time he arrives..........expect a bit of frothin' at the mouth this coming fall......Glennon won't be trippin' the light fantastic like RW. He is going to be a nice tall target......can't wait.
If Coples is as effective as
Fri, 07/22/2011 - 22:02 — danofncIf Coples is as effective as Austin was when he played against NCSU, there's not much to worry about.
I hope you don't think that there is any on-field smack talk out of Chapel Hill that is of any concern. Butch can't coach. If the "review" ends up making him have to actually recruit by the book, UNC will never be much.
But, they will have a beautiful empty stadium.
Ma
Sat, 07/23/2011 - 10:41 — gvillegatrTypical comment from an ABCer. MA spent every down on defense getting doubled teamed. I'm going out on a limb as to your knowledge of what that did for the rest of his teammates.
Tell me. How good of a football player did you think Dareus (msp?) out of Alabama was ? You'll see his stats, last season, weren't any better than MA's from two seasons ago. Prior to me pointing this out, you probably thought he was very worthy of his draft position this past season. Now that I have pointed it out, I doubt you do as you'll state in your next post. What do 32 NFL scouts know ?
You need to understand that
Sat, 07/23/2011 - 18:02 — danofncYou need to understand that the only UNC game I watch from beginning to end during football season is usually the NCSU game.
As such, I never understood the hype around their defense. Good, but not "NFL, best of all time" good.
Against NCSU, it didn't seem like Austin helped his teammates all that much. In '09 Wilson was 20 of 27 for 259 yards and 4 touchdowns.
I really don't understand why you'd call me an "ABC-er" based on this conversation. It's about NCSU vs. UNC. That's really the only time I pull against UNC. If you think otherwise, you're way off base.
Austin may not have been
Fri, 07/22/2011 - 23:41 — unc098Austin may not have been that effective against RW. ( who was, and you guys let him go?????....), though I would say after the game in Raleigh the year before last, he (RW) saw some whirlpool time, but Couples is a different guy against a more stationary QB, and I would say after last year that Butch is a pretty decent coach considering all that he had to deal with. Shoop a different story. Woolfies are so sanctimonious and I cry BS on you if you think your program is so squeaky clean. I would love to see how any of the local schools would fare under a similar microscope. No justification of wrong doing just making a point about college athletics in general.
Well, that goes both
Sat, 07/23/2011 - 07:59 — danofncWell, that goes both ways.
In all honesty, I think someone besides UNC should be looking into the microscope you claim they are under. When NCSU had troubles in the 80s, the UNC system BOG established an independent group to turn over every rock in Raleigh.
In UNC's case, they say they aren't getting involved. One of UNC's BOT members asked about recruiting. I'd like to see how UNC would fare if an independent body went through the AD with unfettered access.
One thing you should remember is that MG is 6'6" with a cannon for an arm. He will not have as much trouble throwing quick slants and crossing routes as Wilson did, because Wilson needed passing lanes. Without passing lanes, Wilson had to get on his horse and buy time.
If I were you, I'd stop celebrating the loss of RW.
Actually, as everyone knows
Sat, 07/23/2011 - 09:25 — unc098Actually, as everyone knows on this site, I am a huge fan of RW, though a Carolina fan through and through. I am sorry he will not be playing in the ACC this year. It wouldn't matter what team he played for, he would still kick a.
True that Glennon is the classic TOB QB, I am just very curious to see the new offensive scheme. I suspect he should be as good as Renner, but we have two untried QBs. Adds some mystery to the season.
As far as BOT involvment, I am sure everyone is keeping this stink as far from themselves as possible. Hear no evil, see no evil thing. Kinda like the Mary Easley debacle. The N&O was pretty pesky about that and it eventually led to the conclusions we all know. It remains to be seen if that is the case with Baddour, BD and Co.
Personally, I feel the players are getting the short end of the stick here. Colleges and Universities should just own up to the fact they are in the sports business and start treating the players with some sane, rational sense. Its gotten completely out of hand.
Buts thats show biz......
I think the "new offensive
Sat, 07/23/2011 - 18:05 — danofncI think the "new offensive scheme" is a little overblown.
I expect Glennon to line up under center more than Wilson did, which should help the running game. I also expect Glennon to be able to make better use of quick slants and shallow crossing routes, because those were two things that were always "iffy" when Wilson was QBing. He simply didn't have the height to make those timing throws, because he had to look for a passing lane.
I don't think the routes and all that are going to change much, I just think the offense will be a little more balanced.
agree
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 09:06 — SurferCan you say "hot potato"?
Los Lobos
Thu, 07/21/2011 - 22:05 — YAR8packMy two cents: TOB's smart not to say anything about the absence of Russell. My constituents in the Lunatic Fringe will have plenty to say about that if Glennon goes south, or most likely the first bad game.
Sure, the losses at WR are big. And Nasty Nate will be missed. But State MUST have a running game to be successful in 2011.
GO WOLFPACK.
Chattanooga, Richmond and
Sat, 07/23/2011 - 00:16 — unc098Chattanooga, Richmond and Atlanta in August......
Ignoring the inference
Sat, 07/23/2011 - 00:14 — unc098One of my favorite bands of all times. :-)).....Its been a long time since I have heard them live. Need to check them out and see when they are in the area.
no worries
Fri, 07/22/2011 - 11:21 — SurferBy the time NCSU plays anybody, MG, and whoever is running the routes, will have had ample time to get comfortable. Of course there will probably be a heavy dose of dive left/dive right and Bryan early on.
Screen
Fri, 07/22/2011 - 11:44 — YAR8packI'm looking for the screen passes to be a larger part of the offense early on.
Agreed
Fri, 07/22/2011 - 17:05 — mad_maxI'm expecting to see a healthy dose of hand-offs to Greene, a lot of short to medium passes to Bryan, some screen passes/dump-offs to Greene and maybe Gentry, and the occasional shot down field because of Glennon's arm strength.
Should have plenty of options to move the ball, and if the WRs can get their timing down, a bunch of quick slant passes would be great too.
I actually think Greene out
Fri, 07/22/2011 - 23:55 — unc098I actually think Greene out of the backfield on those screen passes would be very effective. I think he is much more dangerous in the open field and on the corner than up the middle. Does pretty well there too. I will be interested to see how the Pack offense adjusts to life without RW. I suppose TOB will resort to his old BC offfensive scheme. Hate/Love to say it but BD has had much more success against that type of offense.
greene
Sat, 07/23/2011 - 10:34 — SurferWe "mustoppa" Greene.
I don't think TOB is
Fri, 07/22/2011 - 11:46 — danofncI don't think TOB is expecting to have to ease MG into anything.
CREDIT
Fri, 07/22/2011 - 13:23 — YAR8packMaybe I'm wrong, and I know out of any of us, TOB has the greatest insight to MG. But one thing we all should know is that practice and scrimmages are one thing and real games are another. Were I TOB, I would try to ease MG in to the game before chunking him in.
Surfer's right, NCSU will use a great deal of various formations during the Liberty game to get a feel for it. Would say I wish I could see it, but I'm going over to "Challat" to watch the Pirates play the other carolina.
Yep, Liberty, et.al.
Fri, 07/22/2011 - 14:13 — SurferNothing like a few glorified scrimages in order to get everybody on the same page. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Doubt that MG will see much contact early in the season, but later on..... who is the back up by the way?
back up qb
Fri, 07/22/2011 - 15:07 — JPDOhioTyler Brosius, red-shirt freshman.
After 4 weeks, State will
Fri, 07/22/2011 - 14:58 — danofncAfter 4 weeks, State will have played an ACC game and a road game @ a Big East school on Thursday night national TV.
That's a little better than "a few glorified scrimmages".
JMU Rutgers Virginia @
Sat, 07/23/2011 - 11:22 — mad_maxJMU
Rutgers
Virginia
@ GT
Not sure why Carolina fans are thumping their chests like their schedule is so tough.
thumping?
Sun, 07/24/2011 - 09:12 — SurferWho is thumping their chest like UNC's schedule is so tough? I have not said it or read it. All I was commenting on was the strength of NCSU's schedule. In fact elsewhere, earlier, I commented that UNC's was not strong this year, as well.
agree
Sat, 07/23/2011 - 10:33 — SurferYou are right, a "little" better.
you are absolutely right
Fri, 07/22/2011 - 11:50 — SurferWelcome to town Liberty University!
TOB's collar is tight right now
Thu, 07/21/2011 - 18:15 — hat_in_handI am sure he was hoping that RW would stay in baseball. TOB now has to keep his eye on 2 teams that wear red and white. Not speaking to the media is not a big thing. TOB barely speaks to anybody. But he is one helluva a coach,
not speaking to the media
Fri, 07/22/2011 - 11:25 — SurferCertainly understandable. Now, if this had been a pig-pickin, it would have been a completely different story all together. But be patient, surely after the Liberty game, ole' TOB will have plenty to say. And you are right, he will probably have to answer a few questions regarding Wisc. at some point in time, as well.
rw questions
Fri, 07/22/2011 - 11:36 — JPDOhioI am sure that TOB will answer them with his usual tact and patience.
Really, there is no point in obsessing over RW. He is gone and TOB needs to focus on who is here. That won't stop the rest of us from obsessing though.
obsessing
Fri, 07/22/2011 - 11:48 — SurferI really would not expect any obsessing unless the offense tanks early and often. Otherwise, the hype train will be at full speed riding MG's talent level and TOB's brilliance.