N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien said Monday that he has “complete faith” in the Wolfpack’s defensive plan and defensive coordinator Mike Archer.
"He’s got the experience,” O’Brien said. “He’s been through situations like this before. The worst thing you can do is panic and the old, ‘Woe is me,’ and make wholesale changes. We have a plan. We’re confident in our plan. We have to recruit to the plan and get people to do things we want them to do.”
Carter-Finley Stadium was re-sodded after last Saturday's U2 concert. N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien said the Wolfpack won't get on the new stadium turf until Friday's walk-through.
He didn't sound particularly concerned about any potential problems for Saturday's game against Duke.
During his weekly coach’s television show, N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien saw Russell Wilson step forward in the pocket, find a running lane and sprint forward for a 9-yard gain to Wake Forest’s 4-yard line.
On the show, O’Brien said Wilson needs to do that more often. He didn’t mean necessarily running the ball – N.C. State’s staff has been pleased with the way Wilson has looked to get the ball to his receivers this season.
N.C. State has made major changes to its starting lineup in the secondary after giving up 361 passing yards to Wake Forest and quarterback Riley Skinner in a 30-24 loss Saturday.
The Wolfpack is turning to experience in an attempt to eliminate mistakes at the safety positions. Senior Clem Johnson is replacing freshman Brandan Bishop at free safety. Senior Bobby Floyd is taking over for redshirt freshman Earl Wolff at boundary safety as N.C. State prepares to play host to Duke at 4 p.m. Saturday.
WINSTON-SALEM – With one final chance to get the ball back, N.C. State couldn’t stop the guy who grew up near its campus.
Four tacklers had a shot at stopping Wake Forest running back Josh Adams of Cary before he plowed forward for the first down that clinched a 30-24 win for the Deacons on Saturday at BB&T Field.
If they hadn't already done it, ACC defensive coordinators should be scrapping any plans to play man-to-man coverage against quarterback Russell Wilson after watching film of N.C. State's 38-31 win over Pittsburgh.
Panthers coach Dave Wannstedt said after the game that Wilson had mostly stayed in the pocket for the first three games. Perhaps Pittsburgh used a lot of man-to-man coverages against the Wolfpack because the coaching staff didn't think Wilson would scramble.
While N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien spoke at the Raleigh Sports Club on Sept. 2, a disgruntled fan whispered a protest at the back of the room.
The fan complained that the speech was typical of O'Brien, which is to say, dull. But you've got to listen carefully to O'Brien to appreciate his dry, soft-spoken sense of humor.
N.C. State will go into Saturday's game against Pittsburgh without plans to get redshirt freshman backup quarterback Mike Glennon early playing time, coach Tom O'Brien said Thursday.
Glennon played one series in the second quarter of the opener against South Carolina because O'Brien wanted to get him some game experience in case he is needed later in the season.
Excerpts from N.C. State football coach Tom O'Brien's Monday news conference previewing Saturday's game against Pittsburgh:
N.C. State starters Owen Spencer at wide receiver and Rashard Smith at cornerback are unlikely to play Saturday against Pittsburgh because of injury.
The Wolfpack’s injury report won’t be released until Thursday, but coach Tom O’Brien indicated during his news conference that Smith and Spencer won’t play.
