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WR/PR/KR
Darrell Blackman (PHOTO BY: Peyton Williams) |
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2006
Statistics |
Coach:
Tom O'Brien
1st
year |
2006
Record: 3-9 |
|
APPALACHIAN
STATE |
WON
23-10 |
AKRON |
LOST
17-20 |
at
Southern Miss |
LOST
17-37 |
BOSTON
COLLEGE |
WON
17-15 |
FLORIDA
STATE |
WON
24-20 |
WAKE
FOREST |
LOST
23-25 |
at
Maryland |
LOST
20-26 |
at
Virginia |
LOST
7-14 |
GEORGIA
TECH |
LOST
23-31 |
at
Clemson |
LOST
14-20 |
at
North Carolina |
LOST
9-23 |
EAST
CAROLINA |
LOST
16-21 |
|
2006
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
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2007
Outlook |
It
is always tough to prognosticate about
a team that has overhauled its coaching
staff, especially when those now in
charge are keeping their new hand
so closely guarded. But when Tom O’Brien
is the new big cheese and there is
this much talent with which he can
work, we see the new Wolfpack improving
amply on where they were under coach
Chuckie. Some special things have
initiated the turnaround here –
one example saw hundreds of former
players come to the spring game after
O’Brien found out how estranged
they had felt under the past few regimes.
Current players’ comments on
O’Brien and his ways have centered
on a more laid back approach which
still focuses on increasing discipline.
They have embraced their new leader
and realize how much farther they
will likely go under him. Bringing
right-hand man Dana Bible from Boston
College with him to run the offense
means the Golden Eagle’s template
of the past ten years – well-executed,
(mostly) “old school”
formations that effectively produce
for 60 minutes – will work here,
especially once their up-and-coming
QBs fully grasp the system. Hurler
Daniel Evans, who had consistency
problems last year, will get first
nod due to tenure, but will likely
be kept on tight reigns and will yield
reps to the other two underclassmen
as the best decision maker is what
coaches are after there. The trio
of backs, two capable TEs and All-American
Darrell Blackman will all excel in
the new system. Defensively, being
under a guy like coordinator Mike
Archer represents no step down from
the stopping quality seen here during
Amato’s tenure. The defensive
recruits who lined up here to play
under the old coach will reach the
same heights with O’Brien and
Archer running the show as long as
they play as hard for them, too. The
variables seen amongst N.C. State’s
front seven will range from 3-4 to
4-3, depending on who’s in and
the given circumstance, though, multiple
hybrid DLmen-LBs and LBs-DBs abound
and will give opponents fits. Their
slate is pretty tough – they
travel to Boston for the “O’Brien
Bowl” in just their second game,
and then to Tallahassee, Coral Gables
and Winston-Salem to battle the league
champs. Home tilts with Clemson and
Louisville offer no relief, but since
we think this will be a strong team
by mid-season, there is a rather wide
range for where this squad might finish
their campaign. But if O’Briens’
successes follow him here like they
have at his other coaching stops,
2007 will be seen as the beginning
of another great run in the venerable
115 year tradition found here on any
given fall Saturday at Carter-Finley
Stadium.
Projected
2007 record: 4-8
|
|
NC
STATE
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 2.5 |
DL
- 3.5 |
RB
- 4 |
LB
- 2.5 |
WR
- 3.5 |
DB
- 3.5 |
OL
- 2.5 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Daniel Evans, 163-307-11, 1843 yds.,
6 TD
Rushing: Toney Baker, 157 att.,
688 yds., 6 TD
Receiving: Anthony Hill, 45
rec., 478 yds., 0 TD
Scoring: Toney Baker, 6 TD,
36 pts.
Punting: None
Kicking: None
Tackles: DaJuan Morgan, 59
tot., 42 solo; Miguel Scott, 59 tot.,
29 solo
Sacks: Martrel Brown, 7 sacks
Interceptions: DaJuan Morgan,
2 for 0 yds.
Kickoff Returns: Darrell Blackman,
19 ret., 28.9 avg., 1 TD
Punt Returns: Darrell Blackman,
24 ret., 8.6 avg., 1 TD
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DB
Miguel Scott (PHOTO BY: Peyton Williams) |
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OFFENSE
- 8 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 8 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Lamart Barrett-WR, James Newby-OT, Leroy
Harris-C, Jon Holt-OT, John Deraney-K/P |
DEFENSE:
Tank
Tyler-DT, Raymond Brooks-DE, Pat Lowery-MLB,
Reggie Davis-WLB, A.J. Davis-CB, Garland
Heath-ROV |
|
|
2007
OFFENSE |
Last
year’s struggling offensive strategy
(which ranked the Wolfpack 97th for total
effort) left with Amato. Besides the years
with Phillip Rivers, moving the ball was
usually a struggle under the former coach.
Wipe the chalkboard clean for what coach
O’Brien brings to the offense in Raleigh,
for though the differences will be subtle,
O’Brien’s experience on this
side of the ball and his insistence of discipline
within the details are what separates his
approach from Amato’s. An ex-coordinator
himself (UVA), O’Brien brought Dana
Bible – his OC up in Boston –
with him to oversee their usual two-back
and/or two-TE sets that were so successful
at BC and are now all the rage here. The
quarterback needed to run their system has
to be a heady, tough pocket passer who minimizes
mistakes. Daniel Evans, last year’s
main starter under center, returns healthy,
but the quadruplet’s pension for throwing
more INTs (11) than TDs (six) seemed to
have carried over into spring and expectations
for him have not been met. His struggles
during 2006’s last four games reveal
why the local product’s starting status
is tentative, at best. Unofficially, there
is no starter yet. “Whoever makes
the best decisions will be the starting
quarterback,” said O’Brien after
spring. This means a three-way rotation
will probably be used until the candidates
sort themselves out through the results
of real game reps. Highly touted Nebraska-transfer
Harrison Beck is finally eligible after
sitting out 2006, and his extended time
on the scout team is now being realized
as he has shown consistency within his solid
grasp of the new system (which is very similar
to the West Coast offense run in Lincoln).
True frosh Justin Burke set the Kentucky
prep passing record for single-season TDs
(62) en route to being named the state’s
Gatorade Player of the Year and making the
finals for the same status nationally. Burke
is more intuitive on the run than Evans
and Beck, and he had a strong spring like
Beck. These three represent a huge step
up from where this position was just last
year. The running backs are the same, both
in stature and their roles as the team’s
top two rushers. With either junior, Andre
Brown or Toney Baker, you get a handful
to bring down. And though Baker got the
nod more due to his softer hands, Brown
is a risky, purer runner who has foes worried
every play. Svelte soph Jamelle Eugene (top
rusher in the spring game) has done so well
this offseason that coaches joke about instituting
the wishbone to get all three worthy backs
fielded simultaneously. The interior of
the line looks solid with both guards back
and senior Luke Lathan finally getting the
start at center. Back at full strength after
knee surgery ended his 2005 campaign, New
Burn-product Julian Williams affords great
promise at left tackle (he allowed no sacks
as a prep senior). Former two-way tackle
Jeraill McCuller, like his classmate and
counterpart Williams, shined bright in the
new system this spring, and with three upperclassmen
as backups, the line looks solid enough
to pull off anything from O’Brien’s/Bible’s
playbook. Hulking senior TE Anthony Hill
fits right in, too, as does former-QB Marcus
Stone for their two-TE looks. Hill is sure
to have some TDs (none in ’06) after
leading the team in both receptions and
yards. But the guy we think will have the
big senior season and possibly put himself
into contention for numerous post-season
accolades is Darrell Blackman. Built like
a running back (because he was one), this
guy is as dangerous with the ball in open
space as anyone in the country. Fellow senior
John Dunlap was second on the team in reception
and led the Wolfpack in TD catches. As a
freshman in ‘06, outside receiver
Donald Bowens had the team’s longest
reception (46 yds), and though the depth
is unproven, the potential is there when
NCST wants to field five receivers. The
new offense developed very well this spring
and seemed ready for September after just
April’s showing, and that is saying
a lot when you consider that they practice/scrimmage
against their own killer defense.
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TE
Anthony Hill (PHOTO BY: Gene Galin)
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NORTH
CAROLINA STATE 2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Daniel
Evans-Jr (6-2, 195) |
Harrison
Beck-So (6-2, 215)
Justin Burke-Fr (6-2, 205) |
FB |
Pat
Bedics-Sr (6-0, 250) |
John
Kane-So (5-10, 240) |
HB |
Toney
Baker-Jr (5-10, 225) |
Andre
Brown-Jr (6-0, 235) |
WR |
Darrell
Blackman-Sr (5-11, 205) |
Jarvis
Williams-Fr (6-4, 200) |
WR |
John
Dunlap-Sr (6-2, 215) |
Darrell
Davis-Fr (6-5, 200) |
WR |
Donald
Bowens-So (6-3, 210) |
Koyal
George-So (5-11, 180) |
TE |
Anthony
Hill-Sr (6-6, 270) |
Marcus
Stone-Sr (6-4, 240)
Matt Kushner-So (6-4, 250) |
OT |
Julian
Williams-So (6-5, 310) |
Garrett
Kline-Sr (6-6, 315) |
OG |
Kalani
Heppe-Sr (6-4, 300) |
Yomi
Ojo-Sr (6-4, 310) |
C |
Luke
Lathan-Sr (6-4, 295) |
Andy
Barbee-So (6-3, 295) |
OG |
Curtis
Crouch-Jr (6-5, 330) |
Gary
Gregory-Fr (6-4, 305) |
OT |
Jerrail
McCuller-So (6-7, 325) |
Meares
Green-Jr (6-4, 300) |
K |
Josh
Czajkowski-Fr (5-9, 178) |
.. |
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2007
DEFENSE |
Goodbye
Amato and Dunlap…hello Mike Archer.
With big shoes to fill, the former LSU head
coach inherits an uncharacteristic 85th-ranked
Wolfpack run defense. The talent is there
up front to make the usual big waves most
N.C. State lines do, and it all starts/hinges
with/on the nation’s former consensus
top tackle prospect (2004 Rivals, SuperPrep,
PrepStar) DeMario Pressley. This Greensboro-native
has yet to live up to the hype, though,
his solid showing gets the job done most
of the time. New starter Ted Larsen may
be just the thing Pressley needs –
three of Larsen’s nine tackle last
year were for loss, so he will demand double-teams,
too, and both should have great years. Similarly,
the inside has one senior and one proven
sophomore. Martel Brown has grown from a
230-something linebacker into a 290+ power
end whose quickness means he should be All-ACC
by season’s close. Like Brown, Willie
Young will be able to play either end or
step back into underneath coverage as a
varied 3-4 will be seen early and often
in Raleigh. 6’6 Littleton Wright is
a former top-rated JUCO-transfer, and this
year’s incoming class is rich with
bigman talents (four-star JUCO-standout
Antoine Holmes) so depth seems good up front.
The starting linebackers are three seniors,
which is a dream scenario for Archer due
to his specialty in this area…well,
the entire back seven, to be less/more specific.
Former DE James Martin has battled injuries
his entire career (wrist surgery kept him
out most of ’06, ACL all of ’04),
but he seems to still have enough toughness
left to slide over (from the strongside)
for the vaunted start in the middle. LeRue
Rumph, who is excellent in coverage, stepped
in admirably in replacing Martin, the reason
Martin can be moved over. Special teams
maven Ernest Jones excelled (mostly) as
a reserve, which didn’t keep him from
his finish as the team’s seventh-rated
tackler. Depth in the corps is young and
still developing, so injuries to the starters
would diminish the unit’s impact.
The corners need to step up their stat lines;
strong in open-field tackling, they allowed
too many receivers to effectively get behind
them. We think Jeremy Gray has the stuff
to start on the outside, but tally him as
the oft-seen nickel he has become until
further notice. Safety DaJuan Morgan was
everything but a starter (oops, he even
did that vs. Virginia) as he, like Gray,
finished with seven passes broken up to
lend comfort to his new starting status.
Miami-product Miguel Scott uses an intelligent
approach to keep foes from getting past
him – State only allowed 12 passing
TDs last year, a respectable number that
will likely go down under Archer. With Amato’s
recruits and Archer’s/O’Brien’s
discipline, this defense should improve
from their “embarrassing” 36th-ranking
for total effort (were top 15 from 2003-05)
to again win games when needed.
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DE
Martrel Brown (PHOTO BY: Peyton Williams)
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NORTH
CAROLINA STATE 2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Willie
Young-So (6-5, 230) |
Littleton
Wright-Sr (6-6, 244) |
DT |
Ted
Larsen-So (6-2, 272) |
Alan-Michael
Cash-So (6-1, 291) |
DT |
DeMario
Pressley-Sr (6-3, 295) |
.. |
DE |
Martrel
Brown-Sr (6-2, 290) |
.. |
SLB |
LeRue
Rumph-Sr (6-1, 223) |
.. |
MLB |
James
Martin-Sr (6-1, 236) |
Avery
Vogt-So (6-1, 225) |
WLB |
Ernest
Jones-Sr (6-2, 225) |
Ray
Michel-So (6-0, 224) |
CB |
Levin
Neal-Jr (5-11, 191) |
Jeremy
Gray-Jr (6-2, 186) |
CB |
Jimmie
Sutton-Sr (5-11, 181) |
Phillip
Holloman-Sr (5-11, 194) |
S |
DaJuan
Morgan-Jr (6-1, 200) |
Javon
Walker-Fr (6-0, 188) |
S |
Miguel
Scott-Sr (6-0, 195) |
Jimmaul
Simmons-Fr (6-2, 190) |
P |
Jeff
Ruiz-Jr (6-2, 185) |
.. |
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2007
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Punter
Jeff Ruiz has experience at the collegiate level
to ease the transition from the all-around foot
of Deraney. Josh Czajkowski has the same strength
as Deraney, but is an unproven freshman. The kicking
game may have a few kinks early, but nothing that
won’t pay off later as the two qualified
newbies learn on the job. Blackman is one of the
nation’s top return men – his two
returns to the house, one of each kind, along
with being the nation’s No.4 KR guy from
’06, are why he is an All-American for us
at this task.
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