NC State vs App State Preview: Please Don't Lose This Game - Tuffy Talk

WEBVTT
00:00:41.939 --> 00:00:43.700
What's going on, Wolfpack Nation?
00:00:43.859 --> 00:00:46.259
Welcome to another edition of Tucky Talk.
00:00:46.420 --> 00:00:47.859
We got myself Wayne Smith, Mr.
00:00:48.019 --> 00:00:49.140
Ethan Berry here.
00:00:49.379 --> 00:00:58.739
And uh we are excited that it is officially game week once again, even though we're definitely not as thrilled at being one and two with the It's game week for baseball.
00:00:58.900 --> 00:00:59.780
That's what I'm excited about.
00:01:00.019 --> 00:01:01.299
It is game week for baseball.
00:01:01.459 --> 00:01:08.500
Yeah, no, I I know you and Greg have been blowing up our group chat here, Ethan, uh being like, dude, we can finally start talking baseball again, right?
00:01:08.659 --> 00:01:10.500
So yeah, no, it is that.
00:01:10.579 --> 00:01:13.379
So uh, because we have Liberty Friday night, is that correct?
00:01:13.540 --> 00:01:14.579
I think it's App State.
00:01:15.459 --> 00:01:19.540
Oh, it's right, yeah, yeah, because we play App State Baseball, and then the next day we play upstate football.
00:01:19.620 --> 00:01:20.179
Yeah, that's right.
00:01:20.340 --> 00:01:20.500
Cool.
00:01:20.819 --> 00:01:21.700
All right, love that.
00:01:21.859 --> 00:01:24.659
I mean, well, so your your 15-second hit here.
00:01:24.739 --> 00:01:28.259
Anything that you're looking for for the App State baseball game?
00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:30.979
Yeah, I mean, you got a lot of new faces, right?
00:01:31.140 --> 00:01:32.979
Um, you'd like to see a lot of them.
00:01:33.060 --> 00:01:34.979
You probably won't see Anderson Nance pitch.
00:01:35.299 --> 00:01:39.780
You know what you have with Red Johnson and Mikey Ryan, but other than that, it's a bunch of newcomers.
00:01:39.859 --> 00:01:43.859
So I'm I'm excited uh see what those look guys see how those guys look.
00:01:44.099 --> 00:01:45.299
Yeah, no, absolutely.
00:01:45.459 --> 00:01:47.859
Yeah, no, and I was just telling you, Ethan, too, as well.
00:01:47.939 --> 00:01:56.579
But I actually just got back yesterday from from Boston and uh they were playing the Guardians, and and I totally forgot and I was texting y'all uh that because Patrick Bailey was at the battle.
00:01:56.659 --> 00:01:58.739
I was like, oh shoot, Patrick's on the Guardians now.
00:01:58.899 --> 00:02:00.259
Yeah, completely forgot about that.
00:02:00.420 --> 00:02:05.619
So yeah, so definitely seeing that was definitely getting some juices flowing here from some Missy State baseball.
00:02:05.859 --> 00:02:13.620
But Ethan, do want to make it extremely clear that nobody here from the Tuffy Talk side has moved on from football season uh whatsoever.
00:02:13.780 --> 00:02:16.099
Uh, and again, we're only three games in here.
00:02:16.259 --> 00:02:23.219
You're at a disappointing and understandable, you know, you're sorry, you're under understandably sitting here disappointed at one and two.
00:02:23.860 --> 00:02:27.140
But once again, there's still everything in front of you.
00:02:27.300 --> 00:02:35.780
It can't, you can't take away the first 59 minutes and 54 seconds of the game and really a lot of positives that you did see there.
00:02:35.860 --> 00:02:47.620
Obviously, we spent the live show this past Monday talking about and venting about a lot of the pretty much the negative side of of the play and you know where that stands in terms of what's worse plays in college football history here.
00:02:47.780 --> 00:02:54.820
But I don't know, I guess maybe here Ethan before jump into kind of the the positive you know takeaways as we kind of look towards this app state game here.
00:02:54.980 --> 00:02:57.140
Um, do you feel any different now?
00:02:57.219 --> 00:03:05.060
You know, we did this with the UVA game, but do you feel any different now four days removed from uh the Vanderbilt game at all?
00:03:05.219 --> 00:03:06.980
Or do you still feel about the same?
00:03:07.300 --> 00:03:09.060
No, I I think it's about the same.
00:03:09.219 --> 00:03:14.659
I mean, again, uh uh on a per play basis, like Vanderbilt was the better team.
00:03:14.740 --> 00:03:18.740
Now State ran 20 more plays, that's why it kind of felt like they were in control.
00:03:19.300 --> 00:03:25.140
Um I I like I yeah, you like State didn't play that badly, right?
00:03:25.380 --> 00:03:33.060
It doesn't feel like it doesn't feel like it did after the Virginia game where it was like, man, this team played terrible everywhere.
00:03:33.140 --> 00:03:34.659
Yeah, where they yeah, they were just terrible.
00:03:34.740 --> 00:03:37.060
Now, to me, the question is how good is Vanderbilt?
00:03:37.140 --> 00:03:38.420
Because that is a legitimate question.
00:03:38.500 --> 00:03:57.060
Now, Jared Curtis, I thought, was a real playmaker, who probably was the difference in the game, um, and really one way or the other, you know, like he he turned the ball over a couple times and tried to a few more times, and that really helped NC state out, but then at the same time, he just he made some unbelievable plays that not many players can make.
00:03:57.380 --> 00:04:00.740
And so I didn't think really skilled players on either side stood out.
00:04:00.820 --> 00:04:12.100
And so when you had really the one guy who, again, I thought was the playmaker in that situation, kind of ended up being the difference getting Vandy back in that game.
00:04:12.340 --> 00:04:24.259
So like there's some positives you can take from it, but you just have to wonder where State's at mentally, and to me, that's kind of like I don't know.
00:04:24.339 --> 00:04:33.620
Like for me, I I look at it and I say, you you can have positives from the Vanderbilt game, but if Sate is not in a good spot mentally, those may not matter.
00:04:33.939 --> 00:04:35.300
No, exactly.
00:04:35.459 --> 00:04:54.019
And and and and I was listening a little bit to the uh IPS postgame uh podcast, and uh and and even Alex, uh, you know, Alex G, who who used to play for Richmond, uh, you know, but you know, his brother played Francy State, has a lot of state ties here.
00:04:54.259 --> 00:05:03.299
Even he said, and I completely agree of that this is gonna be one of the toughest challenges in sports in terms of coming back from a loss like that.
00:05:03.459 --> 00:05:15.139
Uh, you know, where like you finally turn things around uh from two weeks before that, uh sorry, three weeks before that playing, uh getting demolished by Vander, uh sorry, by Virginia.
00:05:15.459 --> 00:05:21.299
And you know, you you played well enough to win, you had the game in hand, but then it just fell apart.
00:05:21.379 --> 00:05:28.899
And so, so this once again is another time, if not probably one of the biggest times where leadership is going to be challenged.
00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:33.219
And especially with the App State team that's gonna come in hungry, they're sitting here 3-0.
00:05:33.379 --> 00:05:36.259
We'll talk more about them in depth here in a minute.
00:05:36.579 --> 00:05:40.659
But Vanderbilt right now is I'm sorry, God, why do I keep saying Vanderbilt?
00:05:40.899 --> 00:05:42.659
We're moving on from freaking Vanderbilt here.
00:05:42.740 --> 00:05:52.899
Uh but anyway, uh App State, I mean, they're they're sitting right now as a 14-point underdog here, but listen, they've I I've they're gonna come into this game fully expecting they can win.
00:05:53.139 --> 00:06:00.819
Yeah, and and you know, like again, this isn't, you know, you have the saying like this isn't your dad's team or this isn't the way it was.
00:06:01.060 --> 00:06:01.219
Right.
00:06:01.379 --> 00:06:02.740
Then now it feels like that's us.
00:06:02.899 --> 00:06:17.459
Like now we're we're the ones who it's like it's not it's not your not the app state team that we were you that we're used to, you know, like the team that won back-to-back FCS titles and transitioned to the to the Sun Belt and ran the Sun Belt for a while.
00:06:18.180 --> 00:06:20.659
They're not they're not that kind of team.
00:06:20.819 --> 00:06:21.859
They're three and oh.
00:06:22.019 --> 00:06:25.939
Um, they you know, they they upset ECU, I believe that was in week two.
00:06:26.419 --> 00:06:32.099
Um so again, I I don't think they're great, but they can still beat you.
00:06:32.419 --> 00:06:41.779
And this is a team that again, even in the portal era, like this is a program that has repeatedly won these type of games, and you know that these players have been have been taught that.
00:06:41.939 --> 00:06:44.740
Say, hey, these are the kind of games that we can win and we have won.
00:06:45.060 --> 00:06:53.539
Yeah, and so they're gonna come in again, different set of players, but uh to me, they're still gonna come in and say, hey, this is a game that we we expect to win.
00:06:53.859 --> 00:06:57.219
And again, that's it's a challenge on its own.
00:06:57.299 --> 00:07:01.939
It's a challenge, especially with the spot that NC State is in.
00:07:02.019 --> 00:07:06.500
And again, looking ahead to to Louisville next week, like that's a that's a factor here too.
00:07:06.659 --> 00:07:15.939
So yeah, I again I I if it weren't for the way NC State lost, like I I don't know.
00:07:16.019 --> 00:07:19.379
Like, I I don't know that I'd be thinking App State could win this game.
00:07:20.019 --> 00:07:23.219
But on the flip side, maybe that helps get NC State's attention for this week.
00:07:23.299 --> 00:07:30.339
Now that's not a trade-off you want to make, but it is it easier to sit here and say, you know, you gotta focus.
00:07:30.419 --> 00:07:33.859
Like if NC State loses this game, you're you're looking at missing a bowl, I think.
00:07:34.339 --> 00:07:37.459
Um and so like there is a lot.
00:07:37.939 --> 00:07:47.459
I was maybe not a lot is the wrong word, but this is an important game for NC State to you know get to the win, the win total was seven and a half.
00:07:47.620 --> 00:07:49.939
And you know, most people had stayed at one and two.
00:07:50.099 --> 00:07:54.740
I had stayed at one and two here, and I still have the I still had the over on seven and a half.
00:07:54.899 --> 00:07:56.819
If you're gonna hit that over, you're winning this game.
00:07:56.899 --> 00:07:58.500
There's no there's no alternate.
00:07:58.740 --> 00:08:12.579
Yeah, now I mean Ethan, one thing which I wanted to touch on though, because you know, like we talked about that there was a lot of positive takeaway from Vanderbilt, uh, you know, that we'd be we would have been talking a lot more about uh if we had won that game.
00:08:12.740 --> 00:08:23.539
One of the biggest things, if not probably the biggest storyline outside of Brady Barnhart, who I think also deserves his flowers for sure, is Keenan Jackson uh having three touchdowns versus Vanderbilt.
00:08:23.620 --> 00:08:24.979
But also too as well, Ethan.
00:08:25.060 --> 00:08:42.259
I I know that you and I, when we did our uh uh position-by-position breakdowns uh before the season started, how you and I had both kind of put bets down saying if there is going to be a guy for CJ, that it makes the most sense for it to be Keenan Jackson.
00:08:42.419 --> 00:08:48.659
And as of right now, looking at the PFF numbers here, so far through three games, Keenan Jackson has 20 targets.
00:08:48.820 --> 00:09:00.179
Uh, second is uh Jojo Trader at 12 targets, third is Preston Douglas with nine targets, and then basically got a mix of about seven other players that have five and six targets here.
00:09:00.340 --> 00:09:09.299
So, I mean, can can we definitively say after three games here, Ethan, that that Keenan Jackson is CJ's guy is truly CJ's guy this season?
00:09:09.699 --> 00:09:22.740
Well, so far, um I I think, but it's still only like 20 targets is in three games is still really not that many for a guy who's a number one.
00:09:22.819 --> 00:09:26.740
I mean, you're looking at what seven targets a game essentially, right?
00:09:27.059 --> 00:09:28.899
Like that's a lot by NC State standards.
00:09:29.059 --> 00:09:33.779
That's not a lot by number one receiver standards, and so yeah, the last couple games have been big.
00:09:33.860 --> 00:09:36.980
Do I have any confidence that Keenan Jackson will get thrown the ball on Saturday?
00:09:37.139 --> 00:09:37.939
No, I don't.
00:09:38.179 --> 00:09:38.819
I don't.
00:09:38.980 --> 00:09:48.659
Um I I think he's a prototypical Dave Doran receiver, um, a big body, physical jump ball type of guy.
00:09:48.819 --> 00:09:53.139
I think of a Kelvin Harmon, I think of a Mecca Amezi, I think of Devin Carter.
00:09:53.220 --> 00:10:02.340
I mean, those have been the most accomplished wide receivers um that that NC State has had the last 15 years, right?
00:10:02.419 --> 00:10:04.419
I don't I wouldn't say they're the best, right?
00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:09.220
Because none of those guys uh were NFL guys, although Harman did get drafted, right?
00:10:09.379 --> 00:10:11.779
But I I see Keenan Jackson in that mold.
00:10:11.860 --> 00:10:15.299
And again, we saw some really, really big seasons from all of those guys.
00:10:15.460 --> 00:10:16.819
I mean Kelvin Harman was awesome.
00:10:17.059 --> 00:10:18.419
So was so was Amezi.
00:10:18.899 --> 00:10:22.500
Um and so I keep I see Keenan Jackson in that mold.
00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:28.500
Um, but again, like those guys got peppered every week, you know, that you knew they were getting the ball.
00:10:28.579 --> 00:10:38.980
I don't I don't think, yeah, it's been two weeks, and maybe you continue to build on it, but it wasn't even a month ago that Keenan Jackson had what one catch for eight yards against Virginia, something like that.
00:10:39.220 --> 00:10:39.539
Yeah.
00:10:39.779 --> 00:10:45.699
So I I need what I need a a sample size of more than two games of Keenan Jackson getting thrown the ball.
00:10:45.779 --> 00:10:47.299
Again, nothing to do with Keenan Jackson.
00:10:47.379 --> 00:10:48.740
I think Keenan Jackson's good.
00:10:48.819 --> 00:10:52.579
I think he's on track, obviously, to have a good season and a good career.
00:10:52.819 --> 00:10:56.179
Um, but am I confident that he's gonna get 10 targets on Saturday?
00:10:56.259 --> 00:10:56.579
No.
00:10:56.819 --> 00:11:00.100
Real quick, Wolfpack Nation, Layton Smith and Greg DeLek here.
00:11:00.179 --> 00:11:04.019
And real quick, we want to talk to you about our amazing sponsor, Coney Go Barbecue Sauces and Rubs.
00:11:04.179 --> 00:11:10.579
If you haven't checked out their amazing products yet, first of all, they got amazing sauces, amazing rubs for all meats.
00:11:10.659 --> 00:11:15.860
Uh whether you're grilling, uh, your your frying, your whatever it may be, man.
00:11:16.019 --> 00:11:24.100
It just if you want to take your your your cooking level up and your grilling level up a notch, you got to make sure to leverage our amazing sponsor, Coney Go Barbecue Sauces and Rubs.
00:11:24.259 --> 00:11:28.419
Greg, I know you're an elite, elite cook and elite tailgator state at least here.
00:11:28.659 --> 00:11:33.139
If you had to pick one uh uh product, Greg, that you wanted to highlight, what would what would you go to?
00:11:33.460 --> 00:11:35.059
Man, they're all so good.
00:11:35.220 --> 00:11:37.939
I I I could go on and on, but I won't.
00:11:38.179 --> 00:11:43.460
I I love the spicy, I love the jalapeno, I love I'm I'm I am going on.
00:11:43.539 --> 00:11:45.220
I this is not what I wanted to do.
00:11:45.460 --> 00:11:49.379
Look, if I'm gonna pick one, it's always gonna be wingy every day.
00:11:49.539 --> 00:11:51.379
That's a great sauce for your chicken wings.
00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:56.740
It works on other things too, but if you're smoking or grilling wings, you gotta get you some wingy sauce.
00:11:56.899 --> 00:12:01.699
So make sure to go Wolfpack Nation, go to www.aconey gold bq sauce.com.
00:12:01.779 --> 00:12:05.220
Use code Tuffy Talk to get 15% off your entire order.
00:12:05.299 --> 00:12:08.340
That's sauces, that's rubs, that's merchandise too as well.
00:12:08.419 --> 00:12:10.100
Whether it's a hoodie, a hat, you name it.
00:12:10.179 --> 00:12:13.699
Make sure to go check out our amazing sponsor, Akoni Gold Barbecue Sauces today.
00:12:13.939 --> 00:12:28.819
Yeah, I mean, it's it's funny though, because uh also looking through these stats here as well, uh, Ethan, uh you know, uh Ashton Locklear, who we we we uh designed the the play towards for on that fourth down play.
00:12:28.980 --> 00:12:31.860
He still doesn't have a single catch this season through three games.
00:12:31.939 --> 00:12:33.620
Uh his one catch in his career.
00:12:33.860 --> 00:12:37.139
He has one catch in his career, yeah, and and none through three games so far.
00:12:37.299 --> 00:12:44.019
Just an interesting stat that definitely stood out, uh, you know, just to kind of raise a few more eyebrows around the the play.
00:12:44.179 --> 00:12:46.500
But again, that's that's water on the bridge at this point.
00:12:46.579 --> 00:12:51.939
We're focusing now on the positives we're taking away here, Ethan, as we uh prepare for AppState here.
00:12:52.100 --> 00:12:54.740
Now, want to talk a little bit about the running game here.
00:12:54.899 --> 00:13:07.539
I mean, in my opinion here, especially looking at this game with AppState, I think in games like this where you're trying to get control of the game, establishing the run game is absolutely paramount.
00:13:07.699 --> 00:13:20.259
Now, one of the big questions I'm curious about before we start talking about like the Duke Scotts, for example, what are your takeaways around how Dorn's handled like the all these injury issues with Spike?
00:13:20.419 --> 00:13:21.460
What what do you mean?
00:13:21.699 --> 00:13:26.899
Well, just like well, how because did he didn't he didn't he not play?
00:13:27.059 --> 00:13:28.980
Uh no, he didn't he didn't play.
00:13:29.059 --> 00:13:29.299
Yeah.
00:13:29.460 --> 00:13:29.699
Yeah.
00:13:29.860 --> 00:13:38.819
Well, just like how like Dorn was saying the whole week about how how like he's he's looking fine, you know, he's you know on track, but then he ends up not playing.
00:13:38.980 --> 00:13:46.500
Uh, you know, I know that Dorn loves his his game antics a little bit, his gamesmanship antics here, but I don't know.
00:13:46.659 --> 00:14:02.419
Just I mean, um, you know, you know, having one of your best, uh, most talented offensive linemen, Ethan, I think we can both agree is is extremely important to to make sure that both sides, passing and and ru and rushing, are as effective as possible.
00:14:02.980 --> 00:14:03.620
Yeah.
00:14:03.939 --> 00:14:07.220
Yeah, I I don't know, like uh, I mean, you're right.
00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:09.699
Uh is he is he being coy?
00:14:09.779 --> 00:14:11.779
Is it an element of gamesmanship?
00:14:11.939 --> 00:14:12.500
Yeah, probably.
00:14:12.659 --> 00:14:19.299
I don't think you usually hear Dave come out and say, Oh, he's he's gonna play or he's gonna be good to go, and then they don't.
00:14:19.460 --> 00:14:22.340
That seems pretty rare, but yeah, I don't know, man.
00:14:22.419 --> 00:14:32.340
Like, I'm kind of at the point with Spike Souls where it's like you you kind of got to see him on the field, you know, like he's just missed so much time and and a short a short amount of time too.
00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:41.620
Like he's he's beginning year two at NC State, and I again he's he's heralded, he's got recruiting pedigree.
00:14:41.699 --> 00:14:46.819
Like, I've already seen some NFL draft stuff for him next year, but at some point you gotta be on the field.
00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:54.019
Uh kind of feels like, to be honest, reminiscent of Brandon Cise, who who was not nearly as heralded, but was very talented.
00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:58.419
Obviously, ended up being a first-round pick after, or was it maybe early second after three years?
00:14:58.579 --> 00:15:10.579
But when he was at NC State, he just for whatever reason couldn't couldn't stay on the field and um, you know, then magically went to South Carolina in year three and was magically healthy for 12 games.
00:15:10.740 --> 00:15:11.379
Wow.
00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:15.379
Um, and I'm not saying like that's what's gonna happen with Spike or anything like that.
00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:17.779
It's just kind of that's that's what it reminds me of.
00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:21.539
Like early in his career, it's like, man, Brandon CSA's missing another game, another game, another.
00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:24.579
So to me, that's kind of where it's at with Spike Soles.
00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:28.980
Uh again, with with the nature of injuries, obviously stuff changes along the week.
00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:30.579
But yeah, state, state needs him.
00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:36.740
I think um, you know, their their best offensive line is is Spike at center and T Ganderson at right tackle.
00:15:36.899 --> 00:15:44.579
Um, and to me, moving T Ganderson to center and Rico Jackson in at right tackle, sort of a surprising way to do it.
00:15:44.819 --> 00:15:46.019
Um agreed.
00:15:46.419 --> 00:15:57.460
Not to say it's the wrong way, but the way I look at it is you're you're likely making yourself worse at two positions, but what does that tell you about your other backup backup center options?
00:15:57.539 --> 00:16:03.460
Um, they brought the kid in from uh Texas, I'm blanking on his name, Daniel something.
00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:05.220
Um Daniel Daniel Cruz.
00:16:05.539 --> 00:16:06.659
Yeah, Daniel Cruz.
00:16:07.059 --> 00:16:10.980
Um and I thought maybe, you know, could he be the center?
00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:11.699
Who knows?
00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:13.379
But yeah, you want him out there.
00:16:13.460 --> 00:16:16.659
And again, like just as importantly to get Teague out back at right tackle, right?
00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:18.980
Like that's that sort of thing.
00:16:19.139 --> 00:16:21.699
You go from Spike to Teague at center, you're getting worse at center.
00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:30.019
And then if you go from Anderson to to Rico Jackson at right tackle, you're also getting worse there, as opposed to just getting worse at center if you put Daniel Cruz out there.
00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:32.579
So um, yeah, I I don't know.
00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:33.699
Like we'll we'll we'll see.
00:16:33.779 --> 00:16:38.419
Do you hold him out another week and just say, well, we're just gonna go all in on ACC play at this point?
00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:39.779
Who knows?
00:16:39.939 --> 00:16:40.419
I don't know.
00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:41.779
It depends.
00:16:41.939 --> 00:16:45.779
But yeah, I mean, definitely it's uh again, I think it's a mix.
00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:51.620
I I I'd like you say, I don't think it's necessarily Doran going all in on the gamesmanship tactic.
00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:57.939
Uh you know, and especially in a game where he feels like that he should be in control of the game as well.
00:16:58.100 --> 00:17:00.899
So uh, you know, I guess we'll find out here.
00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:03.220
You know, listen, I I'm I'm kind of like you.
00:17:03.299 --> 00:17:24.340
Again, we don't obviously know a ton necessarily about the injury, but if it is anything that could flare up at all, then yeah, I mean, it it even though this is obviously a must-win, um, even though it's a game that you're even coming out of it extremely concerned if it's even a one-possession game here, I don't know.
00:17:24.420 --> 00:17:30.900
Just like you said, like it it's just ACC plays just is too important, uh, you know, at this point.
00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:39.059
And and there still is enough depth there on the offensive line to where you can plug the holes and make it work for the abstra game.
00:17:39.139 --> 00:17:46.900
But also too that being said, per PFF, um, Spike is our best pass blocker so far on the entire team right now.
00:17:47.139 --> 00:17:48.660
Which and rightfully so.
00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:51.059
I mean, the the talent would agree with that.
00:17:51.379 --> 00:17:54.660
So, you know, we'll see here, but uh time will tell.
00:17:54.819 --> 00:18:08.819
Now, I do want to obviously now kind of jumping back here on the rushing side here, talk about our our guy here, Duke Scott, uh has 198 yards rushing through three games so far, so he's on track for about 800 yards on the season here.
00:18:09.139 --> 00:18:18.259
But with that being said, um, if I'm looking at the so so uh Davion has 12 rushing attempts.
00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:23.700
Uh Duke has 32 rushing attempts, almost three times more rushing attempts.
00:18:24.019 --> 00:18:27.139
Duke is averaging six point six point two yards a carry.
00:18:27.379 --> 00:18:29.539
Davion 5.8 yards carry.
00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:34.819
Now, obviously a lot of these stats are extremely um what's the word?
00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:38.420
You know, kind of ballooned up because of the Richmond game.
00:18:38.660 --> 00:18:41.779
Um I don't know, like yeah, inflated.
00:18:41.859 --> 00:18:42.099
Thank you.
00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:42.579
Yeah, yeah.
00:18:43.139 --> 00:18:45.940
Um but yeah, I mean just I I don't know.
00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:51.379
Just it I I can't help but sit here and feel a little bit disappointed by what we've seen from Duke Scott so far.
00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:58.660
Just outside of the the Richmond game, uh, you know, just it hasn't really popped off the page to me yet.
00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:02.420
I agree.
00:19:02.660 --> 00:19:03.460
I agree.
00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:08.420
Um yeah, I I I mean this is a guy you went in on.
00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:13.619
Yeah, you know, you said, hey, we're okay letting Hollywood Smithers walk because we have Duke Scott.
00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:18.660
And to this point, it it it hasn't played out that way.
00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:23.940
Um I I think the offensive line has been good enough.
00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:30.500
Um and it's weird, like he's averaging like almost six yards after contact per run, which is a big number.
00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:33.940
But again, like you said, it's it's inflated by by the Richmond game.
00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:40.660
Um he's at 12 missed tackles force, which again, like that's good, but they're all against they're all against Richmond.
00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:48.500
You know, so it's it's kind of like okay, like can you do it against a better team?
00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:58.579
And you know, for me, like when I look at hey, it's so funny we gloss over the fact that NC State blew two different 17-point leads against Vanderbilt because of the way the game ended.
00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:58.980
Right.
00:19:59.379 --> 00:20:02.660
But part of the reason is you weren't able to run the ball, you were not able to run the ball.
00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:08.180
Will Wilson had his big run, but other than that, he was just okay.
00:20:08.339 --> 00:20:09.619
Like Gauss was fine.
00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:17.460
Gauss had some nice nice plays in that game, but Duke Scott was was it like 11 for 30, I want to say, in that game.
00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:20.900
Yeah, you know, he had the he had the run call back for a hold.
00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:27.460
That was certainly an impactful play, but you needed him to be better, especially with a lead in the second half.
00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:29.460
You've you've got to be able to run the ball.
00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:31.539
And oh, he was 16 for 50.
00:20:31.619 --> 00:20:33.460
I don't know where I got 11 for 30 from.
00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:37.460
But 16 for 50, like that's three yards per carry.
00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.339
That's not cutting it.
00:20:38.420 --> 00:20:41.139
Like that's just not gonna cut it in a game like that.
00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:42.259
It's just not.
00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:44.819
And well, because because Ethan won.
00:20:45.139 --> 00:20:45.940
You need him to be better.
00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:57.059
Well, because one stat that really stands out to me too as well, Ethan, is that right now Duke Scott has 10, sorry, has two carries of 10 or more yards, while Will Wilson, Mr.
00:20:57.220 --> 00:21:02.819
Fourth and Will, and even Davion, who only has played 12 snaps, has has three.
00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:11.700
So Will Wilson and uh Davion has one more uh rush of 10 plus yards than Duke Scott is.
00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:15.379
And again, Duke Scott's run the ball 32 times.
00:21:15.460 --> 00:21:24.339
And Will Wilson, yeah, he's run the ball 23 times, but again, most of those are fourth and short or third and short, where it's like obvious run territory here.
00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:28.099
So yeah, it's it's it's extremely concerning here.
00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:29.460
Now, I mean, what do you think?
00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:32.900
Uh I I don't know, like, you know, what do you think the the switch is here?
00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:34.180
You know, how do we fix this?
00:21:34.339 --> 00:21:45.940
Is it is it you know continuing to be more effective passing the ball and taking and and you know making these safeties a little bit more respectable towards the past to open up opportunities for Duke?
00:21:46.900 --> 00:21:50.900
Yeah, I I mean I think you're still looking at a at a small sample size.
00:21:50.980 --> 00:21:55.700
I I don't think you necessarily want to sound the alarms yet.
00:21:56.019 --> 00:22:09.299
Um, but again, like the the the game against Richmond really like when you're looking at his season so far, the game against Richmond really just stands out as to like just so much better than the other games.
00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:13.940
And again, how much of that did that have to do with Richmond and not NC State?
00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:20.339
Um you know the majority of his runs were were zone runs um in this game.
00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.779
Like you said, he hasn't he hasn't.
00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:24.819
On a 10-yard run against Virginia or against Vanderbilt.
00:22:25.139 --> 00:22:26.900
Yards after contact against Virginia.
00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:31.539
We talked about it on the season, but against Virginia it's 2.14 and against Vandy it's 2.8.
00:22:32.660 --> 00:22:36.500
You know, it was five missed tackles against uh Vanderbilt.
00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:42.019
So we had a few more of those, but again, that was also on 16 runs.
00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:48.819
So I yeah, I think you gotta keep keep keep working on it, I guess.
00:22:48.900 --> 00:22:51.779
And and I just sort of wonder, were our expectations too high?
00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:53.220
Like that's that's kind of thing.
00:22:53.379 --> 00:22:54.500
Is this more again?
00:22:54.579 --> 00:22:58.900
If you take the Georgia Tech game out of what he did last year, it was like four and a half yards per carry.
00:22:59.139 --> 00:22:59.700
Wow.
00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:00.099
Yeah.
00:23:00.660 --> 00:23:02.980
In what 11 or 12 of 13 games?
00:23:03.299 --> 00:23:07.859
Like even the Memphis game, where it was like, oh, that was a big game without Hollywood Sworders.
00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:10.019
It was like 20 for 90 or something like that.
00:23:10.180 --> 00:23:11.619
Like it was it was fine.
00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:17.220
It was fine, but it was not like it was made made out to be some big game, and it just wasn't.
00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:28.660
So I I just wonder if this is closer to who he is, you know, and you know, again, are you should do you expect more than three yards per carry?
00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.059
Yes.
00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:30.579
But are you gonna get to five?
00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:31.700
Are you gonna get to six?
00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:32.579
Maybe not.
00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:33.539
Yeah, maybe not.
00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:40.660
Which yeah, again, I mean, if this plays out, if this three-game set plays out for rest season, it's gonna be definitely at the end of the season here.
00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:44.019
Looking back, one of our biggest disappointments here for sure.
00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:51.940
Um, but you know, with that being said, like you said, small sample size, let's see what happens here, especially against this app state team here.
00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:54.259
Which two stats, Ethan, that really stood out to me.
00:23:54.339 --> 00:24:05.700
First of all, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I you know, if you if you you know think this is any any way correct and incorrect here, but I believe NC State is 6-0 all time versus App State.
00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:09.059
I don't think NC State's ever had a loss to App State in football.
00:24:09.139 --> 00:24:12.339
Um the last time they played, it's been a long time, hasn't it?
00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:17.619
It was 2000 and when was it?
00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:19.299
2006.
00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:32.259
No, it was it was it was during the Amato years, uh, because it was still when uh they were still when the NC State team would enter coming out of the Murphy Center doors and then walking down the student section into the tunnel.
00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:38.339
So it was like, yeah, maybe 2005, probably 2005, 2006, something like that.
00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:40.900
So it's been yeah, roughly 20 years, it's been a while.
00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:46.180
Um, so uh NC State actually canceled a trip where we were gonna go up to App State, I believe it was two.
00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:47.700
I know I was looking forward to that.
00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:49.619
Yeah, yeah, that'll be a fun one.
00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:58.180
So um anyway, so 6-0 all time versus App State, which just like you said, we haven't played him in 20 years, so you know, take that with a grain of salt here.
00:24:58.339 --> 00:25:07.059
But also the more important stat here is that Dorn is 33-2 uh in non-conference home games at NC State.
00:25:07.379 --> 00:25:09.379
So I don't know, Ethan.
00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:22.579
Like is why do you think it is that that Dorn you feel like has you know proven consistent success against these non-conference home non-conference matchups at home?
00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:24.259
Well, they're bad teams.
00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:25.539
I think that's why.
00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:28.900
Like it's good good scheduling on on Dave's part.
00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:31.460
I'm guessing the two losses are Notre Dame.
00:25:31.619 --> 00:25:35.059
Um and I think they was there another one?
00:25:35.139 --> 00:25:37.940
I feel like it was just I think it's just Notre Dame twice.
00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:48.579
Um well maybe we've only played Notre Dame twice at Carter Finley ever, and first one was the uh the Hurricane Matthews game.
00:25:49.139 --> 00:25:50.900
You sure they didn't play him twice?
00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:56.980
Well, they've played him twice, but just we won the first one, then we lost the second one.
00:25:57.059 --> 00:25:58.740
But anyway, go ahead, Ethan.
00:25:59.059 --> 00:26:01.619
I I don't know what this what's the second loss then?
00:26:01.859 --> 00:26:03.460
Yeah, I'll have to think about it here.
00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:05.940
I I don't know, but yeah, either way, yeah.
00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:10.980
I I mean you play again, you play an FCS team and you play a bad FBS team at home every year.
00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:13.619
So that's that's your home record, right?
00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:16.900
I mean, that's and that's not a knock on Dave, right?
00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:18.339
Like every team does it that way.
00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:20.660
So it's not like, oh, that should be held against Dave Doran.
00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:24.339
No, that shouldn't be held against Dave Doran, but why is he 33-2?
00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:25.460
That's why.
00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:29.940
Um so again, this is uh you know, this is an example.
00:26:30.099 --> 00:26:39.779
You have um you had an FCS game against Richmond, you got an FPS team against the Sunbelt team in App State, and theoretically that'll be two wins.
00:26:39.940 --> 00:26:45.539
You'll go two and oh at home this year and you know, stack that onto the to the 33 and two.
00:26:45.859 --> 00:26:50.180
So yeah, I I I don't know.
00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:56.579
Like it's not like football or baseball or basketball or baseball where you know you're you're gonna play meaningful non-conference home games.
00:26:56.660 --> 00:26:57.700
And again, this is not a knock.
00:26:57.859 --> 00:26:59.700
This is not an like, oh Dave needs to schedule better.
00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:00.500
No, he doesn't.
00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:04.180
This is this is just kind of the way it works in football, especially now.
00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:07.539
Like teams are getting out of all these conference, non-conference games.
00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:12.579
So um, yeah, but I mean to me that's that's kind of it.
00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:19.139
They they they've they've played bad teams and they've they've been better against bad teams, they've been good against bad teams.
00:27:20.099 --> 00:27:33.619
Well, and I do want to ask you though, Ethan, too, as well, because I know you and I were just talking a little bit right before we started recording here about the vibe uh before the game before and even in the early part of the game here.
00:27:33.859 --> 00:27:48.099
Uh listen, it it's tough, you know, to to uh what's the word, like protest too much, you know, you know, even if you do have extreme, extreme disheartened dislike feelings towards uh coach Dorn.
00:27:48.339 --> 00:27:48.579
Why?
00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:58.579
Because you only have seven home football games a year, you know, and so you know, you only have a few opportunities each year to to go to a home game at Carter Finley Stadium.
00:27:58.660 --> 00:28:12.099
So, so who are you kidding, you know, to you know, not go to one just because a certain guy is the head coach when it's like, you know, hey, listen, it's it's a great experience, it's a great time, live tailgating, you know, it's a great home environment here.
00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:13.619
So yeah, you're gonna go.
00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:22.339
Now, with that being said, you know, it's it's you know, still the vibe can still be a little iffy here, but I don't know, Ethan, like, you know, what do you feel?
00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:28.579
Like, uh the like do you do you think the reception, the the environment's gonna be any different than any other home game?
00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:32.500
If they struggle, yeah.
00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:36.019
By the way, the other home loss was ECU in 2013.
00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:39.700
Um there's no chance I would have remembered that.
00:28:39.859 --> 00:28:42.819
But and they played them late in the year, so that was odd.
00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:43.379
Yeah.
00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:46.099
Um it was cold.
00:28:47.139 --> 00:28:48.099
Yeah, yeah.
00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:50.500
I this is a funny question.
00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:59.299
I I like you're I I don't think you're gonna see, like, I don't think they're gonna get booed right away or anything like that.
00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:07.619
But we've seen we've seen booing happen plenty of times, particularly like I think the most common is like if it's halftime and you're not playing well, right?
00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:09.460
You'll you'll see it happen there.
00:29:09.619 --> 00:29:28.339
Um I could definitely see like if it's a bad first drive, I could definitely um you know see if it's a if there's an early turnover, like I could definitely see things turn south quickly, but I don't think to start, I don't think to start it'll be like that.
00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:31.940
I definitely think there will be less juice than normal, uh, if that makes sense.
00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:37.619
I think in general the crowd will be less excited, but I don't think they're gonna run out to booze or anything like that.
00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:43.859
I I uh I don't think Dave or anything like that will will get booed at the early on, right?
00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:47.379
Again, later in the game, if you're losing, sure.
00:29:47.619 --> 00:29:48.900
Or if it's on the table.
00:29:49.539 --> 00:29:50.500
Yeah, yeah.
00:29:50.819 --> 00:29:58.660
Um yeah, I I would just say like there's there's gonna be less juice and and again, I was telling you this before, there's gonna be 60,000 people at the game.
00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:11.299
There's a segment of us on the who are on the internet who you know, we feel like the majority of them are outraged and all this other stuff, and you feel like it's the end of the day Dorn era and he needs to go.
00:30:12.099 --> 00:30:14.420
That's not the majority of the people who are gonna be at the game.
00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:22.819
The majority of the people at the game, as you said, they're they're maybe not there for football.
00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:26.259
Maybe they are, maybe they're not, but they're there for fun, and they're gonna go either way.
00:30:26.339 --> 00:30:26.819
And that's fine.
00:30:26.900 --> 00:30:28.019
I'm gonna go either way, right?
00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:31.779
Like, I'm not going, I'm not not gonna go because of Dave Dorn or anything like that.
00:30:31.859 --> 00:30:33.220
Like, I'm gonna go.
00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:46.339
And so um, I just think there's a lot of let me frame it this way there's a lot of people who go to the game who are not this is not a life or death situation for them, right?
00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:48.339
Like NC State winning or losing games.
00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:51.460
Now, for some of us on the internet, yeah, it's a life or death situation.
00:30:51.619 --> 00:30:52.420
For me, yeah.
00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:54.259
Life for life or death.
00:30:55.619 --> 00:30:58.500
The majority of the people who are gonna be at the game, it's not that way.
00:30:58.579 --> 00:31:04.579
And they're gonna cheer NC State, they're gonna cheer NC State if they go 0 and 12, they're gonna cheer NC State if they're gonna go 12 and 0.
00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:07.139
And that's just that's the way it's gonna be.
00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:13.859
So, yes, I I don't think the crowd will be as good, as loud as you expect at Carter Finley.
00:31:14.019 --> 00:31:19.700
I do think people will be uh ready to boo, especially segments uh of the fans.
00:31:20.420 --> 00:31:22.660
But I don't think you're gonna see it right away.
00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:23.700
Yeah.
00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:25.539
Yeah, no, I I agree.
00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:36.980
It's just it's it's tough because for sure, definitely it's it's I haven't seen it like this so early in the season, uh, you know, in a in in a long time.
00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:45.539
Uh and so I don't know, just just the the hope is here for sure is that NC State comes into this game completely 100% business.
00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:52.180
No show, no, nothing extra, just head down, locked in, football.
00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:54.099
So, you know, coming right out the gate.
00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:58.579
I cannot stress enough how important it is to get a score first drive, ideally.
00:31:58.660 --> 00:31:59.460
Yeah, go ahead and start.
00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:01.220
I wonder if they yeah.
00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:05.299
A lot of times when you're you know, you talk about taking the ball first.
00:32:05.379 --> 00:32:07.539
I think we've like obviously state always differs.
00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:08.339
We should.
00:32:08.579 --> 00:32:13.940
I wonder if you see that in this game where State says we need to we need to get the offense on the field and go.
00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:18.180
I I I wouldn't be surprised to see that in the play from ahead here.
00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:34.740
Well, and especially too, I mean, I I wouldn't even be surprised if and I would hope honestly that CJ is looking to make a statement, uh, you know, and and like we talked about during the live show, is that, you know, about you know, is all this criticism towards CJ justified and blah blah.
00:32:34.900 --> 00:32:37.059
Well, it's like, well, listen, at the end of the day, guess what?
00:32:37.139 --> 00:32:40.660
It's like we said, it's new new week, it's a new game, it's a new opportunity.
00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:41.940
So, CJ, guess what?
00:32:42.019 --> 00:32:56.019
If you go out there and you go crack Ab State open, um, and we beat them by 28 points, and then you go and you pull the upset against Louisville, nobody will remember that that you lost to what you did against Vanderbilt.
00:32:56.500 --> 00:32:58.740
Everybody will move on real, real quick here.
00:32:59.059 --> 00:33:32.019
So uh, and because also, too, again, I mean I I I do truly think that I wouldn't say NC State, I mean NC State in no shit, way, shape, or form is gonna be looking ahead towards Louisville, but I think they understand how important it is for us to set the tone in this game in preparation for the Louisville game, you know, get the swagger back, you know, get the juices back going, get get the locker room back in a good, in a good spot, you know, and because that's all that's gonna do is help you in terms of prep weak preparation uh for the Louisville game.
00:33:32.180 --> 00:33:40.740
So I think that, you know, so I I want to be very careful about how I phrase that because I'm not necessarily I'm not saying they're looking ahead, but you know, let's be real here.
00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:47.859
You can't go win that Louisville game not on your best game, you know, not not be not prepared to play your best.
00:33:48.019 --> 00:34:06.339
And if you're still having questions and still having players concerned about, well, maybe I should be touching the ball more and whatever, and you don't have that that full locked-in locker room, it's it's it's only gonna make the the uh the job not only just extremely challenging, but could be potentially impossible.
00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:07.539
Uh you know, for sure.
00:34:07.619 --> 00:34:10.820
Because if you're if you're not if you're not mentally together, you're not gonna play together.
00:34:10.900 --> 00:34:12.099
It's as simple as that.
00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:19.700
So um yeah, but yeah, I I think and we've never seen a Dave Norn team quit.
00:34:19.860 --> 00:34:27.780
And I'm not saying we will here, but I I I could definitely see a spot where this could get ugly.
00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:29.940
You could they're just not as engaged, yeah.
00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:31.539
Like I I definitely could.
00:34:31.780 --> 00:34:38.179
Um again, we've seen bad losses before, we've seen we've seen stuff happen, they've always bounced back.
00:34:38.259 --> 00:34:44.579
So I'm not expecting it to happen, but it's absolutely on the table where quit is the wrong word.
00:34:44.739 --> 00:34:51.860
Like I don't want to say quit, but where they're just disheveled, I guess, and mentally just all over the place.
00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:56.099
Um but at the same time, maybe they come in and they're ready to go, right?
00:34:56.259 --> 00:35:04.019
I mean, I know a lot of people we kind of felt it was the same way after the Virginia game, going into uh going into Richmond, and then State just laid the hammer down.
00:35:04.099 --> 00:35:05.139
Could they do that again too?
00:35:05.219 --> 00:35:06.259
Yeah, I could see that.
00:35:06.500 --> 00:35:06.900
Yeah.
00:35:07.059 --> 00:35:12.980
I mean, it really for me, I I'm really looking mostly at for this game at the captains.
00:35:13.059 --> 00:35:23.380
I'm looking at CJ, I'm looking at Duke, you know, I'm looking at Keenan Jackson, uh, you know, like I'm looking at the guys that we have named captains and saying, guess what?
00:35:23.539 --> 00:35:26.739
This is gonna be one of the toughest challenges that a captain has to face.
00:35:26.820 --> 00:35:27.460
But guess what?
00:35:27.619 --> 00:35:39.699
You've been tasked with the the label of a captain, and if there's anybody and there's any way to get the locker room back on the right foot, it has to start with the captains.
00:35:39.780 --> 00:35:41.619
It has to start from the player side.
00:35:41.780 --> 00:35:45.699
Uh, you know, a player-led team is is the strongest team, you know.
00:35:45.780 --> 00:35:55.460
Like you think about you know, Tom Brady, you know, what made him so great is that not only was he a phenomenal football player, but he was arguably the hardest worker on the entire team.
00:35:55.699 --> 00:36:05.860
And so that's the thing is that you if if we're gonna get this locker room back right uh in order to rise up to the challenge that's coming up here on Saturday, it's gotta start with the captains.
00:36:05.940 --> 00:36:18.820
You know, the captains have to be locked back in here and and you know, leading the way here and uh and you know doing what it doing whatever's needed to get these guys ready to play here on Saturday.
00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:30.420
But um I did want to mention here though, Ethan, uh, you know, I I know with the games like this, it's always kind of important to give a little bit of context around who we're facing here.
00:36:30.500 --> 00:36:39.460
So, first of all, AppS Day were it's a night game, which I mean also too always plays in favor for Dorne and and NC State uh football teams.
00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:45.460
So uh, you know, nighttime at the card family stadium is always going to be a tough place to to win for any team.
00:36:45.619 --> 00:36:51.699
But App State definitely has uh definitely beaten my expectations for where they would be right now.
00:36:51.780 --> 00:36:56.340
Uh putting a shellac in on Maine uh first game of the season 55 to 3.
00:36:56.579 --> 00:37:02.099
Uh then winning at ECU 27-24, which was extremely impressive.
00:37:02.259 --> 00:37:04.900
Um, but then still beating UNC Charlotte.
00:37:04.980 --> 00:37:16.579
So sitting right here, right now, Ethan at 3-0, um, led by uh head coach Dow Loggins, who was the offensive coordinator at South Carolina before taking the job uh two years ago at App State as the head coach.
00:37:16.739 --> 00:37:22.099
Um last year they went uh five and seven um and then lost in the Birmingham Bowl.
00:37:22.179 --> 00:37:29.380
So they were one of the few teams, Ethan, that received a uh a bowl invite, even though they didn't hit that six-win mark.
00:37:29.619 --> 00:37:45.780
Um and uh so yeah, and and and and in terms of quarterback, they're led by Malachi Singleton, uh, who's uh spent two years in Arkansas, was a former four-star recruit out of Georgia, then last year was at Purdue before transferring to App State this year.
00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:56.500
He actually leads um the Sunbelt right now in passing yards at just about 300 yards, passing yards per game, has five touchdowns, one interception.
00:37:56.659 --> 00:38:16.420
Um, and also too gives you a little bit, and I do mean a little bit here um in terms of running the ball here, but you know, I I think that from a running perspective, I mean, App State, they just between ECU and Charlotte alone, because I'll kind of take out the main game here, uh, they're only averaging 2.8 yards per carry.
00:38:16.659 --> 00:38:22.980
So definitely not showing a lot of uh you know pizzazz there from the from from run perspective.
00:38:23.219 --> 00:38:31.300
So I mean, I think this is definitely going to be a very obviously pass-heavy team that that you're gonna have to have to take care of business with here.
00:38:31.460 --> 00:38:32.340
But I don't know.
00:38:32.420 --> 00:38:45.300
Like, you know, just what do you think, Ethan, is the key here for for this game, besides, like we already mentioned, you know, maybe taking a very serious consideration that if you win the coin toss taking the ball first, go down, set the tone.
00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:48.900
What's getting seven up on the scoreboard within the first three, four minutes of the game?
00:38:49.059 --> 00:38:51.780
But do you have any other kind of keys to this game here?
00:38:52.179 --> 00:38:54.179
No, I mean you mentioned their passing game.
00:38:54.259 --> 00:38:56.500
Uh that stands out about them offensively.
00:38:56.659 --> 00:39:01.460
Um, rushing the ball every time they run the ball, they're gonna be doing NC State a favor, I think.
00:39:01.619 --> 00:39:04.500
Um they they don't run the ball well at all.
00:39:04.980 --> 00:39:13.860
Um they are they have a 31% success rate running the ball, which is 131 31st, I should say, nationally.
00:39:14.019 --> 00:39:19.860
Again, a lot of their numbers uh look good, but again, it's been Maine, it's been ECU.
00:39:20.019 --> 00:39:21.300
And who do they play last week?
00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:21.940
Somebody else?
00:39:22.179 --> 00:39:22.659
Charlotte.
00:39:22.900 --> 00:39:23.940
So Charlotte.
00:39:24.019 --> 00:39:25.780
So you know, schedule's been light.
00:39:25.860 --> 00:39:32.980
Obviously, this is gonna be a big step up for them, and a little bit of a step down for NC State relative to you know, Virginia and Vanderbilt.
00:39:33.059 --> 00:39:38.579
So, yeah, the the numbers certainly skew towards that state, but that's not accounting for for who you've played.
00:39:38.739 --> 00:39:40.579
So, yeah, they they can throw the ball well.
00:39:41.539 --> 00:39:46.500
Um they are 46th in passing success rate at 49%.
00:39:47.059 --> 00:39:49.139
Defensively, they're they're pretty balanced.
00:39:49.300 --> 00:39:50.579
They're they're pretty balanced.
00:39:50.659 --> 00:39:56.259
Um, again, offensively, anytime they run the ball, you you're that's a win for NC State.
00:39:56.420 --> 00:40:02.980
But defensively, I I don't necessarily see like uh man, this is a a spot you want to attack them.
00:40:03.139 --> 00:40:07.380
I I think they're relatively balanced across the board.
00:40:07.539 --> 00:40:11.059
Nothing really stands out as okay, they're really, really bad at this.
00:40:11.219 --> 00:40:25.539
Their biggest strength, they're they're holding teams to 8.8 um yards to go on third down, so they've been good uh early on or on early downs, first and second down getting teams into third and long.
00:40:25.780 --> 00:40:32.980
Um uh so they they're better against the pass than they are against the rush, but again, that's not to say they're bad against the rush.
00:40:33.059 --> 00:40:39.860
So they've won on third and fourth downs, 35% um there uh defensively, right?
00:40:39.940 --> 00:40:41.460
So 65% for the offense.
00:40:41.539 --> 00:40:43.380
So that's that's good for their defense.
00:40:43.539 --> 00:40:46.820
So yeah, again, defensively they're they're balanced.
00:40:46.980 --> 00:40:52.340
Um another thing, like this was a mismatch against Vanderbilt, and I thought you saw it play out.
00:40:52.579 --> 00:40:57.139
Uh net field position, I think state was minus five yards in that game per drive.
00:40:58.019 --> 00:40:58.980
Kind of the same thing here.
00:40:59.059 --> 00:41:03.300
App State's plus two in net field position, and then NC State is minus three.
00:41:03.539 --> 00:41:08.340
So you're looking at about five potentially yards per difference based off what's happened so far.
00:41:08.659 --> 00:41:13.139
So again, how much stock do you put into these numbers against bad teams?
00:41:13.539 --> 00:41:18.820
Um because games against rich uh FCS teams, I should say, are not included here.
00:41:18.900 --> 00:41:26.340
So this is App State's games against ECU and uh Charlotte and State's games against Virginia and Vanderbilt.
00:41:26.420 --> 00:41:32.500
So yeah, but uh again, balanced defensively, offensively, they're really, really good through the air.
00:41:33.699 --> 00:41:36.980
Yeah, so I did I did also to get confirmation, Ethan.
00:41:37.059 --> 00:41:40.579
So we played uh it was the first game of the 2006 season.
00:41:40.739 --> 00:41:42.739
We won 23 to 10.
00:41:43.059 --> 00:41:45.699
So 20 years since last time we played App State.
00:41:45.780 --> 00:41:51.940
And keep in mind that it was the following year in 2007 that App State pulled off the Michigan upset, uh, too, as well.
00:41:52.019 --> 00:41:54.259
So just to kind of help kind of set the timeline.
00:41:54.659 --> 00:41:55.300
2007?
00:41:55.699 --> 00:41:56.820
Yeah, 2007.
00:41:57.940 --> 00:41:58.420
Mm-hmm.
00:41:58.739 --> 00:42:03.380
Yeah, so um, so with that being said, though, Ethan, jumping right into it here.
00:42:03.460 --> 00:42:08.820
So again, like I said, and state right now, since it's a 14-point favorite, over under set at 55 and a half.
00:42:08.980 --> 00:42:15.460
So basically, Vegas has this game right now as at about at about 3521 NC State prediction wise.
00:42:15.619 --> 00:42:20.739
Um, so Ethan, do you want to treat this game as a a spread prediction or do you want to do score prediction here?
00:42:20.820 --> 00:42:22.099
I'll leave it up to you.
00:42:22.420 --> 00:42:26.739
No, I always prefer picking against the spread, um, so I can lose some more money.
00:42:27.059 --> 00:42:30.579
Um I I like state against the I I do.
00:42:30.659 --> 00:42:32.259
I like state against the spread.
00:42:32.420 --> 00:42:34.179
Yeah, I think they're gonna come out ready to go.
00:42:34.340 --> 00:42:37.300
It's interesting to me that this number has moved towards state.
00:42:37.780 --> 00:42:50.179
Um again, if you think NC State is on quit watch, or if you think they're not gonna be ready to go or they're not gonna show up, I think the app state money line is the is the bet to make.
00:42:50.340 --> 00:42:52.739
I don't know that I would necessarily bet App State on the spread.
00:42:52.900 --> 00:42:57.940
They certainly they could cover it, but again, 14 points in a game like this is pretty low.
00:42:58.019 --> 00:43:03.860
Like that's either a lot of respect to App or not a lot of a lot of disrespect to NC State.
00:43:04.179 --> 00:43:06.500
And I think that feels about right to me.
00:43:06.579 --> 00:43:08.340
But Dave's just been good in these spots.
00:43:08.420 --> 00:43:10.340
He's like it, like he has.
00:43:10.500 --> 00:43:11.780
He's been really good.
00:43:12.179 --> 00:43:14.179
And I I expect them to do it again.
00:43:14.259 --> 00:43:16.739
I expect them to come out and be ready to go.
00:43:17.139 --> 00:43:22.900
Um and if they can get off, if they can get off to a quick start, I think they will.
00:43:23.380 --> 00:43:28.739
Um I I think they can not necessarily run away with it, but cover 14.
00:43:28.980 --> 00:43:29.460
Yeah.
00:43:29.699 --> 00:43:49.059
Yeah, I mean, for me, so like a last time I saw uh I think a little bit over 75% of the money was going towards app state, but yet, like you had said, the lines actually kind of shifted slightly towards NC State, which is interesting because it almost seems like as if Vegas is begging you to take the App State plus 14 here.
00:43:49.300 --> 00:43:51.860
Uh, so yeah, no, I definitely would agree with you.
00:43:51.940 --> 00:43:59.539
I I I kind of and uh I kind of put this game as like a 42-17 score, so about 25 point spread.
00:44:00.659 --> 00:44:08.340
Yeah, I mean, I I listen, I mean, I I I think with NC State, score 31 points versus Vanderbilt.
00:44:08.900 --> 00:44:27.860
Um, you know, again, I I I I tried to when I when I thought about that score, I tried to take away again the last six seconds of the game, focus on a lot of the positives that you did see in the fact that you started to see CJ start to make some of these plays you expect from him, start to see Keenan Jackson really start to stand out here.
00:44:27.940 --> 00:44:31.300
And so, yeah, I mean, you know, so I I like NC Stay in this one.
00:44:31.380 --> 00:44:35.699
Uh so 42-17 is a score for me, covering that 14-point spread here.
00:44:35.940 --> 00:44:43.780
But again, super, super excited to be back in Carter Finley Stadium here with Wolfpack Nation for a night game, 7 30 p.m., I believe.
00:44:44.019 --> 00:44:46.739
Last time I saw it, it's going to be broadcast on ESPNU.
00:44:47.139 --> 00:44:56.179
So uh for those of you that are not gonna be able to make it in person, um, but Wolfpack Nation, I want to first of all say, as always, thank you so much for for joining us.
00:44:56.259 --> 00:44:57.380
Really do appreciate it.
00:44:57.539 --> 00:45:02.659
Um, make sure to go check out our amazing sponsor, Akoni Gold Barbecue Sauces and Rubs.
00:45:02.739 --> 00:45:07.699
Uh, that's you know, go to the website www.aconey goldbq sauce.com.
00:45:07.780 --> 00:45:11.619
Use that code Tuffy Talk to get 15% off of your entire order.
00:45:11.699 --> 00:45:16.019
Uh, and get yourself ready here for some amazing tailgating here to come here soon.
00:45:16.099 --> 00:45:19.860
Uh, and make sure also too give us a follow toughy talk now on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
00:45:19.940 --> 00:45:25.619
And also too, if you listen to us on Spotify, iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, do us a big favor, leave us a five star view.
00:45:25.860 --> 00:45:27.059
Greatly appreciate that as well.
00:45:27.219 --> 00:45:30.179
But with that being said, we'll see y'all on Saturday, Wolfback Nation.
00:45:30.259 --> 00:45:31.780
And as always, go pack, y'all.