NC State 2011 Football Season Preview

The Wolfpack come into the 2011 season with some momentum after a 9-4 season in 2010 including a Champs Sports Bowl victory against West Virginia. Last season, N.C. State posted a winning record for the first time in four years under head coach Tom O'Brien. However, a general sense of enthusiasm seems to be in check due to the responsibility now given to redshirt junior QB Mike Glennon. After the surprising and somewhat awkward departure of quarterback Russell Wilson who has broken several NCSU QB records in the last 3 seasons, the balance of the offensive attack now falls to Glennon and a largely untested receiving core. Wilson, who had a year of eligibility remaining, is also potentially eyeing a professional baseball career. After coach Tom O'Brien proclaimed that Wilson would have to play behind Glennon, Wilson made the decision to seek opportunities elsewhere and is now at Wisconsin.

Glennon has been a part of spring practice for the last three years due to Wilson's baseball career and has a quarterback style that O'Brien prefers. He is a drop-back passer, which is considered by many to be more of a pro-style quarterback. Although the quarterback controversy will attract more headlines, the way that Tom O'Brien handled the situation will be judged more closely than the performance of either QB this season. In addition to adjusting to a new QB, the Wolfpack have other areas of concern.

There are no seniors on the two-deep chart in the secondary, so depth could eventually become an issue in the defensive backfield. There are also questions on special teams with a new punter and new kicker. Tom O'Brien previously expressed his concern about that and stated that he was pleased to be starting the season with a home game.

Here are some of this season's pros & cons:

Pros: The Wolfpack have 14 returning starters; six starters returning on offense and eight starters back on defense. The eight defensive starters are returning to a defense that was ranked second in the ACC against the run in 2010 and held West Virginia to 326 yards of offense in the Wolfpack's bowl win. Seniors Jeff Rieskamp and J.R. Sweezy at tackle lead the way up front, while senior Audie Cole and junior Terrell Manning (who combined for 9.5 sacks) are solid at linebacker. Audie Cole, who led the 2009 team in tackles and shared the team lead in 2010, has been moved to the middle linebacker position that was previously occupied by Nate Irving. Cole was effective on the outside, so the key for him is to continue his level of production from the inside position. The secondary returns four starters. Junior Brandan Bishop had four interceptions last year and junior C.J. Wilson returned both of his two interceptions for touchdowns. On the offensive side, George Bryan is a two-time all-ACC first-team Tight End. Bryan became a reliable target for former QB Russell Wilson and his presence could provide a comfort level for QB Mike Glennon. R.J. Mattes has moved to left tackle from right tackle because Coach Tom O'Brien calls him the team's best player along the offensive line. RB Tony Creecy, a 196-pound redshirt freshman has the type of athletic ability that makes him a versatile threat in the backfield.

Cons: The Wolfpack will be looking for young untried receivers to step in for Owen Spencer and Jarvis Williams, who had a combined 112 receptions last year. Added to that pressure is the departure of Russell Wilson. Delivering the ball to new receivers is entirely in the hands of unproven Mike Glennon. In July, CB Jarvis Byrd suffered an ACL injury during summer player-only workouts that will keep him out for the entire 2011 season. RB Mustafa Greene is out until at least Oct. 1 with a foot injury that required surgery in April. He was the team's leading rusher in 2010 with 597 yards. Redshirt junior Offensive Lineman Andrew Wallace continues to deal with a knee injury suffered last December in preparation for the Champs Sports Bowl. He was the starter at left guard in every regular season game in 2010. The team has scheduled his return for around mid-October.

The Wolfpack will have some time to work its new starters into game situations against a relatively weak early schedule. The opening month of the season does not appear to be intimidating. The fourth game of the season and the first real test comes in a nationally televised Thursday night game at Cincinnati. That game will mark N.C. State's only out-of-state trip until late October.

Here is the 2011 season schedule:

Sat, Sep 3 Liberty 6:00 pm

Sat, Sep 10 at Wake Forest 3:30 pm

Sat, Sep 17 South Alabama 6:00 pm

Thu, Sep 22 at Cincinnati 8:00 pm

Sat, Oct 1 Georgia Tech TBA

Sat, Oct 8 Central Michigan TBA

Sat, Oct 22 at Virginia TBA

Sat, Oct 29 at (6) Florida State TBA

Sat, Nov 5 North Carolina TBA

Sat, Nov 12 at Boston College TBA

Sat, Nov 19 Clemson TBA

Sat, Nov 26 Maryland TBA

My 2011 prediction for NC State is an overall record of 8-5 (4-4 in the ACC) including a bowl appearance. The Wolfpack is geared up for another winning season under Coach Tom O'Brien, although they will take a moderate step back from last year's long awaited success.