NC State football: How could defense become best in nation?

Raleigh

North Carolina State’s defense was one of the best in the ACC last season.

With 10 starters back, the group has bigger goals for 2022.

“We hold ourselves to high standards,” said Safety Cyrus Fagan. “I feel like I can be number one in the country.”

Last season, the Wolfpack allowed 336.1 yards per game and finished 21st in the nation in total defense. The last time North Carolina State led the nation in total defense was in 2004.

On paper, Puck has the potential to be the best defensive coach Dave Doren has championed during his time in Lowry.

“There are so many things, and if everything is as it is, yes,” Doren replied when asked if this was his best North Carolina state defense. There’s still a long way to go, the health factor and all that stuff, and if we can get these guys on track, they could do really well on defense.”

North Carolina State finished third in total defense in 2021 in the ACC, behind only Clemson and Syracuse. By the end of the year, Doren was missing multiple starters on that side of the ball. This season, everyone is back in good spirits.

“We have all the tools,” said All-ACC Safety Officer Tanner Ingle. “We have defensive talent, only fire and passion.”

How to get to quarterback

Last season, North Carolina State finished fifth in the ACC in sacks (33). Part of it is the scheme. Wolfpack uses his 3-3-5 defense to keep the quarterback off guard with a blitz from the linebacker or his defensive back. Linebackers Drake Thomas and Levi Jones led the team in sacks last season and are very disruptive, but North Carolina State will find ways to keep their quarterbacks more grounded, especially in the front three. Pittsburgh, last year’s ACC champions, was second in the nation with 54 sacks. Georgia, the 2021 national champion, had 49 of him.

North Carolina tied for 36th nationally.

Defensive lineman Davin Vann (4 sacks last season) and All-ACC nose guard Corey Durden (3.5) lead the front line this season. Joining him is his junior, Savion Jackson, who has returned from a knee injury.

“Playing 3-3-5, you have more linebackers and skill guys,” Jackson said. As defensive linemen, we can also play.”

Emphasis on RPM

North Carolina State caught 15 passes last season. This is good enough for him to finish second in the ACC. However, the team was only able to recover his two fumbles.

Some things haven’t been in the pack’s favor. The ball landed directly under the UNC player, who covered it.

In fall camp, the pack defense focuses on stealing the ball. Teams use “take-out bones” to force turnovers during games, but Jackson said players are given treats such as candy bars during practice.

“Interceptions and fumbles change the game,” Jackson said. “It’s him one of our defenses being held so high.”

important stats

The North Carolina State defense was like a brick wall on the 80-yard field last season. When the opponent entered Red his zone, that wall collapsed.

Wolfpack was 7th in the ACC’s red zone defense with an 83.9% scoring percentage for the team. North Carolina State gave up his 19 touchdowns inside the red zone. With three losses, the pack’s opponents were 10-10 total in the red zone.

Another problem the team had was getting off the field on third down. The pack was fifth in the nation in third-down percentage. Against Wake Forest, with the Atlantic Division title at stake, the Demon Deacons were 3 down and he was 10-19.

According to cornerback Shyheim Battle, one factor in improving that number is simply soccer IQ. Over the summer, Battle went into the movie room trying to understand downs and distances, figure out where the sticks were, and learn how teams tended to play in those situations. .

“That’s going to be the difference between us being a nine-win team,” Battle said. “And an undefeated or 10-plus team.”

This story was originally published August 11, 2022 at 5:10 am.