So far we've run "Enemy Lines" features examining 11 of Clemson's opponents, including our interview with Ron Morris on South Carolina over the weekend.
We saved N.C. State for today's blog, even though the Wolfies are the Tigers' 11th opponent and the Gamecocks are the 12th.
Jacey Zembal of the Rivals.com site The Wolfpacker was kind enough to share his time for this Q&A on N.C. State.
TI: What did you think of Tom O'Brien sort of pushing Russell Wilson out the door? Seems a lot of people on the outside (including me) questioned that, given Wilson's abilities as a dynamic QB.
ZEMBAL: "The Tom O'Brien decision about quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Mike Glennon will get discussed for years. The start of the situation basically came when Wilson joined the seniors for Senior Day last year, tipping his hand that he was going to focus on professional baseball. He already had his degree and the Colorado Rockies were paying him a good chunk of change. If Wilson got off to a good start in minor league baseball, does he even want to play college football this season? Only he would know.
"Glennon's situation complicated matters even more because he was set to graduate in May, so like Wilson, he could transfer to another college and be eligible right away. If the Wolfpack had committed to Wilson and worked around his schedule, Glennon would have left. If by the off chance that Wilson was tearing it up in minor league baseball and elected to remain a pro baseball player, then redshirt freshman Tyler Brosius and true freshman Brian Taylor would have been the only scholarship quarterbacks left on the roster.
"A lot was made about Wilson missing spring practices and offseason workouts, but that wasn't any different from what he went through in 2010, and it didn't affect his play on the field. Could he have been a little bit better if he just focused on football? Sure, but he still was an All-ACC caliber quarterback.
"The safe gamble was taking Glennon for two years rather than find out later if Wilson was going to focus on college football or pro baseball."
TI: What is your take on Glennon, and how might the Wolfpack's offense change philosophically with him running the show?
ZEMBAL: "Glennon is a high-level talent and has legit NFL skills at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, and with a big arm. He's far superior to Wilson as an NFL prospect, but Wilson's experience and ability to scramble make him more ideal for the college game. Whoever the quarterback ended up being for N.C. State, he was going to have all new wide receivers to throw to. It's unfair to compare Glennon this year to Wilson last year because of that void at wide receiver.
"The play-calling of the offense will change. Glennon has torched N.C. State's defense in two out of the last three spring games with the current offense. Offensive coordinator Dana Bible just won't be calling for as many roll-outs and read-option plays with Glennon compared to Wilson. N.C. State will also be able to pass over the middle more with Glennon's ability to see over the linemen."
TI: What is your assessment of N.C. State's recruiting the past few years, and overall talent level on hand right now?
ZEMBAL: "N.C. State isn't landing four and five star players, but if they get the right mix of players, they'll be fine. What the Wolfpack have been able to do is find contributors with some toughness, who will work in the scheme of the offense and defense. Add in a star quarterback and a couple of difference-making defensive players, and it's a winning philosophy.
"It's not flashy, but it's a formula that the current coaching staff used at Boston College, and other colleges such as Iowa or West Virginia have used for over a decade. Great quarterback play is always the difference in college football, and the staff has been pretty good at finding playmakers at the spot.
"The program has been producing about two NFL players per year, and that could rise to around four players in the next few years, but it's too early to tell."
TI: What's your assessment of the defense, which loses Nate Irving?
ZEMBAL: "The defense will lose some of its star power with middle linebacker Nate Irving going to the pros. Add in fifth-year senior defensive tackle J.R. Sweezy, who will miss some early games because of a foot injury.
"The back seven is experienced with the linebackers the strength of the defense. Fifth-year senior middle linebacker Audie Cole, redshirt junior outside linebacker Terrell Manning and sophomore outside linebacker D.J. Green (a converted strong safety), all run well. The secondary took a hit when redshirt sophomore cornerback Jarvis Byrd blew out his knee after missing last year with a knee injury on the opposite side. Byrd was expected to beat out incumbent cornerback C.J. Wilson. N.C. State could have trouble generating a pass rush from its front four, but expect a lot of blitzes again from defensive coordinator Mike Archer."
TI: Owen Spencer, Jarvis Williams and Darrell Davis are gone. Those three caught a combined 127 passes and scored 12 touchdowns last
season. How big of a drop-off will there be at receiver?
ZEMBAL: "As previously mentioned, Glennon won't have the same cast of receivers to throw to that Wilson did. Williams and Spencer are major losses, and it's likely to be a decline at the spot. All-American tight end candidate George Bryan, a fifth-year senior, and the running backs and fullbacks all catch the ball well. It's going to take some time for a few of the receivers to emerge. There is a lot of speed at the position, but dependability doesn't happen overnight.
"The players have been buzzing about fifth-year senior Jay Smith, who looks the part, but has never earned a major spot in the receivers rotation, which usually has six players making appearances each game."
TI thanks Zembal for sharing his time and insight.
LW
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