Reading list: 8/19

When things are slow at What Critics?, we like to see what our fellow bloggers and more professional media types have been up to. Here are a few items that caught our attention this week:

• There were lots of great reactions to NCAA president-elect Mark Emmert’s recently announced plans to redesign the NBA age limit. Two of our favorite reads were from Deadspin and Rush the Court.
• Tar Heel Fan offers opinion on why Tennessee backed out of an upcoming home-and-home football series. [link]
• Shakin’ The Southland posted a fantastic analysis of rushing options from the pistol — a formation expected to be featured frequently in the Tiger offense this season. [link]
• FSU blog Scalp ‘Em predicts the Noles’ results. Spoiler alert: they’re picking against State. [link]
• Unsurprisingly, Clemson blog Block C has similar feelings about the Tiger’s game in Raleigh. [link]
• Over at the N&O’s ACC Now, Ken Tysiac reports that What Critics? blogfather Chuck Amato dropped in on Wolfpack practice today. [link]
• Backing the Pack has given the once-over to Cincinnati’s very scary offense. Death Machine! [link]
• Riddick & Reynolds gives brief profile of Debbie Yow’s recent hires, including senior associate AD, Chris Kingston. [link]

Dissecting the depth chart, pt. V: DL

The fifth entry in our eight-part positional breakdown focuses on the Wolfpack’s rebuilt defensive line. Last week, we discussed quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and the o-line. Tomorrow we’ll talk linebackers, with the secondary and special teams due up later this week.

ETHAN HYMAN - EHYMAN@NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Pos	Player	Ht/Wt	Class	Starts	Notes
Projected Starters
DE	M. Lemon	6-4, 267	RS Sr	1	Started last yr. v. Clem.
DT	B. Slay	6-3, 290	So	0	Saw 115 snaps in ’09
DT	N. Mageo	6-3, 285	Sr	0	Played from scrim. in all 12 last yr.
DE	D. Akinniyi	6-4, 255	RS Sr	0	Started 34 at Northeastern
Reserves
DE	A. Augustin	6-2, 260	RS Sr	1	Played in all but one gm. of career
DE	D. Cato-Bishop	6-4, 281	Fr	0	Five sacks in spring
DT	M. Kuhn	6-4, 303	RS Sr	3	Missed last yr
DE	J. Rieskamp	6-3, 235	RS Jr	2	Missed last yr & spring

The 2009 Wolfpack defense was, by all accounts, not very good. It was the squad’s inability to stop the pass that drew the most contention from pundits and fans — and deservedly so.

State allowed 222 yards per game through the air last year year (9th in the conference) and 7.91 yards per attempt (10th). Interestingly, no defense in the conference saw fewer pass attempts than the Wolfpack’s (337) and no group allowed more accurate passing than that very same defense (62.6%).

It was the very inexperienced and very injured secondary that bore the brunt of the criticism last year, mostly because of statistics like those in the preceding paragraph. But it’s almost impossible to pin responsibility on a single player or unit. Without a reliable pass rush and without consistent rush defense, a team’s secondary is left exposed to well-protected QB and an unpredictable offensive gameplan. And that’s a combination that’s difficult to stop for any team.

Last season’s defensive line — built around seniors Shea McKeen, LeRoy Burgess, Alan-Michael Cash and Willie Young — ranked sixth in the conference in both rushing yards-per-game (139) and yards-per-attempt (3.93); not terrible numbers, but not enough to take the pressure off the weak-link secondary. The defense combined for just six recovered fumbles (last in the ACC), helping to drop the team’s turnover margin to -11 (also last). Getting into the backfield was also a difficult task for the front four. The unit combined for 2.0 sacks per game (5th in the ACC) and 5.4 TFL per game (8th). But both sacks and backfield tackles came in bunches (4 sacks, 10 TFL vs. FCS Murray St., 6 sacks, 8 TFL vs. WF).

Like so much of the last year’s team, the 2010 defensive line is brand spanking new. The consequences of a complete overhaul on a unit as tightly bound as the defensive line are manifold; hope, as always, springs eternal, but with so little experience, mental errors are sure to be a factor.

The new-look line is highlighted by three seniors with a sum of one start at the FBS level. DE Michael Lemon replaced Shea McKeen in the Clemson game last year, recording three tackles, one for a loss. Lemon played in all 12 games and was responsible for an interception that led to State’s only score in the South Carolina game. His counterpart on the other side of the line is end David Akinniyi, a redshirt senior who transfered from Northeastern when their program was shut down. Akinniyi was a three year starter at Northeastern at both defensive end and outside linebacker. He’s potentially the smallest member of the line, but should be the best athlete and a persistent pass-rushing threat. His ability to adjust to a higher level of competition is what will determine whether he gets the nod over RS Jr Jeff Rieskamp, who is recovering from a sports hernia that kept him out all of last season.

Up the middle are tackles Natanu Mageo and Brian Slay. Mageo played in all 12 contests in ’09 after transferring from junior college. He recorded 10 tackles last year, including three for a loss and a sack, and had an interception in the FSU game. Though a few pounds heavier than Mageo, sophomore Brian Slay, has likewise shown good skill at reaching the backfield. In ten games off the bench, he picked up eight QB hurries and a half dozen tackles for loss.

After a few weeks of practice, the aforementioned Rieskamp looks to be the only player battling for a starting spot — and it’s just as likely that he could be on the field early against Western Carolina as Lemon or Akinniyi.

Others expected to contribute include redshirt junior DT J.R. Sweezy (who started last year against Murray State), redshirt junior Markus Kuhn (started three games in ’08), redshirt senior DE Audi Augstin (started bowl game in ’08, has seen action in all but one game of his career) and pass-rushing redshirt freshman DE Darryl Cato-Bishop.

Dissecting the depth chart, pt. IV: OL

The fourth entry in our eight-part positional breakdown focuses on the Wolfpack’s rebuilt offensive line. Last week, we discussed quarterbacks, running backs and receivers. The d-line is up later today, with the rest of the defense and special teams following later this week.

Credit: ETHAN HYMAN - EHYMAN@NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Pos	Player	Ht/Wt	Class	Starts	Notes
Projected Starters
LT	Jake Vermiglio	6-6, 220	Jr	20	Started 3 as Tr Fr (’07), leg inj. (’09) missed two games
LG	Andrew Wallace	6-5, 299	RS So	2	Both starts in ’09 at LT
C	Camden Wentz	6-3, 290	So	0	Played in five games (’09), #13 C per Scout.com
RG	Zach Allen	6-3, 314	So	0	Played both G and T last season as reserve
RT	Mikel Overgaard	6-6, 280	RS Jr	0	Orig. walk-on TE at Wash St., transf. from JuCo in Utah
Reserves
C	Torian Box	6-3, 295	Fr	0	Played LG/RG/C in HS, #15 C per Rivals.com
OL	Tyson Chandler	6-6, 340	Fr	0	Converted DT, spent ’09 at Fork Union Military Academy
C	Wayne Crawford	6-3, 303	RS Jr	0	1 GP (’09), 6 GP (’08), converted DT
T	Robert Crisp	6-7, 299	Fr	0	Five-star recruit, top-5 tackle nationally, could win job
T	Duran Cristophe	6-6, 287	RS Fr	0	Three-star recruit (Scout.com/Rivals.com)
G	Gary Gregory	6-4, 325	RS Sr	0	4 GP (’09), missed spring practice
T	Sam Jones	6-7, 321	RS Fr	0	Played G and T at Hargrave in ’09
G	Henry Lawson	6-3, 290	RS Jr	0	Played line in two games (’08), 25 GP on ST
RG	R.J. Mattes	6-6, 303	RS So	8	Tore ACL v. FSU in ’09, expected back mid-September

—

The 2009 Wolfpack offensive line was built around several veteran players. LG Julian Williams, C Ted Larsen and RT Jeraill McCuller — all seniors — were, if nothing else, dependable, combining for just one missed start. But joined by sophomore LT Jake Vermiglio and RG R.J. Mattes and Andy Barbee, the group failed to improve much on middling 2008 numbers. Rushing offense in ’09 held steady at 120 ypg (87th nationally) and sacks allowed per game numbers increased to an even 2.0 (53rd).

With everyone from the preceding paragraph not named Vermiglio unavailable for the opener at Western Carolina, Tom O’Brien has no problem admitting that the arrangement of the line is, as of now, to be determined. Replacing three veteran starters on the line is never an easy task, but it’s made even more difficult when injuries and dismissals add to the the attrition. The very hush-hush booting of four-star guard Denzelle Good last week plus the injury to R.J. Mattes puts a lot of names in the hat for O’Brien.

The hinge on which the entire lineup swings is the recovery of sophomore right guard R.J. Mattes. Mattes, who went down with an ACL tear and missed the last four games of 2009, is expected back by the second or third game and should retake his starting role despite missing nearly a year.

But in the opener, expect to see a lot players rotated in. Unless much changes between now and September 4, the starting five should be what’s listed above. The guy probably getting the longest look in that game will be top recruit Robert Crisp. O’Brien and others have raved about his physical skills in camp, saying it’s the mental adjustments that he’s working on most. Expect Crisp to spend time on the field with both the first and second-team offense. With his primary position of left tackle occupied by the only experienced lineman in Vermiglio, little has been said about whether Crisp can make the move to the other side — but it’s a move that may be necessitated by O’Brien’s desire to line up the best five guys.

Dissecting the depth chart, pt. III: WR/TE

The third entry in our eight-part positional breakdown focuses on the well-aged bevy of receiving options at Russell Wilson’s disposal this year. Earlier this week, we discussed quarterbacks and running backs. Tomorrow we wrap up the offensive conversation by breaking down the linemen.

Credit: ETHAN HYMAN - EHYMAN@NEWSOBSERVER.COM

If you haven’t yet realized, experience (or the lack thereof) is a pervasive factor in evaluating each of the 2010 NC State offensive and defensive units. And no unit on either side of the ball brings as much across-the-board experience as the Wolfpack receiving corps.

The only pieces missing from State’s 2009 top ten receptions list are backs Toney Baker (28 rec, 355 yd, 12.7 ypc, 3 TD, #4) and Jamelle Eugene (16, 120, 7.5, #6) and wideout Donald Bowens (12, 175, 14.6, 1, #7).

Returning are a trio of seniors: Jarvis Williams (45, 547, 12.2, 11, #1), Owen Spencer (30, 765, 25.5, 6, #3), and Darrell Davis (25, 380, 15.2, 1, #5); junior return specialist T.J. Graham (12, 129, 10.8, 1 #8); redshirt junior Steven Howard (11, 112, 10.2, #9); and redshirt junior tight end George Bryan (40, 422, 10.6, 6, #2).

State’s two-deep features what is certainly the most veteran gang of receiving options in the conference. Williams, Spencer, Graham, Davis and Bryan have combined for 80 career starts and more than 4100 receiving yards.

Williams and Spencer are third-year starters and provide QB Russell Wilson dependable passing targets over the middle and on the edge. “Dependable” isn’t a superlative lost on the drop-prone Spencer, who overcame his issues with tactility late in 2009. Both were recently named to the preseason Biletnikoff Award watch list.

Spencer is slighter of frame and speedier than Williams and can line up wide for sideline streaks or in the slot to cause matchup issues with third-string corners and linebackers. His 25.5 yards-per-catch last season led the nation and broke his own single-season ACC record set a season earlier. Along with T.J. Graham, Spencer’s speed makes him a serious zone-buster on crossing and slant routes.

Williams’ bulkier build makes him a trusty possession-type receiver and a persistent threat near the end zone. His eleven touchdown receptions last season led the conference and his 15 career receiving scores are best among current players and the fourth highest total in Wolfpack history.

Tight end George Bryan is more athletic than anyone should be at 6’5”, 265 lbs., which makes him not just a key component in the passing game, but also a counter to blitzing linebackers. His 40 receptions last year was a conference best for tight ends and landed him a spot on the All-ACC first team. A darkhorse All-America and Mackey Trophy candidate this season, Bryan could lead the team in receptions due to a combination of his superb ability to catch the ball in traffic and the likelihood that Russell Wilson will spend a lot of time running from pursuit and looking for receivers underneath the coverage.

A former basketball player, both in high school and with the Wolfpack, Darrell Davis has shown signs of being the most dazzling receiver on the roster. He’s spent most of his receiving career as a fourth or fifth option, but should carry an increased load this season after catching 25 balls in 2009. He lacks breakaway speed, but his height (6’4”) and play-making ability create an attractive option much like with Bryant.

Others likely to see more balls come their direction include sophomore tight ends Asa Watson (ranked in the top ten at his position coming out of high school, but caught just one pass in 2009) and Mario Carter (another top ten high school TE, but suffered an ACL tear before last season), and wideout Steven Howard (suffered a season-ending knee injury late last year, also missed spring practice).

Newcomer Morgan Alexander redshirted last season after being converted from halfback. At 5’11”, 180, he’s small, but 4.4 speed could be dangerous from the slot.