Just When You Thought it Couldn't Get any Worse…

Ladies and Gentlemen, The ONH welcomes a new poster to its disgruntled blogging community, the esteemed Mike Sturdivant. He's a former collegiate football player, an avid Wolfpack backer, a small college aficionado, and an overall angry young man. You all have been warned...

N.C. State v. Florida State, October 31, 2009, 12:00 Tallahassee, Fl

Mike Sturdivant: The last three Wolfpack football games would have to be considered the low point of the past decade of N.C. State football. A last minute gut wrenching loss at Wake Forest, where the secondary got absolutely shredded as Riley Skinner set a school passing record, a humiliating home loss to Duke in which the unstoppable machine Thad Lewis made Peyton Manning look like a chump who can't move an offense up and down the field, and finally giving up a school record 264 rushing yards and five touchdowns to Boston College's Montel Harris in the rain in Chesnutt Hill. Whoa. The Pack followed those three games up with a bye week in which it managed to lose starting WR/ kick returner/ punt returner T.J. Graham, starting MLB Ray Michel (arguably the most important defensive player not already hurt) and backup RB/ kick returner/ punt returner James Washington to injury. Things are not going well at the Murphy Center.

The Pack has a lot of problems, but the most glaring is this: the defense cannot stop anybody. The defensive issues boil down to a simple lack of quality personnel at linebacker and in the secondary. The Pack will be starting its 7th different combination in the secondary this week in Tallahassee, that’s the 7th in 8 games. The LB's have some talent, but they are still too young across the board and are clearly reacting late due to a lack of recognition of whats coming at them. Throw in the worst tackling back seven in Division 1 football, and they're totally exposed anytime an offense can slip past the front four.

State's offense clearly has a lot of weapons and knows how to score (see 38 points scored in win over 7-1 Pitt). However, the last two games the Pack has moved the ball very efficiently in the first half, but appears to have gone into panic mode in the second half watching their hapless defense get rolled over while realizing they essentially need to score a touchdown on every possession to have a chance. That, combined with Dana Bible's tendency to take Toney Baker out of the game by throwing the ball on first down 70% of the time, and thereby getting into constant 2nd and 10 situations, has this talented bunch bogged down after intermission.

The Pack has completely turned its season around after the bye week the last two years, but don't expect that to continue. In each of the last two years, the Pack has welcomed back a number of injured starters, as well as made major schematic changes after the bye. This year that Pack is coming back with the same guys, and by all accounts will be using the same schemes.

The recipe for fixing this defense is not losing its starting MLB and a road trip to face Christian Ponder and the most explosive offense in the ACC (outside of Air Lewis in Durham of course). Maybe the Pack offense will be disciplined enough to stay with the game plan and be consistent late in the game, but there is no way they can keep up with Chief Osceola's touchdown highway all afternoon. Tom O'Brien has only won one game as head coach of N.C. State outside of the State of North Carolina, and although the first one was in Florida, he won't get his second one tomorrow.

Game Score:
FSU 37
NCSU 23

And then there was one . . .

Philip Thompson: NC State enters the weekend, as the only team winless in the ACC. I would have wagered everything except maybe my wife, that the Pack would not be the last team looking to scratch the win column. However, this should give Pack fans plenty of practice as our basketball team goes for the ‘double down’ this winter by being the last hoops team to win in conference.

It worked for LJ last night so...Why NC State will lose Saturday:

• Christian Ponder will continue the trend of shredding the Wolfpack secondary. The pack has been great over the last month of allowing ‘career games’ to opponent’s best players. I predict 350 yards and 4 touchdowns for Mr. Ponder on Saturday.
• The ‘Ghost of Chuck Amato’ is alive and well. The Pack is 0-2 against their former coach. The most anticipated moment for me is to see how much ‘breast sweat’ Amato can create tomorrow on his shirt in the hot Florida sun
• With the 12:00 kick Bobby Bowden will make sure this thing gets out of control early so he can join the rest of his blue haired friends at the local red lobster for the 5:30 early bird special.

Final Score
FSU 45
NC State 24

Lawrence Jordan: Role reversal...

Why the NCSU Wolfpack will win...

• The Seminoles have one of the worst FBS defenses in the country, statistically worse than the Wolfpack. Any semblance of an offense, which Wilson, Baker, etc. form, will have a field day. UNC even posted 27 points against them.
• Chuck the Chest (CTC) sits on the opposing sideline as Executive Coach. He and his shiny maroon shoes are in charge of discipline...(snort)
• Bobby Bowden is on his way out, and unfortunately this isn't a graceful departure. The team seems disorganized and frantic.
• This is the type of game Tom O'Brien typically wins. At BC and so far at NCSU, when the fan base starts barking he pulls out a win to quiet the Pack (pun intended). Shall I say it's a very Sendekish quality? Too soon?
  

Game Score:
North Carolina State 45
Florida State 41

Never Say Never

Lawrence Jordan: I was wrong...and I'm happy about it. I said the Heels could not win in Blacksburg last night. I said the Heels' offense could not move the ball. I said the special teams would have a breakdown. I looked at the statistics and said winning was an impossibility. But...the cliche rings true...it's all determined on the field.

The Tar Heels used a mixture of strong defense and timely offense to pull out a win in Lane Stadium last night, their first win over VT since they joined the ACC and the first win over a ranked road opponent since 2001. As critical as I've been about the play calling, the personnel decisions, the quarterbacking, and the rushing attack...they all deserve their due credit.

The defense looked as strong as it's looked all season. VT was held under 300 yards and could only manage 95 yards on the ground. Bruce Carter and the boys held their ground and punished the VT offense all night. The defense stayed aggressive and played a complete game.

The offense used a mixture of misdirection, powerful running, and efficient passing to sustain three scoring drives of 78 yards or more. Draughn, Houston and Little put together 181 yards rushing thanks to John Shoop's inventive play calling. The offensive line was undoubtedly bolstered by the returning injured players, and appeared to have a spark it was missing in the first half of the season.

Yates managed a good game at quarterback connecting on 62% of his passes with two touchdowns. He connected on some big 3rd and 4th down plays to extend scoring drives, throws he had not been making in previous games. The coaching staff deserves credit for making some aggressive play calls on 4th down, after being so widely criticized for playing so conservatively against FSU the week prior.

Yates blind throw directly to a VT player in the backfield on UNC's 10 yard line must be mentioned, one of his worst throws this season, because it put the defense on a very short field and eventually led to VT's go ahead touchdown. BUT...Yates was able to dust himself off and lead UNC to two more scoring drives that won the game.

To say that I was surprised is an understatement. Shocked is probably a better word. The Tar Heel players and coaches put together their biggest win of the season last night. Can the Tar Heels carry this momentum into the second half of league play? I have a lot more hope now than I did before the game last night.

UNC Tar Heels vs. Virginia Tech Hokies

Lawrence Jordan: To say the 2009 Tar Heels have been disappointing is an understatement. Coming into this season there were high hopes: a preseason national ranking, a solid returning defensive front...all that was needed was an average offense. Well, 8 weeks into the 2009 season the Tar Heels' NCAA offensive ranking (114th of 120) shows exactly how below average the offensive production has been.

To be fair, the defense and coaching staff are not above reproach. The defense has gave up big time yards when it mattered most against GT and FSU. The offensive play calling has been timid (see punt vs. FSU with 4 minutes) and predictable. The defensive play calling has been way too concervative (can we bag the "prevent" formation please).

So... for the first time on TheONH: Why the Tar Heels cannot win this game:

• VT's defense ranking in the top half of the ACC - more than enough to shut down the Heels who lost to FSU's bottom ranked "D".
• The Heels have averaged less than 300 yards and less than 13 points in their past five meetings.
• Beamer Ball means strong VT special teams. The Heels' special teams have been lackluster, especially in the kicking/punting effots. Watch for VT to take advantage. Result: VT wins the field position efforts and may force some turnovers.
• VT boasts the #17 rushing attack in the country. That is more than enough for VT to put up points on a Tar Heel defense that is often left with a "short field" by the ineffective offensive unit.
• The Heels have not beaten VT since their inception into the ACC.
• The Heels have not won in Blacksburg since 1938.
• The Heels have not beaten a ranked opponent on the road since 2001.

Game Score:
Virginia Tech 21
North Carolina 3

Philip Thompson: Why UNC will lose...

• Virginia Tech is hellacious at home on Thursday night games. They did lose to a Matt Ryan led BC team 2 years ago, however UNC is led by TJ Yates.
• Which bring me to my next point. TJ Yates is UNC’s quarterback. The stage will be way too big this evening for him. The Hokies crowd and defense will give him fits all night.
• If you though Butch looked like death last Thursday sweating on the sidelines, just wait till he sees one the best entrances in all of college football when ‘Enter Sandman’ is blaring and Hokie nation is going crazy.

Final Score
Virginia Tech 27
North Carolina 9

A Vote of No Confidence: Yates & Delhomme

Lawrence Jordan: Here, in the court of North Carolina public opinion, I offer a vote of "No Confidence" in my teams' Quarterback positions. Notice the pluralization, co-defendents UNC Tar Heels and Carolina Panthers.

Vote of No Confience: "a voting process in which people show that they do not support a person or group in power." LINK

There comes a time in every season's life, where the team must question its direction, values, successes, and failures, and determine a responsible course of action to ensure the team maximizes its success rate. The Tar Heels and Panthers are near mid-season, past their bye weeks, and readying their respective camps for the 2009 season's homestretch.

At this point in the season it's fair to state that both teams are quarterbacked by players that are detrimental to their own success rates, and the time has come for a change. How prepared are the Tar Heels and Panthers to competently replace their Quarterback? That is another story that begs attention at a latter date.

The parallelsbetween Yates and Delhomme are startling:

• Each Quarterback received an endorsement from their organization in the preseason. Yates with an appointment to a starting role when returning from injury in 2008 and again when he won the starting role prior to the start of the 2009 season. Delhomme with his inexplicable contract extension through 2014 after his steady decline in performance after his injury and then capped with an horrific season ending playoff performance against Arizona.
• Each Quarterback built their reputations on the backs of talented wide receivers causing inflated view of their actual abilities. Yates throwing to Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate, and Brooks Foster. Delhomme throwing to Steve Smith.
• Each Quarter back is fairly accurate (around 59% completion percentage) thanks to conservative play calling, but cannot be relied upon for neither their efficiency (INT>TD) nor their protection of the football (fumble-prone).
• Each Quarerback has a two-headed running back system installed as part of their team's offense, but negates the backs effectiveness because the team must pass to manage the clock and an early deficit.
  
• Each Quarterback has handcuffed their defensive teams with short fields and lop-sided times of possession.
• Each Quarterbacks' coach has had to defend their starting appointments publically, and drawn concerned comments from the locker rooms.
  

The starting job for any athlete should be awarded to the player that gives his team the best chance to win. The team must trust its offensive leader to maintain any expectations of success. Yates' and Delhomme's performances have rightly caused their teammates to doubt the abilities to play the quarterback position, and therefore, their teams doubt their own abilities to win. Hence, the offering of the vote of no confidence...

UNC's Sucker Punch

Lawrence Jordan: I didn't see it coming. The Tar Heels delivered a surprise blow last night that was as inventive as it was crushing. How does a team give away an 18 point second half lead at home on a nationally televised feed?

The Tar Heels literally punted this game away. Why does a coaching staff not attempt a fourth and five on their opponents side of the field when trailing instead of punting? The coaches made a decision to give the ball back to FSU with 4 minutes remaining in the game and trailing by 3 points. Unbelievable. This clearly shows the coaching staff's opinion of Yates abilities.

Did they think a defense that just surrendered 3 straight scoring drives was going to suddenly revert back to relevancy? Did they think their below average QB, Yates, was going to lead a last minute scoring drive? Did they really want to rely on the inconsistent foot of Barth at the end of the game?

The defense was solid for about two-thirds of the game, but that last one-third was a total melt down. Up to the final twenty minutes the defense had surrendered less than 100 yards of total offense to FSU. In the final twenty minutes that total ballooned to 438 yards, as Christian Ponder efficiently dissected the UNC defense to end the game 33/40 for 395 total passing yards.

How did the "stellar" Tar Heel defense give up all those yards? They knew FSU would have to pass the ball. FSU's running game was stagnant and they knew Ponder had to throw the ball. What happened?

Could it be that the Citadel, GSU, ECU, and UConn weren't good barometers of the defensive integrity? UVA, GT, and now FSU would suggest so...

And...someone has to say it...how BAD is TJ Yates? FSU has one of the worst defenses in NCAA football, and yet he can only manage 12/25 for 64 yards and an INT? The running game averaged more yards per carry than he gained on his average pass completion. I'll go ahead and say it...START Bryn Renner or Braden Hanson. How much more proof do we need that our offensive unit is futile. It's obvious the offense needs an overhaul, so let's rework it from the top down.

Who is responsible for this debacle? This meltdown? This loss? The entire team. Butch Davis, John Shoop, TJ Yates, the defensive unit...they are all to blame. They are inventing new ways to disappoint their fan base this season, and while this wasn't a blow out loss to Duke at home, surrending an 18 point second half lead is almost as bad.

NC State Mid Season Review

Top 10 Words Describing the Wolfpacks Season to Date:

1. Frauds – Even though the Wolfpack started the season out of the Top 25, unlike their neighbors in Chapel Hill, the Pack was expected to challenge for the division crown.
2. Misleading – The stat that for weeks said the Wolfpack had one of the top rushing defenses in the country. Montell Harris shot that theory down pretty quickly last weekend.
3. Disappointment – After such a strong finish last season, everything seemed to be in place for a strong season. Sitting at 3-4, with multiple tough games left, hope for this season seems to be lost
4. Underachiever – The Wolfpack was picked 2nd in their division; however that currently reside in dead last.
5. Fundamentals – POOR TACKLING!!! This three game slide may have been avoided if seven players had not whiffed Josh Adams on the final 3rd down of the Wake Forest game
6. Coaching – For the first time ever, doubt is beginning to creep into fans minds about O’Brien and staff. This team is trending downward
7. Confidence – This team looks like beaten puppy out there. No one on either side of the play seems to be assertive on the field. There is way too much indecisiveness on the field
8. Despair - For the Pack faithful, football season was supposed to be the only thing that gets us through what appears to be a miserable basketball season. NC State has a great shot of finishing dead last in both sports.
9. Luck - After breaking the NCAA record of passes without an interception, defenders are actually catching Russell Wilson’s passes. Wilson has now thrown 4 INT’s in his last three games
10. Hope – Is there any hope for the Wolfpack to salvage their season and get the 7 wins needed to reach a bowl game? I say no way. Their schedule is defiantly back loaded, and with the way they are playing, I see little to no chance of them wining 4 of their last 5 games.

UNC Tar Heels vs FSU Seminoles

Lawrence Jordan: The Heels will face off against Florida State in their first Thursday evening game in beautiful Kenan Stadium...ever. It's rather hard to believe that UNC would pass up the opportunity to play in front of a national audience until now (and, no, I do not buy their "hospital interference" excuse).

Even harder to believe is that neither team has a conference win at this point in the season, UNC (0-2) and FSU (0-3). This date was circled on many calendars before the season started, and it wasn't because they expected a pillow fight (117th ranked offense vs. 107th ranked defense).

I've attended some great UNC/FSU games in Chapel Hill in the past, 1997 (FSU 20-3: UNC's only loss on way to #4 ranking) and 2001 (UNC 41-9: UNC's sole victory in the series 1-14), and while the scores weren't always close the atmosphere and drama were electric. Both teams desperately need a scratch in the win column, so I expect this game to be very hard hitting and potentially pretty ugly at times.

Why the Tar Heels will win...

• The Seminole defense is giving up 38.3 points per conference game (FSU defense ranked 107 out of 120 teams).
• FSU's has the 27th ranked offense entering this evening, but they are facing the NCAA's 3rd ranked defense.
• Robert Quinn and company will be in the FSU backfield all night long, so expect several turnovers.
• UNC's only win against the Seminoles came in Chapel Hill in 2001, and the recruiter/coach Butch David will have the Tar Heels ready to perform on a national stage.
• Bobby Bowden and staff are under intense pressure, and unfortunately the game might be passing by the living legend.
  

Game Score:
North Carolina 17
Florida State 15

Philip Thompson: 10 years ago, if you gave Bobby Bowden an extra week to prepare for the game, Florida St would have won by 35. The margin will not be that large but I do see 'Noles putting some points on the scoreboard, which is more than I can say about the Tar Heels. This is the battle for 10th best in the conference (NC State has 12th locked down for now).

Why the Seminoles will win...

• Christian Ponder is a much better quarterback than TJ Yates. UNC fans are still waiting for Yates to look like he did before Virginia Tech last season.
• Florida State really needs a win. I can not imagine them being 0-4 in the conference
• Chuck Amato wants revenge. I am sure his huge ego still blames that horrific call of taking back the touchdown in the infamous TA McLendon as the start of his downfall in Raleigh. GO GET’UM CHUCK!!

Game Score:
Florida State 23
North Carolina 13

Thoughts From Around the NFL

Philip Thompson:

• The Saints are an offensive machine. If they can keep the playoff games indoors, every other NFC team is in trouble come January.
• Cincinnati just couldn’t handle prosperity could they? It is as if they almost being picked on all the time
• Who thinks Brad Childress drives a 1985 Chevy Astro Van around town?
• Why does Jay Cutler always look like a spoiled brat who wants to cry? I really think he believes that nothing is ever his fault.
• Has there been a worse loss coming off of a bye than Philadelphia losing at Oakland?
• New book ‘How Not to Win by Norv Turner’
• Top 5 – Saints, Colts, Vikings, Broncos, Giants
• Bottom 5- Titans, Rams, Buccaneers, Redskins, Cleveland

Thoughts From Last Weekend

NC State vs. Boston College:

PT: It is amazing that in a three game span the Wolfpack have been exposed as complete frauds. One week we can not stop the pass. The next week we make an average running back look like Walter Payton.
LJ: Chicken Little is alive and well in Raleigh these days. O'Brien getting a small taste of that good ole Sendek heat with people questioning his passion. No worries, PT, I wouldn't post an article after any of the past NCSU footbal weekends either.

Carolina vs. Tampa Bay:

PT: If the Panthers throw the ball more than 15 times in any game they are crazy. The Bucs had one drive on offense all game and still could have won. At least ‘Double Trouble’ is back to running strong.
LJ: With the current state of the Panthers, a win is a win. Jake cannot be relied upon to win the game, but you can almost guarantee he will fumble or toss a pick six to put the Panthers is an awkward situation. But, hey...he's our best option.

Dante Wesley’s Hit:

PT: Yes it was a vicious hit and he was early. However, the camera crew made it look a lot worse by playing it in slow motion. Wesley should have tried to miss him, but in real time it is a tough thing to do.
LJ: Disagree the cameras showed the hit for what it was. Wesley is an idiot. There was no excuse for his head-hunting. Fines and suspensions are warranted. It is what it is.

Yankees vs Angels:

PT: A-Rod is completely remaking his career. Also the tag out, no call at third base last night was awful. At least in the playoffs, baseball needs instant replay. MLB is very lucky it was not a close game determined by the umpires.
LJ: The umpiring has been questionable to say the least...and A-Rod is becoming clutch (I hate admitting that). I do enjoy seeing Kate Hudson in the stands...

Patriots Blowout:

PT: Anybody out there still want to doubt that Tom Brady is back?
LJ: I think Brady just threw another TD...what an embarrassment.

UNC Tar Heels: Bye Week: Mid-Season Review

Lawrence Jordan: Much like the Tar Heel Football team this year, this mid-season review is going to be very one-sided. Despite the situations with which the UNC offense handicapped the UNC defense, the UNC defense lived up to much of the preseason hype piled on their backs.

The Defense, led by sophomore Robert Quinn, has sacked, hurried, pressured, and tackled their opponents into a 14.17 points per game average while forcing 13 turnovers (around 2 per game). There productivity landed them amongst the top defenses in the NCAA (rank): Pass Defense (3), Tackles for Loss (3), Total Defense (5), Scoring Defense (12), Rush Defense (35).

The Offense, quarterbacked by TJ Yates, has stumbled, dropped, misread, and punted many of the opportunities the defense has handed them. The Offense's lack of productivity resulted in 16 turnovers, numerous possessions without a first down, and some of the lowest offensive scores in the NCAA (rank): Scoring Offense (93), Rush Offense (102), Pass Offense (102), Total Offense (115).

The discrepancy hasn't gone unnoticed by the players:

• "It's frustrating, but, I don't know, as a defense, if we see our offense isn't doing it, we'll put it on our shoulders. If they don't score, they can't win. If we shut a team out, the offense doesn't have to put much up for us." - Robert Quinn

UNC's offensive numbers are skewed by playing two FCS opponents, The Citadel and Georgia Southern, and their numbers against ACC opponents are even uglier. UNC averaged only 164 yards per game and 5 points per game in its two conference match-ups, which was good for a total output of 1 FG and 1 TD in two games.

UNC's offense was so anemic in ACC play it only held possession of the ball for 44 min and 22 seconds (37%) out of 120 total minutes. So...basically the defense is not only producing, but they being forced to do so almost twice as long as the offense.

For the Heels to reach 7-5 (my worst case scenario) the Tar Heel's are going to have to take some pressure off the defensive players by sustaining drives on offense, protecting the ball, and taking advantage of scoring opportunities. Balance is the key.

First Half Observations:

• Robert Quinn has been incredible. His play is forcing teams to game plan for him, which opens up opportunities for the other talented defensive players.
• Erik Highsmith's emergence at WR has been a breath of fresh air in the otherwise murky offensive performances.
• Ryan Houston needs to touch the ball more. He's proven to be much more than a short yardage TD machine. When Draughn can't find the hole, Houston will make one.
• Losing AJ Blue and Jamal Womble to injury/surgery does not bode well for the offense.
• Shoop needs to open up the offense more and use Yates' strength to take more shots down field - short, touch passes are Yates' weakness and it's the majority of the calls. Successful completions will open up the running game.

NC State Wolfpack vs Boston College Ealges

Philip Thompson: For the first time in his short tenure, Tom O’Brien is feeling a little heat from Wolfpack Nation, but I still firmly believe that TOB is a major improvement over Chuck Amato and his clown like mannerisms. The Packs’s inexperience in the secondary really cost them the last two games. Last week they made Thad Lewis look like the second coming of John Elway. At one point Duke had converted on 11 of 13 third downs.

Why NC State will win...

• They need to salvage their season. I am sure this was not a fun week to be at practice
• Boston College does not have Thad Lewis or Riley Skinner lining up under center. These two veterans have torched that the Pack the last two weeks
• The skill players for the Wolfpack should have a speed advantage
• State really needs a win

Game Score:
NC State 31
Boston College 20

Lawrence Jordan: The Wolfpack managed to avoid showing it's weaknesses against its early 2009 schedule, which was made up of weak competition or teams with weak quarterbacks, but the secondary has been exposed over the last two weeks. Boston College is coming in upset (Linl) after the drubbing they took last weekend at the hands of Virginia Tech, and will not want to back down on their home turf. The ACC's Atlantic Division is wide open with only one team with a winning record, so this game has huge ramifications for both teams.

Why NC State will lose...

• Tom O'Brien returns to The Heights with a 1-2 record against his former team, losing the last two matches.
• Russel Wilson is only connecting on 50% of his passes in his last two games and has thrown 3 INT's.
• Where the crunchtime defense? Past two opponents 22/36 (61%) on 3rd Down Conversions.
  
• The Wolfpack defense is giving up 37 points per game over the last three games against Div 1 opponents, while the offense is only posting 30 points per game over that same stretch.
• The Wolfpack have only played one game on the road this year, a loss to Wake Forest, and the Eagles have not lost a game at home.

Game Score:
Boston College 33
NC State 27

NFL Thoughts:

Philip Thompson:

• Has the NFL ever dad this many helpless situations? The Rams, Browns, Raiders, Bills, Chiefs, and Buccaneers are all beyond bad. Even though they have a victory this season, the Raiders are the worst of the group. Do you find it hard to believe, they were in the Super Bowl within the last decade?
• How did Buffalo lose to a Cleveland team when Browns quarterback Derek Anderson was 2 for 17 with a pick? TO must be loving life in the Northeast
• How many fantasy leagues had Miles Austin picked on Tuesday Morning?
• This retro uniforms have gotten out of control. The Denver Broncos looked like the inside of a baby’s diaper with the horrible yellow and brown combination. By the way, after the trading Cutler this offseason, what odds could you have gotten on the Broncos starting 5-0? 1,000,000:1 would have been my guess
• Ray Lewis is an absolute thug. There is not one legitimate argument that could be made on his behalf on the hit he put on Chad Ocho Cinco. The NFL needs to stop being afraid of the guy and deal with him.
• Top 5 - NY Giants, New Orleans, Minnesota, Indianapolis, Cincinnati
• Bottom 5 – Raiders, Rams, Browns, Buccaneers, Chiefs

Hakeem Nicks Starting to Shine in Big Apple

Lawrence Jordan: Hakeem Nicks, former Tar Heel and Charlotte Independence alum, is starting to make an impact in the NFL and people are taking notice. Nicks found the end zone for the second straight week, and appears to be gaining the trust of Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

Nicks scored his first career touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in NFL week 4 on an initial 5 yard out that he turned into a 54 yard touchdown pass. Nicks scored his second touchdown last weekend against the Oakland Raiders in NFL week 5 on a 9 yard pass from Manning, and totaled 4 catches for 49 yards while leading the Giants team in targets with 6.

An opening week injury slowed Nicks production this season when he had to sit out week 2 and week 3 to recover, but he's bounced back and on his way to becoming a reliable target for Eli Manning.

It's been a few years since UNC produced an exciting NFL offensive player, Willie Parker not wanting to claim allegiance and Alge Crumpler entering his 10th NFL season, and Nicks has the potential to become a star. I'll be watching for him on Sundays the rest of the season along with his draft classmates Brandon Tate and Brooks Foster.

Nicks holds 14 receiving records for the Tar Heels, and it is exciting to see his production carrying over to the next level. Butch Davis will not overlook this fact on the increasingly tougher NC recruiting trail.

A Cry for Mercy

Dear Sporting Gods,

I am sorry for whatever I did. I know I have wronged you in some way because no normal person should have to endure what you gave me this weekend.

It all started on Thursday evening in Los Angeles. My beloved Cardinals are one pitch away from evening the series with the Dodgers, when Matt Holiday decides to play a fly ball off his family jewels and extend the game. Within 5 minutes, the Dodgers score two runs and the series is all but over. This caused the first throw of the remote control in a long time. The Cardinals, with the best player in the game and two of the top pitchers were finished before they ever really got started.

Then Saturday happened. I decided to not make the trip to Raleigh and enjoy the game from my couch. Who knew the disaster that would unfold at Carter-Finley. As much as it pains me to say this, State was whipped in every single phase of the game against Duke. This is the same Duke that had won not a conference game in 20 tries. The same Duke that had not beaten the Wolfpack in Raleigh in 25 years. You know it is rough when Newcastle is not strong enough, and a switch has to be made to Wild Turkey. My wife, the Duke fan, was certainly pleased with the game's outcome, but after having to deal with me and a lot of "Turkey" the rest of the evening, admitted that she wished State had won.

Next up, the pride of my life, the Carolina Panthers. Upon waking up Sunday to a quality breakfast of multiple Excedrin and 2 Vitamin Waters, I realized that it was time for some 0-3 Panther Pride. You know you have no faith in your team when you convince yourself that if they are getting beat bad that you are leaving at halftime. Well, with in the first minute of the game, Carolina had fumbled and allowed Jason Campbell to throw a touchdown. They then found themselves down by what appeared to be a baseball score of 17-2. Somehow, the Panthers came back and won. You would think that I would be happy, but then I realized that it took a 15 point 2nd half comeback to defeat and awful Redskin team at home.

So please Sporting Gods, know that I am sorry for whatever I did. Although I do believe no crime should be punished by having your team embarrassed by Duke.

Apologetically,

Philip Thompson

Tar Heel Weekend Review: Georgia Southern (W, 42-12)

Lawrence Jordan: The Tar Heels used their second FCS oppponent of the year as a confidence booster on Saturday. The over-matched Eagles took a beating on both sides of the ball, but the defense truly dominated this game.

The offensive numbers are skewed due to the increased bench playing time, but the numbers still reflect the problems that have surfaced this year. The defense dominates when rested and not backed into a corner.

Let's hope the Tar Heel offense used the extended bench playing time to develop some confidence for the second half of the season.

Game Notes:

• The Eagles were held to 170 total yards while giving up 6 turnovers and 2 defensive turnovers to the Tar Heel defense. Outstanding performance albeit against lower competition.
• The Tar Heel offense spread the ball around to 8 different receivers, hopefully growing some confidence within the corps.
• Maybe we can keep the defense in the ACC and move the offense to the Sourthern Conference? The defense ranks at or among the top of the ACC and the Nation in most defensive categories. The offense ranks at the bottom.
• The Tar Heels are 2-0 against the Southern Conference, but most importantly are 0-2 against ACC foes.
• The Tar Heels lose Jamal Womble (wrist) and AJ Blue (knee) during the game. While neither is a significant contributor, both have played this season and both will be missed in the thin UNC offense.

Jake Delhomme (Part II)

Lawrence Jordan: Nothing instills confidence like the phrase, "You win the job by default." Ladies and gentlemen, the Jake Delhomme era! (credits to Bill Simmons)

Why is Jake Delhomme still starting for the Carolina Panthers? There is no one on the roster that is a better option. How sad. Matt Moore, Josh McCown, and AJ Feeley are truly only skilled at holding clipboards.

After this weekend, Jake Delhomme has a QB rating of 60.3, good enough to rank #33 out of 36 qualifying QBs. There are only 32 teams in the league. The Panthers' backup QBs do not qualify to make the list due to lack of passing attempts, but they are even worse than Jake. So... it's safe to say the Panthers do not have a worthy starting QB on their roster.

Jake Delhomme, you win the job by default...and even though you're 34 and apparently on the downside of your career, here is a 5 year contact that guarantees between $12M and $20M dollars. Wait. What? Thank you, Marty Hurney.

Jake Delhomme is certainly to blame for his poor performances, which are numerous, but he cannot take the blame for the lack of preparation from the Carolina Panthers organization.

At some point, every "star" (I use this term loosely with Jake) has to be replaced. Ask Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, and Brett Favre (gritting teeth). Two of those three QBs were replaced with QBs their respective NFL franchises lined up to be their heir apparent, Steve Young and Aaron Rogers.

The third team, the Cowboys, ran through Quincy Carter, Anthony Wright, Ryan Leaf, Clint Stoerner, Chad Hutchinson, Vinny Testaverde, Drew Henson, and Drew Bledsoe from 2001-2006 before finally landing on Tony Romo, and not coincidentally, have not won a playoff game in over a decade.

Jake Delhomme's star never shined as bright as the aforementioned trio, so the Panthers not moving/planning to groom a successor is beyond shortsighted. It is ludicrous.

The Carolina Panthers style of play under John Fox was to play stingy defense and control the clock with the running game. Where has this been this year? It's been burried behind all the interceptions and trailing scores.

So when "bad" Jake shows up, the Panthers are immediately down due to three straight turnovers, the running game is ignored, and Jake waddles back onto the field shrugging his shoulders...know this was all part of the "plan."
GO PANTHERS!

Jake Delhomme (Part I)

Editor's Note: This article was to run last Wednesday, but the editor's impending bachelor party delayed the post date. Please accept my apology for the inconvenience.

Philip Thompson: Jake Delhomme. No two words in the city of Charlotte can create such hostility. The Panthers are now entering their 7th season with Delhomme as their unquestioned leader. He has taken to heights this organization has never come close to reaching before him. They have made the playoffs three times, played in two conference championship games, and reached the Super Bowl. He has played in the Pro Bowl and has a career winning percentage of well over .500.

However, these accomplishments have never seemed to be good enough for a large portion of the Panther’s fan base. People have been turned off by his errors in judgment and his personality.

For years this city seems to have been divided almost evenly down in the middle. But coming off the disaster that was last season’s playoff loss to the Cardinals and a horrible start to this season, nearly everyone is clamoring for a change.

I, for one, think this would be the wrong move. First, Delhomme still seems to have the respect in the locker room. With the team off to a 0-3 start, one would expect to hear disgruntled players questioning Delhomme. In fact, it has been the exact opposite, with other leaders Jon Beason and Jordan Gross both publically backing their struggling quarterback.

Second and most important this team is constructed to win now. Delhomme is certainly not Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, but he defiantly gives the Panthers their best chance to win each and every week. Matt Moore and AJ Feeley are decent backups. But the key word there is backups. Jake may not be the long term answer but he sure is the best at his position on the team right now.

Finally the Panthers are entering a three game stretch where the will face Washington , Tampa , and Buffalo . If they have any dreams of having a good season, they need all three of these winnable games, and I believe Jake is the man for the job.

GO PANTHERS!!

NFL Weekend Recap

Philip Thompson: Well, well. After all the venom spewing from the media and people like LJ, Brett Favre put on one heck of a show. Hollywood could not have written the script any better. Not only the Brett, play a near flawless game and throw for three touchdowns, he also became the only quarter back in NFL history to lay claim to victories against all other teams. Favre was great on a huge stage.

Quick Hits:

• Peyton Manning seems to be getting better with age. It looks as if he is toying with defenses this season even without Marvin Harrison
• Why does San Diego always dig a hole early in the season and have to finish strong just to make the playoffs. They are already two games behind Denver
• The Bengals are 3-1. Unreal
• JaMarcus Russell maybe the next Ryan Leaf in the making. He is off to a horrible start in Oakland
• Top 5: NY Giants, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Minnesota, Philadelphia
• Bottom 5: St Louis, Tampa Bay, Kansas City, Cleveland, Oakland

Lawrence Jordan: I am sticking by my original statements here and won't acknowledge the mercenary franchise hostage-taker...

Wolfpack Weekend Review: Wake Forest (L, 30-24)

Philip Thompson: Not a great day to be a fan of the Wolfpack. The ‘house of horrors’ known as Grove Stadium continues to haunt the Pack as State lost for the 6th time in 7 tries in Winston-Salem. Wake Forest is a solid team led by the ageless Riley Skinner, but this is a game they certainly had opportunities to win. This was a tough way to start ACC play, but NC State will not be the last to lose to the Deacs this season

Game Thoughts:

• Wilson throws Interception: It had to happen eventually, as Russell Wilson threw two picks on Saturday. They both proved to be very costly. However, on the final interception, Donald Bowens, the intended receiver, made little effort to help out his quarterback.
• Silly Penalties: At times on Saturday, it looked like Chuck Amato was still working the sidelines. The Pack extended multiple Wake Forest drives while crippling themselves.
• Poor Tackling: Needing to stop Wake Forest on a 3rd down with 1:30 left in the 4 would be Pack tacklers were not able to bring Josh Adams down on his was to getting the game clinching 1st down.
• It could be worse: Just ask our hated rivals how their day went Saturday...

Lawrence Jordan: Russel Wilson's streak had to end at some point, and the steak came to an abrupt and ugly end. The Pack's run defense showed up Saturday, but what happened to the secondary? The Deacs could only manage 30 total yards on the ground (including Skinners -33 yards on 6 sacks), but allowed 361 yards in the air in a career day for Skinner. The Atlantic Division is wide open right now, and the Pack did not want to open its conference play with a loss.

Tar Heel Weekend Review: UVA (L, 16-3)

Lawrence Jordan: Balance. Whenever “balance” is mentioned in sports it’s a good thing. Batting stances, pitching motions, jump shots, running back styles, QB throwing motions…you get the idea. A balanced athlete is an effective athlete.

The same rings true with team concepts. If a basketball player is better on offense than defense, he is a liability during crunch time. If a batter is a power hitter but hits for low average, he is a liability during crunch time. If a football team has an offense or a defense that is ineffective, they become a liability when they are on the field.

The 2009 North Carolina Tar Heels are unbalanced. The defense is talented and deep. The offense is inexperienced and thin. No matter how effectively the defense shuts down the opposition’s offense, it matters naught if the offense goes three and out and surrenders field position. Combine this with lackluster punting and you have a defense that is playing too many downs and forced to defend a short field.

How does the coaching staff adjust to the offensive/defensive discrepancy? Balanced play calling. Not only does the offense need the running game to step up their production to open up the passing game, but offensive coordinator John Shoop needs to vary his passing plays. Understandably, many slants and short routes were called to combat the ineffective offensive line, but Shoop has to balance his short/deep pass play calling to keep defenses honest.

What is the result of unbalanced play calling and offensive effectiveness? The Tar Heels now have an 0-2 conference record with an average of 5 points scored per conference game.

Thoughts from Saturday:

• Yates yard per passing attempt was pathetic (36 passing attempts resulting in 135 yards). Yates is known to have a lack of touch on his short attempts, as seen on several of his interceptions this year, so formulating an offensive attack around short pass attempts was a foolish coaching move.
• Running Back Ineffectiveness. The Tar Heels only managed 39 yards on the ground against a UVA team that gave up an average of 181 yards per game. Time to play Womble?
• Turnover Margin: The Tar Heels have 6 turnovers and 0 take-aways in conference play.
• UVA was Winless (0-3) entering Chapel Hill and UNC was only their second FBS opponent. UVA gave up an average of 31 points per game in those losses.
• UVA has won 10 of the last 12 against the Heels. I am beginning to know what NCSU or Clemson felt like against the basketball Heels. No matter how bad they were – they still couldn’t manage to beat them.

ACC Statistical Comparison: (ACC Rank) NCAA Stats

• Offense: Rushing (10), Passing (8), Yard Per Game (11), Points Per Game (12)
• Defense: Rushing (3), Passing (1), Yard Per Game (2), Points Per Game (1)

Philip Thompson: Thanks for the cheap shot at NCSU. There are some strange similarities beginning to show between Butch and Amato era over in Chapel Hill. A lot of smoke and mirrors but very little substance. Had Cam Sexton not been run off, he might have been an easy solution to the woes off the passing game. Bring on Paulus!

NC State Wolfpack vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Philip Thompson: Why the Wolfpack will win...

• Russell Wilson looks like the old Russell Wilson after last week’s performance. He now has 4 touchdown passes in each of the last 3 games.
• The Pack’s defense is playing way above expectations. It can be a misleading stat, but they are currently #1 in the nation in yards per game allowed.
• Wake lost a ton off of its defense from last season. New starters against Wilson and the rest of the Pack offense is not a good mixture.

Final Score
NC State 34
Wake Forest 23

Lawrence Jordan: Why the Wolfpack will lose...

• I'm still not convinced NCSU's schedule merits any honors just yet. Pitt played a powder puff schedule before heading into Raleigh. WFU beat a good Stanford team in Winston-Salem - just where this game will be Saturday.
• Riley Skinner seems to have awoken from whatever ailed him last season. His 68.8% completion rate is scary for the Pack secondary.
• Pedergrass gives the Deacs big play potential and the Pack will have to make adjustments for him.
• Jim Grobe is a great coach and will have his team ready to protect their house this weekend.

Final Score:
Wake Forest 28
NC State 24

UNC Tar Heels vs UVA Cavaliers

Lawrence Jordan: Ok. I've fought off the final stages of mourning after the proper demolishing the Tar Heels took at the hands of the Yellow Jackets (their hulluva engineers). The Tar Heels host the hapless Cavaliers this weekend, and it's time to get back on track. Why the Tar Heels will win...

• UVA is one of the few teams in Div. 1 that average less yards per game than UNC.
• The defense will hold UVA's running attack and they will be forced to pass the ball - leading to a couple of interceptions.
• UVA is winless entering the weekend with losses to Bill&Mary and Southern Miss stinging their resume. They might be rested but they certainly aren't confident.
• The Tar Heels return back to Chapel Hill to regroup. The friendly confines of Beautiful Kenan Stadium will welcome the boys back with open arms.

Final Score:
North Carolina 21
Virginia 10

Philip Thompson: Why UNC will lose...

• This is UNC vs UVA. The Cavs have dominated this series over the last 25 years.
• Al Groh is like a Cockroach. You can’t kill him. Every year when you think he is at the end of the rope, Groh pulls off a big upset to get the boosters off his back.
• UVA’s offense looked much better during the Southern Miss game when the scrapped the spread offense and went more traditional. Their personnel is much better suited to this type of offense

Final Score
UVA 23
UNC 17