The Wolfpack have taken a lot of heat, and much of it is deserved. But while I hate excuses as much as the next guy, just look how the # of season ending injuries experienced by the Pack stacks up to the rest of the ACC.

Source: http://www.covers.com/pageLoader/pageLoader.aspx?page=/data/ncf/injury/injuries.html&t=0

*Note - I did not include players that were questionable and doubtful to play, only long-term injuries.

Just LOOK. This is FREAKIN' ridiculous.

NC State
# of players out indefinitely - 1
# Out for the season - 9 (7 + Rashard Smith & Jeff Rieskamp)

Linebackers & Safety/Cornerbacks out - 3 (I bet that HURTS)

Rest of the ACC
Average # of players out indefinitely - 1.36
Average # of players out for the season - 1.64

Next most injured team: Miami
# of players out indefinitely - 4
# Out for the season - 3

# of NCAA Division 1A Teams with more players out indefinitely or for the season = ZERO


Discuss.

10/21/2009 8:57:14 AM

Of all the threads about our horrible football team, this might be the dumbest yet. Injuries have almost nothing to do with our record.

10/21/2009 9:03:04 AM

Seriously ... a lot of teams can legitimately play the injury card. We're not one of them. We just suck.

[Edited on October 21, 2009 at 9:14 AM. Reason : I guess if you count Nate ...]

10/21/2009 9:14:13 AM

Quote :

"Nathaniel Irving #56"

haha

10/21/2009 9:41:48 AM

Too late.

We have all already stepped off of the ledge.

10/21/2009 9:46:27 AM

nate irving wasn't scoring points against sc
nate iriving wasn't guarding wr's against duke and wake

MAYBE you could say he would have helped against bc

I am quick to blame injuries, but not this year.

lock delete

10/21/2009 10:07:46 AM

Quote :

"Injuries yet again are a factor "

he didn't say the reason, etc. A FACTOR. fucking morons

10/21/2009 11:19:57 AM

Everything is a factor. He obviously thinks it's a significant factor or he wouldn't have made a thread about it.

10/21/2009 11:22:33 AM

I think his post is making the case that injuries are a significant factor

10/21/2009 11:29:16 AM

Clearly coaching and personnel are our two biggest problems with the football team this year. But to dismiss Nate's injury as insignificant is dumb. He was clearly our best defensive player and a difference maker on the field. It was of no coincidence that we started playing better at the end of last season when he got healthy again.

Most of our injuries this year were not going to impact our record, but Nate's injury may have. It is hard to replace your most skilled and verbal/emotional leader on defense.

10/21/2009 11:31:13 AM

I don't see what you're doing here

10/21/2009 11:31:15 AM

I'd argue that with nate, we would have probably beat wake and duke.

How many 3rd and longs for both teams resulted in big plays? I believe Nate would have been enough of a factor to force punts on at least a few drives that ultimately resulted in touchdowns.

[Edited on October 21, 2009 at 12:27 PM. Reason : WHAT IF WHAT IF WHAT IF WHAT IF WHAT IF WHAT IF ]

10/21/2009 12:26:40 PM

no linebacker, not even the love child of ray lewis and dick butkus, could make up for a 21 point differential

Maybe 3, maybe 7, but thats it

10/21/2009 12:31:34 PM

I thought you had to play to get hurt.

10/21/2009 12:40:47 PM

Just to clarify, here's a few things that I did NOT say:

I did NOT say injuries were the most significant reason for the Wolfpack's struggles. It isn't. The team's struggles go far beyond individual players being out. The defense looked bad against Wake, and it looked downright AWFUL against Duke and BC. At times both of these teams scored seemingly at will, and we're not talking about offensive powerhouses either.

TOB absolutely deserves much of the blame he's receiving. Not all, but most. You can't look THAT bad and not expect criticism. I like many other fans thought State was more than capable of having a special season. 8 wins was the MINIMUM I thought we'd have by season's end. I'm as disappointed as any of the rest of you, that much I can guarantee.


But damn... having NINE scholarship players out for the season is just crazy. It's not that tough for the bitchiest critic to step back, look at this one statistic, and shake your head in amazement.

10/21/2009 12:44:43 PM

Quote :

"no linebacker, not even the love child of ray lewis and dick butkus, could make up for a 21 point differential"

but if the linebacker is the team's defensive leader, maybe the defense would be playing with a lot more confidence and cohesiveness? just speculating.

10/21/2009 12:57:55 PM

guys

TOB let us know before the season started that 2ndary is terribly inexperinced. nothing but freshmen and sophmores

TOB hasn't made any excuses with injuries like he did last year. (and rightfully so both years)

TOB told us all after the PITT upset, that we "aren't a good football team"

so far the guy is A+ spot on.

people keep wanting mike archer fired.(im not saying dont do that, but let me just say 1 thing before you go off on me) you wonder "WHY ARENT WE HOLDING OPPONENTS TO 20 POINTS EVERY GAME LIKE BC DID"

BC ran the same defensive schemes we are currently running. just give it time.

10/21/2009 12:58:57 PM

Football secondary this year = Bball PG situation in 2007-08.

Not exactly the same, but definitely similar. In each case I overestimated the team's potential due to overlooked the lack of depth & inexperience at a key position (PG versus secondary). I knew each would be a problem, just not THAT big of a problem.

TOB is taking the heat, and rightfully so. Sucks that State won't have that special season this year, but I'll get over it. Everyone else should too.

10/21/2009 6:08:54 PM

Injuries are a part of football for every team

10/21/2009 6:30:34 PM

Just LOOK. This is FREAKIN' ridiculous.

10/21/2009 6:33:51 PM

anybody saying anything about Nate Irving is fucking stupid. Dude probably shouldn't be alive. I could see something about conditioning, something like that being a factor, because we seem to have the same numbers every year. Seems like we're always ahead of the competition... that being said, I don't know if it's just the players and a coincidence, or if there really is something to it (such as shitty schemes and coaching our defense)

10/21/2009 11:35:37 PM

Yes, because BYU, Oregon, Cincinnati, South Florida, Houston, and TCU NEVER have players who get hurt!


these programs never have teams who have *stars* go out before the season starts...

when are we going to stop making excuses and start playing like a GODDAMN Football team!!

Its football you have injuries, get the fuck over it and learn how to get better!

10/22/2009 12:58:40 AM

Quote :

" [Irving] was clearly our best defensive player and a difference maker on the field."

I disagree.

10/22/2009 12:43:55 PM

i think ernie doesn't like this thread. i could be wrong though. lol

10/22/2009 5:35:49 PM

^^ You could argue Willlie Young is better and since he plays a more important position a bigger factor... but Nate Irving is certainly a difference maker at his position.

However, our struggles this year go WAY deeper than having an impact LB missing games.

This team sucks, flat out.

That defense is the worst NC state has put out there in the past 15 years. Worse than 2001 and 2004 combined.

The offense SHOULD be a pretty damn good unit with Wilson behind the helm but either he or the coaching staff is unwilling to let him utilize his talents and he's wasting away as a pocket passer.

We need to have a different fucking formation on offense. Shotgun running is a trick play, not an offensive strategy. Pocket passing with a mobile weak armed QB with terrible WR's is a great way to LIMIT points, not score them.

10/22/2009 7:05:28 PM

I don't think the issue is as much "making RW a pocket passer" as it is our defense playing shitty, us getting behind by a couple scores, and RW not being able to be the calm, collected, throw-it-away-if-receivers-are-covered, natural QB that he is...if we're down by 7 or less (or if we have the lead), RW is usually money...but you take most QBs, even some of the greats, and put them behind by a couple scores, they're inevitably going to have to force it a little bit more

I'd argue all things considered, that we have a Top-25 offense in the nation

Dana "The Holy" Bible isn't the problem, its Tom "Couldn't Shoot an Apple off the wide side of a barn's head" Archer

[Edited on October 22, 2009 at 7:14 PM. Reason : what a lame nickname for Archer ]

10/22/2009 7:10:42 PM

He stopped checking it down and running, so we always are facing conversions of >5 yards. Being down by a lot obviously affects what he is doing, but it shouldn't. Hell, we should even pass as much as we do -- baker has been pretty good. Better to get the short stuff and keep the ball out of their offenses hand.

The more we keep our defense and special teams off the field, the better.

10/22/2009 7:19:16 PM

^^ top 25 offense in the nation sure, but that doesnt get you jackshit.

We would have one of the ELITE offenses in the nation if RW would run the ball.

Defenses are terrified when he gets outside the pocket and chooses between running for 10-20 yards or dumping it off for 10-20 yards.

When he stands between the tackles he is an average pocket passer, nothing more nothing less.

If he has baseball on his mind, so be it. I'm not making a judgment on his character or saying I'd do things differently. But he's not a good football player if that's his decision.

If he is a football player then he will play to win and help his team, not to be an average QB. If he isn't committed to winning then it's not far fetched to start giving Glennon some touches and try to develop him for the future...

10/22/2009 8:01:13 PM