Pack needs some zip in its passing game

[Dr Z]

RALEIGH - N.C. State quarterback Marcus Stone was reviewing the game film of the Wolfpack's opener against Appalachian State on Monday when he turned to coach Chuck Amato."I stunk," Stone said.Amato smiled later in describing the conversation. Granted, Stone passed for a meager 36 yards Saturday in the Pack's 23-10 victory. And, yes, the junior was 0-for-3 in the second half, with an early interception."He's so critical of himself," Amato said. "I thought Marcus did a good job. He did much better than he had a year ago. He stayed in the pocket a lot more. We're pleased."Amato credited Stone with what he called perhaps the game's biggest play. With the Pack leading 16-7 in the second quarter, tailback Toney Baker fumbled on a screen pass and ASU defensive back Jeremy Wiggins scooped up the ball at the NCSU 45. Wiggins, on the fly, dashed 31 yards before being tackled by Stone.Moments later, State safety Miguel Scott picked off a Trey Elder pass at the NCSU 2. The Mountaineers came away empty."He made a touchdown-saving tackle," Amato said of Stone's hustling hit. "That play was huge."But what Stone did not make was any huge plays in the passing game. He threw 13 times, completing seven, and the longest gain was 14 yards to flanker Darrell Blackman on a screen play that clicked for a touchdown.State's 36 passing yards were its fewest in a game since the 1999 opener against South Carolina, played in a raging rainstorm. Of the 109 Division I-A teams that played last week, only Navy had fewer passing yards (six).Asked after the game about passing just three times in the second half, Stone shrugged."We were up and it was the coaches' decision -- they just wanted to manage the clock running the ball," Stone said. "It doesn't matter to me. I'm going with what the coaches say and whatever it takes to win, that's my biggest [thing]."Stone said he "felt pretty good" about his performance in the opener, about his decision-making. He did run six times for 21 yards, including a 12-yard scramble for a first down, but said he didn't feel the urge to tuck the ball and bolt at the first hint of defensive pressure in the pocket."I've still got more improvement to do," he said. "I'm not satisfied with my game play and I probably never will be."Amato said Stone had thrown the deep ball with more precision in preseason practice than he did last season, when he started the last six games. But ASU's cornerbacks, Amato noted, played off State's receivers with the intent of taking away any deep inside routes.So the Pack conservatively ran Andre Brown and Baker. Brown rushed for 125 yards and Baker added 43 as State controlled the ball for more than 33 minutes."We didn't want to hurt ourselves," Amato said.The Pack was without senior wideout Lamart Barrett, out with a strained hamstring. Wide receiver Geron James, a redshirt freshman, was held out of the opener. Amato said it was not injury-related but would offer no other specifics on James.This week, the Pack will be facing an Akron defense that limited Penn State to 76 rushing yards Saturday in the Zips' 34-16 loss. Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli did throw effectively, closing 16-of-32 for 206 yards, with touchdown throws of 42, 14 and 20 yards."I'm not so sure that wasn't Penn State's plan," Amato said of the Nittany Lions' passing.As for the Zips' offense, the Lions were stingy, giving up 33 rushing yards and 225 yards total, forcing three turnovers.Akron's quarterback, senior Luke Getsy, threw for 3,455 yards and 23 touchdowns last season as the Zips won the Mid-American Conference title. In the Motor City Bowl against Memphis, he was 34-of-59 for 455 yards and four TDs, albeit in a 38-31 loss.The Zips are capable of some big numbers. The Pack might have to throw a lot more on Saturday.Is Amato concerned?"There's no doubt you've got to be able to throw," he said. "But a concern? No. Not at all."PACK NOTES: Barrett is listed as probable for the Akron game. Senior cornerback A.J. Davis is questionable after suffering a hamstring injury in the opener.Center Luke Lathan (concussion) and linebacker Ernest Jones (knee) are probable after missing the opener.Staff writer Chip Alexander can be reached at 829-8945 or chipa@newsobserver.com.for source (click here)

[bobbyake]

NC State looks really bad this year. I have a feeling we'll beat them. They might go 4 for 8 at best.

[Buckzip]

Although NCSU is having a down year, they are still considered a "major" program. This is our chance to beat a "major" program from a BCS conference. I hope we can do it.

[ZachTheZip]

NC State may not be that good, but they have something we don't: name recognition.Whenever I go on vacation out of state, I always end up explaining that Akron is a city in Ohio, and then they say "Oh, that rubber place. I know that". They don't know we have a D1-A university, or any of the other cool stuff you can find out about us on Wikipedia. When you mention NC State, people automatically think of basketball, but at least the recognition is there. If we can say "We beat NC State in football", less intelligent people will be like "Wow, they beat an elite school!". We need this win to solidify our growing fanbase, and get up our reputation. A win over Cincy wouldn't hurt, either. It is the same situation with them.

[Valpo Zip]

Wasn't demario minter (sp?) a wolfpack ?What better name recognition you can ask for ? a first overall NFL pick !

[toddl]

Wasn't demario minter (sp?) a wolfpack ?What better name recognition you can ask for ? a first overall NFL pick !

Mario Williams.

[Wally B]

Wasn't demario minter (sp?) a wolfpack ?What better name recognition you can ask for ? a first overall NFL pick !

Mario Williams.

Yeah, He went 1st last year, and a lot of Pack players were drafted. But they still struggled to a just better that 500 record last year????? I think that says a lot more, and it is the main source of fan frustration here in raleigh. Amato is ON the "hot seat"!