RALEIGH, N.C. -- Teams that take on N.C. State this coming fall better be ready to deal with a pass defense that will be equipped to make life miserable for comers.
The Wolfpack lost all of its starting linebackers, but it retains plenty up front and a secondary that had no collective peer in the ACC when it came to stealing the football last season. And if this past Saturday's scrimmage is any indication, the unit is primed to once again fly around flipping the field time and again.
In 75 plays, the Wolfpack registered 12 sacks and picked off two passes. In fact, NCSU quarterbacks completed just 18 of 39 pass attempts for 190 yards. The offense ran the ball 31 times for 170 yards, but that doesn't include the sack numbers, which amassed 55 yards in losses, too.
N.C. State's offensive line was 9th in the ACC in allowing sacks a year ago, but many of those came early in the season when the unit was badly banged up. It's healthy now, thus highlighting the sack total even more.
That said, Wolfpack coach Tom O'Brien wants to see more from the protectors up front.
"Yeah, if you're not protecting the quarterback," he said. "Sometimes you get into personnel matchups in these scrimmages that are good for one side and not good for the other. But no, you don't want to give up 12 sacks in 75-80 plays, but that's the way it is."
The way it is, and he's right. And what the sixth-year coach meant was that the offensive line is going to struggle against this defensive front because that group knows how to rush a passer, but also because the secondary simply puts blankets around receivers, forcing the offensive line to maintain protection longer, which leads offenses down slippery slopes.
"We're pretty good at doing that," O'Brien said. "That's one of the things that this defense has been able to do."
The Wolfpack was third in the ACC last season with 38 sacks, just three away from the conference lead. Defensive ends Darryl Cato-Bishop and Art Norman each registered 5.5 sacks last season. Injuries helped the ends and interior linemen gain experience that was more slated for this season, so the group as a whole is ahead of where the coaches projected 12 months ago.
The secondary, however, is right on schedule.
All four starters are back plus most of the second line on the depth chart. In fact, the unit is so deep the staff moved cornerback Rashard Smith to wide receiver.
O'Brien said that group has an advantage in its development going against the arm of quarterback Mike Glennon, last year's starter who posted excellent numbers. Of course, the work is great for Glennon, too.
"We intercepted a lot of balls last year," O'Brien said. "They are operating at a high level of efficiency, which is good for them and is good for our quarterback because he's throwing against a good secondary. And they're going against a pretty good quarterback who can get the ball and deliver it and be in the right spot."
N.C. State was fourth in the ACC in total defense a year ago. And while it was fourth against the run and seventh against the pass, it led the league in interceptions with 27; 11 more than any other ACC team.
David Amerson led the nation with 13, including a pair in the Pack's Belk Bowl victory over Louisville. Brandon Bishop, who was 17th in the ACC in tackles, picked off five passes and recovered three fumbles. The Wolfpack was third in recovering fumbles, too.
O'Brien said the linebacker situation is a "major concern" and is an issue, but he's quite pleased with the boys up front and that talented group in the secondary. And their play this spring is reason for optimism.
