FSU football: Q&A with NC State Wolfpack experts from Old North Banter

FSU football will take on the NC State Wolfpack in an important home game Saturday night. Here’s five questions about NC State football.

FSU football has been established in the FanSided network for a while now with our coverage of the team.

We’re lucky enough to have a FanSided site dedicated to covering NC State sports as of a few months ago.

So I sat down to discuss five questions with NC State expert Christian Candeloro from Old North Banter.

Check them out for all things NC State sports. The questions and answers are transcribed below:

1. NC State has beaten FSU the past two years. What’s the overall feeling from those around the program and fans? Are they confident/optimistic going into the game considering how the Noles have looked through four games? 

The Wolfpack’s win over the Seminoles last season was seen as a massive step forward for N.C. State under Dave Doeren. During his tenure, the Wolfpack has been light on wins over marquee programs and the win over Florida State (even though the Noles went 5-7) was considered a potential turning point for the team. Alas, here we stand a year later and N.C. State is still dealing with the same issues. The Wolfpack can’t defend the pass, the quarterback situation is unsettled and the team shrinks in every big game. Most N.C. State fans have barely noticed who the Wolfpack is playing this weekend because we are so concerned with our own issues and frustrations. I think the overall feeling is that if the quarterback situation can get figured out, this team is an eight or nine-win team and that will start with a game the Wolfpack should win over Florida State. 

2. FSU’s offense has looked like one of the best offenses in the country during different spurts at times this season. What approach do you think the Wolfpack defense will take to try and slow down the Noles Saturday night?

Oof. It’s gonna be bad. The overall stats for N.C. State look fine but are buoyed by a shutout win over FCS Western Carolina and a beatdown of hapless East Carolina. The Wolfpack switched to a 3-3-5 in the offseason to try to combat pass-happy offenses, including Florida State’s, but it hasn’t quite translated yet. Injuries haven’t helped, with star defensive end James Smith-Williams and corner Nick McCloud being sidelined for parts of the early season. Still, the Wolfpack gave up 417 yards of offense to Ball State last week and allowed them to convert over 40% of third downs. West Virginia entered the Week 3 match-up averaging 1.1 yards per carry and the Mountaineers gashed the Wolfpack for 6.2 yards per carry. The Wolfpack needs to create pressure on the quarterback and it has an excellent defensive line and set of blitzing linebackers to do it. 

3. NC State is breaking in a new quarterback and new offensive coordinator. What would you consider the strengths and weaknesses of the offense thus far? How do you expect them to attack FSU’s lackluster defense?

Replacing Ryan Finley and Eli Drinkwitz was never going to be easy. Redshirt-sophomore Matt McKay has had an up and down start to the season and was benched in the second quarter against Ball State last week. When back-up Bailey Hockman (former FSU QB you might recall) threw an interception, McKay re-entered the game and led two beautiful scoring drives. And then he disappeared again. He completed only one pass in the second half and the Wolfpack had to rely on a special teams touchdown to win. 
The battle between McKay and Hockman will probably continue throughout the season and getting high-level quarterback play is going to make or break this team because it has so many playmakers. Wide receivers Emeka Emezie and Tabari Hines are dangerous, while the Wolfpack has a solid stable of running backs. Getting them the ball and getting it to them in space has been the issue.  

4. Who is one Wolfpack player Nole fans should pay attention to that may not know much about and why?

You probably know who sophomore running back Ricky Person is as he had two touchdowns against the Seminoles last year. You probably are just getting to know freshman running back Zonovan “Bam” Knight. A four-star prospect in the 2019 class, Knight has exploded onto the scene and become one of the Wolfpack’s most reliable weapons. Knight is averaging 5.7 yards per carry and has three touchdowns through four games this season. He’s been the team’s leading rusher and with his electric speed is a threat to take it for a touchdown on every play. 

5. Prediction for the game?

Florida State is going to have little issue moving the ball against N.C. State’s defense, no matter who is starting at quarterback. Unless McKay or Hockman can step up and be productive, I find it tough to believe the Wolfpack will win this football game. Give me Florida State 38 N.C. State 27.

There you have it ladies and gentlemen. You can read our answers to their questions at Old North Banter.