What is news, however, is that the game was actually much worse than 7-3. I spent the long holiday weekend convinced that there were several positives for NC State, despite the loss. Russell Wilson played well, special teams were pretty good (except for the blocked punt), and the defense played better than I thought they would...or so I thought.
I have since discovered that I was wrong about the defense.
First, Adam Gold of 850 the Buzz said that South Carolina should have scored more points.
I’m not sure who was luckier, South Carolina, considering just how many mistakes the Wolfpack made. Or, State, considering the Gamecocks left at least 13 points on the field in the 1st half!
Then, in today's News & Observer, NC State beat writer Ken Tysiac chimed in with his own take on a play:
But the Wolfpack also benefited from a questionable pass interference call on the offense that wiped out a South Carolina touchdown.
That "questionable" pass interference call that Tysiac references also would have accounted for 7 of Gold's 13 lost points. The only problem is that the call wasn't questionable. The Wolfpack's defensive back was in perfect position, and it is highly unlikely that the South Carolina receiver catches that ball if he doesn't push off first. To say that the call was questionable, or that the called-back touchdown represents "points left on the field" by SC, is to deny that the defender did a great job.
The other six "lost" points came on botched field goal attempts. One was a bad snap that the holder couldn't handle. The other was a missed chip shot from 27 yards. It's not unusual for these things to happen in openers, especially when the kicker is making his college football debut. If South Carolina had been playing some other team, the mistakes would likely have been attributed to the pressure applied by that teams kick-blocking unit.
I'd be willing to bet that both gentlemen would call me crazy if I suggested that if Toney Baker had just held on to the ball, NC State wins 3-0. The hypothesis that South Carolina should have scored more, and NCSU was lucky they didn't, is fine...but pointing out that the only SC scoring drive went only 14 yards is insane.
Good luck to the Gamecocks from here on out. It wasn't pretty, but you did enough to win. Hopefully, your defense is as good as your fans think, since NCSU's offense wasn't able to do much against it.
1 comment:
The Wolfpack's defensive back was in perfect position, and it is highly unlikely that the South Carolina receiver catches that ball if he doesn't push off first...Sports Good
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