The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/592698
NOVEMBER 2015 ■ 113 fense to stay off the field longer, which has helped the Pack limit opponents to 16.1 points per game. Last year's defense al- lowed 28.7 points per game through seven games, though that was skewed by the 97 points given up to the Seminoles and Tigers. NC State's time of possession finished at 29:29 after 13 games last year, with the offense racking up 68.4 plays per game and an average of 6.0 yards per play. "For us to be unique, we can go fast and change tempo when we need to," Doeren said. "We did that last year early in the season because we felt like we had better conditioning and depth than the teams that we were playing." Normally, offensive linemen have a pretty firm preference on going with a huddle, but fifth-year senior left tackle Joe Thuney is fine with whatever style is called upon. "I think the practices and the camp have made us in really good shape so we're used to up-tempo stuff," Thuney said. "If we go up-tempo, it's fine; slower is fine, too. It's whatever the coaches are feeling that week." Brissett said the Wolfpack could still put defenses on its heels in what could be dubbed the "smoother tempo." "The players we use and how we use them, in certain situations, it puts defenses on edge no matter what," the quarterback noted. Canada pointed out that with football being such a team game, how the defense and special teams are performing can easily help dictate what kind of tempo the offense will use outside of obvious two-minute drill situations. "Having a senior quarterback is always good, too," Canada said. "You never know [about the future], but we have to do what- ever we can to win a game. Each week is different, and we will change things. "We are in a sense [different this season], but honestly there were times in the no- huddle we were trying to use time. We are still the same offense we've been with car- ryover from the years before. The time of possession is something that has happened this year, but it's more a tribute to all three phases." ■ Fifth-year senior quarterback Jacoby Brissett and the Wolfpack ranked second in the nation in average time of possession (34:49) through Oct. 24. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN