N.C. State football has been plagued by a familiar problem through two games, an issue that contributed to a comeback win against Western Carolina and a blowout loss to Tennessee.
The Wolfpack’s run game hasn’t been able to gain traction, limiting the overall effectiveness of an offense that features a lot of new playmakers. That problem was on full display in N.C. State’s 51-10 loss to Tennessee in Charlotte.
“There’s a lot we have to improve on,” head coach Dave Doeren said Monday during his weekly Zoom press conference.
“There’s too many plays in our backfield, for one. (Tennessee) had 10 tackles in our backfield in the game. Some of them were run, some of them weren’t, but it starts with being aggressive.”
Grayson McCall talks Tennessee loss
N.C. State had negative rushing yards in the first half and finished with 39 total against the Volunteers, who racked up 13 tackles for loss at Bank of America Stadium. The 39 rushing yards were the Wolfpack‘s fewest since finishing with 27 in a loss to Maryland at the 2022 Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
The Wolfpack averaged 1.4 yards per carry against Tennessee.
“I think, at times, you try to be too perfect. You gotta get your o-line, your tight ends, your running backs in sync. There were some things we did well. I thought our outside run game had some positive plays. Our inside run game, not so much,” Doeren said.
“We knew Tennessee’s d-tackles were gonna be a handful, and those guys are really good players, too, so that was part of it. We just didn’t stay on people long enough, there was too much penetration, and they did a lot of blitzing inside and mixed it up. I think it’s a combination of things, but it comes down to execution.”
NC State football’s running backs, offensive line
In Week 1, N.C. State finished with 203 rushing yards, but 124 of those came in the fourth quarter. Veteran running back Jordan Waters boosted the numbers with a 50-yard touchdown run late in the Wolfpack’s 38-21 win against Western Carolina.
But redshirt freshman running back Hollywood Smothers was the Wolfpack’s top rusher against the Vols, finishing with 25 yards on six carries. Sophomore running back Kendrick Raphael had four carries for five yards and Waters logged negative rushing yards.
But Doeren hasn’t lost confidence in that group.
“We have three backs that we trust,” he said. “. … Between Jordan and (Smothers) and Kendrick, we feel like we have three backs that we can play.”
The offensive line’s lack of push has arguably been the most troubling part of N.C. State’s rushing issues. The Wolfpack returned four of five starters from last season and added Notre Dame transfer Zeke Correll to fill the gap as an experienced center and team captain.
“My history of running the football, it starts with your five guys up front playing together and playing aggressive, and getting vertical,” Doeren said.
“We’re too lateral at times. Some of that’s because of all the things we’re getting, but some of that’s just us trying to be perfect. We just gotta get back to the basics with the run game. I look forward to seeing that happen.”
The Wolfpack (1-1) returns to Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday (Noon, ACC Network) to face Louisiana Tech (1-0) before traveling to No. 22 Clemson (1-1) on Sept. 21 (Noon, ABC) for the ACC opener.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NC State rushing offense vs Tennessee was overmatched, has to improve
