These are a bit thin. I've got early deadlines for this evening due to the elections and have got to get cracking.
1. In previewing N.C. State, coach Paul Johnson called Wolfpack quarterback Jacoby Brissett elusive despite his size (6-foot-4, 231 pounds), capable of creating yardage off of broken plays and accurate when not under pressure.
“For a big guy, he’s misleading because he makes a lot of guys miss,” Johnson said. “He gives them another dimension.”
2. He did not have an update on Tech's trio of injured players, A-back Charles Perkins, B-back Zach Laskey or defensive lineman Patrick Gamble. Asked if any could play Satruday, he responded, "there's always a chance."
3. Johnson is looking for more consistent play out the left guard and right tackle spots. Trey Braun and Shamire Devine have shared snaps at left guard and Chris Griffin and Errin Joe have played most of the snaps at right tackle. Griffin is recovering from a shoulder injury that kept him out of the Pittsburgh game.
There is a benefit in keeping players at both positions fresher over the course of a game, “but we need to be more consistent at those positions,” Johnson said.
4. The offense is still practicing up-tempo pace in practice weekly. The team had been working on it since spring practice, and it had been a much anticipated wrinkle, but the Jackets have yet to use it in a game.
“We could run it this week,” he said. “Maybe we will. The way the team has unfolded, it was in our best interest not to be up-tempo on offense.”
5. Johnson made the observation that N.C. State seemed to have become more aggressive defensively in the past couple games.
“It’s a little harder to blitz against what we do than some teams, but I’m sure they’ll look at the tape and look and see what gave us problems, and they’ll have their own ideas about how to play, too,” Johnson said.
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