O'Brien: We have to be better

North Carolina State University

O'Brien: We have to be better

By Erin Summers

Sep 28, 2011

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NC State hosts No. 21 Georgia Tech Saturday as the Wolfpack aims to get their first conference win. It's a tall task as the Yellow Jackets rank number one overall in the FBS in points for and second in rushing yards - plus they have added a passing game.

"They are throwing the ball a lot on first down, and getting you back on your heels," NC State head coach Tom O'Brien told Adam and Joe on 99.9FM The Fan ESPN Radio Wednesday. "They play with your eyes, if you focus on the quarterback you're going to get killed."

O'Brien said playing option teams like Georgia Tech puts a lot of stress on a team offensively.

"You know that they can keep the ball, so you feel like every time you touch the ball you have to make positive things out of it whether you change field position or you put points on the board," said O'Brien.

Which is something the Wolfpack is still working on.

"The strength was last year we were able to stay on the football field, and that's what we haven't been able to do with our offense yet and the faster we get to that point we can help the defense out a little bit," O'Brien said.

But O'Brien said he is pleased with the play of new quarterback Mike Glennon.

"I think he’s been remarkable for a guy that’s only started four games in his career," said O'Brien. "He’s beyond where anybody should be at that point in his career; the days will get better and better as we go forward."

Glennon has put up 1,079 yards so far this season and has ten touchdowns. As Glennon improves, O'Brien can only hope the amount of players on his injury report improves as well.

"We’ve already missed 11 [players] four games into the season, to me that’s not strength and conditioning issues, that’s bad luck," O'Brien said.

As of Wednesday, halfback Mustafa Greene, linebacker Terrell Manning, defensive tackle J.R. Sweezy, defensive tackle Thomas Teal and offensive guard Andrew Wallace were listed as out against Georgia Tech due to foot or knee injuries. The depleted defense makes the 2-2 Wolfpack's attempt at a first ACC win even harder.

"It’s not where we thought we’d be certainly, and I’m not going to make any excuses for them, we have to be better than where we are," said O'Brien.

But bottom line - "We have to get the guys back healthy and playing," said O'Brien, adding, "If we get to that we might not lose to anybody."

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RE: O'Brien: We have to be better

Russell Wilson's intention was playing pro baseball...for the 2nd year. O'Brien changed up the offense to accomodate Glennon, with the assumption Wilson would remain in baseball. He had already graduated, as has Glennon. Russell Wilson then decided he wanted to not only play pro baseball, but pro football as well. His pro baseball record dropped and he was about to be benched. Prior to that, O'Brien had to make a decison for the future of this team, which included releasing Russell Wilson. Since Wilson could not attend summer training. It was not a popular move, but something he had to do. If Russell Wilson had not signed that baseball contract, and had been available to attend training camp, he would have never been released in the first place. He basically put football on the back burner when he signed with baseball, then changed his mind. If he had been brought back as the starter ahead of Glennon, then Glennon would have transferred.
- Posted by dsalter

So?

RE: O'Brien: We have to be better

Russell Wilson's intention was playing pro baseball...for the 2nd year. O'Brien changed up the offense to accomodate Glennon, with the assumption Wilson would remain in baseball. He had already graduated, as has Glennon. Russell Wilson then decided he wanted to not only play pro baseball, but pro football as well. His pro baseball record dropped and he was about to be benched. Prior to that, O'Brien had to make a decison for the future of this team, which included releasing Russell Wilson. Since Wilson could not attend summer training. It was not a popular move, but something he had to do. If Russell Wilson had not signed that baseball contract, and had been available to attend training camp, he would have never been released in the first place. He basically put football on the back burner when he signed with baseball, then changed his mind. If he had been brought back as the starter ahead of Glennon, then Glennon would have transferred.

RE: O'Brien: We have to be better

<i>Your whole side of the debate is centered on the assumption that toby couldn't count on RW. It's just that is ... an assumption. It isn't a fact.</i>

Again, it doesn't matter. TOB didn't know if he could count on Russell returning or not.

That's all that matters.

It was a possibility that Russell might not return.

That's what people need to get through their heads. It doesn't matter if TOB might or probably WOULD have had Russell. It's that he possibly might NOT have him. TOB could not allow that possibility to come to fruition while also losing Glennon.

RE: O'Brien: We have to be better

Your whole side of the debate is centered on the assumption that toby couldn't count on RW. It's just that is ... an assumption. It isn't a fact.

The rest of your argument, based on that assumption, is conjecture, what ifs, hypotheticals (and noise...)

I choose to believe RW's word, publically stated, and backed up by his factual move to Wisc, and his factually playing this year.

And, oh, ncsu fb loses with either RW or MG at QB this year - so much for the scr3wed argument, but it would have made RW the villain (if his word wasn't true), and not the coaching staff

RE: O'Brien: We have to be better

and the light blue obsession continues.... too bad their hopes and dreams are about to get smashed considering we are supposed to have a lot more people back by the time we play them in raleigh. maybe you should have scheduled us sooner?

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