Ep 271 - 2022 Season Preview

Will and I discuss Cover3's expected win total segment on the Wolfpack along with our concerns, expectations and what we're looking for this year.

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Poorly Done Transcription

00:46.47
redwhitepodcast
Alright folks, we are back with another edit red and white podcast will do you have 1 or two chips on your shoulder. Jesus.

00:56.60
zencastwhat_
I got all the chips I've just coming from 2 fantasy football drafts back to back I'm ready to dance. Um, it's a good question I think 3 right now. Um.

01:04.28
redwhitepodcast
How many leagues are you in.

01:13.89
zencastwhat_
1 is the the wife's work league which we're gonna get. We're going to crush as as total wolf said on formula one on a drive to survive. We're at war and we're about to crush them. Okay, feeling great about that team.

01:26.79
redwhitepodcast
I Don't know that reference means at all.

01:31.75
zencastwhat_
Well someone from ah you know someone that understands European Sports get it? Yeah oh you should man. It's awesome. It's.

01:35.45
redwhitepodcast
Is that f one i't watched any of that Netflix series that seems to be sweeping the nation. That's what everybody says? Yeah, but yeah I mean everybody says same thing. There's so much f one conversation now. It's like.

01:47.81
zencastwhat_
It's way better than you think it would be.

01:54.11
redwhitepodcast
Yeah, came out of nowhere now just complete ah train it all here.

01:56.20
zencastwhat_
We got to ask we? Yeah, we're gonna ask Dave we got ask Dave Dorn who his f 1 team is.

02:03.24
redwhitepodcast
It will not be high on my question list that ah intro from Dave Doran was courtesy of ac all access and I think they've been doing a really good job with the show. You know you never know what to expect from the Acc Network but

02:17.88
redwhitepodcast
The you know 2 episodes in so far have been. They've been real good but real good. Have you watched them.

02:23.28
zencastwhat_
Yeah, yeah I need to go back and watch up So to again we were I was cooking while it was playing in the background. So I kind of missed a little bit of it. But for the first up so it was really good.

02:34.34
redwhitepodcast
Did you hear the quote from the defense during the few few plays that they um that few plays from theremer said they ran in the defense well somebody on defense said are we and this is gonna be paraphrasing it. But it's pretty Close. He says are we that good or we elite or are they that bad or they can't block anybody thinks what he said so are we a le or think can they not block. Anybody.

02:59.69
zencastwhat_
Yeah, yeah, I love how the defense talks all this crap when you know frankly it's easier being on defense and camp ah than offense because the defense knows exactly what you're doing. You're you're basically running all the same plays over and over again I think. There's a quote from the Dave Don Radio show um maybe design za morere who is basically or one of the offensive players was complaining that Isaiah Moore is calling out the plays as they come out of the formations at this point. Um, you know so. Yeah, I'm not surprised that the defense is eating. Everyone's lunch. It's also you know it's been the better unit for the last two years arguably without a prompt like I mean I feel like the defensive unit in covid and beyond has been just lights out compared to the offense.

03:50.26
redwhitepodcast
Also from all like all access. It gave some bolts and board material for the Clemson insider with the ultimate I'm going to put this up for clicks headline nc state player throws shade at Clemson. And they are referencing a video from or a segment from all access where the isaiah mower Peyton Wilson and somebody says Clemson still thinks they have the best defense in the country and Peyton Wilson just shakes his head so apparently shaking your head is now throwing shade at. Clumps.

04:29.63
zencastwhat_
Yeah, if you want to know who Klipson thinks is their threat this year I guess that's a good reaction. Good indication. Um, you know I mean Peyton Wasnson basically just like rolls his eyes and ah.

04:43.57
zencastwhat_
I don't know you know it's interesting I mean Clemson and state were definitely in my opinion. The 2 best defenses last year head to toe compared to everyone else and you know I think Clemson lost I don't know 2 or 3 starters throughout the year key players right? we were down. And think 4 or 5 of the initial starters and then maybe 2 of the backups if I remember um, it's gonna be fun done it tothally if we're healthy and they're healthy. Um, you know I almost predict we'll lose the fsu game because I think both teams are going to be.

05:18.50
zencastwhat_
Hitting each other so hard that we're gonna be feeling that one for a couple weeks after the fact.

05:20.78
redwhitepodcast
So I wanted to start this episode with there's been a lot of Ansi state conversation on a lot of the national pods and and whatnot I got a few clips and I'll put them out through the week but the one that I wanted to play is cover. 3 and they discuss the wind totals for each school and each conference I'm gonna play the clip aboutate and we'll talk about it.

13:01.32
zencastwhat_
And that's the end of the show folks. Thanks for sticking around.

13:06.40
redwhitepodcast
Ah I mean there's a there's a lot. There's a lot to discuss there I think the general concept are eight and half you're takinging the over easy money.

13:17.34
zencastwhat_
Yeah, yeah, easily yeah, it's funny before I forget about it I think it's really odd that like Bud was like okay well you got Clemson I think he said louis v these like in Carolina you can you can lose those games. Um I don't.

13:28.18
redwhitepodcast
I think he's time I'll get into the Acc championship.

13:33.90
zencastwhat_
I think oh I think he was just talking about clearing the eight and a half and it's just weird to me that he like but but is I mean he's a recruiting person so I get it but I haven't seen anything yet from Carolina this off season especially knowing how thin they are with injuries to be saying out loud.

13:34.34
redwhitepodcast
Oh yeah, yeah, you're right.

13:52.38
zencastwhat_
I think carolina is going to be a problem for NCState if fancy seats healthy like I think this defense is gonna tear a lot of teams up. Um, so yeah I think getting getting to 9 isn't going to be a problem.

14:06.90
redwhitepodcast
Texas tech I don't know if they're airraided anymore. New coach I don't think he's an ara guy so it'll be interesting to see they did he mentioned that um.

14:19.23
zencastwhat_
It's interesting. How down everyone is on ecu right now.

14:19.64
redwhitepodcast
Yeah, which we'll get to well I want to talk about those the common theme and it's nothing that we haven't mentioned before but I think it's astute of all these national guys to to be pointing it out. You have. You know top 5 quarterback in a top 50 offense and you know Bud Elliott has has been on it before talking about Nc State success rate you know and the general theme is that they need to throw the ball downfield more right? We've talked about ad nausety and the podchat has talked about it. over and over again the people I think that are you know, paying attention are are willing to you know say something critical are are this. This is what we're saying is the offense needs to be more explosive. They need to be more vertical and. That is still my only concern going into this year like on a micro level. We can talk about the offensive line the running backs. Whatever they need to be more explosive. They need to be more aggressive and I need to see them want to stomp people right? We haven't seen that before we don't. We've seen the and it and it concerns me all the hype and the defense is de see with great and you know our tendency is to play it slow and let the defense when your games that doesn't I don't that doesn't work as much as well. In 2022 as it used to.

15:54.13
zencastwhat_
Um, yeah.

15:56.80
redwhitepodcast
Still my concern with you know what? an state is going to do are they going to be explosive. Are they going to try to be explosive or they goingnna lean into their defense.

16:08.88
zencastwhat_
Well, yeah I mean that's to me the question. It's funny because you know there's no reason that you can't be more aggressive at leasts at first with this defense and try to put yourself in advantageous situations for the offense to capitalize on. Um I'm a little nervous. About the offense just because you know some folks released their like projected 2 deeps and apparently archite Anthony Smith isn't doing enough in practice to earn the starting reps like we expected and apparently he's gone back to his old number. I think I'm here and I think he's now went from number 7 back to 85 or something like that. Um, never a good sign and um, you know I don't know I I really hope that Devin Carter and thire Thomas and Kean wasain are explosive in the passing game. Um, it's just really I mean we just haven't really seen it yet from Kean in live bullets. We saw it briefly in the spring spring game but he's been having a great camp. So maybe this game. Maybe this offense is gonna be better than it was previously I just.

17:20.86
zencastwhat_
And I just hope we're not sitting here after 4 games going into the Clemson game and like we haven't seen really much of Gray Smith you know I'm saying like if we're if we're just playing it safe. Um I get it. You can be vanilla in out of conference schedule. And should be able to co spy on defense but you know you're not going to get your quarterback to a heisman campaign by doing that. Um I don't think you're going to set your team up for success grinding out games but who knows man this defense had a lot of takeaways last year. Maybe if they start getting some fumbles. Like it doesn't even matter at that point. Um I just would be surprised just with the composition of the the skill positions in particular like it seems like it would lean itself lend itself to trying to get more vertical in the passing game especially with kind of the unknowns at running back I don't know.

18:14.85
redwhitepodcast
We yeah I mean that's that's exactly your right? That's that is why that is my concern and I think a lot of people are you know, share that sentiment like we have the talent to do it. Are they gonna do it. Are they gonna lean into their defense.

18:17.81
zencastwhat_
It's hard to forget 10 years of tendencies.

18:35.24
redwhitepodcast
Posted in the pod chat today and some scoops what we're hearing from scrimmage. So if you want to check that out. There's quite a few anything smith conversations in there along with some others that are are sending out good and bad. But yeah I mean it's. I'd be curious. What other folks think you know are they concerned with it. The the people that I've talked to that. Are you know, relatively close to program are not concerned with it. But it's kind of that's kind of the I don't know the line right? The company line. Was like oh no, we're you know we're gonna be good. We're going to do x y and z and then you know do they actually do it. Do they have the does the personnel makeup of let's say the wide receiver group does that change the the play calling enough right? You don't you have more speed. And maybe less big possession guys to me I think that it'll be interesting how that dynamic in play same thing with the running back position. You don't have you know, big running backs. You have you know Jordan Houston who's a smaller speed guy and demisumo which we don't really know much about so um. Um'm curious how they do it how they use it I think that but Elliot also mentioned and this is what he's talked about in his success rate conversation. You know we waste a lot of possessions to the you know throw into the running backs. How are they going to you know, switch up the offense and leverage.

20:09.72
redwhitepodcast
The speed and talent they have and the different you know makeup of the skill position. That's probably 1 of the most interesting storylines I think for me personally is how they how that unravels.

20:23.69
zencastwhat_
Yeah I think this year the one thing I'd say is I think Jordan Houston and Demisumo catching the ball out of the backfield are probably more versatile than person and night were in that aspect. I mean I think if you get Jordan Houston in open space. You can do special things. It seems like a lot of times with like person you had to really time up that wheel that wheel route the right at the right time I really just don't remember Bam I know he had like maybe like 20 receptions or something like that. But.

20:48.51
redwhitepodcast
Yeah.

20:58.90
zencastwhat_
Can't really remember any of them being big ones. Um and everyone just talks about Sumo's ability to make people miss and keep going and he's Physical. So I think you know if you can get those guys kind of lined up matched up on the outside with with space and some and some running room. You know it might be a good way to. Make up for maybe a more difficult running through tackles I don't know it's just so Hard. You know it's just you watch those clips. Ah you know from practice and just the general chatterity pickup rate and it's like I can't imagine the offensive line is feeling incredibly confident.

21:36.77
zencastwhat_
You know going up against this defense all the time. But again like you have to think the game speed's going to look a lot slower to them if this defense is as good as everyone says um.

21:45.44
redwhitepodcast
Target.

21:48.80
zencastwhat_
Oh I'll let Eric Mclean talk

22:14.70
redwhitepodcast
That's Eric Metline

24:18.38
zencastwhat_
Could you imagine if when Mcclain asked that question he just was like oh don't worry about those 2 running backs.

24:27.97
redwhitepodcast
So now they're fun. They're good.

24:32.74
zencastwhat_
Ah, oh those guys they're replaceable.

24:33.96
redwhitepodcast
I mean that's that's been the underlying theme from comments. Maybe off the record from from folks that have been in the know so to speak is that. You know we didn't get the most out of Bam and ricky and and Ricky and babb didn't provide the most what their you know their expectations were I guess probably the right way to say that and I think most people now have no expectations with sumo or or really Jordan Houston there's really no idea what the these 2 are going to bring to me I think Houston brings some explosiveness and I think he brings a little speed. Can he you know and how do they? How does insy state use Jordan Houston because he's not going to be the running-bet between tackles guy. Right? He gets tripped up by. You know, the first guy hits him usually and you know how do they change what they want to do to fit the personnel I can yeah and know think can be interesting to see I think yeah, ecu. Has maybe they're they're in the position of they don't really know what's coming right? I think then the team after them is gonna is gonna get it. But.

26:01.29
redwhitepodcast
There's no film on what our offense really is going to do and who they're going to try to leverage I hope that we are you know dynamic enough and leverage our skill position players differently and don't just try to jam them into the same insy state offense that we have been running. But time time will tell on that one. But for some reason I'm not too super worried about sumo or g or Jordan Houston

26:23.84
zencastwhat_
Ah, his yeah ah history indicates with Tim Beck and insy state that the first game will yield about three hundred to three hundred and fifty rushing yards. Um, you know we'll all be talking about how great we are.

26:32.40
redwhitepodcast
See Yeah right.

26:40.26
zencastwhat_
Ah, there will be a cold hard reset by Charleston Southern when they magically hold us to like 80? Ah, ah yeah I don't it's you know i. I do wonder how much having a zavala back having everyone kind of in their natural positions will help um you know reports where like ah Pinix and Toole are larger. You know they've got some guys like the cbro twins that are better at blocking maybe than we had last year or so. You know I could see them able to manufacture some ground game I also just really hope we find ways to get guys like I mean there's too much buzz about like Julian Gray for example, like there's there's no reason you can't give him a couple jet sweeps a game and just have him a factor there. Um.

27:32.58
zencastwhat_
You know and I just also wonder you know some people are like oh you can't just have ah you know Anthony Smith in the game as a decoy if if he can't catch the ball but you know Anthony Smith seems to be getting wide open behind secondaries consistently and eventually he will catch one. And they're going to have to respect it at some point. So I think having that kind of speed on the field can open things up for this run game too. So I hope we get a little more creative there I I mean I don't know it looks yeah when you look at the roster and kind of just look at the size and speed compared to past receiving course. For example. You know they weren't really a threat and this one looks maybe top to bottom. It's got some more speed and you know hopefully that's going to help the run game right? because I just think we just have been kind of bla on offense. Really, we've been. We've done an incredible job of manufacturing offense through guys that can't really get separation and you know the running backs have been kind of off and on I you know last year it kind of felt like the running backs were both like well we're we're trying to get to the Nfl we're I almost wondered how much they were really putting everything on on the table. At times but I don't know I I think there's enough skill here. We haven't seen this much skill I think top to bottom speed wise I mean so I'm hoping it's finally just like ah a fully capable offense I guess instead of having to really work the margins.

29:02.33
redwhitepodcast
Yeah I mean it's a genuine concern I'm curious What what is gonna come of it. The offensive line is still my biggest question in then hearing hearing the quote on all access didn't help me didn't help me feel better. But.

29:02.62
zencastwhat_
But I could be wrong.

29:20.93
redwhitepodcast
You know, like you said you never know defense is a big advantage in those situations but still, you're alacing. You know you're replace Nii and as much as they've talked up Anthony Belton he just doesn't have the experience yet and so you don't really know what you're gonna get from him. So.

29:22.10
zencastwhat_
Yeah I mean.

29:40.30
redwhitepodcast
I mean to me that's the overarching you know, question Mark for me is the offensive line and then how does that affect the offense right? You can't go deep if the office of line can't block anybody I think they'll be okay. In past protection you know what do we see from them in the run game.

29:52.68
zencastwhat_
Yeah.

29:59.87
redwhitepodcast
That was one of the things we talked about a lot last year is are they not creating holes or running backs not hitting holes or is it some kind of combination of the 2 Ah, that's what I'm kind of that's what I'm looking for. That's what I'm waiting to see you know how that shakes down.

30:08.87
zencastwhat_
Yeah.

30:16.60
zencastwhat_
Well when you're passing the ball 60 times a game. You don't have to worry about running so you know there there is that um I think last year last couple years. We've been decent enough in past protection I feel like our maybe it's just Devin Larry gets the ball out efficiently. Lot of times he does a great job of stepping up and kind of navigating the pocket which maybe is making things look better. But yeah I mean it's just kind of funny like it's we're in what year 10 right? and I mean quite frankly I don't know. Do you think we've ever really seen the run game. We were promised.

30:48.70
redwhitepodcast
No, we have not seen I mean maybe now yeah in spurts I said never we we had Jalen Samuels and na heen you you saw a little bit of it but was there was never that creativity. There was never that explosiveness.

30:55.33
zencastwhat_
It's like in spurts.

31:05.94
zencastwhat_
Yeah.

31:06.65
redwhitepodcast
Right? We've we've talked about before you know Bam Knight has 1 run or 2 runs in his career over 40 yards right? You just never, that's that's not what you thought coming out of high school as a fourth 3 guy you like this guy's gonna.

31:21.96
zencastwhat_
Yeah, that's bonkers. So.

31:22.60
redwhitepodcast
Lighted up here. We're finally going to have that offense that we were promised. Yeah, it is wild I think go ahead now. Go ahead I don't know where I was going with that. But.

31:31.55
zencastwhat_
He scored so you know it's sir. no no no you go youka ah no I was gonna say it's just funny I was like you know he just always scored when it was like you know twenty five yards and you know and in you know he just just timed to those big runs.

31:45.31
redwhitepodcast
And the kickoff returns right? He can break away in a kickoff return that was always baffling to me is he was the slowest fast guy.

31:47.34
zencastwhat_
And the wrong time.

31:54.24
zencastwhat_
Yeah, like ah yeah, he yeah, that's yeah it it. Yeah I get he might have been hobbled at times too. But I just remember people probably don't recall but on that one. 1 1 1 of the big ones he took back against wake I can't remember if it's the money he housed or not. But maybe it was the second one that came close and ah like Demisumo was just blistering down the field laying out blocks and like that's and I was watching him run and I was like demisumo is faster than damn knight like. Is there. A reason we're just playing them on special teams right now like I wonder if we would this is where having that bowl game because I have to imagine like Bam Ricky icky maybe a mecca maybe not a mecca but at least those other 3 were probably going to sit out the bowl game so you might have actually got to see you know an indicator. Of what we had going. Um I thought Dave Dor said a really interesting thing too that hadn't right thought too much about, but he's like you know he's like we've been practicing probably longer than we ever have been without playing a game because going from the unc game right? They did all the bull prep then had no game spring right? obviously and then now. Um, like I got a feeling like the team is certainly not going to be overlooking ecu or not up for ecu I think like the defense in particular is going to want to smash. People's heads in. Um.

33:19.74
zencastwhat_
So it wouldn't surprise me just thinking about it that there's probably going to be quite a few penalties earlier on in that game from the defense. Um I don't know I'm just ready.

33:29.27
redwhitepodcast
Do you think Larry Leary regresses with his numbers 35 touchdowns five interceptions.

33:39.57
zencastwhat_
Just hard I mean the only way he regresses is if the off if the run game is much more effective and it can be used in the red zone I guess um, do you know how many touchdown catches a mecca had last year

33:52.88
redwhitepodcast
7 or some of that 9 top. My mouth it wasn't a lot.

33:57.99
zencastwhat_
Is that it ah yeah, look at I'll look it up here in ah and a second here. Um because what I was trying to think is right like what what would but the lots of him mean because I mean he was pretty critical in the red zone going to the corner. Um, you see touchdowns.

34:15.17
redwhitepodcast
6 yeah, it was something low. Yeah.

34:15.25
zencastwhat_
Ah, can't be right. 6 touchdowns last year wow it's so crazy because you know he's just associated with that clumps. He hit a clump that C Clemson touchdown the u and see 2 touchdowns. That's um, wow I can't believe I I could have sworn that was gonna be like you know, like 14 Ah.

34:31.35
redwhitepodcast
Yeah, but.

34:34.71
zencastwhat_
Um, there's no reason Devonlyrie will regress if they are maintaining you know, kind of the 35 to 37 passes a game that we were seeing last year now some of that's probably hyper inflated because of. Maybe Msu and Miami and wake I would bet. Um I could see I could see his touchdown numbers maybe improve maybe his yards per attempt. Go down like I mean if he's going more vertical and he just doesn't have as reliable as a catcher as as a mecca was um I could maybe I I don't know I could I could see certain stats go up I guess I want to see him throw more interceptions I know that sounds insane. Um, but I want us to be. Pushing it more in the passing game to try and make some things happen. Um, yeah, unless the run game just comes out of nowhere.

35:35.80
redwhitepodcast
I think yeah I think that leads to maybe a lower completion percentage like and maybe not necessarily interceptions right? If he's chucking them downfield unless they're severely Underthrown. You know I don't think that necessarily leads to interceptions if he's trying to fit. Fit them into tight windows then that's a different story but you know Smith and gray on on deep routes tend tend to not lead to interceptions. It's the you know in the middle in the middle stuff that that does. I mean I got to think his interception numbers. Go up a little bit because even last year was just absurd. You know he had it really only at 4 the one at the end of the half was just a you know? heil mary interception that's nonsense I think he probably goes up a little bit there I I don't know what his touchdown numbers are going to do. Just depends on how aggressive they are are and are they you know going all gas no breaks on on teams the office of line coming back to that you know is a concern because if they can't run. You know what does that do to the passing game. So they have to be able to run a little bit and open some of this up for for leary and it's amazing that he could do that last year without really having a huge run threat. So that's interesting to me.

37:00.78
zencastwhat_
Yeah I mean that's why I think you're gonna I I mean I just cannot imagine we go through a season not having more like jet sweeps you know, just more creativity and like thing is like you have um, a jack chambers sitting there that if you. Like it wouldn't it honestly wouldn't surprise me if I need to go back and look at the schedule for a second here but you know outside of cleson maybe I don't know I'm I'm still questioning floor state but probably Clemson Wake Forest I don't know like this is a 2 games I can see like I just can't see us getting leery out of a game early but I could also see us in a lot of games. Especially if it's semi in control that them bringing in a jack chambers or someone and just letting them kind of run a. Either just a pure rpo or almost like just a straight up option based run game like I mean all the kind of chatter like I think ips said a few times that Jack Chambers was like the best running back in the scrimmages. Um and kind of bring something to the table there. So I could see us.

38:09.11
zencastwhat_
Inflate our run game numbers throughout the year by kind of just getting smarter with with that with manufacturing it in in ways, especially if especially if we start scoring a lot more I could see it's just. Kind of seeing like you know Clemson did in some of those title runs they did where they were up by 3 four scores right going into the fourth quarter and they didn't there was no need to even air it out any further you could just bring it in and and kill the clock. So that's what I'm expecting.

38:40.98
redwhitepodcast
Here's Dave Dorn on the wide receivers.

39:23.19
zencastwhat_
Yeah, he must have decided to bench Anthony like right after that.

39:27.14
redwhitepodcast
This is yesterday.

39:32.56
zencastwhat_
Was I mean that's you know it's so weird I mean everyone is like oh Anthonyy Smith is take got 10 yards behind the defense and is dropping balls and it's like that happens with elite fast guys like he I mean to be to be honest, right? ah. If he was doing that all the time catching the ball the time he's probably not at nc state like we wouldn't have found this kid late in the process. You know he was a freaking punter 1 year for his high school team. You know like it's it's always going to be development thing I think it's worth burning four or 5 attempts a game on a guy like that. Can just purely get open and force the defense to react you cannot It's not like defensers are gonna be like oh you can let Anthony Smith go fifty yards down the field. He won't ever catch it. You know like they're gonna have to respect it. Um, and I think you got to find ways to get guys like that on the field and anyway you can like why not I mean.

40:15.42
redwhitepodcast
Yeah.

40:27.67
zencastwhat_
Why not have him in gray back there for kickoffs for example, like all, you're doing is fair catching it 90% of the time. So if Anthony or him catch the ball and it's advantageous. 1 run it out just see what happens. Um, yeah, that's a way to get them. Get them some experience. Give them some opportunities and someone's got to replace. The you know, kind of game saving kickoff returns that that we saw out of bam at times and hines other years right like we just need to get that speed on the field. So I hope it's all subterfuge I hope everyone's trying to downplay anything Smith and we're gonna. Still see him out there because I thought he looked pretty damn good in the spring game and maybe I'm just wondering if maybe some of the hype caught up with him going into fall camp or maybe he's just been going against good guys and like when he does good his opportunity. He's just it's just been unfortunate. He's dropped it. But.

41:05.82
redwhitepodcast
He did.

41:21.53
redwhitepodcast
This this is a kid that was out of football right? Didn't didn't play that had his high school coach Essentially beg him to come back and get him remotivated for football. But so he wasn't It wasn't always a straight.

41:22.50
zencastwhat_
I Don't know maybe he could suck.

41:41.40
redwhitepodcast
Line for him. He's had his had his personal challenges with the game and you know he's still young. So I think he's he's still going to develop I'm still 100% Anthony Smith Stan I think he's his speed.

41:41.39
zencastwhat_
Yeah.

41:57.73
redwhitepodcast
Is going to be ah the difference or can be a difference maker. But yeah, again, you bring up another question is how do we?? Who do we replace you know bam and ihem always seem to have those plays that sort of flip The momentum. You know, kind of change the outcome of certain games who emerges as that spot right now to me That's that's another one of the questions that I I'd like to know.

42:26.78
zencastwhat_
Yeah I mean all signs seem to be pointing to gray sumo supposedly thesane has been pretty slippery is' getting a lot of room and yards after the catch you know? So there's opportunities there. Um I got a better question for you who scores first this year Anthony Smith or Chris Scott with a pick 6.

42:53.25
redwhitepodcast
Anthony Smith certainly Anthony Smith

42:57.91
zencastwhat_
Ah, oh man I can't wait to see Chris Scott housing one as a db against like Charleston southern or someone like that you know just doing it I use another guy just.

43:05.94
redwhitepodcast
And then doing a dance.

43:13.46
zencastwhat_
Ah, you know I know they clearly want to try to just get his speed on the field in some capacity because that dude I I guarantee if he's healthy at some point and we get the ball on his hands. He's gonna do something special. Um, yeah, maybe that's something down the road where he's ah again like kick return something like that. But I love that they're still trying to find a way to.

43:32.40
redwhitepodcast
And he's been getting reps. He's been getting reps's not just he didn't just switch him. They switched him and he's getting reps at db.

43:32.96
zencastwhat_
Get him on the field. Even if it's on defense I would just be a yeah.

43:43.39
zencastwhat_
Yeah, cause I mean you know it's funny I think maybe 1 of the first highlights from ah, open practice the first that first fifty minute session or whatever one I got to see yeah, he's going like 1 on one and I see him just like he can't make the catch and I said I go man sure looks like a Dba and sure enough.

43:54.72
redwhitepodcast
They go.

44:00.77
zencastwhat_
You know the 1 thing I'm worried about there with him is just he's always been a little slight so it's kind of hard to imagine him. Um, you know on the field land laying the lumber. Um, yeah, yeah, exactly yeah I mean he's like I mean they they list him at six foot 71

44:05.68
redwhitepodcast
Playing like a press man. He's not gonna ja he's not. He's not jamming Devin Carter devin car's gonna tos his as on. Yeah yeah.

44:19.78
zencastwhat_
I Mean you know that that's hard to imagine being a significant contributor there but he's also incredibly quick. So maybe you know maybe they're thinking of using him for turkey slot receivers or something like that. Maybe that's what the plan is.

44:32.40
redwhitepodcast
Giving concerns on defense side of the ball. This whole pause has been dominated by the offense defensively.

44:42.34
zencastwhat_
Yeah I mean ah I'm so I am always going to be nervous until he makes it through a full season that Peyton Wilson isn't going to make it and I just really feel like Levi Jones is gone.

44:55.17
redwhitepodcast
Yeah.

44:58.22
zencastwhat_
You know Joseph is gone right? It seems like he would be the natural step in for that that pass rushing capability. Um I was listening to an ips pod the other day and they were talking about remember that Syracuse game where he made that like last second sack. Um.

45:12.83
redwhitepodcast
Yeah.

45:16.79
zencastwhat_
Kind of like coming out of nowhere from like twenty yards out of the frame. Um, so I would love to have his athleticism all year. So I'm just a little nervous about him I'm a little nervous about as I I say more coming back just because yeah I'd read somewhere that sometimes linebackers are a little slower coming back from these Acl injuries even with you know, new modern science. Um, but yeah I think aside from that it's just it's just going to be a depth question right? like I mean if state like you saw it last year withlumpson right? I think if Clemson doesn't lose you know Peree Shipley and I cannot remember who the guy on defense was that they lost. Um.

45:55.90
zencastwhat_
That team would have been pretty hard to beat for pretty much everyone. Um and I would hate for a potential title run this year to be yeah again, just decimated with injuries on defense because those guys are just so aggressive and I mean it's been.

46:13.64
zencastwhat_
Three plus years now with Gibson even when it was co coordinator and we're having tons of injuries each year so I think just that's my concern. It's just I know we've got proven depth but I would love to just have 11 starters out there. All.

46:21.70
redwhitepodcast
Um.

46:30.20
redwhitepodcast
Yeah, that is my concern as well who if 1 of them goes down who is your this year's vi jones vi covered up a lot of you know issues last year with he had punt blocks and he made some plays and just.

46:30.40
zencastwhat_
Yeah, at least for 10 games.

46:49.26
redwhitepodcast
Overall was just always seen to be in the right position. You know, filling in at the end of the year there with with drake in the middle and vi playing on the side. Yeah, who is that guy is it. Um Betty you know a parker or any you know one of these other guys I don't know Caden Fordden the freshman Jordan pool who who who emerges as you know the backups there and you know can our starters stay healthy. Ah, that's pretty much more unquestionable defense because I think depth is good everywhere else think experience is good everywhere else.

47:19.68
zencastwhat_
Yeah, yeah.

47:27.86
redwhitepodcast
You know what? what do linebackers do.

47:30.37
zencastwhat_
Yeah I mean can I yeah I mean does does c j clark return to how he was playing previously. Um can Josh Harris stay healthy at this new weight. Um, because I I really have high hopes for him this season and that's just what it's going to come down to I mean. Yeah, just little things can taner engle you know after last year having a clean sheet with no targeting can tanner engle you know still make it through all the games without getting a targeting piny or yeah, sometimes he's just every year he at least the first couple years you know he would come up. Lame a couple times you know I think maybe had some hamstring problems or something like that. So. It's just like there's a couple key players between Engle Moore Wilson that I think make the defense really really go and then yeah, it's just you only really got like 6 or 7 guys that you want to count on on that defensive line and. Always thought that they went to the 3 man front anyways, just because they wanted to just manage depth and I thought they were going to have a pretty bad line 1 year and so they just said you know what? let's just have 3 guys out there instead of 4 and it's worked out so I don't know just just depth on that side.

48:41.23
redwhitepodcast
All right? It's our last pod before you go on vacation before came week so I want to get you on official record will specs record this year

48:43.11
zencastwhat_
You know.

48:51.69
zencastwhat_
Um, well I did tell ah Wahita tonight I said I can I could bring the microphone you know I can bring the headphones. You know we can We can record I'll record ocean front for the for the squad. Um.

48:57.91
redwhitepodcast
There we go.

49:09.50
zencastwhat_
Oh let me go through it again. Ah East Carolina when Charleston Southern when Texas tech when you can't win man the homer and me wants to say we're gonna beat clumpson just especially because there's been some scuttlebutt about qb play from them.

49:22.50
redwhitepodcast
Yeah.

49:26.35
zencastwhat_
But I'm going to pencil that as a loss for right now I just have to pencil 1 um and then that makes me really nervous about Florida state I hate playing them right after we play clumpson um I'll have a speed of what floor state ah beat Syracuse. How about Virginia Tech you know I was just thinking about this other day that that 2021 game or whatever. No Twenty Twenty game where we went from wake forest and then went up there and got our ass kicked it just always gives me paused. We haven't beaten virginia tech in forever. But let's beat them. Take it. We'll beat wake. We'll be bc okay I guess we're going 11 and one I mean I don't know how we're gonna do it because North Carolina according to Joevari Ritzie is gonna have the number one defense in the nation. Um bold cotton just very bold. Yeah I think I think this is the year man.

50:01.98
redwhitepodcast
11 and 1

50:10.32
redwhitepodcast
It's amazing.

50:15.70
redwhitepodcast
Ah.

50:19.21
zencastwhat_
I think we get 10 at least? um I can see a screw something up somewhere.

50:21.25
redwhitepodcast
Florida state plays clemson after us and they play wake before us. It's not like Florida state has has it easy there and they're coming to Raleigh. So.

50:31.43
zencastwhat_
Are are they on the road to wake or do they get wake at home. Okay, okay, all right? So we're the road trip for them. So okay, yeah I mean as long as they don't have like a buy or something right before us I guess you know.

50:36.56
redwhitepodcast
Um, they get wake at home and Clumson at home. Yeah.

50:50.30
zencastwhat_
It's just I remember how bad we were after for that louisiana tech game and you know Clemson historically has always had that hangover effect for pretty much every team that's played them so it's just ah, it's just an uncomfortable game I guess but you know if if at that point they've played.

51:01.68
redwhitepodcast
Right.

51:09.52
zencastwhat_
Man brutal start. Um, they get to cane but then they get Lsu at lsu@louisville verse pc you know at Bc at home wake at home and then us and then Clemson. So I mean there is a possibility by then you know that they're a 2 or three lost team and they're kind of you know. Fsu checked out may that make me feel a little bit better but I don't know.

51:31.57
redwhitepodcast
So outside of the Clemson Forest a do you see any? what would be the game that you would be next most concerned about next.

51:46.10
zencastwhat_
Ah I don't like that Louis game. Um, you know it's late in the year I Just don't love the idea of going on the road twice at the end of the season. Um, and that one I think.

51:46.26
redwhitepodcast
Ah, yeah.

52:03.68
zencastwhat_
See do we get 1 Yeah and then yeah, it's a short. It's it's you know one day short because we're playing you and see on a Friday so that's kind of rough. Um you know Texas tech is just an unknown to me like ah I'll keep coming back to it like they they walloped Mississippi state and that's just.

52:16.49
redwhitepodcast
Um, nice.

52:20.00
redwhitepodcast
Yeah.

52:23.33
zencastwhat_
Really weird to me. Um, and it's not like Mississippi State was like changing coaches I know they were maybe kind of disappointed but like you know Leech should have been fired up for that game like I really need to go back and find out if they had some injuries or what? um. That just gives me pause because like we looked at crap against them on ah offense and great on defense. Yes I don't like those games. Um.

52:51.80
redwhitepodcast
Louisville plays Clemson before us in Kentucky after us again like is it all sets up Wolf Packck like that's at end of the year who knows what Louisville's gonna be I mean saterfield could be on the hotsie could be fired by that game.

52:57.27
zencastwhat_
Kind of like that.

53:06.14
zencastwhat_
Yeah, has Coolie transferred to us by that point.

53:09.69
redwhitepodcast
Right? Cool you can be on a sidelines like getting ready to play. Um, it's interesting man I don't know what the end of that's you then back into that schedule's gonna be my go ahead.

53:22.31
zencastwhat_
I can just tell you I'm I was just gonna say I'm just gonna be so disappointed if we somehow roll out an 8 and 14 you know I mean like I would just be like oh just pack it up. Get a new coach at that point I'm so you know I I can't.

53:29.50
redwhitepodcast
Oh God yeah.

53:40.83
zencastwhat_
Can't do this. This team should be epic, but at the same time just like you saw how close to last year it was to being a fail. You know what? I mean.

53:44.92
redwhitepodcast
Right? Yeah, the the margin was very thin last year I'm I'm hoping that margin is a little bit different I don't see any game here that we are that I'm real concerned about. I can say that maybe the syracuse game on the road. You know they could be 5 and one six and you know 6 and zero at that point is very possible and we've had we've needed some weird stuff to beat Syracuse in Syracuse over the years

54:13.14
zencastwhat_
There.

54:18.61
zencastwhat_
Yeah, that's a good point.

54:19.69
redwhitepodcast
I Don't think they're gonna be any good but it's still one of those things man just if that will be the one that I would that would a circle right? There look at that. It's It's ridiculous. Yeah.

54:28.70
zencastwhat_
Well, you know Syracuse has got clumpson after us. So you know Clemson's going to be this huge benefactor. They're going to get the reverse Clemson effect. They're going to get the state effect and um. You know we're gonna wall up all these teams then clumpson's gonna clean up so like no one's gonna do us a favor and and take them out. Um, yeah I don't know man Syracuse is lines garrickt schrader's a quarterback like I just um, have a hard time seeing that being.

54:55.22
redwhitepodcast
Um, yeah.

55:01.35
zencastwhat_
Ah, bad right? Like I mean anyone that's a running team a run first team should play into this. Um, this defense's strength and like that showed pretty much until last game or 2 of last year when it was just that the. Injuries caught up so you know it's just hard to think that Garrett Schrader could do much you know I know everyone loves Malique Cunningham but I've still never really been impressed that much with him as a pastor I know he's not horrible but I just think a lot of teams got beat.

55:28.55
redwhitepodcast
Yeah, same.

55:37.10
zencastwhat_
Buy him that maybe shouldn't enough I don't know that party didn't make much sense. But um, yeah, like come kind of gart trader like against us he was 8 for 20 for sixty three yards you know and again, yeah, he ran 17 times for seventy yards like

55:45.17
redwhitepodcast
Yeah, he can run though. Yeah.

55:55.71
zencastwhat_
You know I'd be more worried about I guess Louisville just because I mean I just think Scott's satterfield's a better offensive coach. It's just a question of has the roster just burned up by that point.

56:06.83
redwhitepodcast
Um.

56:10.93
zencastwhat_
You know I don't know maybe if the cat the checks are caching. Everyone's gonna be happy over there.

56:14.10
redwhitepodcast
Yeah that's interesting I don't know I mean I find it hard to have any concern at this point other than the Clemson game right now. That's the one that's like that that'll be the real I'll be the real test. There. Who does wake cab before us wake has Louisville before us Carolina after us Bc has Notre Dame after us.

56:36.30
zencastwhat_
See Carolina's gonna get to beat wake because we we trash em.

56:40.85
redwhitepodcast
Right? And Carolina doesn't have their usual scc cream pop before us they play. Um george tech before us.

56:48.58
zencastwhat_
Yeah I could not believe that Mac Brown said he wanted to get rid of those games like that's yeah, there's just time man I tell you it's just I feel like he he's just not operating a hundred percent like there's a lot of times if you watch you and see.

56:53.51
redwhitepodcast
Yeah, that's kind of surprising.

57:07.91
zencastwhat_
When it's late in the game or you know it's it's a critical crunch time where the coach needs to make a decision and they are constantly just just a chaos bus at that point of you know, just people everyone yelling and screaming at mac to do something and you know I just ah I don't know. Um. I'm still amazed that probably schedule wise they'll probably sneak into 7 or 8 wins and just be yeah, just a god-awful team. Still I don't know.

57:33.22
redwhitepodcast
All right last question for you. Steak goes 11 and one in will's world. Are they in the acc championship game 11 and one and you don't make it.

57:42.45
zencastwhat_
No, they're not like you know I got to pull up the dang schedule again. But let's just look at CClemson real fast right? They like I said we're we're setting up a lot of teams to lose to Clemson because they play us right before them. And you know if they yeah they're they're going to handle georgia tech they their defense has taken care of wake forest almost every year. So I just I can't fathom them. You know having an issue. Yeah, they just they just outbody them right? like that's the 1 reason like where you're like.

58:12.40
redwhitepodcast
Yeah, they out Talent face Wake forest all the time. Yeah.

58:21.88
zencastwhat_
Ah, four man front I think can do better against wake at times just because if you've got talented guys The weeks little guys can't handle it. But you know let's look at right? they get wake and us back to back. You know? So maybe that's the riskiest stretch and then you know they've they've got not dame but that doesn't count.

58:38.28
redwhitepodcast
Yeah, does yeah it does. It's their Acc game. No name counts as in their rotation.

58:41.48
zencastwhat_
They get in Miami at the end of the year not it doesn't kind ofgainst their Acc record.

58:50.65
zencastwhat_
It counts in their rotation but doesn't count in the conference standings.

58:53.11
redwhitepodcast
Are we sure about that. I Actually don't remember Yeah, it might not.

58:59.14
zencastwhat_
I I've never been so confident and unconfident at the same time I'm pretty sure it I mean if it does That's a that shouldn't be I think it's just that they have a agreed scheduled agreements. But it's an out a conference game and or it's like not a standing game. But.

59:12.73
redwhitepodcast
Okay, ah yeah, you could be right I don't remember.

59:18.39
zencastwhat_
Um I don't think it is so well hold on let's count right? You gotta have ah you gotta go you gotta get 8 right? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Yeah so I mean they get Miami maybe Miami's back at the end of the year they get Louisville so I mean I don't know man.

59:20.58
redwhitepodcast
Yeah, they got all the games there I got 2 Yeah yeah.

59:37.79
zencastwhat_
Just seems like if they beat us. They probably should beat everyone else and if they beat us. We're asking them to lose 2 games so right like do you really think they're going to lose the wake forest. You know they struggled with Louisville last year

59:42.57
redwhitepodcast
Right.

59:55.22
zencastwhat_
So that could be something um I don't know man so it's just we got to win that game so it's hard to imagine. We're 11 and one and not undefeated I guess if we somehow be clumson and then lose the Florida estate. You know that's probably the only other.

01:00:08.43
redwhitepodcast
Yeah I mean I'd still take that right now you wouldn't take 11 to 1 right now. Oh I was going to say.

01:00:12.94
zencastwhat_
Likely scenario I wouldn't no I'm kidding I'm kidding I'm kidding. No I mean here's my here. Okay, like my doomsday. Best case scenario is you play Clemson you lose on the road. It's close. Ah. You go 11 and 1 you don't get to go to the Acc title game obviously but Clemson goes undefeated so you got a 12 and o clempson and you got an eleven one state um and then you just have to hope that the scc and the big 10 somehow you know kick themselves in the nuts twice with.

01:00:47.99
redwhitepodcast
Yeah.

01:00:51.70
zencastwhat_
With their teams right? and then I don't know like I mean if if you go in and you kill everyone else and you just barely lose to Clemson but you look great every other time like why can't the acc be the conference that has 2 teams from the same division that get in. It's like. If the scc gets to do weird stuff. We should get to do weird stuff and I don't know.

01:01:12.90
redwhitepodcast
Yeah, it is weird. It kind of that would kind of depend on how good Texas tech is who you win that game we need Texas tech to be you know a quality win there because lot of who knows what you need you know who you're not getting it from ecu and youcon and.

01:01:21.86
zencastwhat_
Yeah, that's good point. Well you know, but what if you know what? if an ecu let's like take a quick gander at their schedule. You know what? if an ecu goes and rips off 9 wins or something like that that that might be feasible with their schedule.

01:01:40.48
redwhitepodcast
It's possible.

01:01:41.45
zencastwhat_
Um, I think they went 7 and five last year. So I mean they get state. But then they got o dominion campbell Navy south florida to Lane Memphis ucf they got BYU sensei in Houston so like let's say they go in there and they go yeah, but let's say one of their wins is a byu or a sensei or something like that right look.

01:01:51.34
redwhitepodcast
Then get 8 yeah.

01:02:00.93
zencastwhat_
If they sneak something in you know they'll probably be penalized for it somehow. But you know yeah, you're right if if state if states out of conference teams aren't actually garbage. That's gonna be wonderful. Yukon is going to sit there and take ah an l from everybody with pleasure. You know Charleston Southern could be incredible now.

01:02:12.60
redwhitepodcast
Yeah.

01:02:19.10
redwhitepodcast
I was thinking about 2020 when Notre Dame was playing in conference must have been where I was going with that. Yeah yeah, all right? That's it got any other concerns where we get out of here.

01:02:20.40
zencastwhat_
Who knows.

01:02:26.59
zencastwhat_
You mean that the year we made the most money we've ever made. Ah.

01:02:36.20
zencastwhat_
Yeah, just I mean what are we gonna wear for our golf match.

01:02:38.39
redwhitepodcast
Oh we'll break that one later we got a lot of pods coming up this week I've got a bunch of guests coming on so that should be should be interesting. We'll try to get will to hook up from the beach. Getting on before the ecu game but there should be a few more coming if you've met this far. Thanks for listening as always go pack.

01:03:05.73
zencastwhat_
Go pack.