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Hello and welcome to WKNC Sports podcast and the den. Today, we're going to be going over the
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women's soccer game from last night as of time we're recording, and then we'll also be going over the ECU football game a few weeks. I know it's a little early for that, but I figured just kind of keep it on theme, the whole ECU thing. This would be kind of a quick episode, because I did one a little earlier, but hope you all still enjoy now, get your headphones on. Let's get right to it. All right. Well, we'll start off with the women's soccer game. Just a little disclaimer, no real hate towards ECU. And you know, we do a lot of work with them, with the blood donation stuff, so obviously, no hate there. It's just for the sake of sports competitiveness. We're going to be haters today.
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Fortunately, last night, it was a 1-1 draw. We're hoping for a win, but that just did not happen.
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Both of the defenses were really showing up in this game. Olivia Prataoas our goalie. She made up for sort of a poor performance in that first game by notch in six saves, three times as much as her last game.
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However, early in that second half, her only goal that she gave up was a
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foul caused by Jade Bordeleau resulted in a goal for Isabella,
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I think Gutierrez, her second goal of the season.
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They would keep ECU score was for the rest of the half game, though, with only
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five more shots on goal out of that no five shots period. I'd love that second half
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defense to this job minimizing fouls. I mean, not really defensively minimizing fouls and shots for this ECU team, without that penalty, goal, they could have even gone score with really. Um, now, I guess, focused on a little bit more on the offensive side. Um, it was well dispersed and as aggressive as I wanted to see, it nine shots in each half. It's for about like a shot every 10 minutes. Maybe not crazy aggressive, but a lot more than the last game. Um, in fact, three substitution players and Daisy, Duda, Maddie Miller and Mary Francis Symmes were all notch in one shot and goal, each for a total of eight shot and goals, which is 47% accuracy, versus ECU seven, which granted 58% accuracy. However, ECU only took nine shots, so Well, yeah, their percentage is better. We have a bigger sample size, so therefore we win. Boom.
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Forward Antonella Mazziotto took five shots, two of them being on goal, and one of those two being a corner kick from Mana Nantaka
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to tie up the game. It was like an assist from mana nataka and Mazziotto scored the goal,
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and that would tie up the game pretty late. I think it was about the around the 70 minute mark, and that kind of closed up the game offensively and defensively, for the one one score.
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Ultimately, the game was definitely a step up from James Madison. Lots of the players carried their roles well, and we're finally starting to see some offensive production from some players, because I was hoping to see who could kind of become that number one person for the team. And as it turns out, I mean, Mazziotto is proven her case with this game, and nataka has consistently throughout two games, yeah, consistently throughout two games has shown that she's also capable. Um, hoping to see more from Jade Bordelau, because she didn't have any shots and goals and three fouls, just as much as the last game.
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But, I mean, I think that,
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um, I don't know what we're going to see out of her for some other offensive performers. Because, I mean, Emily Wong only has one shot on goal two games.
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No, not even conference play yet. I think we got a couple more. Especially the one I'm about to mention that's coming up next this Thursday night
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in
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you know, I'm getting a little ahead of myself defensively. I think I do need to lower my expectations a little bit. Um, think I mentioned I wanted to see more out of defenders. Um, you know, Brooklyn Holt trying
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to think was there is, uh, aoka, you know, I was hoping to get a little bit more from.
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Them, but then I realized
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they're defenders. I mean, don't know why defensive shot stats show up on the board, so I can't really judge without being there, but it's just hard. It's hard to get all the game footage that I need to figure out what's just to figure out what's going on. Um,
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but you know, I think with this performance, it's a team wide thing,
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and as the defensive captain, I kind of got to give Holt a little bit more grace and just a defense, you know, in general, y'all kind of need a little bit
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of grace to them. I think that
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sure that first game was terrible defensively, the second game was a little better,
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um average in two goals a game. I just hope that, you know, they can shore up and just kind of clean up around
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the edges, um heading into conference play. But, um, I'm going to talk a little bit about our next opponent, all the way in Lansing, Michigan.
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That's right, Michigan state. Michigan State does have a winning record against NC State at
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oh and one. You know, they won one game in 2023
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and that haven't played before.
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They also have two ties. Michigan State has two ties this season of the two games they played one on one against Colorado and oh, oh against Dayton.
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Michigan State seems to go in big streaks of offensive you know, being able to put up shots, but struggle to get those shots on goal with about 26%
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accuracy. But in both of those games, they outshot their opponents, even by double digits. They were
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they outdid
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Dayton,
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uh, 20 to 9, which, I know it's like Dayton's, you know, lower level, lower competition, but that's still all of that, and that's a sewer zero draw. What's going on? Um,
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I just, they haven't really been
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doing what they need to offensively, defensively, it sounds like they're doing really
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good.
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You know, they have been kind of flipping around with goalies. Their last one that they had was Kennedy Sorn, who kept day into zero, but just the pure margin of their goals versus their opponent's goals, I think that Michigan State does show that they kind of have an advantage on stop it in place. It's just that
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eventually they gotta start putting them in only, yeah, only one goal and two can I get. NC State's done the same.
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But I don't think that we really no, we also did on number but it wasn't by huge margins, and they out did us on shots on goal. ECU did so, yeah, we're a little more well rounded than
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Michigan State for sure. Um, I was close in our was in Colorado. Um,
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yeah, it's just the whole shot differential. I kind of lost myself in my notes there. Um,
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practice whole, the entire defense, really, they have their work cut out for them if they can force turnovers and blocks to try to stutter that Michigan State offense and keep them away from the goal like at all. Because, I mean, they've shown that they can't really get the shots on goal,
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but they have shown that they can kick the ball like nobody's business. So I think what NC State is looking to do heading into that game is just try to stop Michigan State from having opportunities to even just let the ball go.
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You know, just another kind of sounds like basic like, oh, you know soccer defense. You know, the best way to play soccer defense is to not let them score. I
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know that's kind of little obvious, but it's just like,
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if you can just keep them from kicking the ball. They're not going to. They'll eventually get it in if you just let them do it, but if you just kind of cut out all the opportunities and really put the pressure on them, yeah, I mean, I think you could get away with it.
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Um,
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let's see, NC State doesn't really.
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They have, like, a ability to out shoot opponents, so they kind of have to play smart and minimize that foul trouble.
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You know, they kind of,
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I don't think that they should go for out shooting Michigan State. I think they should go for being accurate and precise with the goals and just season, any opportunity that defense can give them, because,
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sure, I mean, this defense doesn't really show too much vulnerability,
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but it's still, I think, vital for NC State to
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just kind of keep an era for any opportunity to score. I think, unlike these kind of previous games, I think there'll be a little bit less focus on the freshmen players like, you know, Daisy Duda. What else is freshman on that roster? I think Daisy is the most notable freshman. I know she's getting plenty of time. I know she's getting accurate, but
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I don't know if you can really rough, you know, kind of iron things out in this game in particular, especially since,
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um, you know, Nina win. I don't know what the ACC standards are looking like, actually, but I don't even think it matters,
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but you don't want us. We're already looking like we're gonna lose a lot. I don't think we should start behind too late, either.
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So what I think they should do is
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just
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beat them.
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You know, play smart um,
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play smart offense, you know, little conservative and play real liberal on defense. That just kind of suffocate them and keep those shots away. Don't out shoot them. Just don't let them shoot well,
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um, I predicted score. You know, if you want to put some money on it,
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NC State will probably win with just one goal.
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If I'm really getting gold, bold, I think Jade word getting her first goal, I'm putting too much pressure on her, but she ain't listening to this.
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Some players on Michigan State to look out for. Renee Watson has the most shots on goal for the entire team, so she's bound to get one in. And the only one who has on that team is Kennedy Bell. I think both those players are defenders too. So I think Michigan State just has strong defense and not much else. Three way game saves by goalie Kennedy Zorb. So watch out, because she can, she might be able to come and clutch in this Thursday game, and if she does that, just kind of game over for NC State.
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But, I mean, I think I've rambled long enough about women's soccer,
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yeah. I mean, let's get to the football shall we?
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I know the transition is far from perfect on that, but I just, I just have a lot to go with with this ECU pre game matchup. And I know I mentioned this already, like
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Logan, it's a little too early. You're jumping the gun. You're right. I am. So let's get to it. Um, so, you know, I don't think you really need too much context for that game, but I'll give a like a brief rehash of the Military Bowl. ECU for assist, NC State, um,
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NC State gave up 330 yards and three touchdowns in the rushing game, but they're we're able to hold back um
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passing game given Katin Houser ECUs quarterback three interceptions. Um, let's see. You know, um, NC State had Hollywood smothers to carry the ball, and he did pretty well with notion six of their think 11 first downs,
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but the team wide,
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35 attempts for 198
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yards
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is, you know, you don't love to see it.
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CJ Bailey, in that game, he was able to show that he can ball out without Concepcion, shipping in the ball for all the wide receivers on the roster, but the main big I think what's going to be the big three for this team receiving wise, with Joey, Noah, Rogers and Wesley Grimes.
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And I'm sure NC State could have won a game if they had more third down efficiency and if they you know, rajay Davis didn't have that. I think Rajai Rajai Davis, yeah, had that big run to end the game.
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Rahjai Harris, not Davis, I'm sorry. Rajay Harris, you.
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I
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kind of just ran all over them in that fourth quarter. And that just kind of
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got rid of any possibility of EC, NC State winning,
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let's see. But ECU, they have a new head coach, Blake Harrell. He was, I think he was like a deep interim coach, defensive coordinator, and he took over, bringing back John David Baker as the offensive coordinator, and bring it back, bring it in, Josh Aldridge as the defensive coordinator. When I fast paced spread offense, this expected to return new defensive coordinator, Josh Aldridge. He's going to bring that four to five defensive scheme that will surely challenge the capabilities of this wide receiver core. That's why CJ Bailey so I think this will be,
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I think this is an appropriate game to gage the capabilities of CJ Bailey, just because a he had a pretty good performance against them.
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And I think just kind of it's just a way to kind of compare things. Just be like, Okay, this is how he looked, you know, in turn the off season, this is how he looks. Now, maybe there might be a little growing pain since he adds the first game, but I think it's just kind of more intangibles that we're looking for just you know, is he there as a
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quarterback and not as a star? We don't need a star just yet. We just need a good quarterback.
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Um, Josh Aldridge, that's kind of my B point. Um,
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he came from Auburn as a defensive coordinator and also with Liberty, and he's been with that Hugh Freeze defensive system for a while, and
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it may not be good enough to last in the SEC for a long time,
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but I think if he can handle a Josh Aldridge defense, then I think that that was really good to kind of set the standard for what we could get out
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of him. Um, all right, so now we'll get into kind of just, we're
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going to match things up. Um,
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just because that's kind of like to do is just like, Okay, this pass in office versus this pass and defense, rushing offense, rushing defense, special teams, and then just kind of little side note and how NC State could win. That's kind of how I organize these things. So we're going to start with ECU, pass and offense versus NC State's pass and defense.
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ECU has Caden Houser, who had a poor performance against NC State in the air. But how will he handle the new look defense? I mean, this is two new look defenses now that I'm realizing it.
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Other games he's shown great, substantial passing, but his turnover questions will be a major focus coming into that game. He had 11 on the season, and he didn't start the whole season. I think he started like
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five, six games.
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He was able to distribute the ball well between Anthony Smith and Yannick Smith, I don't know if they're related. Oklahoma transfer, jacquae creates great optimism in the passing game as a pure athletic route runner that defensive backs need to kind of focus on. Um, despite his lack of, like, real in game tape, he has shown that he
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he's just, you know, spread offense needs those fast paced athletes and Jaques pedaway has proved that he can be one of those guys. And
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I just think that that's kind of like, that's a third star that they need to worry about, really, for this
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passing offense. Well, they're able to kind of keep
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Anthony and Yannick Smith from performer, well, I just don't think that would be the same with petaway. I think that you definitely get a thrown touchdown in um. As
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long as Harrison can get the ball in their hands, the offense will keep itself churning um.
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And for NC State, I mean, they get their hands closer to chess on what will come with your defense, especially in the secondary. Some projections I saw from punting Rowley as well as our lads. Saw Brian Nelson the second,
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Jamelle Johnson, J or Maya Johnson, and rent a Hinton, as you know, starting in that back four. Of course, I should have mentioned Jamal Johnson. It could also be Devin Marshall. Just kind of depends on who you trust most.
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NC State's past defense slowly degraded, you know, as the rest of it throughout the season. So having a new secondary, we use lots of question marks, and this will be a great.
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Tune Up game for what's to come. But
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one thing I think the reason I give this advantage to NC State is just because we don't know where we're gonna get from Caden house arm and he's mentioned transfer now VCU over the off season. And there's also a lot of confidence coming inside from their backup quarterback, Raheem Jeter. And, you know, losing two started and receiver, like two starting caliber receivers and chase Sowell and Winston, right, doesn't help much either.
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I have faith in NC State defense too. I mean, if you Sean Brown, put them a little bit more in the past coverage, and that's just, I mean, I think they're capable of doing some damage defensively, which is why I give the advantage to NC State. All right,
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on the flip side,
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CJ Bi- CJ Bailey Heisman. Run begins
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next Thursday, but now the CJ by Bailey will begin his Heisman is coming to him. I don't know. I keep saying CJ Biley, but CJ Bailey's Heisman, run you dominate against an ECU with Joly Rogers and Grimes. Wow. Terrell Anderson, this bit of a step down from takari Collins right now, I expect him to show up and produce this well water receivers have multiple catches in the game. Anderson included turning out first down, so touchdown. So it's kind of like the rushing offense, passing offense just kind of got their work done. There was just like first down, first down, just getting there and given DJ Bailey three pass and touchdowns.
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ECU has a new secondary comparison of three new transfers. Like most non superb college football team, you know, your Alabama, your clemsons, you get it.
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It's a blend of unproven power for backups like Teagan Wilk has fallen out of death charts since 2023 haven't played for Houston, two career tackles for Jonathan Akins out of Maryland, where sometimes he could get stars from just lower level schools. Jordy Lowery from Western Carolina, eight past deflections and six interceptions. I mean, that's pretty good for cornerback,
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but it's also the FCS level, so you kind of got to, you
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can't, kind of expect for that performance to translate one on one to the
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FPS level. I mean, I know there's your exceptions, like Cam ward. But
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I just I would not expect it to happen.
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I think I mentioned Josh Aldridge, Hugh Freeze disciple. He relies on heavy Blitz and a man cover to help slow down passes on passing offenses, especially in the red zone. He had one of the best
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passing defense and redstone defense efficiency while he was at Liberty a couple years ago. Um, CJ Bailey has shown efficiency and maturity with each passing game. I believe that they can produce with a similar wide receiver core, and just kind of looking at you. NC, for instance, CJ baby has shown that he could handle man coverage more than zone. So the big question is, if he can handle the Blitz,
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I think he'll be able to. He handled it, um,
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they handle it to the severity that we're probably going to see it this game, as they did the last one. But I have, I have faith in them, I give the advantage to NC State again, all right.
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ECU, rushing offense versus NC State, rushing defense. Whoo,
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yeah. ECU, well, strategy Harris, which is just already a huge deficit, you have three running backs they can use in tandem or even have one start. Um, London Montgomery is a sophomore with
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359, yards and two touchdowns last season. Marlon Gunn gun Junior, who is a senior with 224, yards and three touchdowns. Um, I mentioned three because Caden Houser could also,
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you know, he did well in a running game, as well producing yards and scrambling with the signed or scrambled place. I think that that rushing game is not going to be too terrible, especially since
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I think the offensive line additions just haven't been worse. They have. They have a good offensive line, and I think they're able to keep that consistent for this season,
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NC State had one of the worst rushing defenses in the ACC, and this game showed it. You.
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Know the ECU ran all over them late in the game. 80 yd touchdown, you get it.
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Most of that defensive line for NC State hasn't changed outside the losing fan by having Brandon Cleveland and probably price will help the stuff up the offensive line, but then it's just kind of like the
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defensive ends and the linebackers, can they do their stuff to kind of stop the running back from getting to that third level? Um,
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I guess the advantage to DCU, just because we don't know over can expect of this rushing defense, and we've seen that ECU can run the heck out of that ball and have full confidence that they could figure out who will be that running back one for the future, probably London Montgomery, to be blunt, but time will tell.
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All right, so
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um,
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right now it's like two one, if you're keeping score, home, NC State, rushing offense versus ECU, rushing defense. I give the advantage to someone, Hollywood smothers was able to produce well in that game with about 9.3 average yards. I think I mentioned all of it before, but he didn't score. He's
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proven to be the number one running back for this team, especially when rushing offense was a huge concern. Was jumping around between like Jordan waters, Kendra Raphael, he's gone now.
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Hollywood Smothers, of course, and also running
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back deaf is kind of a question too. They have young pieces, but I worry that, you know, an injury, or just the soil protection from smothers can completely shut out the rushing game, Jayden, Scott Andre Desinoir, those are the two kind of young death pieces in the death chart.
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And I just, you know, once again, I think we
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don't know what's going to happen if Hollywood smothers doesn't fall out and
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DJ Bailey, I mean, he had 11 rushing attempts, but I think they just need to slow down rushing attempts. I mean, I don't think he's gotten much bigger.
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I just, I don't, haven't seen enough from his rushing for me to say, Yeah, go for that. Um, instead of just giving it to Hollywood Smothers, or just trying to do like quick bubble routes to Rogers and Grimes on the outside.
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Oh, well,
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ECU had a low rushing defense off last season, but they were able to slow down the reds and efficiency of Hollywood smothers and stop any production from CJ Bailey.
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However, this new defense, including heavy Blitz, could slow down rushing and that third force downs, which were able to do before,
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while Hollywood Smothers, it's possible for him to ball out. I think that
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bringing back most of this pieces from the rushing defense last year, and just the Fed, they were able to stop
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that rushing from scoring, which, you know, in the end, it doesn't really matter how many yards you run. I mean, if you run 300 yards and zero touchdowns, I
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guess he had a great game, but you didn't score either. Maybe that's not a good mindset to have. But, you
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know, 300 yards is bad mindset to have.
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200 yards and you can't get it. I mean, that's just not good.
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Um advantage ECU for that reason, just because I think ECU has a want more things figured out in the general rushing game, offensively and defensively. Then we see from NC State,
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talk a little bit about
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special teams.
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So
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just kind of this. When I mentioned earlier that you can't really transfer from FCS to FBS without a one on one translation, I kind of you kind of have to leave an exception for
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the special teams, your punters and kickers. Um,
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back to our ads. Um, this is a kind of what they have projected as the starters for this upcoming game, or the specialties
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I did not put into account previous game, though, so maybe This might be a little not 100% accurate. Um,
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East, ECU has Nick Massey from University of New Hampshire. He had a 78% field goal to accuracy and 100%
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point after touchdown accuracy.
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His furthest field goal last year was 52 yards and.
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Andy, except yard of checkers. He's not known completely because of FCS. Not great job at stat recording. Oh, maybe they hired me to be a little bit better. What I don't know, um, Ryan, we from Furman, is their punter. Average 41 yards per punt with a 70 yard long. Um,
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not many touchbacks, though, which, I mean, that's good. I you know, you pin them down,
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you know, in a four to 10 yard line, if you're able to pin them down real far back. I mean, that's, that's how you win these games.
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Is, of course, I think to turn over margins is really important. I think just even getting it in the end zone is important.
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But you know, you have to mention how being able if, if he started a 25 yard line every single time you only need,
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holistically, like, 40 yards to score field goal. I
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mean, that's four first downs, but if you start back, you're having to pin them down within a 10 that becomes
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like nine first downs that they have to take to even get a field goal from it. And I think there's that margin is kind of what creates exhaustion for the players, um,
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offensively, and that can kind of help you deciding factor for how these games change. I think maybe I'm kind of being a little bit obvious here. That's kind of a big problem. My show might be a little bit too obvious, but
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I think that's just something to know is that they have a good punter. And I mean, their punt returner isn't great
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power Pearson average 17.3 yards per return.
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I think that's good. Hold on. Let's see NC double A average.
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Sorry, kind of to go quiet here. I bet they
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don't even have that statistic like,
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yeah. I mean, high average.
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20 seems to be pretty high average.
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Let's see, NC State, did they have,
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I think, oh, shoot, they even have anyone like, really noticeable in the punt return game. They were using,
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yeah, they were using
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Hollywood smothers and Leslie Grimes, those predominant returns. But I think it's those two kind of step up in their role. We'll see Jonathan paler, who is the backup in both punt and kick return. He will eventually take over as the starter. So it's kind of a question mark in a return game, but come on, I think, I think he would do just fine.
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Um, EC has a lot of transfers from smaller schools. Color piece piercing the punt returner for ECU transfer from Oklahoma, state. I don't know if I needed to mention that, but that kind of ruins a whole smaller schools thing. Um, he showed more prowess. Um, like this, like, if you kind of look at average and longs, I think that
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ECU has a great because let's just look at the kick, just punches for NC State, before I forget again. Can Noah finish set
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had about a 75% accuracy, which is, you know, a little lower on this.
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And let's see, first, this field goes also 52 yards, so maybe not a high margin of
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difference. But I think just, you know, what would you prefer? 75 or 78 I know it doesn't matter too much, but if this game gets close like it did last game, it could matter.
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Caden noon, Kester returns, he averaged 43.6 yards per punt with a 58 y'all yard long. So not as good
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as
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Ryan live. He is, you know, maybe
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hot take. But I think, you know, 70 yard long, 41 yards. I think that 2.6 matters a little bit less than that, um, accuracy overall. So while give the advantage ECU, which kind of makes them an out of Vantage
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NC State, I don't think it's like a
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huge worry, because it is winnable still. I mean, special teams doesn't matter too much, as long as
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NC State stays efficient third down, since stuff ECUs run game forcing Hauser to throw, they could win. I think, yeah, I mentioned that, okay, if Houser can get the ball to the receivers and they'll play.
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Good, but
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in the incoming transfers first game, I don't expect to to
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ball out, and I think the same kind of goes for
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what I expect from
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see. Yeah, that is kind of more than what I expect from
Unknown Speaker 35:26
ECU. Hold on.
Unknown Speaker 35:28
It's simple. Just um, you know, I kind of clear my head a little bit. Stop Caden Houser.
Unknown Speaker 35:35
Force him to throw,
Unknown Speaker 35:37
and they'll win, primarily because, I mean, he threw three interceptions against him before I feel like our defensive coordinator, CJ Riley, I think he's a little bit more
Unknown Speaker 35:50
competent than Josh Aldred is. And I just, you know, maybe I'm kind of get back into blind faith on his secondary and Russian defense, but
Unknown Speaker 35:59
I think that
Unknown Speaker 36:01
if they just kind of shifted their focus a little bit more on the Russian game,
Unknown Speaker 36:07
then they'll produce wins. I
Unknown Speaker 36:10
don't know if I'm crazy, but that feels like the strategy I would go with.
Unknown Speaker 36:15
And, you know, staying efficient on third downs, because third downs are super important if you can't stay because, I mean, missing on third down is about as bad as throwing an interception, really.
Unknown Speaker 36:26
Because, I mean, you're forced to punt, and if you don't have, I mean, we have a good punter,
Unknown Speaker 36:32
but bad. I mean, just things can go haywire once it comes out of your control. Once it's kind of like, you're kind of like enough fourth down, it's like, all right. Well now you kind of have to get rid of it,
Unknown Speaker 36:45
minimize that, minimize the turnovers on downs,
Unknown Speaker 36:50
and they should be good. My predicted final scores, 2717, NC State.
Unknown Speaker 36:56
I think if
Unknown Speaker 36:59
I had to guess kind of who would be the biggest producer for each team?
Unknown Speaker 37:03
It would be CJ Bailey and Noah Rogers having a great connection. And then I think Wanda Montgomery will probably be able to take care of business.
Unknown Speaker 37:16
If not, then, I mean, you know, if Wanda
Unknown Speaker 37:21
Montgomery and the running backs can't show up or they get stuffed by our seem to be really great defense, then
Unknown Speaker 37:30
and NC State will win. But anyways, that's kind of the end of I gotta finish it now before I keep rambling and rambling and rambling. You've kind of heard all the ramblings already, but you know, I hope you enjoyed today's episode, um, I hope you enjoy the ECU football game and the other upcoming game that we have with ECU,
Unknown Speaker 37:56
no, Michigan State soccer. ECU is who we're playing next Thursday, two Thursday games. Um, but I'm gonna kind of move on for that. Um,
Unknown Speaker 38:06
in our next episode on the 25th I'll be doing a review of that. Would I can't do a review of that ECU game because it's a little too early.
Unknown Speaker 38:17
Um, I would just be doing a review of women's soccer playing against Utah and the folly ball opener with the summit hospitality tournament against Akron army and Green Bay. So hope you enjoy today's episode. Have a good day and go pack you
Unknown Speaker 38:40
you.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
