Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Tom O'Brien Interview From Opening Practice
Notes From Interview:
-Sophomore Safety Jimmaul Simmons is no longer with the team. O'Brien stated that "he wanted to quit football and quit school."
-O'Brien said he thought Senior Running Back Toney Baker "looked a little better to me than he did in the Spring Practice. He felt better through the summer conditioning program. I think he gained a little bit of confidence. We're all rooting for him, he could be a great addition to our football team. It would be a great story.
-After a lot of conversation, the staff has decided to move Terrell Manning to the Inside Linebacker spot to compete with Dwayne Maddox. He said that "the two of them are going to have to fight it out because that is a spot that we've got to solve. Dwayne played last year and has some experience there and should have a little more confidence. But Terrell Manning was a heck of an Inside Linebacker when he came here. So we'll see how it works out."
-He said that he liked "the whole continuity of the offense and defense. It's the third year of the program, we've had some guys that have been around that are in there, and you can tell who the Freshmen are because they don't know where to go or what they are doing. There is a distinct difference in the upper class in the way that they approach practice and the way they work."
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20 Responses to "Tom O'Brien Interview From Opening Practice"great work guys! I really like video interviews....i'm sick of only reading select quotes that other people "think" are important. I like to decipher for myself.
PS. When do you think the Audie Cole article is coming? That's who I'm most interested in....great story to be told there.
I have been expecting Terell Manning to take the starting Inside LB spot all summer. He came in with Maddox but was ranked higher and from what I have heard is faster than Dwayne even after his major surgery. I know Maddox has a little more playing experience but he only played a few games when Irving was injured but I believe Mannings overall speed and talent can push him into the starting lb core. He wasnt ranked the top LB in the state for no reason two years ago.
Id love to see Baker back to old form, or even close, because he could really provide that punch that Brown gave us last year. I have also heard rumblings that he could be rewarded a 6th year next year from the NCAA so if he can get going this year it could be a catapult for the following year also.
Im not sure what happened with Simmons sad to hear he will not be in school anymore. I imgaine although he wasnt expected to start, he was going to be an important piece esp in 3rd down situations, nickel & dime formations. This seems to thin out an already thin secondary. This is def our weakspot so far this year.
^The Cole article will be up this afternoon.
Ray Michel, Dwayne Maddox and Audie Cole looked like they were running 1st team most of the day yesterday.
I'd love to see Manning win that ILB spot, at least until Nate gets back if he does this season. He was a heck of a talent coming out of high school and from what i've heard he is crazy athletic. (Nate Irving vol. 2 possibly????)
Thanks for the interview, WPP. I am starting to feel the hunger pains go away. I appreciate you feeding my appetite for Football.
Simmons leaving is a bit of a mystery. Especially before practice even started. Some kids get homesick and some have family issues. I'm sure that TOB and staff push their players, and sometimes that can rub a kid the wrong way. Who knows. All I know is that someone (er, some people) are going to have to step up and fill the holes in the secondary that are left vacant by the absence of Ellis and Simmons. We need some experience back there so that our corners don't have to play 10 yards off of the line (even in short yardage situations).
Look for RS-Freshmen to get a shot a some PT at Corner and Safety this year.
I've been saying (since Nate's injury in June) that this situation at linebacker is going to show us the 'next' Irving. All you have to do is go back to last year, pre-season, and try to find an article that proclaims Nate Irving as the 'next big thing.' We didn't know the extent of Nate's abilities until last year, and we don't know the extent of Manning, Beasley and Maddox. The big picture at linebacker could look drastically different, and improved by the end of the year. Michel, Maddox and Cole will be pushed to work hard all year.
I haven't heard anyone, in any outlet, say anything at all about Glennon yet. How'd he look? Did he get 1st team reps? Has he put on some weight?
Good to have Toney Baker back. I just hope that a 6th year for him doesn't run off any of our back-up RB's. With Jamelle and Baker locking up the job for the next two years, it'll be interesting to see what happens with the 2nd and 3rd stringers.
Any update on TJ Graham? With any improvement, he could add a serious threat to the receiving corp.
Tight end looks incredible with Mario Carter and George Bryan out there together! This is becoming a Biblical Offense, and is going to put up some numbers this year!
Speaking of which, the O-line should be much improved this year, and I can't wait to see what J. Eugene can do with a few holes opening up for him!
Okay, maybe more later. Who's excited? Me, that's who. Go State!
JohnnyRebWolf -
The Cole article will probably run first thing tomorrow morning. We have a Video Interview with Russell Wilson coming out in just a bit along with some other stuff later this afternoon.
WPP, you have hit the ground running! Congratulations!
BTW, I would urge you all to go back and read the archived articles. There are some incredible bio's and tons of other great info to get you in the mood for ball, and to fill your head up with Wolfpack Football knowledge!
PPack You bring up some great points Id like to add
I also am very interested in the situation with TJ Graham. I know TOB was very high on him last year with his poise and obviously speed but I heard rumors he was held out of spring game due to grades. WPP any insight to this?? I could easily see him being one of the top returners in the nation again.
Interesting thought about Baker being awarded a 6th year upsetting the younger backup RBs. I know we havnt had a chance to see him but Brandon Barnes is the future at RB with us. He is a speedy stud who, when given a chance, really has the skills to be a top RB in the confrence. I would only hope he would stay patient since hes only a RFresh. The staff must feel highly about his RB ablity considering he could play Saftey esp with our thin def secondary.
Although most media outlets arnt talking about our TE, with our offensive scheme, TE play a large roll as an outlet for the QB. Multiple times last year RWilson would look off 1 or 2 WR before dumping to our TE and have him rumble for 10-15 yards. Bryan and Carter are big receiving TE who can catch but dont give up anything on the line during a designed run. Bryan was a big addition last year as a Rfreshman I cant wait to see him step in the #1 TE spot!!
Ohhh the Gamecocks have no idea what they are getting themselves into.....
"I also am very interested in the situation with TJ Graham. I know TOB was very high on him last year with his poise and obviously speed but I heard rumors he was held out of spring game due to grades. WPP any insight to this?? I could easily see him being one of the top returners in the nation again."
T.J. Graham was out on the field running on the 2nd team with Jay Smith. He is still lightning fast and looks like he has put on some mass.
Both Wilson and Glennon threw 1st team reps. They both looked incredibly sharp. They both also threw to receivers that weren't 1st team as well. It just depended on how the rotation worked out.
Barnes is freakishly athletic and much bigger than I expected. Don't underestimate C.J. Underwood. Kid was running like a man on a mission yesterday. Eugene stands out to me as our feature back for sure at this point.
PackLeader - You are right about SC. They don't have the passing game to take advantage of our only weakness. And that (our secondary) may not be much of a weakness depending on who shows out!
Barnes and Washington both look to be poised to make a run a RB. I would never take anything away from T. Baker, but I would love for any one of them to 'break out' and separate themselves from the competition as a starter. We are stacked at RB right now, too.
"Bryan was a big addition last year as a RS-freshman I cant wait to see him step in the #1 TE spot!!"
Mario will have something to say about G. Bryan grabbing the #1 spot! They have about 28 days to wrestle that spot away from each other, and that is going to be an all out, no holds barred, battle royale! This is exactly what TOB and Co. wished for, and this is like Christmas in August for them.
Along with the TE's, count on the O-line stepping into the spotlight this year. We have never had a creme de la creme OL, but it is coming, and the rest of the ACC is going to HATE us. Get on the train! O-line-U, NC State Style!
Sept. 3rd.....Get here, now!
PS, Thx WPP. You're right about Underwood. This is why I am hoping that the stable of RB's can stay focused and wait they're turn. There is a bunch of starting Backs waiting in the wings.
Good news about TJ. I wish him the very best. The Freshman year is the toughest. TJ, manage your time well, and stay out of trouble, and the world could be your oyster!
Go State!
Could you get the camera a little closer in the next interview?!?!
(For the engineers out there - that's a sarcastic statement above.)
^haha yeah we'll see what we can do.
in all seriousness though, we have to get that close so you can hear the interview
I thought the camera angle really gave an extra feminine feel to that lame hat TOB wears. I am pretty sure my grandmother used to wear the same hat to games back in the 80s.
Eric - I think I remember your Grandma, and her hat. HA!
I just thought that WPP was trying to catch a glimpse inside the mind of TOB... via his nasal passages! You could almost see what he was thinking!
You know I'm just ribbing you, WPP! We need all of the audio AND video we can get, and thanks again.
ppack,
My grandparents were the epitome of older fans...two lincoln continentals, terrible hats (grandfather wore the oldest NCSU hate with an overly flat brim), and all the cliche fan gear (NCSU foam fingers, blankets, etc.). Great seats, great parking spot,no alcohol.
Eric, tell me that they brought a REAL picnic, with home-made fried chicken to every game. Ah, the smell of Ben-Gay and Old Spice, and G-ma's potpourri Ode de Toilette! Classic.
"With Jamelle and Baker locking up the job for the next two years, it'll be interesting to see what happens with the 2nd and 3rd stringers."
Eugene is a senior, so that comment is a non-starter.
In addition, any underclassman RB who is gonna get upset with potentially losing playing time if Baker gets a 6th year is welcome to leave the team. I certainly would not want such a person as a teammate, especially when considering all the Baker has been through.
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