McCuller: Offensive Line State of Mind

Team captain and senior, Jeraill McCuller wasn't about to let the season slip away last week against Maryland, not in his final season with the Wolfpack. With NC State having lost their previous four games, and only one loss away from kissing their bowl dreams goodbye, McCuller knew things had to change. With the players and the coaches trying to figure out what went wrong this season, and attempting to fix it with team meetings and player pep talks over the past four weeks, Jeraill realized that to save this season it was going to take more than words.

"It gets to the point where everything has already been said and you know, we lost a couple games in a row. I'd speak my mind, Willie (Young) would speak his mind, and the coaches would always be talking, trying to get everybody on the same page, but there comes a point where enough talking has been done and it's time to just go out there and put it all together. It just got to the point where we had a meeting on Friday and it lasted only two seconds. It was like "Enough's been said, let's go win" and that's how we broke it down and got the job done." he said.

On the field against Maryland, the team looked crisp, focused and in control. The defense made stops and the offense was clicking on all cylinders again. For the first time in ACC play, the Wolfpack looked like a competitive football team, McCuller explained why...

"The whole focus was different. Guys were just like "Enough is enough." We're way too talented of a team to be on a four game losing streak, so we were like "It's time to get it together." I think it really showed on Saturday. Guys were really focused throughout the game."

With Maryland needing the victory as much as the Wolfpack, nothing came easy. The Terps threw everything they had at NC State. Their goal was to have their defense throw Pack quarterback Russell Wilson off of his game with complex blitz packages that would come from every angle. That, however, didn't work as the NC State front line stepped up with help from the running backs, and only allowed one sack to the ACC's leader in sacks.

"Maryland was throwing everything they had at us, zig zagging, stunting, and the way the line, the running backs and the quarterback cooperated, was just a good thing. Offensive linemen blocked, running backs blocked and the quarterback made the right read and we came out on top...it's a good day for the good guys" said McCuller.

One bright spot during ACC play for the Pack has been the play of the offensive line, opening up running lanes and giving quarterback Russell Wilson time to sit in the pocket and make plays. Against Maryland it was more of the same, as Toney Baker and Jamelle Eugene were once again successful on the ground, allowing the Wolfpack to control the clock and pace of the game. The running game is something that has been consistently good throughout the season and you can thank the big men up front for opening up the holes and setting the tone with a mindset that all their own."We do take pride in having our running backs average over 5 yards per carry, and we look forward to going out there and running it down people's throats." McCuller said emphatically.

The ability to display leadership and perseverance through adversity is why Jeraill McCuller wears the "C" for this Wolfpack team. His positive attitude and constant motivation is something that has the younger guys buying into the feeling that this season is far from lost. With three more games on the schedule, McCuller is making sure everyone knows that winning out is not an option, it must be done. His teammates are buying in and things feel like they might be changing once again in Raleigh, just in time, something Jeraill has started to notice...

"I think everyone is just believing in one another. I like the direction that practice's are going right now. I feel that there's a lot of competition, guys are flying around and it just speaks volumes of the character of this team because we've been through so much, and guys are still in it like we're undefeated."