GAME 2 – NC STATE 7 SEPTEMBER 2024
When I was young there was a painter called Rolf Harris on TV. He had a large paint brush that was about 6 inches wide and a huge canvas. He would paint away with big flashy strokes and as each minute passed a picture started to emerge until it was complete. A big part of the fun was guessing what the painting was going to be, well the 2024 season reminds me of this. We have now seen two games of the regular season and a picture is emerging, and it might not be just a picture, but a masterpiece.
If you have returned from Mars this morning and looked up the Box Score you could have been mistaken to think that it was an easy victory and that NC State had been overrated. Well, this was no bad team that we eventually overwhelmed even to the point of emptying the benches in the 4th quarter. Remember NC State were knocking “on the door” to level up the score late in the 2nd quarter when “Walk on Will” took it 85 yards for a 14 point swing and you just felt at the time that this was a pivotal moment.
Overall, the performance and the victory was as good as my imagination can stretch to. Right now we should be re-evaluated to be included in the upper echelons of the rankings with GEO, OST, ALA, and OLE Just wait to Nico plays better. David Sanders and Faizon Brandon probably had the biggest smiles in North Carolina last night, guys, you both made a great career defining decision to wear orange.
QUARTERBACKS B+
After only two games the Nico Iamaleava Heisman campaign is already gaining momentum. But this was not a perfect performance for the anointed one as the 1st half INT was down to him and actually missing Squirrel White on a potential 1st down in the 2nd quarter when the game was still in the balance must be remembered when grading the Quarterbacks, I don’t blame him for the 2nd INT. But these imperfections can be put down to inexperience as remember he has started only three games. The good news is that all reports from the coaching staff is that Nico learns really quickly from his mistakes, so best to get them out of his system now. But apart from the above, this was still a performance brimming with potential, we have about 25 games left watching Nico so take a pause and really enjoy it, because in the future you will bore the pants off your grandchildren with tales of when Iamaleava was at Knoxville.
RUNNING BACKS A+
249 yards on the ground was mega impressive with Dylan Sampson who had 132 yards at 6.6ypc my man of the match. Dylan had to earn many of his yards, but what really impressed me was the way he had to hang on to the ball whilst under heavy duress trying to force him to fumble. DeSean Bishop again provided depth for this unit with 42 yards from 10 carries and that man Iamaleava added 65 yards from 8 carries which included the lovely 31 yard draw for a TD.
WIDE RECEIVERS A-
The numbers were not earth shattering but I still can’t remember a drop. Great to see Bru McCoy still looking very mobile and Squirrel White laid out for an important 45 yard bomb. There will be bigger days ahead for the WRs, but no blame should be attached last night.
TIGHT ENDS A
This Unit is going to look very different during the Nico era. Ethan Davis had another very good outing and Holden Staes bounced back well with a TD after a costly penalty. But the star of the TEs was Miles Kitselman. He was almost an afterthought when transferring in from Alabama and that was for mainly his blocking skills. But his Receiving is turning out to be a great bonus. Not only did he have 3 catches for 39 yards but had a 50 yard TD taken off the scoreboard for a ticky-tack penalty.
OFFENSIVE LINE B
The “big uglies” overall looked good and 460 yards of offense against a top 25 team suggests that they had a good day. I hope the limp that Lance Heard displayed late in the game was not serious as I am not sure about the depth, but overall, a decent day in the trenches
DEFENSIVE LINE A++
I know that A++ does not really exist but I wanted to demonstrate how good a performance from Rodney Garners “boys” it was, and this can best be highlighted by NC State rushing for only 39 yards at a paltry 1.4 ypc. I am loaved to mention anybody by name as they were ALL stars as they repeatably got NC State in “3rd and long”. The defense also posted 3 sacks and 13 TFLs. People said they could be in the conversation of being the best in the country and I thought that was hyperbole, but there is a genuine case for that award. Play like this and Tennessee will be in every game this season whoever and wherever it is.
LINEBACKERS A
Like the DLine, the LBs were excellent. Keenan Pili (now I see why we were so keen to sign him) and Arion Carter (all the tools that you need to be really special) were beasts and Jeremiah Telander was not to be left out of the fun with as fumble recovery. Very impressive.
DEFENSIVE BACKS A-
After starting with a “bend don’t break” policy the DBs grew as the game progressed. They should also be given credit for restricting Concepcion to only 53 yards as he is their main weapon. I think Jermod McCoy plays with some moxie and Jacobe Thomas is a good asset in the backfield, but it was also pleasing to see both John Slaughter and Edrees Farooq making splash plays late in the game. We might have far more talent in the backfield than at first thought. Finally, you would have noticed I have left Will Brooks to last. He had me punching the air so hard that Mike Tyson would have hit the canvas with his game changing 85 yard INT. I look forward to the video when he gets his scholarship presented.
JOSH HEUPELS CELEBRATION AFTER THE KITSELMAN TOUCHDOWN A+
Didn’t you just love it !!
GO VOLS
