N.C. State’s Finley will test BC ‘D’
Boston College coach Steve Addazio has learned from reliable sources where North Carolina State quarterback Ryan Finley will be playing next season.
“I see an elite player, I think he’s an NFL player,” Addazio said. “I remember talking to pro coaches and them telling me that they really like him. They feel like he’ll be a good pro player.”
Finley was selected as ACC preseason Quarterback of the Year and has delivered in the Wolfpack’s wins over James Madison, Georgia Southern, Marshall and Virginia.
Containing Finley will be the main focus of the BC defense when the Eagles (4-1) encounter the Wolfpack (4-0) in an ACC Atlantic Division clash tomorrow in Raleigh, N.C.
“He’s a good quarterback,” Addazio said. “He’s accurate, he sees the field well and throws it really well and he appears to be a really good leader.”
Finley tops the ACC in the two most significant passing categories even though N.C. State has played one fewer game than the rest of the conference because its game against No. 14 West Virginia on Sept.15 was postponed due to Hurricane Florence.
Finley leads the ACC in passing average (328.2) and total offense per game (331.2) and is second in passing yards (1,313) behind Florida State’s Deondre Francois (1,377), who has started five contests.
Finley has completed 105-of-153 attempts with eight touchdowns and one interception. BC quarterback Anthony Brown, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against N.C. State last season, leads the conference with 12 touchdown passes.
“People say he’s the best quarterback in the country and I wouldn’t argue that at all,” said BC senior defensive end Zach Allen. “As a defensive lineman it is your job to disrupt the quarterback and hopefully we can do that.
“He is pretty mobile, he can run and he’s an athletic guy and he has shown he is not afraid to get out of the pocket. He might not necessarily get a big play with his legs. Once he’s out of the pocket he can make a big play because he can throw on the run.”
Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren has implemented a spread offense around three gifted receivers without compromising the ground game.
Junior split end Kelvin Harmon leads the group with 24 catches for 406 yards (101.5 per game) and a touchdown. Sophomore Emeka Emezie and redshirt junior Jacobi Meyers have combined for 40 catches, 464 yards and two touchdowns.
The Eagles defense will get a different look from N.C. State than what it saw from Purdue and Temple. Addazio is game planning to counter what he terms an “11” offensive scheme, a design he anticipates the Eagles will encounter the rest of the way.
“Essentially one tight end, three wides and one back, that’s 11,” said Addazio. “We play in a conference that is a lot of 11 and a lot of 10, which would be zero tight ends. Those are more spread out teams.”
The Eagles will counter with a “12” offensive scheme with two tight ends that includes AllACC first-team selection Tommy Sweeney. Depending on the availability of tailback AJ Dillon (ankle), BC could employ a Power-I backfield on first down.