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Grobe says Deacons expecting a strong effort from Wolfpack
Wake Forest may get running back Adams back from ankle injury
Journal Photo by Lauren Carroll
Linebacker Aaron Curry, shown taclking Cedric Peerman of Virginia, leads a highly ranked Wake Forest defense.
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Published: November 12, 2008
As his late buddy Skip Prosser might have said, Coach Jim Grobe has concerns that are legion as Wake Forest heads into Saturday's game at N.C. State.
But they don't include the possibility of his Deacons looking past the Wolfpack.
Wake Forest is 6-3 overall and 4-2 in ACC play. The Wolfpack, in its second season under Tom O'Brien, is 3-6 and 1-4.
"I would be surprised if our guys see North Carolina State as anything but a really good football team in the ACC -- and you'd better go play if you're going to win," Grobe said yesterday. "I don't think it's going to be the trap game in the sense that we overlook them because we know how talented they are.
"The good thing about being at Wake Forest is guys are pretty smart. I don't think we'll go to Raleigh expecting anything but a battle and know we'll be fortunate to come away from there with a win."
Instead, Grobe will concern himself this week with further integrating the I-formation with the spread, trying to coax another solid performance out of an injury-riddled offensive line and encouraging the younger, but talented defensive players to emerge in time to lend support to the veteran starters.
The Deacons' defense has been particularly good this season and ranks first in scoring defense in ACC games (16.5 points a game) and in rushing defense in ACC games (89.7 yards a game).
But Grobe said that the defense will need to continue to dominate for the Deacons to reach the ACC title game for the second time in three seasons.
"Overall there aren't too many times I haven't been pleased with our defense," Grobe said. "But I think our kids understand that every week is a new week and every team is a new challenge.
"And the bad thing about defense is you can't punt. If you go out on offense and you have three bad plays you say, ‘OK let's punt it. We'll go over and sit down and have some Gatorade and talk it over.' On defense if you have bad plays you might be out there for 15 snaps."
Josh Adams, a sophomore running back and last season's ACC rookie of the year, has missed two straight games with a sprained ankle. Redshirt freshman Brandon Pendergrass has compensated by gaining 64 yards on 21 carries against Duke and 110 yards on 27 carries against Virginia. Grobe said that Adams, who grew up in Cary, probably will return against N.C. State.
"I kind of hoped he would be full-speed last week," Grobe said. "That's what my thoughts were. He probably could have run straight-ahead fine. It's when he had to plant and move and put some stress on that ankle, he just couldn't do it.
"I would guess (he will be fine). But we've got C.J. Washington and Kevin Harris there, so we've got enough depth at tailback that if we don't get Josh back, we'll be OK.
"But I know he wants to get back."
Grobe doubted, however, that kicker Sam Swank would return from a pulled quadriceps muscle that has sidelined him for five games. Considering that Swank's availability was considered a game-time decision against Clemson, more than a month ago, Grobe said that Swank's injury has been one of the most perplexing of his football career.
Swank is Wake Forest's all-time leader in points and field goals, and he entered his senior season with a real shot at scoring the most points in ACC history.
"It's really frustrating, and probably more so for Sam," Grobe said. "I think he felt like he'd be back pretty quick.
"The hard thing about a kicker is he can't be 80 percent. He can't be 90 percent. With accuracy and distance, your leg strength is everything."
Swank worked out kicking a volleyball two weeks ago before the game against Duke. On Monday he was kicking a NERF ball.
If N.C. State were understanding enough to break the rules, Swank might be available on Saturday.
"It depends on whether Coach O'Brien will let him kick a NERF ball," Grobe said. "If he can kick a NERF ball, he might in the lineup. I don't think he's going to be able to kick a big-boy football.
"He was actually kicking a NERF ball in practice (Monday) night. He thought the volleyball was a little too rugged, so we went to the NERF ball. We're probably going to go NERF, volleyball, maybe beach ball and then football."
■ Dan Collins can be reached at 727-7323 or at dcollins@wsjournal.com.
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