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Wilson, Skinner major concerns
Pack, Deacons have young secondaries
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Published: October 3, 2009
The secondaries will be of primary concern today when Wake Forest plays N.C. State at BB&T Field at 3:30.
Talented, accomplished quarterbacks attacking inexperienced defensive backs can be an incendiary combination as Coach Jim Grobe of the Deacons and Coach Tom O'Brien of the Wolfpack know all too well. For their teams to avoid getting burned today, their secondaries will have to play beyond their years.
"They're going to have to," O'Brien said. "One thing Wake Forest does is they're very innovative in how they do things. They're very good at exploiting weaknesses.
"Certainly we've had some problems in the secondary with inexperience and making some mistakes, so we'll be holding our breath (today) I'm sure."
N.C. State is expected to start redshirt freshman Earl Wolff at one safety and first-year freshman Brandan Bishop at the other, with junior DeAndre Morgan and senior Koyal George at the corners.
The quarterback they will try to contain is Riley Skinner, a senior who has compiled the best completion percentage in ACC history over his 42 games.
"I think he's as experienced and mature as anybody in our conference right now," O'Brien said. "As you watch the football team, they respond to his leadership."
Wake Forest, meanwhile, started the season with a green secondary that became even greener this week.
Alex Frye, a junior who started the first four games at safety, has not practiced since last weekend's loss to Boston and will not play today while Grobe takes a look at some younger, less experienced players. And Michael Williams, a sophomore who started the first four games, is listed as doubtful with a strained hamstring.
Redshirt freshman Kenny Okoro is expected to make his first start at cornerback opposite senior Brandon Ghee, with sophomore Josh Bush at safety along with sophomore Cyhl Quarles.
The quarterback they'll face is Russell Wilson, a sophomore who last season was the first freshman ever named the first-team All-ACC quarterback.
Wilson ranks first in the ACC with a passing-efficiency rating of 169.6. Skinner is second at 156.4.
"He's the real deal," Grobe said of Wilson. "He's got great pocket presence. He's got a great arm. He drives you nuts because he's equally as good a runner as he is a thrower. He's a smart guy. He makes great decisions."
Wilson has thrown one interception in his career, against Clemson in the third game of last season.
Russell has thrown 364 straight passes without an interception, eclipsing the NCAA record of 325 set by Andre Woodson while playing at Kentucky.
"You see a guy who hasn't thrown an interception since Moby Dick was a minnow," Grobe said. "That guy just doesn't throw interceptions, so you're impressed with that.
"But his supporting cast is really nice."
Kevin Harris, who started the first three games for Wake Forest at running back, will miss his second straight game with a groin injury. Tight end Cameron Ford will miss the game with a strained hamstring.
dcollins@wsjournal.com | 727-7323
ACC today
Noon: Virginia at North Carolina (WXLV Ch. 7, WTHZ 94.1)
Noon: Virginia Tech at Duke (WIST 98.3)
Noon: Clemson at Maryland (ESPNU Ch. 143)
3:30: N.C. State at Wake Forest (ESPNU Ch. 143; WBRF 98.1; WIFM 100.9; WZTK 101.1; WSJS 600)
3:30: Florida State at Boston College (WXLV Ch. 7)
7:30: Georgia Tech at Mississippi State
8 p.m.: Oklahoma at Miami (WXLV Ch. 7)
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