Pack relying on patchwork defense

Inside the game

N.C. State's defense has become a "MacGyver" sort of operation, held together with chewing gum and chicken wire.

Florida State exposed that defense with 555 yards of total offense Saturday in a 45-42 home win.

Wolfpack senior Bobby Floyd was moved to a backup spot at linebacker but still might play some safety. Koyal George is back at his original position, wide receiver, but coach Tom O'Brien hasn't ruled out using him at cornerback again.

Middle linebacker and leading tackler Ray Michel is "week to week" with an ankle injury, O'Brien said. With Michel out and two freshmen starting in State's secondary, FSU averaged 7.6 yards per play.

Game balls

QB Russell Wilson: Sophomore posted career highs with 349 passing yards and five touchdown passes but would have loved to engineer one more touchdown drive at the end.

RB Toney Baker: N.C. State's coaches were determined to run more. Baker made the most of his chances with a season-high 112 rushing yards.

Penalty flags

Third-down conversions by opponents continue to devastate N.C. State. FSU turned eight of its 12 third downs into first downs. Over the past four games, Wolfpack opponents have converted 36 of 62 third downs.

Looking ahead

With the way N.C. State is getting torched defensively (48.7 ppg for opponents over the past three games), the Wolfpack couldn't meet a better opponent Saturday in College Park, Md. (1 p.m., ESPN360.com). Maryland ranks last in the ACC in scoring at 21.6 points per game. Chris Turner has thrown almost as many interceptions (9) as touchdowns (10).