Another productive ground game, but NC State offensive line wants more

There was nothing wrong with Matt Dayes’ final numbers against East Carolina. The N.C. State senior running back ran for 103 yards in the Wolfpack’s 33-30 loss on Saturday.

It was Dayes’ second straight 100-yard game and seventh in his last 10 outings. But it took a while for Dayes and the Wolfpack offensive line to get going, and Dayes picked up more than half of his yardage (54 yards) on one run in the third quarter.

The Pirates’ defense was ready for Dayes, especially early. Dayes had five carries in the first quarter for 11 yards, and four of those carries went for 1 yard or less. For the game, Dayes had the one big play and 13 other carries for 49 yards (3.7 per rush).

ECU’s defense, and the strong early play of linebacker Dayon Pratt, was the reason for the slow start. N.C. State center Joe Scelfo said the film of the Pirates’ season-opening win over Western Carolina was of little use on Saturday.

“They did a lot different stuff than they showed (vs. Western Carolina),” Scelfo said. “We knew that was going to happen. We just have to come faster and come out tougher.”

The offensive line, rebuilt in the offseason with the addition of Scelfo (a graduate transfer from South Alabama) at center and a pair of sophomores on the left side, struggled in the opening series. Right tackle Will Richardson was flagged for a false start on third, and short and left tackle Tyler Jones was beaten for a sack, by Pratt, on the next play.

The line did get better, starting with Reggie Gallaspy’s 37-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Left guard Garrett Bradbury got a seal block on linebacker Jordan Williams to give Gallaspy the only opening he needed.

Gallaspy stiff-armed safety Colby Gore and then trucked cornerback Travon Simmons before he got into the end zone.

Bradbury and Scelfo also opened up a hole for Dayes, who went 54 yards on his first carry of the second half.

Another late fourth-quarter penalty on Jones, for being an illegible receiver downfield, also cost the Wolfpack.

Given the turnover up front, and losing All-ACC left tackle Joe Thuney to the NFL, there was going to be some growing pains for the offensive line.

There were positives. Finley was only sacked once and the ground average ended up being 6.9 yards per carry (boosted by the 54-yarder by Dayes and the 37-yarder by Gallaspy). But Scelfo expects more from the group.

“We just have to block it up front better,” Scelfo said. “I take full responsibility for that. Us five, we have to work better together.”

This story was originally published September 11, 2016 at 3:33 PM with the headline "Another productive ground game, but NC State offensive line wants more."