‘It’s a mystery.’ NC State football unsure which Louisville quarterback it will face
Imagine being N.C. State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson this week and game-planning for Louisville.
The Cardinals’ starting quarterback might be Malik Cunningham, and all that comes with that.
Then again, it could be Brock Domann.
“It’s a mystery right now,” Gibson said Tuesday.
Talk about two extremes. Cunningham has blink-of-the-eye quickness and game-breaking skills reminiscent of another Louisville quarterback, Lamar Jackson.
Domann? Not so much. He’s more of a stay-at-home pocket passer.
“There’s a big difference,” Gibson said. “Malik is probably one of the best mobile quarterbacks in the country. That guy is a weapon with his feet, extending plays and all that. (Domann) is more of a thrower, will sit in the pocket a little bit. They don’t do a lot of quarterback designed runs with him.”
Cunningham, a redshirt senior, was injured Saturday on the final play of the first half at Clemson. Darting out of the backfield, he ran 26 yards before being tackled near the sideline, falling hard on his right shoulder.
Cunningham already was playing with an injured left hand. Then, the shoulder of his passing arm. He did not return in the Clemson game as Domann, a junior, took over at QB and the Cards took a 31-16 loss that ended their four-game win streak.
Louisville coach Scott Satterfield, in his Tuesday press conference, said Cunningham’s status was “day to day.” He said the coaching staff would have a better idea of “where he’s at” later in the week and whether Cunningham could play Saturday on what will be Senior Day at Cardinal Stadium.
Gibson, for one, is counting on him playing.
“He got banged up a little bit and didn’t play in the second half but he’s done that before,” Gibson said. “This year he’s been banged up and he’d come back and play. I know he broke his hand two weeks ago. We’re preparing for him.”
How do you simulate Cunningham in practice?
“You don’t,” Gibson said.
Not with any of the quarterbacks, at least, scout team or otherwise.
“You have to use tailbacks or wide receivers,” Gibson said. “But our guys do a great job preparing us for him and the kids have played against him in the past, so they know what he is like.”
The Pack topped the Cardinals 28-13 a year ago at Carter-Finley Stadium and did an effective job muzzling Cunningham. He completed just 11 of 28 passes for 219 yards, with a TD and interception, and ran for 76 yards on 18 carries, with his longest run for 14 yards.
“I think we did a really good job with our rush lanes and with our D line, putting him where we wanted him,” Gibson said.
Gibson said linebackers Drake Thomas and Levi Jones were able to “spy” on Cunningham, keeping him in their sights..
“We were able to flush him where we wanted him and those guys were making plays,” Gibson said.
Thomas made the most talked-about play in the Pack’s 21-20 loss Saturday to Boston College. Thomas was called for pass interference on a late fourth-down pass breakup that led to the Eagles’ winning TD.
“That play, that P.I., I feel that shouldn’t have been called,” sophomore defensive back Aydan White said Tuesday. “It was a great play by Drake. That was fourth down and that would have gotten us off the field, would have won the game.”
Would have but didn’t. The Eagles won, the Pack leaving the field thoroughly dejected.
As for Gibson, he said, “I thought Drake had a real good game on Saturday and I’ll leave it at that.”
Gibson said the Pack players had a spirited practice Tuesday, an indication they’re putting the Boston College loss, as tough as it was to accept, behind them.
“Win or lose we’ve got to flush it and move on to the next one,” Gibson said.
