BC Leaves Wolfpack Defense Feeling Run Down

Safety Jarius Morehead says its time to regroup after dismal performance in 45-24 loss to Eagles

NC State's defense came into Saturday's game at Boston College as the No. 1 ranked unit in the ACC against the run, averaging only 66.7 yards per game on the ground.

The Eagles nearly matched that total on one long touchdown run by David Bailey in the second quarter. 

And that was only the beginning.

By the time they were through, Bailey and teammate A.J. Dillon -- the ACC's leading rusher -- had combined to lead their team to 429 rushing yards on th way to a 45-24 rout of the Wolfpack. 

That rushing total was 29 more yards than State had given up to its first six opponents combined -- leaving senior safety Jarius Morehead to try to explain what just happened.

"Filling gaps and losing our fundamentals," he said after the loss that dropped the Wolfpack to 4-3 overall (1-2 in the ACC). "Shedding our blocks and tackling ... just fundamentals, to be honest."

Dillon, in particular, was only too happy to take advantage of the breakdowns Morehead described. The 250-pound junior rushed for 223 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries Saturday.

In two career games against the Wolfpack, he has amassed 419 yards on the ground.

"He's a big boy," Morehead said. "You've just got to swarm him. You just can't arm tackle him or shoot for the legs. If you miss ... Like I said, you've got to swarm. He's a big kid."

Dillon's running mate Bailey also went well over the 100-yard mark, with 181 yards and two scores on 16 carries. 

"I thought he was a tougher runner," Morehead said. "You can't arm tackle him either one of them. It wasn't a surprise. I mean, they both run hard. That's what BC is known for."

The big question now is what can State's injury-depleted defense do during the upcoming open week to fix the problems that led to Saturday's lopsided loss?

"You go to film, fix what we messed up out here ... just the fundamentals. Fundamentals broke down and that's what we've got to go back to."

Next week's open date couldn't have come at a more opportune time considering the number of injuries plaguing the Wolfpack defense, which played without starting defensive end James Smith-Williams, cornerbacks Chris Ingram, Teshaun Smith and Tim McCloud and others in the loss at Boston College.

"We have a mindset of next man up and have trust in each other," Morehead said, "just knowing he's going to do his job and you're going to do your job."

Considering Saturday's result, though, it would better to get all those starters healthy and back on the field again.

"Our defense is built on stopping the run and we didn't do that," Morehead said. "In the dressing room it's bad. Four hundred yards rushing, that's horrible."