Louisiana Tech comes to Raleigh this Saturday for kickoff against the Wolfpack. Let’s get to know them.
Louisiana Tech University
Strengthen
It’s difficult to accurately judge the Bulldogs since they only played one game and then had a week off, but that one game was a 25-17 win over Nicholls State at the FCS level. We can certainly take a lot from that performance.
As Steven noted in his LaTech preview, the 2023 Bulldogs have been as bad as any when it comes to offensive defense. In the season opener, they limited their opponent to 94 yards on 31 carries after accounting for sacks. Holding an opponent to just over 3.0 yards/carry is a huge improvement for LaTech. The Bulldogs also limited the Colonels to just 200 yards of total offense in the game and allowed just 3 conversions on 16 third downs. That’s solid performance regardless of the opponent.
The Bulldogs’ offensive line is an experienced and large group, with all five starters being fourth-year players. The left side of the line in particular has some size to offer, with both players standing over 6’5″ and weighing 330 pounds. They shouldn’t be pushed around.
Weaken
Now, obviously it’s not a good sign for an FBS team to struggle against an FCS team (ask me how I know). At least in NC State’s game against Western Carolina, the Wolfpack were able to pull away from the Catamounts late.
LaTech lost the ball five times (3 INTs, 2 fumbles) and committed seven penalties against Nicholls State. Last year’s team had one of the worst turnover percentages in the country with a season record of -9. They also ranked 105th in the country with 6.8 penalties per game.
The Bulldogs’ secondary lacks size, with 5’10” and 165-pound Demarcus Griffin-Taylor on one corner and 6’11” and 195-pound Cedric Woods on the other. Woods, however, has plenty of experience, having made 34 career appearances. Griffin-Taylor will make just his 5th career appearance on Saturday. Starting safeties Blake Thompson (6’1″, 195-pound) and Michael Richard (6’1″, 195-pound) have a combined 8 career appearances.
Opportunities
26 LaTech players made their debut in the opener. While I’m sure the coaches made the most of the off week, the team hasn’t had enough time to gel together yet. NC State should be able to use a combination of different angles and pre-snap movements on the Bulldogs, emphasizing communication skills at different levels of the field to create breakdowns.
Back to the run defense, there should be plenty of opportunity to test it on Saturday afternoon. There’s a new defensive coordinator in charge (Northern Iowa’s Jeremiah Johnson), and as State fans know, the man calling the plays can have a dramatic impact.
LaTech’s offense thrived on big plays in their season opener, with 173 of their 386 yards coming on just five plays. Their two quarterbacks combined to complete just 16 of 32 passes. If NC State can limit the big plays and force the Bulldogs to consistently gain positive yards per play, the odds will dramatically swing in the Wolfpack’s favor.
Things to know
Forget threats and let’s focus on some trivial (inconsequential?) facts.
- NC State offensive coordinator Robert Anae was the offensive line coach at Texas Tech during Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie’s time as the Red Raiders’ quarterback, including during Cumbie’s lone season as a starter in 2004 (4,742 yards, 32 TD, 18 INT). Ruffin McNeill, who now serves as special assistant to the head coach at NC State, was the associate head coach at Texas Tech during that time.
- LaTech’s six sacks against Nicholls State were the most in a game for the program since 2018.
- NC State leads the overall standings between the two schools, 2-0. Both games were played under Dave Doeren, including Doeren’s first win with the Wolfpack in the 2013 season opener.
- The Bulldogs have gone 0-7 in games played in the state of North Carolina. In addition to their two losses to the Pack, they have lost 0-4 to East Carolina and 0-1 to Charlotte.
