Hey there kiddos, we’ve got opinions for ya. This week we got them from Akula Wolf over at Backing the Pack. One of two NC State sites that keep it real. Akula has some pretty good reads as well as funny material, especially during hoops season so give them a repeat read from time to time. Here’s what I’ve got. Check out our answers over there.

1) You guys have all the makings of a “Trap Game” for Clemson to get snake bitten by. Give us one stat, one player, and one intangible that make this a true statement.

That’s a tough one. It’s hard for me to find much to like about this matchup. State’s solid passing game–281 yards/game–is the stat, and Russell Wilson (surprise!) would have to be the player, because he’s going to have to be outstanding if the offense is going to move the ball against the Tigers defense. Intangibles, intangibles…the Tiger paw on Clemson’s helmets will make them appear cute and cuddly, thus inspiring confidence in the Wolfpack? Yeah, that must be it.

2) People have been saying that Russell Wilson is the truth. Remove your Wolfpack hat for a second, and tell us in your honest opinion how he stacks up against the other quarterbacks in the league.

It’s been a good year for ACC quarterbacks, which is refreshing since it’s made the games actually watchable, but I think Christian Ponder is the only guy I’d trade Wilson for. Ponder, Harris, Wilson, and Skinner are all right there in terms of passer rating, and you could certainly argue that those other guys are having better seasons than Russell. But I think he’s a more complete package than anyone except Ponder. (I’m not sure if the Wolfpack hat came all the way off during that answer.)

3) Your defense was one of the best in the league a few weeks ago. Your rushing defense is still pretty good, but you guys have let yourselves go a little. Where’s the breakdown?

The truth of it is the defense was never any good. South Carolina played extremely conservatively in the opener because they could, and then we followed that up with a pair of hapless I-AA teams. Needless to say, there is a lot of padding in the Pack’s defensive stats. What we’ve discovered in the last month is that any offense with a pulse will have success against this defense, in whatever way they choose to go about it. Duke wanted to throw the ball and they threw it at will. Boston College wanted to run and they ran it at will. Florida State did a little of both and did both well.

Florida State fans may disagree with me, but I think ours is the worst defense in the ACC. We’re banged up, thin, inexperienced, woefully undertalented in the secondary, and we can’t tackle. It’s gotten so bad that I’m pretty much thrilled when we hold teams to a field goal, never mind a punt.

4) You guys are tenth in punt coverage and dead last in kick off coverage in the ACC standings. Clemson is second and first respectively. It’s obviously not smart to kick it to Spiller, but the guy’s trying to win a Heisman. Do you think that you guys kick it to him still? Do you think it’s disrespectful to not kick it to him at this point in the season?

Outside of field goal kicking, special teams have been a huge disaster. I think we’re one of a handful of teams that’s managed zero touchbacks on kickoffs this season. The guy handling the kickoffs, Josh Czajkowski, averages about 60 yards a kick, and either he line drives it and it lands near the goal line or he kicks it with normal loft and it lands around the ten. Either way, it’s bad news. Since it seems like opponents always bring it out to at least the 30 no matter how we kick it, I would imagine that NC State will try to find the up backs at every opportunity. Especially since we were just burned by a kickoff return for a touchdown last week, I don’t think the staff will have any qualms about avoiding Spiller. Disrespectful? No way. We do still have something to play for.

I don’t know what the hell we’re going to do in punting situations, though. Well, I know what I’m gonna do–close my eyes and pray.

5) What are the thoughts of the fan base on Coach Tom O’Brien?

Everybody’s still on board, I think. This is the first year he’s faced real expectations for a successful year, and it hasn’t worked out too well, so there’s a little more grumbling this season than there has been in his first two years. With the way the defense has imploded over the last five games, most of the heat has been aimed at defensive coordinator Mike Archer.

With the quarterback situation and the offense in general finally settled, TOB is running out of excuses, no question about that. Injuries have been a huge factor, but people are tired of hearing about it. The mood could change dramatically with another clunker of a season in 2010.