NC State coach says UVA receivers jumped off the film

By Jerry Ratcliffe

When NC State coach Dave Doeren scouted Virginia’s game on Sunday, the Cavaliers’ receiving corps made a lasting impression.

Doeren’s Wolfpack (1-0) hosts UVA (1-0) on Saturday (noon, Carter-Finley Stadium, ESPN2) in a rare nonconference designated game, although both schools are members of the ACC. State is a 2.5- to 3-point favorite.

“[Virginia’s] receiving corps is really impressive,” Doeren said during his weekly press conference. “(Cam) Ross had a big game, over 100 yards receiving and a kickoff return for a touchdown. (Trell) Harris jumped off the film with his speed.”

Ross had seven catches (targeted nine times) for 124 yards (84 YAC) and a touchdown. He had a 46-yard reception, while Harris made three catches (target five times) for 93 yards (20 YAC), including a 48-yarder.

UVA offensive coordinator Des Kitchings discussed on Wednesday how those two receivers in particular can stress a defense.

“They both bring the speed element that we’ve been seeking in the receiver room,” Kitchings said. “Both guys do a good job of catching the ball, but not only that, it’s the YAC. They can create yards after contact. So you don’t have to throw it 40 yards down the field to try to create a super explosive play, just get the ball in their hands in space and let playmakers make plays.”

Certainly that’s one phase of Virginia’s offense that Doeren is concerned about, but not the only one.

“The running backs run hard, the quarterback is a good football player,” Doeren said. “Head coach’s son, (Chandler) Morris, has been around, has been in a bunch of different programs. He’s gritty. He’s tough. You can see him make plays on his feet. He’s got a good arm, throws with touch and can throw it in there through a seam route with a lot of velocity.

“They’ve got good weapons, and he can make you pay if you’re not sound in your pass rush. We’ve got a great challenge against that offense.”

Virginia scored 48 points in its opener against Coastal Carolina, but the Cavaliers know they’re facing a much tougher opponent this week on the road, in a stadium where UVA has found wins hard to come by. Since the end of the George Welsh era in 2000, Virginia has only tasted victory once in five trips to Raleigh, that coming in 2012.

Even with that in mind, Doeren has emphasized to his players about defending home turf and pleaded with Wolfpack fans to show up this weekend.

“We play at noon, so we’re asking you to get to bed early or stay up all night, whichever you prefer, but be at the stadium on time,” Doeren said this week to State’s students and fan base. “Be there for the kick and stay for four quarters. It’s a big game this week.”

The Wolfpack coach has taken note of Virginia’s recruiting in the transfer portal and is impressed with what Tony Elliott’s operation has accomplished in rebuilding the roster.

“They’re a much better team than we played a couple years ago when we played them up there, and Tony Elliott and his staff deserve a lot of credit for what they’ve done there in recruiting and developing the roster.”

Doeren sees the difference in Virginia’s defense as well, which also has lots of new faces.

“They’ve got a 6-3 cornerback, they’ve got two defensive ends that are 6-6, 6-7,” the coach said. “(Mitchell) Melton is a really good player from Ohio State that they picked up. Their safeties tackled well in the game, linebackers played downhill, they’ve got big inside guys and they’ve got a good rotation. They’ve got good depth on their front and you can tell the kids know their scheme.”

Meanwhile, Elliott has been equally impressed with State, a team he used to play annually when he was offensive coordinator at Clemson.

“They’re very similar to what they’ve always been in the trenches,” Elliott said. “They’re big up front, with athletic linebackers who can run, and they have athletes in the secondary. So it’s a typical NC State team that fits Coach Doeren’s identity and how they approach it. He’s a defensive guy and he wants to win up front with the defensive line to be physical and then, offensively, he wants an offense that can line up, put their hand in the dirt and come up after you.”

One of the Wolfpack stars who can stretch the field is speedy receiver Wesley Grimes, a former star at Wake Forest and a favorite target of quarterback CJ Bailey, who according to Elliott, has a cannon of an arm.

“They have long receivers, fast, can run by you,” Elliott said. “If you back off of them, they can make you miss on the underneath stuff, so we’re going to have to get lined up. We’re going to have to stay on top of routes. We’re going to have to get some pass rush so the quarterback doesn’t have time to find the open guys.”

Elliott said State tight end Justin Joly is as good as Virginia is going to face in the ACC — a big, physical player that can stretch the field.

The Wolfpack has a new defensive coordinator, but at least UVA coaches have game film from last week’s State win over East Carolina (24-17) to review.