NC State’s Glennon Setup for Failure?
Quarterback Mike Glennon has patiently waited on North Carolina State’s sideline for three years. As he sat, Russell Wilson was turning into a dynamic quarterback who, last season, led the Wolfpack to a nine win season, their most since 2002. Now Glennon takes over.
The situation regarding the departure of Wilson makes the situation even more complicated. While Wilson is off playing with the Badgers, and probably doing quite well, Coach Tom O’Brien and Glennon will feel the pressure of letting Wilson leave. Wilson threw for 3,563 yards and 28 touchdowns last year and rushed for 435 yards with nine more trips to the end zone.
More importantly, Wilson created expectations at NC State. Everybody expects this team to win. Glennon has created his own expectations as well. He was one of the top rated quarterbacks in his class coming out of high school and has been the quarterback of the future for the Wolfpack ever since. At 6-6 and 225 pounds, he is a lot different than Wilson. Glennon has a cannon of an arm and is extremely accurate. The bottom line is he is a good quarterback…a very good quarterback.
The problem is the NC State offensive line is pretty darn bad and Wilson had the ability to create time with his legs. Glennon does not have that luxury. The lack of a running game and the loss of the team’s top three receivers will not help Glennon either. If the offensive line can give him time, Glennon can pick apart opposing defenses, but that may not happen and Glennon will take much of the blame.
In two years time Glennon will be off in the NFL while Wilson is playing AAA ball for the Colorado Rockies, but expecting another nine win season out of this group might be asking a bit too much. And Glennon will get the blame, but it will not be his fault.
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