Wake Forest –2.5
Expectations are high for Wake Forest this year after posting a 6-5 record in 2001 under new coach Jim Grobe. They return 16 starters (8 offense, 8 defense) although returning 1,000-yard rusher RB Tarence Williams will be sidelined for this game with a foot injury. A very experienced team, entering the season, the offense collectively owns 152 career starts, while the defense has tallied 114 starting nods. The year could have been better with a few more bounces their way as four of Wake’s five losses came by a combined total of just 22 points and all five losses came against post-season bowl teams. Although last year was a surprise to many, Grobe is known to make things happen with faltering programs. He was the coach at Ohio before coming to Wake Forest and turned that program around in a hurry. Now he has the foundations in place to make this a very surprising team in 2002.
Northern Illinois brings back 9 starters on each side from 2001. But the big loss is with 4 year starting QB Chris Finlen. Josh Haldi has been given the starting nod for 2002, but his lack of experience (only 20 snaps taken) could hurt. Coach Joe Novak hasn’t ruled out the option of playing Ryan Gilbert, a JC transfer, as well. Look for the Huskies to run the ball against Wake with All-MAC RB Thomas Hammock. The Deacons ranked 49th (140.4 ypg) in rush defense last year and they held Hammock to 80 yards on 20 carries in the season finale last year. Normally playing a 3-3-5 defense, look for the Deacons to load up the middle to stop the run and make the QB try to beat them, as the secondary of Wake Forest is probably the best unit of their defense. On offense, Wake will be using as many as 3-4 backs to replace Williams and Grobe has addressed that they plan on throwing the ball more this year and they have good receivers, especially Jason Anderson.
Both teams bring back a lot of the same from last year’s season finale, which Wake won 38-35. Both teams however will be coming in with key losses, Wake with Williams and Northern Illinois with Finlen. We’d rather go with a proven QB and a coach that knows what to do with the players that he has in place. Don’t be surprised to see the Deacons in the upper part of the ACC this year.
GLTA!
Nice write up. 