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Is Tim Beck on chopping block and the future at QB for NC State football are answered

david thompson, the fayetteville observer
·3 min read
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Coming off an embarrassing home loss to Boston College, fans want to know how it happened, who is to blame and what the future should be for NC State football at quarterback.

Questions were asked via social media, email and in person. Let’s jump into this week’s NC State mailbag.

How did we lose to a 2-7 Boston College team?

Well, to answer that question one can simply look at NC State’s offensive stats from Saturday.

The offense had 156 yards in their first two touchdown drives and combined for 179 yards and six points over the next 14 drives. The Wolfpack (7-3, 3-3 ACC) turned the ball over four times in the second half and converted on only 2 of 12 third downs. Yes, there’s an argument to be made that the goal-line pass interference call against Drake Thomas was a bad call – and it was – but they never should’ve been in that position.

NC State had 10 total yards in the fourth quarter. That’s simply unacceptable. And that’s how you lose to a 2-7 Boston College team. Actually, the Eagles are 3-7 now.

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Most of us agree that our playcalling is terrible. Most of us agree Tim Beck is the problem since he’s the OC. Here’s my question: If Dave Doeren allows Beck to keep calling these bad plays, shouldn’t he be gone too?

At some point, someone is going to have to take the brunt of the blame for the three losses this season, and I get the feeling that Beck will be on the chopping block. Doeren already moved Beck from the field to the press box after expressing frustration with communication after the offense was held scoreless in the second half during a 21-20 Week 1 win over ECU.

There are some notable injuries to hide behind, particularly the loss of starting center Grant Gibson against Boston College, but Beck’s conservative playcalling has drawn the ire of fans and Doeren may have to offer him up as the sacrificial lamb.

It could be an offseason of big changes for NC State coordinators. I get the feeling that DC Tony Gibson will have some head coaching offers after the way the defense has performed over the last couple of years.

I know Devin Leary participated in senior day yesterday. Does that mean he won’t be back next season? Is that a mistake?

Leary’s participation in senior day does not mean he can’t come back. The redshirt junior quarterback has another year of eligibility. The real question is: how and if he will use it?

The rehab from a torn pectoral muscle is notoriously brutal and Leary said earlier this month that it might take six months until he’s able to throw again. NC State may have already moved on with freshman quarterback MJ Morris, although Saturday’s performance should give the coaching staff pause.

It’s important to remember that Leary has dealt with a season-ending injury before in 2020. When he returned in 2021, he threw for 35 touchdowns to five interceptions while leading NC State to nine wins.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Is Tim Beck on chopping block and the future at QB for NC State football