Chat With Eric Mac Lain: NC State Football's ACC Title Hopes I TUFFY TALK

welcome back Wolfpack Nation to another episode of toughy talk we're getting into episode two with our conversation with Eric mlan of ESPN and AC Network and uh first episode we kind of took you around the horn on the ACC as a whole kind of talked about Eric's thoughts on the league and perception and you know kind of who he thinks is got to kind of slot where and just talk a little briefly on all teams except for that ugly blue color but that's all right so we're going to Dive Right In yo we always throw Shay brother um it's not a Rob over you're not talking smack but um um I just want to Dive Right In man let's get it uh you know you kind of mentioned that the 10 the 10 win is the uh is the ceiling in your I'm ex me the yeah the the the the floor in your opinion ain't no ceiling that's the floor baby no that's a floor I think I think there's big things in store um I just kind of want to get your thoughts you were out there like I said um at the end of episode one for ACC media days or your road show I'm not sure exactly what you guys call it but um that's the second year you've been out there um just give me your thoughts from last year to this year um what's the difference that you're seeing you know obviously there's a new quarterback you know in the in the Huddle uh with Grayson McCall taking over for Brenan Armstrong but um just you know give me your initial thoughts on what you saw out there yeah well first of all I mean the years are incomparable uh you know just with what this offense looks like um The Playmakers uh specifically a wide receiver I mean just some absolute dudes and I know everyone listening knows this but you know Wesley Grimes quick as a cat I mean just he was one of the first guys I noticed and uh honestly I forgot that he transferred there and so I'm sitting I'm like who the heck is six and then I'm looking at the roster I'm like oh my gosh I forgot this guy was here and then Noah Rogers again jumps off the the the practice field um they were doing some one-on-one type drills and Noah and uh Aiden White just going head to-head and the first route or first drill Noah gets them great catch kind of over the top of them and I'm just like whoa that was impressive like especially against that guy right next time they go against each other same thing competitive ball Aden gets his hands up throws the ball down I'm just like these dudes are good like this is great competition great to see this uh you know what you're getting from KC I mean just a dynamic as it comes type of guy uh and then you know of course some others that that have transferred in as well at the wide receiver position so that to me was the the biggest you know kind of iny face this looks different right like these guys are Twitchy fast explosive um I'm not questioning who any of the dudes are in regards to yeah this is what to expect and this is who we expect it from love what I saw from from jool Lee as well big dude bigger than I thought he was um but still as versatile where you can line them up a lot of different positions not have to substitute and really put defenses in a hard bind so I'm I'm super excited for the uh you know just the pass catchers in general seeing what those guys can do uh looking at my offensive line I mean Anthony Belton is a monster that that dude is so fun to watch he's so big uh but super Nimble and athletic as well uh really reminds me a ton of uh you know that young man that Louisville had a couple of years ago and I'm drawing a blank on his name right now uh but that was just huge got drafted by the Jets in the first round um I know who you're talking maai beckon M beckon that's what it was very similar in regards to just size like Mass you know you can't teach that uh and it seems like he's really stepping up as a leader I was privileged enough to you know go into coach's uh you know meeting there with the offensive line and and Coach 2J allow me to go sit in there he is so good I'm so happy he's at NC State uh but just to hear him talk AB you know and just kind of getting the young guys up and and saying hey what do you see here what are you doing here um and then I I'd be remiss if I didn't talk about Zeke Carell I mean that dude War daddy like Bonafide leader immediately that he got there and you know just knows it all really good football player so I think the offensive Line's going to be better uh and then I think it's pretty well known my my you know love for Jordan Waters that dude is so good so the the the running game which you know kind of in in my opinion probably most Wolfpack you know opinion uh the Run game has been severely lacking right and and maybe the piece that has held them back for whatever reason as I'm doing thumbs up here uh we're excited about that and that's gone now right you've got that guys instant success we know what that's going to be and then kind of the the cherry on top with Grayson McCall winner ball player looked extremely healthy have no worries about that as as at all and I think what the most important thing about him was unequivocally wanted to be an NC State like got there for a visit felt it knew it let's do it and I think that's important and uh you know to see it from a guy like that and I I just can't wait to see it man I'm so glad we're there week one I can't wait to see it in person I'm glad you're there I might have I told you uh bring you over some food from the tail I need that I need that you need that fuel um just I you you know you you and and uh kg were talking on the NC State breakdown which was fantastic by the way as always um you know you you know you guys talked about Grayson McCall right and and and everyone remembers the the Brenan Armstrong I you guys use the Brenan Armstrong experience uh if I can use your guys's words and she was a little hesitant and and you know I feel kind of the same way just because you know fool me once you know that old additive uh cuz I think you felt more comfortable Brennan because he was doing it at the power five level and and and Grayson's coming from the group of five and but like to you you know your point to kind of settle her emotions down like he was three- Time conference Player of the Year like they don't just give that award away just because you know the guy that looks the best in his uniform right um kind of just talk us through like talk us off the ledge as NC State fans because you know you know us all right and you've all you've heard the NC State stuff thing before which I think is officially gone now after last year's run but just talk State fans away off the ledge because they remember brenon and Bren by the way you guys put it great and and I said the same thing is like I was just thinking about this the other night when we were doing a podcast it's like how the hell did we get to 9 and three last year yeah and it was because certain guys didn't quit literally and that was you know um brenon Armstrong and they the coaches found out way to make it work right um so anyway I say all that please how is Grayson mall going to be the guy this year Wolfpack Nation I want to interrupt this interview real real quick tell you about an amazing new sponsor that we have and a Cony gold Small Batch barbeq who makes a amazing barbecue sauces an amazing dry rub and has some awesome merchandise as well whether you're just a basic barbecue sauce lover or whether you like more of a a buffalo based barbecue sauce where you like mustard based vinegar based spicy dry rub you name it go to their website www.con goldbar sauces. comom and use the coupon code toughy talk to get get 15% off your entire order here today and if your purchase is over $99 you also get free shipping as well y'all so again make sure to go check out our our new sponsor con gold small batch barbecue get all of the barbecue sauces you need that amazing dry rub your merchandise and get all set for this amazing football season that's about take place go pack y'all well I I think the you know the the biggest difference to me is we we saw between both these guys and I love Brennan trust me I really do I wanted him to have so much success he is a warrior that's the best way to describe it and and honestly when it all happened when he got benched you're just like man that sucks you know because because it's his last shot at football potentially um and you just feel bad for him now I love that MJ was there and that's a whole situation whatever uh kind of quitting yeah whole another episode um but then Brennan was ready he was ready never qu yeah just a dude and almost was like a a Rebirth of of his NC State you know kind of career but you know just for to paint you a picture of how my thoughts on brenon but when you look at it Brennan just had that one unbelievable year and it was unbelievable I mean you're talking about 4,000 plus yards through the air he might have been the leading rusher you know that that same year you know for Virginia um and then the next year the wheels fell off a bit and so you know it was it was trending that way and of of course you know we saw you know what happened at NC State where it wasn't maybe the quite you know I don't think it was as bad as that year but it wasn't nearly as good as the 4,000 year I mean let's be real we just didn't have the skill position Talent around him that heed that one year I mean he didn't either he didn't either that next year you know and and so that's the that's the the biggest difference where you look at Grayson it's literally year after year after year of consistency 10,000 plus yards passing 88 touch s um it's just what he does he's just a baller he just gets the ball out and now he's in a situation where kind of similar to what I was saying about cam Ward last episode he's with the best team he's ever been with so it's it's it's like almost on cruise control dog I just get the ball out and get out of the way um you know so I I really feel like his decisionmaking his experience and quite frankly he's a beast like it just is what it is I get the the hesitancy of thinking you know G5 to P5 is is a drastic difference but man quarterback they're throwing the ball man like they're anticipating routes the way that he does it um I don't think that transition will be anything for him and yeah quite frankly the opposite I think he's gonna be a Smooth Operator this entire season and you just can't wait to see it yeah I I would agree I think he's he's surrounded with such good talent and I think that good talent they're going to find ways to get open they're going to get creative ways you know you know I I see KC lining up all over the place like they did last year where's Waldo man you know he's going to be everywhere yeah and I think you're you're you're not going to be able to just concentrate on one dude right like they were able to and they still found a way to make it work which is even more unbelievable um you you know you kind of talk about the r the running backs um I think that that is a group that's not getting enough love on this on this team um you know you have uh Jordan Waters that you already talked about and then we have Hollywood Smothers who I I'm excited to see um him do his thing and then you've got you know Kendrick Rafael who had some breakout moments he had a great game last year against Miami um I think that's going to be a very key position group because to your point earlier we just haven't done it and I think to your other point in the offensive line when you were talking about them I think they're going to be so much better just kind of talk to me about like what you Envision for this offense because it's it's a Rags it's a it's so many so many options it really is and you know I think it's interesting too to to just look at coach Robert and I stops and you know specifically Virginia and Syracuse and you know how they do stuff and you know he's a guy that he's GNA use what he has and he's gonna use what he has to to the nth degree and he he wants to find creative pieces he wants to put guys you know in places to win and you know you look at some of the running backs that he's had uh Jordan Waters is probably going to be one of the best he's probably going to be you know one of the most dynamic this is probably the best offensive line out of the the two schools that I just mentioned uh as well pretty UA though he had a pretty good there were some UVA guys that in the league I mean yeah as a whole you know we're not talking about first round draft pick potentials you know and and just solidified guys there and and I agree with you I mean they had some dudes on team um but so when I look at it I I do think it's going to be pass heavy I think it has to be pass heavy um but the difference is when everyone in the world knows that we're going to run it we're still gonna run it and we're gonna do it you know we're GNA be successful and I think that is the biggest difference I would love to see you know Waters involved in the receiving game as well the passing game um just because he's a guy you got to get the ball in his hand he's so dynamic as as a weapon there but um you know I I would be shocked if he has like four games over 100 yards rushing I think that's just what it's going to be you know he's not going to be asked to do the same type of stuff now could he sure I mean he's that electric of a player but you know I I think you know 12 to 15 carries a game is probably what you're looking at and that's probably optimal because that means we're throwing it at a really high clip and you have some other guys that'll be rotating in so you know that that's kind of my biggest thing if it was my offense and and what I see and and the guys that I like here um you know we're throwing at 35 times a game yeah to your point I mean Jordan Waters showed that he could be the Bell cow U especially with last year with link um geez uh I'm just screwing up his name um quarterback for I'm just noward I thinking I was trying to say Lincoln Riley um hey shout out Lincoln Riley man he's on a hot seat um but uh yeah so he definitely showed at times where you know he had to kind of step up and uh you know I'm glad that when we play Duke this year that he's not on the other side of the hey I will tell you this too talking about those uh these Camp tours seeing him in red white and black weird little different super weird super weird I bet it's I bet it is weird when you see these guys in different uniforms from a previous season he said it's weird for himself he you know because he's just been in you know in in that blue for so long yeah the okay blue yeah okay we're cool with that okay we're okay with we're okay I understand yeah um yeah we're excited he's he's rolling with us this year um all right let's flip to the other side of the ball um let's go ahead and address the elephant in the room because that seems to be the the focus on this defense no no pton Wilson all right we put it out there news flash G um what are you what are you seeing you know when you were out there and obviously it was limited and probably a little vanilla but what did you see from that defensive side of the ball and before we get going back into this amazing interview we want to take a quick second and tell you about flat LS Jessup Insurance group that has your whole world covered with agents in five different offices throughout East North Carolina to help you decide how much coverage you need offering policies for home and auto recreational vehicles commercial crop Health life and employee benefits they are able to combine options to find a comprehensive solution that works for you flat lands Jessa protects the things you love so you can spend less time worrying and more time enjoying them find them on Facebook and Instagram ATF Flatlands Jessup you can also visit their website at www.fat lsj up.com so please make sure to go and check them out well similar to the the offense the secondary just jumped out really quick I mean long fast uh you know really Dynamic Playmakers back there um you know you add in a you know former All-American and Jihad Carter who was at Syracuse was at Ohio State you know now here at the safety position keep Aiden white who I think is arguably one of the best in the country um Devin boyin is a free uh and then you know you go down to the the second level looking at the linebacking core and you know I think Kaden is ready I think he's excited you know he's a guy that's been buying his time and you know is kind of in that position now I think that you know Shawn Brown is going to be tasked with being you know kind of in pton Wilson's position uh you know moving down from the safety yeah moving down from the safety spot yeah Wilson exactly exactly no no no you're not just replacing that uh in one year one offseason um you know but I I think he's going to be great I mean he's super fast really long arms um probably a better Blitzer which is weird to say um you know getting after the quarterback and finding ways because Peyton was great at that uh but I I think at the end of the day um Tony Gibson's still there and he's one of the best to to do it and he's going to be exotic there's a chip on his shoulder uh you know talking with him he said love that people are doubting them um and their defense and that's different right I mean for so many years um that's the identity of the team they're a defensive hard-nosed team and offense you know will have spurts and do their thing you know kind of as they go but this year perception Wise It's a little bit flipped so I'm fascinated to see how good can that defense be because again I mentioned Tony Gibson all those other names uh Davin van the guys up front looked really good strong um I think this team still has a chance to be a top five defense uh even though you know some people think it might be up in Pittsburgh okay yeah I I I look if this defense is even this defense takes quote unquote a half a step back they're still going to be really good and I think because half a step goes from number one to number two yeah there it is um but I think the offense is going to take such a bigger step so you know that that gap between the two units I think are going to close dramatically for sure um all right all right well let's get into little bit on the um on the schedule uh obviously you said you know you guys will be there week one that'll just be a prep game we hope for for Tennessee week two which is the which is the big one you know the first first four weeks of the season it's like we're going to find out who this team is really quick I mean you know um not to say that you know you won't on the rest of the half but you're going to know where you stand real fast that Tennessee game you know you kind of mentioned it in the first episode about the whole bragging rights for the ACC um you know you you you're got to go up against a a very formable OPP formidable opponent um you know the Tennessee has aspirations of college football SEC you know championships it's going to be a dog fight but neutral field I like I like it that it's a neutral field for one um so we don't have to go to you know Knoxville that's that place is a horror story no I would love to go there some sometime uh but you also get Nico early in the season I'm not even trying to say Nico's last name I never it's one it's one of those one of those names but you get him early in the season where he's still trying to figure things out you know I I like our chances more because it is an early season game by it's a later season game give me your thoughts on that matchup no I I exactly love that you know and again you you can try to confuse them give them a bunch of stuff um again as as exotic as you know NC state has been that that's just Bas right blitzing is a base defense for uh the wolf back and the things they want to do but I I do love that it's early let's not get you know his feet too wet let's not get him a bunch of experience let's get him right now and uh not to say that you couldn't do the same thing later but it's just it's it's an advantage point that you feel that you can can take advantage of so you know I think it's obviously a massive game everything that you just mentioned um you know how important it is for narratives how important it is for you know reputation in in the league to really make a statement um but this is a good team as you mentioned this this is a playoff seeking team just as you are uh and so you're talking about a playoff caliber game right here in week two um you know I think that settle the storm you know because again it's probably 5050 you hope it's 50-50 so it's going to be loud the entire game uh you know and you just have to be able to you know take punches as you do um watch out for that edge rusher a lot of people think it might be the first pick in the draft and you know at the end of the day they they've got a lot of dogs so I'm excited to see it can't wait it's a great opportunity you know top 20 team in the country 24 fenc State guys getting after it these are the type of matchups I love to see you know let's let's play some big boy football and let's make some noise do you want to make a prediction or do you want to make people tune in to uh to your pod tune in to our pod because I need to see both teams play still but I mean I I feel great about Tennessee I mean you know with the things that they're going to do um but I I I love this defense for NC State even though you know again lost your guy um I think the the again the experience of your secondary I think can confuse a young sophomore or freshman whatever he is if you red shirted um you know and and get him to throw the ball where he doesn't want to throw the ball he might think it pre- snap but then post Snap things are are moving around so you know I I feel confident in the wolf pack um that they can get it done and again the weapons that they have offens L uh it they're going to they're going to overwhelm a lot of people and you know it's going to be interesting to see is this a track meet is it a battle is it a defensive struggle um because I think both teams are comfortable however wants to yeah however wants to play out I think both teams are comfortable in that space yeah all right week four week four come on baby come on to Death Valley Welcome To Death Valley uh a place that hold on one second let me get this up oh gosh dang it here we go all right oh you know what I'm ready to talk about it oh man I had my autograph helmet that I just got the other day I I should have you got plenty you got 17 helmets behind you yeah but these are just little guys like that's still bigger um anyway that's probably got some wear and tear is that is that one you that you wore or is it yeah this the one I wore uh in the national championship it's pretty weird um because I changed helmets let me see if you can kind of see inside here a little bit um so it was this new shut helmet helmet they literally brought it to me in the playoff and was like hey we just want you to wear this for the next two games whatever um which is cool but it doesn't nearly have the same scars that my other one has my dad that's at my my dad's house the real one real I like that I like that um anyway we come down to death valley where NC state has not won since 2002 yeah um we came close one time but we won't talk about that one hey thank God we missed you know what I'm saying thank you thank you okay let me ask you this real quick real quick sidebar and I I'll get back on topic you got it if State wins that game does the Clemson Dynasty happen maybe not yeah maybe not yeah but guess what gosh dang it he did that's it this interview's done all good my friend crazy that was that was a crazy game yeah yeah I can't even imag I can't even imagine living through it I mean I did but you know I mean in the stadium on the field um so selfishly I hope that you both teams come in undefeated um get another potential college game day environment which was you know I was down there for the last one um which you know state was robbed in that game but whatever I was there too I was on paternity leave I was on paternity leave and gotta go I gotta go and see it was awesome that environment it was environment yeah the brand new scoreboard at night it was good it was good um so anyway again hoping that both these teams are undefeated um I think win or lose I think both teams obviously still early in the season you know one loss isn't the end all Beall but it's going to go a long way in determining who becomes ACC champ or excuse me who plays for an ACC Championship right right no I I totally agree with you and um you know the interesting thing about it with with the wolf pack uh you know in those two games specifically when you look at Clemson and when you look at Tennessee um it's it's it's weird to imagine if go 0 and2 in those that even still at 10 and2 if you wi out that you wouldn't be in a prime time spot to be one of the 12 teams but how much are they going to look at it and just say they they they didn't beat the teams that they deserve to to be in this type of situation so yeah I don't know it feels like one of those it feels like one of these two games you got to do it and then just continue to run the table obviously um and get your goals done but is there that potential rematch where you you're you're in an ACC Championship game and you see somebody allow the Tigers again and do you capitalize on it there so you know obviously coming to Death Valley is extremely difficult yeah um as you mentioned not since 2002 uh and those guys are going to be Juiced up right obviously you guys beat him last year at car that's not I'm not trying to throw salt in there where where I was going to go with that what about the last four how many the last four what about the last 20 what about the last 20 we'll take them when we can get them we can do stats whatever whatever uh stats we can make I get it but it is true it is true two the last three you've gotten that monkey off your back where I was going you've got the monkey off your back you're not quote not that teams are ever scared of playing one another because that's just not how football's play but you know they they put on the hel at the same way you do they strap it up so there is something to that though you know there's like this when you can't do it or when it's so long like it was before uh what year was that was that 2020 that first year what's that oh when we won 2021 because that was the year I broke my leg 20 that's right I remember it 2021 um you know there is something to that though you know where you just haven't beat a team in in 10 years whatever it was nine years um that you just feel like can this be done you know can we do it and when you do like you said it calms nerves especially when you're coming off of a victory you're like oh yeah it what whatever let's go you know the these are the same guys so I think it's going to be a brawl uh some Clemson fans that I've talked to very nervous about that game um I just can't wait to see it I know there's probably no chance we will be there because it probably will be on ABC too big of a game um but it's GNA be Clash of the Titans type Vibes yeah let me ask you this and we're gonna get wrapped up here real quick but um you guys have a very similar situation like we do you play Georgia week one and then we play Tennessee week two and then we have this match up which game is more important to you as a Clemson uh for National Championship aspirations H because I'll give you mine and then I'll give you mine real quick and then you know why you're thinking to me it's the Clemson game yeah all you have to do is win the ACC in your end sure sure I think just from a this probably just bias but I just think if Clemson beats Georgia that changes a lot really quickly you especially right number one yeah a th% yeah if if NC State beats Tennessee I mean where do they they go to 17 from 24 to 17 you know what I mean yeah you know it's just which is still a huge it's great it's a huge deal but Georgia has been the team right even last year you could have argued that they should have still been in which I wouldn't I hated that uh but you could have argued they still should have been in and maybe even would have won it you know at the end of the day uh but you got to take care of business when you do so they've just been the standard Georgia's been the standard just like Clemson was you know three four years ago um so that's the that that's I think the the bigger deal is if you get that done it is such a massive dub for the league and uh like I said I will be I will be intolerable the rest of the year you will get a message from me win or lose on that game there we go I look forward to it I look forward to it all right I got two more for you we're gonna wrap this up what does coach Dorne have to do to get ACC coach of the year you know man it's uh go 10 and two probably 10 and two you got it um ACC Championship you got it to me though that award is so weird because there's times where it goes to like the most surprising coach there's times that it goes to the best coach there's times you know because how did coach Sweeney not win it eight straight years you know in that run that they were on he didn't um so that it it's I don't want to service an award it's it's watered down a little bit it's watered down like that one which I don't love um but it is what it is it is what it is all right so the last question I'm going to go to because state has been on the door of 10 wins for a long time brother a long time I know I know should have had I've been begging for it I've been screaming for it bro me too coach Dorne just deserves it the the longer he's at this program the more we love him as a fan base oh yeah he he is one of us he embodies us no doubt what in your mind is a successful season for NC State is it 10 wins is it an ACC championship appearance is it an ACC ACC Championship is it a college football playoff birth like give me your definition of a successful season for NC State in 2024 yeah it's hard right it's hard to um because you don't want to go too big you don't want you don't want to because again this team has never played in the championship game right like that's never happened 1979 is the last ACC Championship I was last championship was 79 that was two the last 10- win season was when 04 01 01 yeah Philip Rivers and that's the only one right correct so it's like I mean that that if if you get 10 plus wins unbelievable season fantastic if if you get to the ACC Championship even better greater and to do that I think you will have to win 10 games um but yeah I mean winning winning that get into a play off that that's likey cemented in history Type legendary type stuff but 10 wins is is great that's that's a that's a huge step that's legendary too there's there'll be only two of you if you ever do that so but it is a weird spot where if you win nine it's probably really disappointing um just because of the schedule because of the amount of resources the talent uh that was acquired and brought in this is the Year this is like it's all lining up perfect ly all the planets are right there we got to do it we got to do it so it's a weird fine line of you know enough is is certainly enough but not enough is a really thin margin and uh and it's 10 regular season wins by the way exactly yeah exact yeah I agree I agree Mr Eric mlan you are the man thank you so much man can I just say I'm jacked up for the wolf back I really I mean seriously seriously 10 wins plus man I feel it I can't wait to be there on Thursday night I'm GNA have my red tie on all in with you guys and uh I might have to bring I always love coming to Carter Finley always some of those Rockham sockum uh rock rock socks State ones I need some Grace andall ones man I need to be swaged out that's what we need that's what we need sir thank you so much man we we enjoy the conversation with you we always enjoy your time um just a great great great time that I am so jacked my friend so jacked all right Nation we got to end this thing man uh Eric's got a plane to catch to Bristol he's got a he's got a real daytime job to do all right that'll wrap it up for Wolfpack Nation uh thank you so much make sure you're following Eric he is the man out there on social media um so so honest so real so genuine keeps it 100% all the time wolf pack we'll see you next time go pack [Music] he [Music]