Offensive grades: NC State football vs. Miami

Despite becoming bowl eligible in its 20-6 victory versus Miami, NC State football’s offense continued to underperform. For the second consecutive week, the Pack offense was outdone in total yards, rushing yards, passing yards and time of possession.

The Wolfpack thrived off the backs of the NC State defense, who won the turnover battle, forcing four while the red-and-white coughed the ball up twice.

Quarterbacks

Sophomore quarterback MJ Morris struggled to move the offense down the field. Morris has now started in three consecutive games without throwing for more than 200 yards.

Morris' best play of the game came when he passed the ball to freshman receiver Kevin "KC" Concepcion for a gain of 36 yards on the Pack’s first-half touchdown drive, which was capped off when Morris completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to redshirt sophomore running back Jordan Poole to put the Pack up 7-3.

In general, Morris had an up-and-down game and committed two turnovers. He lost the ball as he was being taken down on a sack and threw an interception, both in the second quarter.

Grade: C-

As the season progresses, graduate quarterback Brennan Armstrong continues to see his role grow despite not leading the offense anymore. While Armstrong did not attempt a pass, he made his mark by leading the rushing attack with 51 yards on eight carries in designed quarterback runs. Armstrong offers a different look for opposing defenses and helps take the pressure off of Concepcion when Armstrong enters the game.

Grade: A

Running backs

Both touchdowns in the game came from a pair of NC State running backs. The first came from Poole when he reeled in a 12-yard pass from Morris late in the first quarter. The score marked Poole’s first collegiate touchdown.

The second touchdown came late in the fourth quarter, when freshman running back Kendrick Raphael shed off multiple defenders and ran in for a 31-yard rushing touchdown. This put the Wolfpack up 17-6 and capped off a 97-yard touchdown drive.

Six different NC State players helped in the rushing game, but as seen many times before, Armstrong finished the game as the leading rusher.

Grade: B

Pass catchers

The longest pass of the day came off a short pop pass that went into the hands of Concepcion. Aside from that, the Pack’s passing game lacks consistency. Its receivers continue to struggle when it comes to creating separation from opposing defensive backs.

Six of the seven receivers that caught passes from Morris finished the day with just a single reception. The passing game has been almost nonexistent since the Wolfpack beat Marshall five weeks ago, which was also the last time the Pack surpassed 200 passing yards.

Grade: D

Offensive line

The worst play of the game for the NC State offense came when the offensive line allowed a free Miami rusher to lay a clean hit on Morris, which forced a fumble that Miami recovered. In total, the line allowed two sacks and five tackles for losses in the win. Constantly facing pressure and an inability to get to the second level in the rushing attack have been major contributors in the Pack’s offensive struggles lately.

Morris has been sacked nine times in his four starts this season while Armstrong was only brought down five times in his first four starts. If the Wolfpack aspires to win on the road the next two weeks in tough environments, it has to get better protection from the line.

Grade: D-