Chubb, Street Expecting "Grown Man Football"
Boston College’s offensive line makes its intent clear.
NC State’s defensive front will have to embrace the challenge and match the intensity but that is actually not uncommon within the Atlantic Division.
The Atlantic side of the ACC does not provide any breathers these days. It is a grueling schedule and NC State’s defensive line, despite seeing its hopes of winning the division nearly eliminated with a loss to Clemson on Saturday, still embraces the chance to finish with seven conference wins.
To do so the Wolfpack will have to match Boston College in the trenches. There will be no secrets.
“This is grown man football,” Bradley Chubb said. "[Boston College’s offensive is] going to line up. You know what they are going to do, and they know that you know what they are going to do.”
The key for the Wolfpack, who has gotten off to solid starts in its losses to Notre Dame and Clemson, will be to finish strong.
The style Boston College plays with, hitting its opposition straight on for the entire game, does not make it easy.
Kentavius Street knows that for the Wolfpack to emerge victorious, the defense will have win battles individually while also maintaining a standard through four quarters.
“It is just one-on-one all day,” Street said. ‘“It is a battle all day. That is how they play.”
There is little deviation from the system when the Eagles have the ball, only variations off of the same blocking schemes.
Boston College, like NC State, is a football program grounded in fundamentals with a workmanlike approach.
“They want to see if you can stop it,” Chubb said of Boston College’s run offense. “If you stop it, you have a good chance of winning, but if one person is off they can gash you for a lot of yards.”
There was a time where the Atlantic Division was top-heavy. Those days are gone.
In a bit of irony, Florida State -- a national champion only four years ago and ranked third nationally in the preseason-- is least likely among Atlantic schools to earn a bowl berth.
The Eagles, at 5-4 overall, need only one win to clinch postseason play.
There is no weeks off in the ACC and that is just the way the NC State defensive front likes it.
“It is definitely a fun thing and this is what you come to college for,” Chubb said. “Each week we are playing some of the best competition in the country. That is what we signed up for. It is a challenge and we accept.”
Boston College is the latest in a string of tough competition.
“Every time you play Boston College, they have a run-first mentality,” Street said. “If you want to be the best you have got to play against the best. You have got Clemson, us, all of these other talented people. There is no doubt we are one of the most talents conferences in the nation.
"Our mindset hasn’t changed regardless of the losses we have had. We still want to be the best team that we can be."