O'Brien: Pack Has "Over-Inflated" View of its Talent

Swagger always seemed a part of N.C. State's persona in the seven years of Chuck Amato.

But the results did not match the rhetoric, and on Monday, the new man in charge took a sharp jab at the demeanor of his new team.

"They're not as good as they think they are," O'Brien said of a squad that lost to Central Florida 25-23 on Saturday. "A lot of these guys have an over-inflated image of who and what they are.

"Whether they thought they could just roll their helmets out there and win the game on Saturday, they certainly couldn't do that in the first half."

Amato talked of competing for national titles at State, but his hot start receded after Philip Rivers left. State has now lost 19 of its last 30 games. Spending on football ramped up under Amato, but O'Brien sought to puncture any lingering expectations that this roster is on the brink of a major turnaround with a new staff in place.

"With the limited ability that's here, they have to play hard and they are going to have to play smart every game," O'Brien said. "If they don't, then we're going to have the same result week in and week out."

O'Brien said he had noticed, and been concerned about, the attitude of the team from the beginning. Even in the spring, he said, some players would sit out practices, assuming they could ramp up their performance in games.

In O'Brien's view, the players were simply overconfident.

"I think that's something they've had," he said. "It's the difference between being confident and being ... " he paused, decided to be careful with his words, and said, "whatever."

"There's a fine line there," O'Brien continued. "And we reverted back to some of our old bad habits. Guys were doing things in the game that we hadn't seen in camp, that we thought we had corrected coming out of spring practice."

O'Brien has been careful not to criticize the previous regime so far. Amato was an N.C. State graduate who had a passion for his program and pushed, successfully, for a higher level of commitment that includes the new facilities O'Brien now enjoys.

But in O'Brien's view, the upgraded stadium and swank football facilities haven't led to a team packed with upper-tier talent.

"It's something that's permeated everything here, that we have this great talent - this, that and everything else that filters down to the team," O'Brien said.

"There's nothing wrong with being confident, but you've got to recognize what reality is.

"We had no control of the line of scrimmage at all in the first half, whether it be offense or defense. It starts with all those little things that show up."

A great deal showed up Saturday. The offensive line was porous, especially in the first half. Central Florida knocked State's defense off the line and UCF back Kevin Smith roared for 217 yards.

It's worth noting that new coaches are often critical of the roster they inherit. Coaches naturally want to recruit their own players and are often looking to downplay expectations.

But O'Brien's comments Monday signal that State may be in for a rebuilding process, and not just a retooling with a new coach and a new emphasis on discipline. Certainly Saturday's outcome crushed State's hopes for a winning season, and the wins will be tough to find in this schedule.

No wonder Saturday's loss alarmed some players, especially the seniors. Several of them, including receivers Darrell Blackman and John Dunlap, had sharp words for the team after the game.

As tight end Marcus Stone recalled it, the seniors said: "Get serious."