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RALEIGH - N.C. State's players don't sound like they have given up, even though they've lost four straight games.
"There's still hope," wide receiver Jarvis Williams said Monday, reminding reporters that the Wolfpack can become bowl eligible if they win their final four games.
"We've got to find the solution and get it rolling," safety Clem Johnson said. "And I think we definitely will get it rolling."
At 1 p.m. Saturday against Maryland, N.C. State (3-5, 0-4 ACC) begins a stretch during which three of its final four games will be at home. The Wolfpack has been 6-2 in November over two previous seasons under coach Tom O'Brien, who is trying to find good news to build upon.
Some signs of improvement were evident to O'Brien on N.C. State's defense during last week's 45-42 loss at Florida State, even though the Wolfpack gave up 555 yards of total offense.
Redshirt freshman C.J. Wilson and freshman Jarvis Byrd looked more comfortable as the game went on at boundary cornerback, O'Brien said. He said Johnson, the boundary safety, played his best game of the season.
O'Brien said he doesn't know whether middle linebacker and leading tackler Ray Michel will be able to return from an ankle injury Saturday. If he can't, sophomore Dwayne Maddox will start at that position for the second straight time.
Maddox moved from outside linebacker to replace Michel at a position where the player is responsible for directing teammates into the proper spots before the snap. O'Brien said Maddox had difficulty with that but should be more prepared to do it this week, if necessary.
"The biggest thing is to get consistency and continuity," O'Brien said. "That's the main thing right now on defense."
The continuity that has been a key to the success of N.C. State's offensive line is in jeopardy after the loss of starting right guard R.J. Mattes to a season-ending knee injury. Despite its dismal win-loss record, the Wolfpack ranks second in the ACC in scoring with 33.1 points per game.
Senior Andy Barbee will replace Mattes against a Maryland team that O'Brien expects to try to put a lot of pressure on quarterback Russell Wilson.
"They'll blitz more than any team we've played this year," O'Brien said. "That's their calling card."
N.C. State's defense hasn't had a calling card - unless it's the numbers 9-1-1 for emergency services. Over the past three games, the Wolfpack has given up a total of 1,537 yards and 146 points.
But Johnson said he's still optimistic. As he approaches the end of his senior season, he hopes to continue his improved play in order to lead the defense to less futile results.
"It's embarrassing, because we're better than that," he said. "... I personally feel we've been practicing pretty well and just not transferring it to the game field."
ktysiac@charlotteobserver.com or 919-829-8942
