Brennan Armstrong unpacks what makes Robert Anae's new NC State offense work

There’s a lot of new in the life of QB Brennan Armstrong with him now in Raleigh. However, one thing that stayed the same from his transfer from Virginia to NC State as a former offensive coordinator of his, Robert Anae, will be joining him with the Wolfpack.

That makes Armstrong a perfect person to describe what Anae will bring offensively to NC State. Based on what he said during a conversation with the ACC Network crew at the 2023 ACC Football Kickoff, his connection should make them great along with Anae’s ability to make players feel fast and loose in their positions.

“From a quarterback perspective? Just the freedom I have,” Armstrong said. “I think Coach Anae knows what he’s getting out of me and I kind of know what I’m getting out of him. That’s a great connection between us too.”

“His ability to just put guys in position to be successful. Even though it’s a first year, the way he teaches the offense? We’re able to get guys in spots, they understand what they’re supposed to do. I don’t think we overcomplicate things with so much information. I think we keep things very simple,” explained Armstrong. “Guys just get to their spots and start going. It allows us to play fast, it allows an offense, first year in, to play well and to have success.”

“I think that’s what he does well. Putting guys in spots to be successful. The less information the better, in a sense, just so you’re going to play fast,” said Armstrong.

Anae has spent the duration of the 2000s at the Power Five level. That included stops at Texas Tech, BYU, Arizona, Virginia, and, most recently, Syracuse. His last three gigs with the Cougars, Cavaliers, and Orange, though, have all been offensive coordinator jobs.

Now, with him and Armstrong back together, NC State will try to replicate one of the best offenses from 2021. During that season, the Cavalier offense ranked 21st in the country by averaging 34.6 points per game. Armstrong had his best season by far in that campaign with career highs and school records of touchdown throws (31), passing yards (4,449), and total offense (4,900).

Once Anae left for Syracuse, that ranking bottomed out completely as their offense in 2022 finished 126th in the nation with an average of 17 points per game. Armstrong also posted a completion rate that was 10.5% worse, threw 141 fewer completions, and cut his passing yards (2,210) and passing touchdowns (seven) by half or more.

With them reunited, NC State is already off to a strong start. The question now is how much of the magic between Armstrong and Anae can be rekindled ahead of the quarterback’s sixth season of collegiate football.