North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Continues Spring Workouts
4/5/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
First-year head coach Chuck Amato is pleased with his team*s efforts with just five practices remaining. "We've made progress in all phases," said Amato on Wednesday. *We*re trying to look at different people in different positions ... to get the right pegs in the right holes. We've told everybody that they can earn a position this spring, that there is nothing set in granite. The more we practice, the more we see and we're starting to get a feel for where everyone should be. The players are really giving it everything they have."
Sophomore Jatavis Sanders and freshman Philip Rivers have seen the most action at quarterback. The two have combined for 69 pass attempts without throwing an interception. Both were accurate on Wednesday, with Sanders completing 6-9 passes for 56 yards, and Rivers going 8-of-11 for 115 yards.
"Because everything is so different from what they already knew, the whole team is still scratching their heads a little bit," Amato continued. "The new terminology sometimes makes it look like they're not quite sure what they're doing, but they're getting better. The coaches are having to walk a fine line between putting in enough and not putting in too much. If you were learning a foreign language and the teacher gave you five more words to learn after you haven*t learned the first five, you*re not going to be very successful. But they know that after 10 practices, not knowing is no longer an excuse."
Several key players missed Wednesday's workouts with nagging injuries, including linebackers Levar Fisher (groin) and Dantonio Burnette (hamstring), wide receiver Bryan Peterson (hamstring), tight end Willie Wright (ankle), and defensive end Brian Jamison (groin). MLB Edrick Smith, TB K.J. Stone and OG Alex Rice are sitting out of all contact work this spring as they rehab. from injuries.
Amato singled out the efforts of junior tailback Ray Robinson during spring drills. "The running of Ray Robinson has been a plus. We knew he was a good player, but he's really done well this spring and hasn*t missed anything. He's taken some good licks, but keeps on going."
One of those licks was a goalline hit from Levar Fisher during Saturday*s scrimmage that echoed through Carter-Finley Stadium. Robinson had 49 yards on 12 carries in the April 1 scrimmage, while rushing for touchdowns of three yards and 25 yards. Fisher was the top tackler that day with seven stops.
"This spring has been different and very challenging, but it*s been fun," said Robinson, the 1998 ACC Rookie of the Year. "The intensity is greater because guys who didn't think they had a chance, now have an opportunity to prove they can play. Guys who did play want to show the new coaches that they can still hold their position. Everybody is really getting after it.
"Learning the new terminology has been hard, but once you see good results, it makes it better."
Free safety Brian Williams has also noted a step up in the intensity level. "I think we*re getting tougher mentally. The winter workouts were tough and they prepared us well. The coaches are aggressive and that's making us more aggressive. We're really learning a lot."
