North Carolina State University Athletics
Haynes' World: Offensive Line Holds The Key
8/1/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 1, 2001
By Tony Haynes
As the calendar turns to August, it's only natural that discussions about the college football season become more frequent. But at NC State, the eagerness to get this show on the road has reached a new level.
As someone who has lived in Raleigh for 27 years, I can never remember a time when Pack fans were more excited about football. Of course, it's only natural that Chuck Amato and his staff are taking a rather low-key approach. As is the case with most coaches, they instinctively worry about unrealistic expectations. And they more than anyone else understand that NC State, like many teams, will have some major holes to fill this fall.
The questions most often asked are, "can the offense overcome the loss of receiver Koren Robinson?" and "how will the offense change now that last year's offensive coordinator, Norm Chow, has left for another job?"
Those are certainly legitimate questions, but in the hunkered down bunker known as the Weisiger-Brown building, there are much deeper concerns about an offensive line that looks quite fragile right now.
"For us to be successful this season, our offensive line has got to stay healthy," Amato says. "Even if everyone is in good shape physically, we're still going to have to scratch and claw up there."
Scratch, claw and survive.
While it usually found a way to get the job done, the 2000 offensive line was hardly a dominant unit. In other words, it was not the type of line that could take over a game and run the football at will. The lone exception was the game in Chapel Hill, where the Pack manhandled a fatigued North Carolina defense over the last several minutes.
Gone from last year are steady left tackle Jarvis Borum and starting guard Reggie Poole. The only two returning starters who played in every game last season are left guard William Brown and center Derek Green. Chris Colmer, who eventually became the Pack's most consistent performer up front last fall, will take over for Borum at left tackle.
Then there are two wild cards. Senior center Keegan Weir and junior right tackle Scott Kooistra were listed as starters prior to the 2000 campaign yet neither played very much football last season.
Weir's resume' over the last two years looks this way: two games, two broken legs. If he's healthy and has the mental toughness to overcome the psychological effects of his injuries, Weir could battle Green at the center spot, or could move to right guard, a position that appears to be wide open.
Like Weir, Kooistra missed most of spring practice. The mammoth 313-pound Cary native has been a question mark ever since he ruptured his patella tendon one year ago.
Weir and Kooistra's readiness to perform will go a long way in determining just how effective this year's unit will be. And if injuries crop up, line coach and offensive coordinator Marty Galbraith will be forced to turn to a group of back ups who don't have a lot of experience. Ricky Fowler, who was a defensive tackle last season, has already been moved to the offensive side of the ball in order to add much needed depth.
In quarterback Philip Rivers, running back Ray Robinson and tight end Willie Wright, the Pack features three suburb performers at key skill positions. A young, talented group of wide receivers along with veteran Bryan Peterson will also provide some firepower.
But the Wolfpack's offensive fortunes could ultimately hinge on what happens up front with a group of offensive linemen who will be looking to scratch, claw and survive.
