North Carolina State University Athletics
Behind The Scenes With Tony Haynes: Winning Moves
8/5/2002 12:00:00 AM | Pack Athletics
Aug. 5, 2002
By Tony Haynes
No doubt, Greg Golden's move from cornerback to tailback raised more than a few eyebrows when NC State head coach Chuck Amato announced the switch over the weekend. It is indeed rare for a starter on one side of the ball to make such a drastic position change to the other side just three weeks before D-Day. But then again, perhaps the move wasn't all that surprising. Going back to his first day on the job, Amato has shown little if any reluctance to plug holes by shifting players around until the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle fit snuggly into place.
It's about making winning moves, and to this point, Amato's record in that area is impressive.
One of the first things Amato and his staff did upon their arrival in the spring of 2000 was to take the team's most active linebacker and move him from the strong side to the weak side, away from the tight end. The subtle flip-flop helped Levar Fisher become one of the nation's best outside linebackers. Not only did Fisher lead the entire country in tackles that year, he was also named defensive player of the year in the ACC.
But Fisher wasn't the only high profile player to be handed a new assignment in 2000. Just a few days into preseason camp, Amato and then defensive coordinator Buddy Green realized that the Wolfpack had very little depth and experience at either cornerback position. The logical candidate to fill the void was Brian Williams, who had already established himself as one of the ACC's top free safeties as a sophomore. Adapting quickly, Williams provided much-needed stability to a secondary that was in desperate need of talent and savvy at corner.
Although the Vikings selected Williams as a safety in April's NFL Draft, they now say he will stay at corner, a testament to not only his versatility, but the excellent coaching he received the last two years of his college career.
In Brian Jamison, Amato saw the instincts of a linebacker. And although Jamison was the Pack's best pass rushing defensive end as a junior, he appeared to feel right at home when he was moved to linebacker prior to the 2001 campaign.
As we now know, these position changes proved to be beneficial for the team as a whole and the players involved in them
Along with Golden, NC State will have two other converted defensive players lining up on the offensive side of the ball this season. Shane Riggs and Sean Locklear, who were listed as defensive tackles a year ago, will line up as the Pack's starting offensive guards this season. As Amato has said on many occasions, Riggs and Locklear look the part. Not only are both players bigger and stronger than their recent predecessors, they're also more athletic. Their ability to fully grasp the mental nuances of offensive line play, while also perfecting the various techniques needed to be successful, will go a long way in determining just how productive NC State's offense can be this season.
"They're both big, athletic and they can run," said Pack quarterback Philip Rivers. "This will be the best offensive line I've played behind, by far. Now we're thin in there as far as depth is concerned, but those first five are as big, strong and smart as anyone around. I wouldn't trade them for anybody."
Yet another face in a new place this season is sophomore Troy Graham. As a wide receiver last year, the Miami native played in all 12 games and made 13 catches for 119 yards. During the spring, when it was obvious that the Wolfpack would be loaded with wide receivers this fall, Graham was moved to free safety where his 4.4 speed could one day come in handy.
For Amato, it's all about making the moves that will give his team the best chance of winning, and it's highly doubtful that philosophy will change anytime soon. Members of the current freshman class are already creating some dilemmas. Is 6-5 rookie Manny Lawson a linebacker, a defensive end or a wide receiver? Although he's currently working at the SAM linebacker spot, Lawson certainly opened some eyes with his performance as a wide receiver at this summer's East-West All-Star game. "You could just throw it up and let him go get it," Amato said the other day.
The offensive coaches believe T.J. Williams can be a great tight end. Not surprisingly, however, the defensive coaches think he can be a great defensive end. For now, Williams is working with the tight ends. Only time will tell what will happen down the road.
For Chuck Amato, it's about making winning moves.
