North Carolina State University Athletics
Tony Haynes: Higher Expectations, Fewer Questions
7/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 28, 2003
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.-Never one to run away from lofty expectations, NC State football coach Chuck Amato invites the newfound respect his program is starting to receive both locally and nationally. But he also knows his team better than anyone, and like every other Division-1-A football team in the nation, the Wolfpack still has to deal with a few question marks as it gets set to begin preseason drills. Of course, there are fewer questions going into this season than there were 12 months ago when Amato and his staff weren't sure what to expect when fall camp started.
As a refresher course, let's go back and recap some of the major themes from late July, 2002:
With Cotra Jackson sidelined by academic ineligibility, NC State's roster featured zero tailbacks with any Division 1-A experience. To take some of the pressure off, Greg Golden made what turned out to be a temporary move from corner to tailback, a switch that would allow rookie sensation T.A. McLendon to get his 'feet wet' before being called on to take over as the starter. As we now know, McLendon would go on to win ACC Rookie of the Year honors after rushing for 1,101 yards.
Also one year ago, Amato and his staff openly wondered how the offensive line would function with two converted defensive linemen holding down the starting guard spots. As it turned out, however, Shane Riggs and Sean Locklear snugly fit right in with a unit that had superb chemistry. In the end, NC State's O-line allowed just 11 sacks in 14 games.
Finally, there was the issue of the "invisible defensive coordinator" at this time last year. Peppered with daily questions about his decision not to fill the staff position vacated by the departed Buddy Green, Amato occasionally became annoyed at the notion held by some that his defense couldn't function without a singular assistant coach holding down the title of coordinator. What happened? The Wolfpack led the ACC in total defense and prevented Florida State and Notre Dame from scoring an offensive touchdown in back-to-back games to end the season.
In other words, if this year's NC State team can deal with preseason question marks as well as the 2002 Pack, then we're in for a remarkable run through the months of September, October and November.
This year, expectations are even higher, while the question marks are limited primarily to a defensive line that will be completely retooled.
Players like Shawn Price, Drew Wimsatt, George Anderson and Terrance Martin were the key members of a defensive front that played solidly from start to finish in 2002. Replacing their ability and overall experience will be a test for a new group that will be long on talent but short on age.
It's realistic to expect high school phenom Mario Williams to become an All-ACC caliber defensive end in the future, but unrealistic to expect those credentials right away. The same can be said for rookie tackle DeMarcus "Tank" Tyler, whose encounter with strength coach Todd Stroud's off-season conditioning program has been an eye opening and body-shrinking experience.
Seniors Sheldon Lewin and Alan Halloway were adequate as part-time tackles a year ago, but how will they handle being on the field for twice as many snaps? And can tackle John McCargo be as good on Saturdays as he was during the spring? Ditto for Dwayne Herndon, Renaldo Moses and Brian Cross.
The wild card in all of this is defensive end Terrance Chapman, who is expected to return after addressing the academic concerns that kept him off the field last season. If healthy, Chapman will likely establish himself as one of the ACC's most disruptive and explosive pass rushers.
We'll know very quickly just where the Pack's young defensive front stands. In week two, NC State will face a Wake Forest team that ranked 7th in the nation in rushing with an average of 241.15 yards per game in 2002. Then comes a meeting seven days later with the defending national champs. In running for an average of 191.29 yards per contest a year ago, Ohio State often bullied its opponents with a massive offensive line that opened holes for rookie sensation Maurice Clarett.
But if the defensive line develops quickly, NC State will have a chance to muzzle the questions, while also living up to soaring expectations.
