North Carolina State University Athletics
Amato Has Questions, But Not at QB
4/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 5, 2005
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C. - As he watches spring practice, NC State head football coach Chuck Amato has some questions in his head. Questions about filling the void left by departed seniors Chris Colmer and Jed Paulsen on the offensive line. Questions looming about a secondary that will have four new starters next fall. And how about trying to replace a pair of senior leaders - Pat Thomas and Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay -- at two linebacker spots? There is also the turnover in the coaching staff, a group that is adjusting to three new coaches. And where are there no question marks in Amato's mind? Try the quarterback position.
Ask the sixth year Wolfpack coach who his starting quarterback is and the name Jay Davis comes out of his mouth before the question reaches its conclusion. There is really no quarterback competition or controversy this spring.
As a first-year starter in 2004, Davis, a redshirt junior at the time, caught more than his fair share of criticism when the NC State offense faltered. The beginning of the post-Philip Rivers era was indeed rocky, as the Pack finished 7th in the ACC in total offense (349 yards per game) and sixth in scoring (24 ppg.).
Davis, a starter in all 11 games last fall, had his moments, passing for 2,104 yards, the 10th best mark in school history. But his 12 touchdown passes were somewhat tainted by 15 interceptions. As the old saying goes, the quarterback usually receives too much praise when things go well and too much criticism when they don't. Injuries to the offensive line and receiver corps also had a negative impact on what he and the rest of the offense were capable of doing, especially late in the year.
Now a fifth year senior, Davis has a season under his belt. He also appears to be energized by the fresh concepts being taught by his new position coach and offensive coordinator, Marc Trestman. Back up signal caller Marcus Stone is also reaping benefits this spring as well.
"There's no question that Jay Davis is the starting quarterback right now," Amato said. "Marc coming in was a breath of fresh air for all of them, including Marcus. He is learning the terminology and learning that if he wants to get better at it, he has to go off on his own, watch film and become a student of the game, which he has done. It's made for a real good spring there."
Trestman, who has spent most of his coaching career in the NFL, was given total latitude to do a complete overhaul of the offense when he joined Amato's program in late January. And while the overall schemes may not look all that much different to the naked eye, the new terminology both players and coaches have tried to learn in a fairly short period of time is completely different.
"The player's minds say that this word means that, so we have to erase that; me included," said Amato. "I thought it would stimulate the coaches that were already here to have to learn all over again. The easy thing would have been for Marc to learn what we did when he came in. But I think by stimulating everybody, it's really been good. When you're in three wides, you can only put them in so many positions; it's all the same but with different terminology. But there's an awful lot of fine tuning and coaching points that are coming out."
During spring workouts, Trestman stays active, constantly communicating with all of his quarterbacks about technique, fundamentals and decision-making. Redshirt freshman Daniel Evans has also caught the eye of his coaches.
A 165-pound freshman last fall, Evans, son of former NC State quarterback Johnny Evans, has added around 15 pounds during off-season conditioning.
"Daniel Evans is getting his feet wet," Amato said. "He throws the ball pretty well. He's got a lot to learn, but he's a good one to have here."
Fans will have an opportunity to see the Pack in action during the annual Red/White Spring Game, set for 1:00 p.m. at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, April 16. Amato will give a progress report on spring practice when he appears on "Inside Wolfpack Sports with Lee Fowler" this Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on WRAZ Fox 50 in the Triangle Area.
