North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack Dons Full Pads for First Time
8/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 10, 2005
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C. - As he walked away from NC State's first preseason practice in full pads on Wednesday morning, head coach Chuck Amato had a mixed opinion of what had taken place during the two-hour workout. On one hand, he was pleased with the performance of the offense. But then again, since much of that success had come at the expense of what is expected to be a vaunted defense, the sixth-year head coach of the Pack wasn't exactly in the mood for a party. Amato also emphasized that the players have yet to engage in full contact.
"Nothing was live, but the pads got the best of `em," he said. "It was nasty. Muggy and hot."
After two days of practicing in relatively comfortable weather under cloudy skies, the players and coaches were drenched following Wednesday's session, which was staged in wilting humidity over the last hour or so.
"The offense did some good things today," said Amato. "The defense couldn't stop anybody. I don't like it. I like it for the offense."
Amato, a former linebacker at NC State and a longtime defensive coach, isn't about to let his defensive unit get a little complacent after the squad led the nation in total defense a year ago. Offensively, the Pack seems to be making a fairly smooth adaptation to new coordinator Marc Trestman's system.
The way some of the offensive players see it, if they can have even moderate success against the NC State defense, then good things are on the horizon.
"The defense is great," said tailback Reggie Davis. "Practicing against those guys really steps up our game as an offense and helps us get better. It's like a two-way street: they help us and we help them."
Davis is part of a running back corps that may very well be the deepest position on the entire team. Along with sophomores Bobby Washington and Darrell Blackman, Davis will be fighting for playing time this preseason. But not to be forgotten are talented rookies Andre Brown and Toney Baker.
"[The competition] is great," said Davis, who was the Pack's second leading rusher with 227 yards on just 46 carries last season. "It pumps me up. We're all here to do a job and it doesn't matter who is out there because we're all going to get the job done. I just love the guys; they're coming in and playing hard. I'm just trying to do my best so that I can be out there on the field scoring touchdowns and helping the team win."
When they arrived in camp, Baker and Brown obviously had some ground to make up while they learned the system that Davis, Washington and Blackman were first introduced to back in the spring.
"Bobby, Darrell and I have been getting most of the reps because the young guys don't really know everything," Davis said. "They're still getting some reps. We're trying to show the young guys the ropes. As they watch us, they'll see a great example. We have to lead by example so those guys will know what to do when they get in there."
Wolfpack Notes: NC State will have its first two-a-day on Thursday with practices in the morning and afternoon. NCAA rules allow for 29 total practices before the first game. The annual "Day of Champions" will be held Sunday afternoon at the RBC Center. Festivities begin with members of the football team participating in a strength and conditioning exhibition at 2:00 p.m. That will be followed up by an autograph session with the entire squad. Parking and admittance are free of charge.
