North Carolina State University Athletics
2005 Preseason Diary, Day 10
8/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 11, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. - I know you don't want to hear it. But it was HOT out on the field this morning - the team's first full contact workout. I'm sure if you asked each player going off the field what stood out the most about this morning's session, they would have said the same thing: "IT WAS HOT!"
The team does have a new high-tech way to beat the heat that they tried out for the first time today. It's called a TMS (Temperature Management System) and it's like a personal air conditioner attached to the players' pads. If the player chooses to have this piping attached to his pads, during a break, the managers can hook up the cooling system to him and cool air will cool him off - under his pads.
Not everybody on the team is wearing the new deal, but those that did stampeded to the tent during breaks to get hooked up and cooled off. Pretty cool (literally), huh? Other players found alternate ways to beat the heat. Patrick Lowery has traded his long locks for a buzz cut, while Tramain Hall was almost unrecognizable with his head completely shaved!
After opening with special teams work, the team worked on formations and individual drills for several periods. When I first walked out on the field, I noticed that Levin Neal was hitting the blocking dummy with the cornerbacks. Coach Amato told me later than Levin, who had been working with the wide receivers, has asked to play both ways. So he will be spending alternating practices with the offense and defense.
There were several guys sitting out with minor injuries, but most should be back for tonight's workout. There are always more injuries once the full pads are put on. We're also getting closer to game time, so there will be less and less information to share about practice.
During board drills, one thing stood out to me: A.J. Davis has gotten much stronger. I watched him manhandle a wide receiver and was pretty impressed. The running backs and linebackers only did the boards for a couple of reps before they started working on pass protection.
During seven-on-sevens, it seemed like everybody was a little more covered now that they're in full contact. Phillip Holloman had a nice PBU on the second play and then Jay Davis started hitting his targets: Sterling Hicks (who I'm telling you, is REALLY looking sharp), Brian Clark, T.J. Williams, John Ritcher, and a long one to Bobby Washington. Marcus Stone also had a nice ball to Washington, who followed with a good run and another to Jamelle Eugene.
During inside drill, the first team defense dominated, with John McCargo and DeMario Pressley getting good penetration. During another series, Willie Young stripped the ball and J.J. Jones picked it up for a score. Andre Brown looked sharp, scoring on a couple of good cuts and spin moves. Eugene also had a couple of spin and runs.
On 11-on-11, Jay and the boys went to work. He caught Barrett wide open a couple of times and Hicks had another couple of good catches. I saw Darrell Blackman bring down a one-hander on the sideline that looked just like that amazing catch he had at Maryland last year. Hicks had another acrobatic catch from Stone (the ref. called it out of bounds, but it was STILL a great catch).
And then, it was time! For the first time this season - GOALLINE! As the team ran down to the endzone, Coach Amato was screaming, "It's an attitude. An Attitude! An Attitude!"
The third-team defense was up first and Blackman, Washington and Reggie Davis all scored. When the first-team defense was out there, Marcus Hudson made a stop behind the line of scrimmage, then A.J. Davis wrestled Andre Brown to the ground just shy of the goalline. On the next play, Brown had a walk-in score.
Today is also the first day of two-a-days, so the team will be back out tonight in shells (shorts and shoulder pads). Today's practice was run-oriented, while tonight's will focus on the pass.
