North Carolina State University Athletics
#STATEOFGRIND: The Fast & the Physical
3/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - Practice 9 of #STATEOFGRIND was a little .... hmmm ... let's just say feisty!  Competition is ramping up at many spots and guys on both sides of the ball were taking it pretty personally when the other side made a big play.
Coach Doeren told the team after the practice (shorts but full pads):  "I want swagger on both sides of the ball, but don't cross the line."  He reminded them that with Easter break coming up, they will have back-to-back practices on Thursday and Friday (Thursday will be a day that focuses on red zone offense and defense) and the team will have Saturday off.
He reminded the team that they needed to finish the semester strong in the classroom and reminded them that the beautiful weather could cause them to lose focus.  "We cannot have distractions on this team."
Today's focus is on the running backs.  You know, that position that everybody is so excited about?  The one where we're stacked to the gills with talented players and everybody is worried how we'll get the ball to all of them?
(If you think that, immediately go and knock on a piece of wood or throw salt over your shoulder!  This old blogger remembers the same thing being said a few years back when we had a trio of running backs named Baker, Brown and Eugene and they dropped like flies to injuries!).
If you've finished knocking, keep reading, because the position really is a deep one this spring -- and that's before the addition of highly-touted incoming players Johnny Frasier and Nyheim Hines.  Shadrach Thornton returns for his senior year after leading the team in rushing last season.  Matt Dayes (can you believe he's already a junior?!) was a threat in various ways last year -- as he was one of just three players nationally with over 300 yards rushing, passing and by return who also scored five or more TDs rushing and receiving.  Dakwa Nichols came on strong at the end of 2014 as a returner and is back in that role this spring as well.
Reggie Gallaspy II is definitely turning heads with his solid play this spring.  It's hard to believe that he should still be in high school right now when watching his mature demeanor and businesslike approach to practice.  And walkon Brady Bodine is a tough little runner who has gotten better since spring workouts began a month ago.
Speaking of businesslike, the running backs might be the most businesslike group on the field (tight ends and fullbacks might be close).  There's not a lot of joking around in this group.  "Part of that atttitude is Coach Kitching's personality," said Nichols after practice.  "But we like it.  We are just thinking about what we need to do."
RBs coach Des Kitchings is rarely a yeller -- in fact during 11 on 11 work when almost every position coach on the field seems to be screaming instructions or corrections, he stands quietly behind the offense with his small group of backs -- telling them the play, or giving them instruction.
During team work, his eyes are on his running back every millisecond -- as they walk from the huddle, get in their stance, go in motion, catch, run or block and all the way as they walk back to the line of scrimmage.  If one fumbles, he might not make eye contact with his coach as he returns to the group, but a few minutes later, Kitchings will quietly address him about what happened.
"Fast & Physical" is the running backs mantra, and Kitchings expects them to be both in every drill and every snap, whether they're going through the chutes to work on ball security or going one-on-one in pass protection with the linebackers and the nickels (Speaking of physical -- Gallaspy vs. LB Jerod Fernandez was a great matchup today, with each getting the better of the other on different reps).
