The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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82 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL 2014 BY MATT CARTER D efensive line coach Ryan Nielsen could see the progress at the end of spring. He felt his unit had gotten tougher and improved its fundamentals. More than anything though, Nielsen saw his players were beginning to enjoy playing football more, a trait he felt his unit lacked when he first arrived in the offseason of 2013. "I think they really love to ball now," he said. "They've put into it the time and effort, and they practiced hard. "We've just got to transfer the practicing hard and competing to game day. I think they competed a lot better this spring than all of last year." Nielsen has some flexibility with his lineup, especially on the interior where fifth-year senior Thomas Teal, senior T.Y. McGill and sophomore Monty Nelson all have starting experience. McGill is hovering around 300 pounds this summer, a weight Nielsen feels will help the quick-twitched athlete. "He's learning how to play fundamentally sound," Nielsen noted. "I really like his toughness, his demeanor, his love for the game and his desire to win." Teal led NCSU's front four in tackles (40) and tackles for loss (10.5) last season, but af- ter a strong start this spring, he was slowed by an injury. Nielsen wants more from Teal this season. "I would like for him to make more plays," the coach noted. The same can be said for Nelson, who enjoyed a prom- ising rookie season with 32 tackles, including 8.5 for loss. Nielsen is pushing for Nelson to be more consistent with his work ethic. "He's got to play good football for us," he said. "We need him to step up, to be tough, to be that nose tackle, the center of the defense." Depth could come from redshirt freshman Kenton Gibbs, who was pushing for a job last fall before rupturing his Achilles tendon, and early enrollee B.J. Hill, who earned a starting role in the Kay Yow Spring Game. On the edge, fifth-year senior Art Norman is back to make a run at the all-time sacks record for the Pack. He needs nine to move ahead of Mario Williams' record of 26.5. Alongside Norman, NCSU is counting on development from redshirt junior Mike Rose and redshirt sophomore Drew Davis, a former linebacker. Both of them have gained considerable strength in the offseason. "Drew had a great spring, a phenomenal spring," Nielsen said. "He's put on a bunch of weight and looks like a different guy. He looks like a defensive linemen now. "Mike gained 20 pounds as well. He looks like a defensive end instead of a linebacker. He had a great spring. He did a good job last year, but this year he has to do a great job." NCSU signed a touted defensive line class. Hill enrolled in Janu- ary, and five more will be arriving by the start of fall camp, headlined by four-stars Kentavius Street and Justin Jones. Nielsen, though, explained that the newcomers will have to earn their playing time. "I've guaranteed them nothing other than an opportunity to play. That's it," he said. "There is no guarantee of play- ing time or starting, nothing. They've got to come in and prove themselves." Nielsen likes that Street and defensive tackle Deshaywn Middleton had moth- ers that played college sports, and that Middleton and end Bradley Chubb's older brothers play college football. De- fensive end Deonte Holden's dad is a high school football coach. Nielsen feels those traits will help the freshmen have a higher comfort level than typical incoming players. He expects them to mesh well with the veterans, who pleased Nielsen with their renewed confidence. "They know how I'm coaching them; they know the terminol- ogy," he noted. "You can see their football IQ improving, and when that happens, the confidence level is increasing, which is exciting. You want your players thinking they are the greatest when they go out there. "That's what we are doing." ■ Year-By-Year Sack Totals Year Sacks Yards 2013 20 115 2012 33 225 2011 38 242 2010 42 284 2009 24 159 2008 23 144 2007 27 177 2006 24 193 2005 41 292 2004 33 237 DEFENSIVE LINEMEN MORE CONFIDENCE The Defensive Line Showed An Increased Comfort Level By The End Of Spring Fifth-year senior defensive end Art Norman has piled up 17 sacks (tied for seventh most in NC State history) and 27.5 tackles for loss in his career. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN ■ Preseason Analysis **** Among country's best; *** Among ACC's best; ** Solid or has potential; * Too unproven Starters **½ There is some proven experience with fifth-year senior end Art Norman and the trio of defensive tackles (senior T.Y. McGill, fifth-year senior Thomas Teal and sophomore Monty Nelson). Consistency in the second year under the new defensive staff and development from Nelson and redshirt junior defensive end Mike Rose will determine whether this is a solid starting line or one of the better ones in the league. Experience **½ The first three defensive ends and tackles all saw game action last year. On the edge, Norman has 24 career starts under his belt, Rose started four last year and redshirt sophomore Drew Davis played in the last nine contests of the season, averaging 17.3 snaps a game. On the interior, McGill has 13 starts and Teal has 24. Nelson was the only true freshman to start on the front seven last season, starting five times. After those trios, however, there is a considerable drop-off in experience. Depth **½ Between McGill, Teal and Nelson, whoever does not start instantly becomes one of the better backup defensive tackles in the ACC, and a pair of talented freshmen bring potential to the table this fall in redshirt freshman Kenton Gibbs and early enrollee B.J. Hill. On the edge, Davis' development should give NCSU a third defensive end, but it will be a battle between inexperienced veterans and three true freshmen for playing time after that. Overall grade **½ There is definite potential on the defensive line, but for it to be realized they need a cast of veteran linemen to take positive steps forward in their development and for some rookies to come in ready to play. If Rose and Davis on the edge and Nelson inside build off their flashes of potential from last year, veterans such as Norman, Teal and McGill increase their comfort level and consistency in the defense, and a few freshmen can handle valuable reps, then NCSU should have a formidable and deep defensive line. ■ By The Numbers 15 Number of total scholarship de- fensive linemen on the roster. 9 Number of scholarship defensive line- men that were recruited in the 2013 and 2014 classes. 8.5 Sacks needed by fifth-year senior Art Norman to tie Mario Wil- liams' school record of 25.5 career hits on the quarterbacks. 82-84.DLs.indd 82 6/27/14 12:00 PM