The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1000643
78 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2018 BY MATT CARTER AND JACEY ZEMBAL N C State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Dave Huxtable lost some familiar faces from his unit this past off- season, including Its four starting senior defensive linemen were all selected within the first four rounds of the NFL Draft. The group was headlined by All-American defensive end Bradley Chubb. NCSU also lost linebackers Airius Moore and Jerod Fernandez, nickel Shawn Boone, and cornerbacks Mike Stevens and Johna- than Alston. The defense will have three returning starters in the secondary, but will have to reload the front seven. Additionally, the Wolfpack welcomes former Duke head coach Ted Roof as a co- defensive coordinator and the safeties coach, with Aaron Henry shifting from coaching safeties to handling nickel. NC State allowed 25.2 points, 131.0 rush- ing yards and 253.2 passing yards per game last year. The Wolfpack recorded 30 sacks, picked off 14 passes and recovered seven fumbles. Opposing teams were held to a 41.9 per- cent conversion rate on third down and pro- duced only 24 touchdowns in 44 trips to the red zone (54.5 percent). Huxtable took time with The Wolfpacker to discuss the defense. What was it like to see so many new faces on defense during spring practices? "This is when you get excited. You have an opportunity to take a young guy and develop him and teach him. Coaching is teaching, and with our number of younger players we have to be at our best as coaches every day and be motivated to do our job at the highest level. "There are times it gets hard and difficult because mistakes are made, and I'm the worst one with patience. I have to, as my wife tells me, take three deep breaths." Does the three deep breaths theory work? "Sometimes, but not all times." What have you noticed with the re- shuffled defensive staff and players? "We've got a lot of really, really good players to replace. Every snap this spring [was] a learning rep for a lot of these guys that were on the scout field last year, being redshirted, or just playing special teams and not taking defensive snaps. "There's been a lot of learning. I've really been proud of the defensive staff and how hard that they've worked and the job that they have done with these young guys. "We've got a long ways to go because we are replacing a lot of good players, but they have winning hearts, and they've worked very hard." Who will replace the quartet of NFL draft picks on the defensive line? "[Senior] Darian Roseboro has played a lot of football and is working very hard. He had a really good spring. Darian is going to do a really good job for us. "[Redshirt sophomore] Shug Frazier backed up B.J. Hill last year and got some valuable reps that are going to help him in the competition for that role. He's been in the fire. "[Redshirt junior] Larrell Murchison is a junior college transfer, and I've been very impressed with his work ethic. [Redshirt freshman] Grant Gibson took a bunch of reps at the nose position, and is getting big- ger and stronger. We've got some depth there. "[Senior] Eurndraus Bryant, like Dar- ian, has played a lot of football for us. He suffered an injury in the spring, but is back working with the team. I see him being a really good player. Between Larrell Murchi- son and Bryant, we are going to have good depth at that tackle position. "[Redshirt junior] James Smith-Williams, who backed up Bradley Chubb, is a good, solid football player. He is always where he is supposed to be, doing the job. FRESH START Defensive Coordinator Dave Huxtable Is Molding A New Group Of Players DEFENSE Q&A