The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1000643
98 ■ THE WOLFPACKER SAFETIES BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State safeties went through a state of flux at the beginning of last year, but the bigger changes occurred when the season ended. NC State entered the season opener against South Carolina with Jarius Morehead and Dexter Wright starting at safety with former starting safety Shawn Boone having moved to nickel. Wright got injured against the Gamecocks, though, and Tim Kidd- Glass took over the spot. First-year assistant Aaron Henry was coaching the safeties, while defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable had the nickels as part of his linebacker room. The offseason brought changes to the staff with Henry now coaching the nickels and former Duke head coach Ted Roof hired as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. More- head, Kidd-Glass and Wright all return to man the two safety spots. Roof watched all 13 NC State games from 2017 to catch up on the players he'll be coaching. "I want them to play faster," the 31st-year college coach said. "I want them to play free mentally and play faster. I want to eliminate the wasted movement in transition and also become more physical. "I think we did that, but we're not where we need to be yet. I think we accomplished those goals. I think we've got some good competition too." Roof has four traits he looks for in his safeties. "Guys that can play man coverage, guys who are physical and can tackle because at some point, we're all going to be in the box," he explained. "The guys that can play the deep ball and guys that can adjust. "On top of every defensive player, you want to have great change of direction and also along with the ability to adjust for the defensive backs is the communication aspect of it." Morehead was second on the team in tackles (80) last year from his strong safety position during his first year as a starter. The redshirt junior added one tackle for loss, two fumbles recovered and his lone interception of the season came against Arizona State in the Sun Bowl. He had a career-high 11 tackles in the win over Louisville. The 6-1, 220-pound Morehead played quarterback, wide re- ceiver, outside linebacker and safety, among other positions, at Gibsonville (N.C.) Eastern Guilford High, which has produced former NCSU football stars Torry and Terrence Holt. "I've coached a lot of guys that were high school quarterbacks and have had pretty good success with them as far as understanding the defense," Roof said. "It's not only understanding what you are trying to do, but understanding the guy under center. "Those guys are used to being in leadership positions. They're used to having to figure things out on the move with a bunch of moving pieces." The 6-1, 202-pound Kidd-Glass, a junior, took over for an in- jured Wright against South Carolina, and then started the next nine games. Boone replaced him against Wake Forest, while Wright FAST AND FREE That's How Veteran Coach Ted Roof Wants His Safeties To Play YEAR-BY-YEAR INTERCEPTION TOTALS Year Int. Return Yards 2017 14 202 2016 10 130 2015 13 77 2014 10 159 2013 12 146 2012 16 192 2011 27 381 2010 9 164 2009 8 65 2008 18 197 Redshirt junior Jarius Morehead started 12 games at strong safety in 2017 and ranked second on the team with 80 tackles. PHOTO BY JACEY ZEMBAL ■ Preseason Analysis **** Among country's best; *** Among ACC's best; ** Solid or has potential; * Too unproven Starters **½ Redshirt junior Jarius Morehead and junior Tim Kidd-Glass are the returning starters at strong safety and free safety, respectively. The Wolfpack needs that duo to step forward and for one of them to become the leader of the secondary. Fifth-year senior Dexter Wright, who started the 2017 season opener, will also be a factor on the back end, and could emerge as the starter. Experience *** Morehead has started 13 out of 26 games played and Kidd-Glass has 10 starts in 21 contests. Add in Wright, who has played in 30 career games with two career starts, and experience is not an issue for the Wolfpack. Depth ** The player that doesn't start between Kidd-Glass and Wright, plus redshirt sophomore Isaiah Stallings will give NC State two large reserve safeties, and both will be expected to make an impact on special teams. Kidd-Glass is 6-1 and 202 pounds, Wright is 6-2 and 232 pounds, and Stallings is 6-4 and 223 pounds. Overall grade **½ NC State will have to get rid of some "what ifs" with new safeties coach Ted Roof, who is also co-defensive coordinator, but the Wolfpack should be able to iron out any issues. Eliminating some of the big run plays from a year ago and creating more turnovers would show that the group has gone to the next level.