The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/337646
80 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL 2014 ing, you have to defend the whole field. Speed kills, and I think we have gotten faster with some of the changes we've made." What do you like about your deep group of defensive tackles? "There is a lot of experience there with T.Y. McGill and Thomas Teal [both se- niors], and Monty Nelson played last year as a true freshman. "[Freshman] B.J. Hill enrolled early and was here for the winter conditioning and spring practice. He just hasn't played live in a game yet. "We've have some bodies and some depth, so we can rotate. We can ask them to go out and play five to six plays as hard as they can go, and then we'll get them a blow." Have you noticed any differences with McGill and Teal now that they are senior leaders? "They both lead by their work ethic. Thomas is a real quiet kid, but T.Y. is a vo- cal kid. T.Y., in particular, has a great work ethic. His leadership comes more by how hard he works. "We'd like to see both those guys be a little bit more vocal and provide a little bit more leadership. Hopefully, that comes this fall." What are your thoughts on your defen- sive ends, fifth-year senior Art Norman and redshirt junior Mike Rose? "Mike Rose has gotten bigger this off- season and summer, and he runs extremely well. He could be a great edge rusher for us, as will Art. "Those guys got a lot of experience un- der their belts from last year. I really look for them to be big-play potential guys for us." What can Norman do this year to reach a new level? "You keep polishing and sharpening the skills that you learn. You can work on the techniques that Coach Nielsen has taught to the defensive line, and he's just had a year of learning that. Art still has a lot of learn- ing, polishing and sharpening to do in his skills and techniques. "He is a smart and quick learner. He has a great work ethic, and I think Art will have an outstanding year for us." How is redshirt junior safety Hakim Jones progressing after starting the second half of the season last year? "I saw Hakim gain more and more confi- dence as the season went on. He became a very consistent safety for us and did a nice job. He is a great student of the game and studies it. "He is very confident back there. He knows the system as well as anybody, and your safeties need to — and be the vocal leaders back there. He should be a really good leader for us this year." How crucial is safety play? "Our safeties, No. 1, have to be sure tacklers. Defensive football is a game of angles. The safeties at the third level of your defense have got to take proper pur- suit angles. We ask our safeties to be down some in the box to defend the run. We ask them to play with depth and be a coverage guy. "It takes a special cat to play at safety. They have to be your better athletes on the field and play with their eyebrows up. They have to be smart dudes." How will the presence of sixth-year se- nior safety Jarvis Byrd help out the young guys in the secondary? "I love Jarvis. I don't know where he'll be from a playing standpoint after his knee injury. Hopefully, he is able to play and give us some downs. "If he can't, I just love having that guy in the room. He just lights the room up with his personality and positive attitude. He is a very popular guy on this football team, particularly the defense. He can be a leader for the whole defense and particularly the back group." Is redshirt junior Juston Burris poised to become the top cornerback after learning from Dontae Johnson, David Amerson and C.J. Wilson over the years? "That will come about this fall. I think our new cornerbacks coach George Bar- low, who Coach [Dave] Doeren hired this offseason, did an outstanding job with our corners. I saw them get better and better through the 15 days of spring practice. Juston, in particular, has what you like in a cornerback. He has that size and length, and he can run and he is athletic. "He can also defend the run and isn't just a cover guy. He can stick his nose in there and is an aggressive kid. He is going to have a really good year and be one of our leaders." ■ "I really like the speed we have on our defense. … With all the one-back and spread offenses that we are playing, you have to defend the whole field. Speed kills, and I think we have gotten faster with some of the changes we've made." ■ Huxtable Freshman B.J. Hill (98), who enrolled early and participated in winter conditioning and spring practice, is part of a deep group of defensive tackles. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN 78,80.Defense Q&A.indd 80 6/27/14 11:50 AM