The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/699450
62 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2016 BY JACEY ZEMBAL F irst-year offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford stresses versa- tility and adapting to whatever scenario comes up. Ledford has shown those skills in his own career. He started off playing defensive tackle at East Carolina, before making the move to left tackle his senior year with the Pirates. The position switch paid off with a seven-year NFL career and a post-playing career as an offensive line coach that took him from Appalachian State to NC State this past winter. Ledford believes that the players should know how to play mul- tiple positions. "I always refer back to my time as a player in the NFL, you only had seven to eight guys that make the trip each week," Ledford said. "You had to embrace being a lineman, and not a left tackle, right tackle or guard. "You had to do all of it. I've tried to get those guys where they can do all of that." The goal is still the same — as with all offensive line coaches — to find the best five players and have them get the game reps to form a cohesive unit. The chemistry of the NCSU line will try to improve upon allowing 39 sacks in 2015. "I told the guys that I'm going to play the best five, whoever that best five is," Ledford said. "Then we'll set our depth from there. I'd like to try to get that established early in camp. OFFENSIVE LINE FITTING TOGETHER A Mix Of Versatile Players Are Aiming To Form A Cohesive Unit ■ By The Numbers 4 Games missed by starters due to injury or suspension last year. The left guard position was in flux for three contests after Alex Barr got hurt, and right tackle Will Richardson missed one game due to suspension. 4.9 Yards per carry last year for NC State's rushing attack, and that was with running back Matthew Dayes suffering a season-ending injury in the eighth game and Shadrach Thornton getting kicked off the team after the fourth contest. The Wolfpack rushed 540 times for 2,627 yards and 36 touchdowns. 39 Sacks allowed by NC State on 413 passing attempts, which was an increase of 10 from 2014 (29 QB takedowns on 381 passes). The Wolfpack allowed a sack every 10.6 passes last year. Junior right guard Tony Adams played a team-high 939 snaps in 2015 and is the one lineman locked into a position heading into the fall. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN