The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/699450
74 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2016 BY MATT CARTER D efensive line coach and run-game coordinator for defense Ryan Nielsen knows he has a veteran group returning after playing most of last year with a front consisting primarily of freshmen and sophomores. Nielsen will not deny that experience is beneficial, but he is not rest- ing on it either. You will not hear him talking as if his unit has arrived on the big-time stage. "I don't ever look what year those guys are because sometimes younger guys have better years early in their careers than when they get older," Nielsen ex- plained. "It just happens that way sometimes. "We have some guys that have experience coming back, which I think is important. Our guys understand what we're asking them to do in game situations, and that's a big part of it that does come into play." The coach was pleased with where his players ended spring practice compared to where they began. He is also im- pressed with the results he is seeing from the weight room. "They've put themselves into a position going into the summer to build off that," Nielsen said. "We're not ready to play the first game of the season yet, but I think they're working towards that." At defensive end, junior Bradley Chubb started all 13 games last year after moving from linebacker in the previous spring. He had a productive campaign, finishing sec- ond on the squad with 69 tackles, including 5.5 sacks among 12 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also led NC State with eight quarterback pressures and tied former safety turned linebacker Germaine Pratt for most forced fumbles with three. From Nielsen's perspective, Chubb had a good year. Now he wants him to be great. "He's got to improve his pass rush, his disruption, but Bradley is going to come to play every game," DEFENSIVE LINE WELL POSITIONED An Experienced Unit Is Working Hard To Be Ready For The Season Junior B.J. Hill (98) has started 18 of the last 19 games at nose tackle, and recorded 51 tackles, 11 stops for loss and 3.5 sacks in 2015. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN ■ By The Numbers 1 Number of scholarship senior de- fensive linemen on the roster. 1 Number of recruits signed on the defensive line in the 2016 class. 54 Accumulated career star ts among defensive linemen (not including two starts by former defensive end Pharoah McKever who has moved to tight end).