TheWolfpacker.com - Friday practice report: Offensive line update

August 11, 2006

Matt Carter
TheWolfpacker.com Editor

New offensive line coach Pat Meyer has an appreciation of the mental part of football.

"It's all about handling the kids, and they are all different," Meyer said. "They all have different buttons you have to push, and you have to know it. Being a strength coach the last 10 years, strength coaches are unique in that they have to know 105 kids, and they have to know how to push buttons, how to get kids to work hard, when to have fun and when you have to be tough. I would say I am energetic, obviously yes. The big people, they are the ones that can get lulled to sleep real quick. Then they end up getting lazy at times."

What Meyer wants from his players is a mean streak, probably similar to the line that played for NC State during the 2003 Gator Bowl season that ranks among the best lines in school history.

"We want them to be big nice guys off the field, be the big nice teddy bears," Meyer said. "On the field we don't want have anything to do with them. We want them to be tough and mean and get after people in there. We expect them to be nice guys off the field and do what you ask them to do. On the field you expect them to be guys that aren't going to take anything from anyone.

"They could be tougher. They are not tough enough yet, but we are working on it. They'll get better and they'll continue to learn how to do that, how to get tough and how to get mean. They have been doing a good job. They have been doing what we have been asking them to do."

Meyer inherited an offensive line that is more experienced that the past couple of seasons.

"We are fortunate to have four seniors on the offensive line, and if we were to play today three would be starters and one is a backup tackle," Meyer said. "That's senior leadership out there. We got some experience, but we are obviously young at that position to in certain spots. A lot of the backups, that is one of the good things having quality depth, that means we have great, quality young plays, but it's inexperience. We have depth, but it's inexperienced right now."

One of the projected starters on the line is junior Kalani Heppe at left guard, but he has been limited through thus far with a leg injury.

"He's got a legitimate injury," Meyer said. "He'll come back from it, he'll be fine. He's got a sore leg, but he'll be fine."

Meyer took over coaching the line from Mike Barry, who left to take a job with the Detroit Lions.

"I know Mike Barry was a very, very good technician," Meyer said. "That's all I know, that really is all I know. I'm not a smart guy. I'm a football guy. I know how to teach technique, how to teach leverage and hand positions and pad positions. The big thing is teaching these kids how to be tough, and how to fight and how to win, get these kids to play hard."

One big difference between Barry and Meyer is their voices. No one would ever confuse Barry with head coach Chuck Amato, but Meyer does have a similar voice with the Pack's leader.

"I get that a lot on the telephones," Meyer said. "I think I can activate some voice-activated phones up in the office. I can have fun with that."

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Senior Jon Holt is in a different position this fall as he has been during his first four training camps ? firmly installed as the starting right tackle.

"In the past it has always been off and on, starting certain games and not starting certain games," Holt said. "It's good to have one unit and know who I am starting with. I have a lot more confidence coming into this camp."

But Holt quickly points out that there is no new-found pressure on him to produce.

"I have always felt pressure on me, but I've been prepared for it," Holt said. "Now that I have the spot, I am not having to sit out the first series then come in for the second. I can go in there and do what I have to do.

"I haven't changed my approach. I keep doing the best I can out there, that's all you can do."

So far Holt is happy with the work of the offensive line.

"This is the most cohesive group we've had in a while," Holt said. "We have fifth-year seniors, and Kalani and Curtis have joined us. We have been hanging around each other. It's a good group. We do a lot of stuff off the field, too. That helps us when we come on the field to be better. We communicate better. The leadership from seniors and everyone following us is working well."

A part of Holt relished the opportunity the last few years of going up against top-notch NFL talent across the NC State defensive line.

"That's the one thing in camp that made us better," he said. "We had to go up against the No. 1 draft pick and Manny the first two years I was here. That gives you more confidence. Curtis had to go against John McCargo as a freshman. Same deal with Kalani. With that group being gone, I think that just made the offensive line the core of the team. I think we have taken it upon ourselves to be the core of the team."

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Last season, the offensive line met every Thursday for dinner. Senior James Newby wouldn't mind seeing that tradition continued.

"So far we really haven't come up anything yet. Hopefully we'll carry that on," Newby said.

A starter for most of the past three seasons, Newby has been impressed with his new offensive line coach.

"He's doing good. He's enthusiastic," Newby said. "He brings a positive attitude out everyday. You look at him, and he just makes you want to practice. This is our fifth practice I guess on our fourth or fifth day in a row, I kind of lose track of days. He comes out and he's ready to go. He really makes you want to play."

Newby will be once again at left tackle, and he updated the progress of the rest of the line.

"Kalani [Heppe] got hurt in the off-season so he has not been able to practice with us yet, so Leroy has been playing guard with me and Luke has been playing center," Newby said. "It has been working out well. I've played with Leroy before, and he has been able to help Luke. I'm sure when Kalani gets healthy he will get back in there. Those guys are doing real well so far. Everybody likes each other. We've spent time with each other.

Our lines [in the past] have always been plagued with injuries. I've played four positions in one game once. It's been tough. I do enjoy being at left tackle because I have been getting to know it real well."

Newby admitted he does not miss the days of lining up across from Manny Lawson and Mario Williams in practice, but he says that lately it has been hard to feel like they are gone.

"They were really good players," Newby said. "But you know we got Manny Lawson's and Mario Williams' playing on our team now, so I think we'll be just fine."

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