New line coach hopes Pack makes grade

Former strength coach has task of molding new faces into cohesive unit

RALEIGH -- N.C. State's running backs are ready to rumble, but how far they rumble will depend heavily on an offensive line that's in a developing mode.

Senior all-star candidate Leroy Harris and his unsung blocking buddies are trying to fill holes created by three departed starters from last year and open holes for Toney Baker and Andre Brown.

"I'd give them a good grade," head coach Chuck Amato said of his linemen. "They are meshing together, and there have not been a lot of missed assignments. Quarterbacks have had time to throw. In the running game, there have been gaping holes."

While generally pleased, Amato cited lack of experienced depth as a concern. Also, the current starters -- tackles James Newby and Jon Holt, guards Harris and Curtis Crouch and center Luke Lathan -- have been going mostly against the No. 2 defense.

Harris and Newby are experienced trench fighters, having started a combined 50 games. But the other three have a total of six starts.

It's the job of new line coach Pat Meyer, one of State's strength and conditioning coaches the previous six years, to have everybody ready for the season-opener Sept. 2 against Appalachian State.

To succeed takes football smarts, fundamental skills and toughness, Meyer stressed.

"We've got a pretty smart group,'' Meyer said. "I give 'em a B, but it's got to [get] to A.

"Fundamentals? They'll end up being A's; they are a B-minus now.

"Toughness?: They're C now. We need to be an A-plus. That's the biggest thing."

As a player, Meyer exuded those tough traits. He was a three-time All-WAC lineman and an academic All-America at Colorado State and also played one season in the NFL.

Going from strength coach to offensive line coach is an unusual move, however. Yet Amato had no qualms about making the switch after former line coach Mike Barry left for the Detroit Lions.

"I told [Pat] when the first opportunity came to put him there, and I felt comfortable with it, I'd do it,'' Amato said. "Had I not done it, I later found out he would be in the NFL as an assistant line coach. He's a sharp youngster."

He's also a high energy, fired-up assistant with a sprinkle of humor.

During breaks, Meyer has been known to climb the coach's tower and dump water on his weary lineman. He also rides a motorcycle.

"He's almost like one of us, relates to us real well and keeps everybody's morale up," Newby said. "He praises you if you do well, chews you out if you do bad. [But] he tries to reinforce everybody with a positive attitude."

Newby did well last year, starting all 12 games, and had five knockdown blocks in the win over Florida State.

Harris, a center the past two years, is at left guard now. At either spot, the leader of the line is primed to pancake opponents.

"He's a nice kid," Meyer said. "But with a helmet on, he's a mean dude."

Lathan has been a "pleasant surprise" at center and has shown football smarts when making the line calls, Meyer said.

Holt made significant strides last spring, ranking as the Pack's most improved offensive lineman. And big things are expected from Crouch, a true sophomore who flashed promise as a freshman.

"He's an explosive kid," Meyer said. "When he's playing hard, he's as good as any of them."

Kalani Heppe, an injury-plagued junior, was slated to start again at guard but has been hampered by a hamstring problem.

Offensive linemen are usually an overworked and overlooked bunch. But they struck a deal with quarterback Marcus Stone, who has praised them in preseason.

If the Pack gives up less than a sack per game (it allowed 28 last season), Lathan said Stone told the linemen: "I'll take you out to dinner, cook steak for you guys."

So State's hulks on the line are hunkering down.