Norfolk State's offensive line still a work in progress

After concluding three weeks of spring practice,

Norfolk State is set on four of its five starting offensive linemen. But the group will still face plenty of questions next fall.

"Obviously, that whole group is going to need game experience," coach Pete Adrian said. "Until you start playing, you don't really know what you have."

Kendall Noble, the only returning starter, will begin the year at left tackle, while Michael Kay, who got significant playing time last season, will start at center. Blake Matthews and Kenneth Johnson took hold at left and right guard, respectively.

Still to be decided is who will play right tackle. Adrian said three or four players are in the mix.

Early in the spring, the line looked so out of sorts that position coach Rod Holder was physically moving his linemen around and compelling them to explode off the line.

"It definitely started off as a struggle," quarterback Chris Walley said. "It kept people thinking about it. By the end, it was a complete change. Coach Holder got those boys right."

Running options

Junior Takeem Hedgeman and redshirt freshman Marvin Ford both enjoyed solid springs, putting them in the lead to replace DeAngelo Branche, NSU's all-time leading rusher.

Neither is likely to handle Branche's battering-ram workload, which gave NSU its offensive identity last season. Ford is speedy but slight, a nice fit for a spread offense but unlikely to hold up to an every-down load. Hedgeman hasn't carried the ball more than nine times in a game.

Combined, Adrian hopes the pair, along with a running QB like Nico Flores, can replace the ground yardage.

Getting defensive

For the second straight season, NSU's strength is likely to be defense.

Norfolk State's five leading tacklers return, and Adrian noted a pair of linebackers as players who made the biggest strides this spring.

Onyemechi Anyaugo, who took over for injured Anthony Taylor midway through 2010, finished third on the team in tackles and was even stronger this spring, knowing the inside linebacker position was his. Adrian said Maury graduate Jamal Giddens excelled in his bid to replace outside linebacker Lamont Thorpe and may have had the most impressive spring of any player.

"Giddens was outstanding," Adrian said. "He made plays every time he was out there.... They'll give us a great pair."

Early starts

Because of class conflicts for players, the team spent much of the spring session working out from 6 to 8 a.m. Breakfast before workouts wasn't even an option for most players since the dining halls weren't open. The staff distributed Ensure shakes before practices, while quarterbacks coach Steve Canter brought energy bars for his unit.

The staff, meanwhile, subsisted on a caffeine diet, and for once, even Adrian wasn't preaching a team concept.

"You were on your own," Adrian said. "I know I came in with mine."

Late kickoffs

Fans accustomed to NSU's early afternoon starting times will have to adjust this fall. The Spartans have changed the starting times on three MEAC home games from 1 to 4 p.m. to accommodate pregame activities.

The South Carolina State, Hampton and Bethune-Cookman games will start at 4 p.m., the Virginia State game at 6. Only the North Carolina A&T game will begin in the early afternoon, with kickoff set for 2 p.m.