In last Saturday’s spring scrimmage, the Wolfpack saw the return of two defensive players who sat out a combined 17 games in 2009 with injuries. For both sophomore cornerback Rashard Smith and redshirt senior linebacker Nate Irving, the scrimmage marked a return to the football field after months spent recovering from injury. While those two players returned to action, redshirt sophomore running back Brandon Barnes dislocated his ankle and will be out indefinitely, according to coach Tom O’Brien. And while Saturday was a step in the right direction for both Irving and Smith, O’Brien said they have work to do before returning to playing at the level he would like them to.
“Irving is not anywhere close to where he was,” O’Brien said. “In comparison, he is ahead of where [former running back] Toney Baker was at a similar spot last year at this time. He has got a long way to go, but certainly his being out there is a big help to the defense.”
On the other hand, O’Brien said he has been pleased with Smith’s physical progression, but still sees room for improvement for the sophomore corner from Dublin, Ga.
“Rashard [Smith] is healthy enough, but he has a long way to go,” O’Brien said. “He has to play better than he did Saturday, that is for sure. He has to step it up, and a lot of guys do.”
Smith, who started three games last year before a knee injury against Boston College ended his season, said his first couple plays back after his injury were tough, but he quickly adjusted to the pace of the scrimmage.
“With my injury, I feel like I’m coming along pretty well,” Smith said. “I feel good, I feel no pain. There is always room for improvement. The first three plays were a little shaky because that was my first time actually getting live contact since October, but after a while I got back into rhythm and settled down and played football.”
Just less than a year after a horrific car crash that nearly ended his life, redshirt senior linebacker Nate Irving saw his first action since last summer in Saturday’s scrimmage. In his return, Irving made eight tackles, three and a half of them behind the line, and also recorded a sack and forced fumble.
“The first day of practice, it was more than I thought it would be,” Irving said. “I can’t even put it in words. If I said it felt good or that I was happy, that would be an understatement.”
The Pack’s defensive leader in 2008 when he made 84 tackles and intercepted four passes,was sorely missed last season when his team surrendered an average of 31.2 points per game without him. In addition to returning from injuries including a broken leg and punctured lung, Irving will be transitioning from weak-side to middle linebacker next season.
“It was different from what I am used to, actually being in there and going full speed as opposed to practice, when you get breaks in between plays,” Irving said. “Being in a live scrimmage at middle linebacker, it’s a different look, but I’m enjoying it.”
O’Brien said his staff is focused on helping Irving adjust to his new position this spring, and he emphasized patience and confidence that by the season opener in September his star linebacker will be playing the way he was prior to his injury.
“We are trying to take care of him and make sure we do not over-work him,” O’Brien said. “It is just a question of managing him properly and we know that he will be much better in August than he will be even here in another week or so. Right now, what he is trying to do is learn the position. It’s a lot different than what he has played before because he’s got a lot more responsibility. When he catches up physically, he will be able to perform at a high level.”
Irving said he expects to have regained his strength and speed by the time the Pack opens its season Sept. 4 against Western Carolina.
“I know I will be 100 percent by the time the season starts,” Irving said. “Right now I know I still have more to do, strength and speed to pick up, mental toughness and things like that to build up on. But I’m not too far off.”
Smith also said he was excited for the season opener and that his time spent on the sideline due to injury in 2009 has increased his anticipation for the 2010 season.
“Being injured, you never want to sit on the sidelines and watch your teammates work hard every day when you know you can’t be out there helping them work hard and defeat opponents,” Smith said. “I’m very excited about this season coming up. We are coming along very well in spring practice and we are striving to become one of the best teams in the ACC, we just have to come out here and keep working hard every day.”
