Competitive Fall Camp Awaits for Tabacca’s Offensive Line

Competitive Fall Camp Awaits for Tabacca’s Offensive Line

7/8/2020 12:30:00 PM | Football

“We had the most competition among our group in a long time.” -- Nick Tabacca.

By: Les Johns

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Along with the rest of the world, Wake Forest football's coaching staff had to improvise and forge a new plan for the spring and summer upon the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Like everybody, we've discovered the world of Zoom and how to meet virtually," offensive line coach Nick Tabacca said. "We have found ways to be productive without being face-to-face. As a coach, my favorite thing is being in the room with the guys.

"Following Coach Clawson's leadership, we have come up with a good plan to keep in touch with our guys and meet with them. We've done so consistently and bringing them back methodically has been nice."

Unlike a skill position player where a family member or friend can throw them a football to assist in drills amid quarantine, offensive linemen do not have it that easy.

"There are aspects to offensive line play, certain techniques you have to continue to work on that you cannot do without another person next to you," Tabacca said. "At a certain point, every position in football runs into that. It's one thing to have someone back home throw passes, but to find the timing you need, it has to be done with your teammates."

This was a particularly important spring camp for the self-described "Beef Boys," although the Deacs were only able to complete five practices prior to the onset of the coronavirus.

"This has certainly presented a hurdle to get over, but it's a hurdle everybody in the country has had to face," Tabacca said. "I'm thankful we got five (practices) in. There are some schools who did not get that many.

"I just love spring ball. It is one of my favorite times of the year. It is a time when you see the young guys take the next step and our student-athletes are improving. They're all just focused on getting better on and off the field."

Graduated from last year's offensive line are three redshirt senior starters, including Justin Herron, Nate Gilliam and Jake Benzinger. With only two starters returning (Zach Tom, Sean Maginn), Tabaaca continues to look for individuals to step up and fill that void.

"We had the most competition among our group in a long time," Tabacca said. "I was anxious to see how that played out this spring, and watch who was going to rise to the top. It didn't happen, and we will find ways to make up for it.

"We know Zach Tom is a really good football player, and we were happy with how he looked in his transition to tackle. Taleni Suhren was playing a bunch of snaps for us, and I was excited about how he was playing."

Additionally, Michael Jurgens and Maryland transfer Terrance Davis both missed the abbreviated spring camp with injuries.

"Loic Nya did a nice job and is continuing to get better," Tabacca said. "Sean Maginn continues to improve. Je'Vionte (Nash) only got in three practices, but I was happy with what I saw from him.

"I was excited to get a mid-year guy in like George Sell. After just five practices, he's ahead of the game. DeVonte Gordon and C.J. Elmonus were making strides and were set to have a good spring."

The Wake Forest offense has shattered the program record books the last three seasons, putting together the three most prolific campaigns in Demon Deacon history. A lot of that has to do with the evolution of the offensive line.

"These guys have been in the same system for going on four-or-five years now," Tabacca said. "There is a comfort in knowing that we are speaking the same language and we are not in a hurry to get everything in, with regards to installing the offense. There's stability as a staff, and that has been awesome. We're basically doing much of the same things the last few years. "

As the Deacs gear up for the Sept. 4 season opener at Old Dominion, the staff and administration has been smartly cautious with the return-to-play protocols in regards to the pandemic.

"I think Coach Clawson has done an outstanding job of coming up with a plan, along with our medical experts," Tabacca said. "That's the key. Nobody wants to get going as much as our coaches and student-athletes do. But at the end of the day, I'm not a doctor or an epidemiologist. We're going to leave those decisions about how we do it and when we do it to the experts.

"We all want football to come back, but at the same time, we have to let the people who know how to keep people safe make those decisions. Coach Clawson has done a good job of finding that balance."