April 16, 2005

BY TIM PEELER

RALEIGH - It was tough, they admit, going against what remains of the No. 1 defense in the nation. In fact, after seeing NC State's defense amass 12 sacks Saturday afternoon in the annual NC State Red/White Spring Scrimmage, there is reason for fans to believe there is an opportunity to repeat that distinction.

But that's what made the performance by senior wide receiver Brian Clark and sophomore tailback Bobby Washington so impressive, as they both put up big numbers in a two-hour scrimmage in front of about 10,000 spectators at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Clark, trying to rebound from a disappointing junior year in which he caught 18 passes for 211 yards, had seven receptions for 131 yard on the day.

Washington, after a slow start in which he fumbled the ball away, ran for 129 yards on 17 carries and scored one of only two touchdowns by the offense.

Both believe they are more comfortable in their positions after some difficulties last year.

For Clark, his junior senior was defined by wanting to be too much of a part of the Wolfpack offense. With super-reliable Jerricho Cotchery gone to the NFL, Clark thought he could step into the role of making big plays at the right times. Cotchery, who was on the sidelines watching the Wolfpack's spring scrimmage, parlayed his college football productivity into a nice career now as a wide receiver for the New York Jets.

Clark was in on more plays than any receiver besides Tramain Hall, but he was fifth in total receptions and yards per game.

"I definitely think I put too much pressure on myself," said Clark. "I did a lot of interviews saying I wanted to be the next Jerricho Cotchery. We have had a lot of great receivers who came through here and I wanted to be the next guy to make a play and let the team depend on me. I was wrong for that. "[New offensive coordinator Marc] Trestman talked to me and told me that it is not right and it is probably a little bit selfish to put all the pressure on yourself as a team player." While Clark was trying to find out where he fit into the offense, other wide receivers like Richard Washington, LaMart Barrett and Sterling Hicks out-performed him on the field.

"While I was not acting right and not staying on top of my game, a lot of guys like Richard, LaMart Barrett, Tramain Hall and Sterling Hicks they came out more comfortable. I was playing catch up. I was out there trying to get my starting position back."

With Washington gone and John Dunlap missing because of an off-season knee injury, Clark saw this spring as another opportunity to step in and step up for a receiving corps that was rather thin throughout spring practice.

But that doesn't mean he's going to put pressure on himself to be the Wolfpack's big-plan guy. Call it a lesson learned.

"I have experienced the down side of the game, being the guy who doesn't start and being on a team with a losing record," said Clark, who was named the Most Improved Receiver during spring drills. "I can go into this coming season more focused, knowing what I have to do. I can see myself trying to make plays in this offense as much as possible, blocking, catching, whatever. I think I can be a big influence on us."

For Washington, who was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player and the Most Improved Running Back, taking a bigger role in the offense is simply a factor of being more comfortable with his surroundings.

Washington, who originally signed with Miami, came to Raleigh from South Florida right as fall drills began last year. He played in 10 games as a freshman, mostly behind T.A. McLendon. He split time with fellow freshman Darrell Blackman and sophomore Reggie Davis. Now, with McLendon gone and Blackman out the last two weeks of spring practice with a high ankle sprain, Washington has stepped to the front of the line in the Wolfpack's deep running back corps.

"I feel more comfortable, because I am starting to know everything around here," said Washington, who rushed for 151 yards on 57 carries in 2004. "It was all new to me being up here in North Carolina. I am still meeting new people every day.

"Everything is going well now."

You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.