Photo by: Jeff Sochko - DavidsonPhotos.com
Davidson Moving Company: Established 2018
11/1/2018 2:51:00 PM | Football
DAVIDSON, N.C. - There are many moving parts to Davidson's shotgun triple-option offense – beginning with slotbacks in motion before the snap – but the unit responsible for getting the wheels in motion is the offensive line.
And the Wildcats in the trenches operate under a nickname they've come to love.
They call themselves "Run DMC," inspired by the run-oriented attack and short for the Davidson Moving Company, complete with a nod to the 80s hip hop band of the same name. Offensive line coach Vince Munch coined the nickname, and it stuck. You might say the Wildcats want to … run this way.
"It's a motto that we embody because that's what we are," says senior center Bryce Simmons. "We're just a moving unit for the offense. We get everybody out of the way."
The 5-4 Wildcats, idle this weekend, are in the midst of a turnaround season in Abell's first in northern Mecklenburg County. His unique offensive system produced conference championships at Washington & Lee, and it's already paying dividends at Davidson, ahead of projections.
"I feel extremely blessed, that so early in our time here, that the O-line group has come together so quick because for us, our success has to start there," says Abell. "We've got to be able to block our option schemes well to allow our quarterback to read it, to allow our backs to get into space."
Simply put, it has worked. The Wildcats have had six players – running backs and slot receivers Wesley Dugger, Will Wicks, Coy Williams, James Story and Eli Turner, Jr., along with quarterback Tyler Phelps – rush for 100 yards in a game. The 2018 offense, with two games left on the schedule, has already set single-season program records for points scored (401), rushing yards (3,613) and rushing touchdowns (43) and is in position to set the rushing yards per game mark as well (410.4).
Then there was the FCS single-game rushing record of 685 yards in the 91-61 win over Guilford Sept. 13.
This is the fourth program where Abell has introduced his offense. In his eyes, it's been the best transition, including on the offensive line.
"I'm just really proud of the commitment level they've had up front to do the things we know we need to do to be successful," says Abell. "They've done a tremendous job week in and week out."
New scheme
When they first heard about the offensive package Abell and his staff were bringing to campus, returning linemen, such as Simmons, were intrigued.
"I thought it'd be a good fit for our program," he says.
The move to the option did mean there would be significant changes, including the linemen exclusively lining up in three-point stances. The first item of business for Munch, now in his sixth season on an Abell staff, was to identify the Wildcats' most physical and athletic linemen to play with 'cerebral violence.'
"We want guys that can move and guys that when they arrive at their blocking assignments, they arrive aggressively with a mentality," says Abell.
Some versatility is needed as well, as the Wildcats linemen no longer identify as left or right guards and tackles. Instead, the spot of the ball determines who lines up where. Sophomore Zion Johnson, for instance, is the tight tackle. Regardless of side, he's always next to senior Daniel Runck, the tight guard. Senior Nick Nolting is the split tackle, and he lines up beside the split guard, either junior Ethan Steinbacher or sophomore Will Berkey.
It's demanding duty up front. Last week against Stetson, the Wildcats ran the ball on 72 of 83 offensive plays.
"Every play, I have to maul somebody," says Johnson. "I've got to move them out of their gap. … It is a lot of contact, and you feel it the next day. But you feel it a little less when you know the defensive linemen feel it a lot more than you do."
Source of inspiration
The Davidson linemen are a motivated group, and it's not steak dinners that drive them, though most linemen know their way around a ribeye.
The members of Run DMC are getting all the motivation they need from the scoreboard and the win-loss column. They've never had this much success as Wildcats.
"It's a lot of excitement going on with the offense," says Simmons, out of East Forsyth High in Kernersville. "I love going down and celebrating with the guys after we score every time. It keeps morale high, for sure, and it keeps everybody's motor going."
The Wildcats don't plan on slowing down any time soon, and underclassmen such as Johnson see potential for even more growth in the offense down the line.
For Simmons and the rest of the seniors, two games remain. The Wildcats visit San Diego Nov. 10 and host Butler Nov. 17. Simmons beams with pride when he talks about being part of the program's winningest team in more than a decade (6-4 in 2007).
"It's not much more than I could ask for, going out on a high note," he says. "Obviously, we'd like to get two more, but I think it's meant a lot to me helping build the program back up."
DavidsonPhotos.com
And the Wildcats in the trenches operate under a nickname they've come to love.
They call themselves "Run DMC," inspired by the run-oriented attack and short for the Davidson Moving Company, complete with a nod to the 80s hip hop band of the same name. Offensive line coach Vince Munch coined the nickname, and it stuck. You might say the Wildcats want to … run this way.
"It's a motto that we embody because that's what we are," says senior center Bryce Simmons. "We're just a moving unit for the offense. We get everybody out of the way."
The 5-4 Wildcats, idle this weekend, are in the midst of a turnaround season in Abell's first in northern Mecklenburg County. His unique offensive system produced conference championships at Washington & Lee, and it's already paying dividends at Davidson, ahead of projections.
"I feel extremely blessed, that so early in our time here, that the O-line group has come together so quick because for us, our success has to start there," says Abell. "We've got to be able to block our option schemes well to allow our quarterback to read it, to allow our backs to get into space."
Simply put, it has worked. The Wildcats have had six players – running backs and slot receivers Wesley Dugger, Will Wicks, Coy Williams, James Story and Eli Turner, Jr., along with quarterback Tyler Phelps – rush for 100 yards in a game. The 2018 offense, with two games left on the schedule, has already set single-season program records for points scored (401), rushing yards (3,613) and rushing touchdowns (43) and is in position to set the rushing yards per game mark as well (410.4).
Then there was the FCS single-game rushing record of 685 yards in the 91-61 win over Guilford Sept. 13.
This is the fourth program where Abell has introduced his offense. In his eyes, it's been the best transition, including on the offensive line.
"I'm just really proud of the commitment level they've had up front to do the things we know we need to do to be successful," says Abell. "They've done a tremendous job week in and week out."
New scheme
When they first heard about the offensive package Abell and his staff were bringing to campus, returning linemen, such as Simmons, were intrigued.
"I thought it'd be a good fit for our program," he says.
The move to the option did mean there would be significant changes, including the linemen exclusively lining up in three-point stances. The first item of business for Munch, now in his sixth season on an Abell staff, was to identify the Wildcats' most physical and athletic linemen to play with 'cerebral violence.'
"We want guys that can move and guys that when they arrive at their blocking assignments, they arrive aggressively with a mentality," says Abell.
Some versatility is needed as well, as the Wildcats linemen no longer identify as left or right guards and tackles. Instead, the spot of the ball determines who lines up where. Sophomore Zion Johnson, for instance, is the tight tackle. Regardless of side, he's always next to senior Daniel Runck, the tight guard. Senior Nick Nolting is the split tackle, and he lines up beside the split guard, either junior Ethan Steinbacher or sophomore Will Berkey.
It's demanding duty up front. Last week against Stetson, the Wildcats ran the ball on 72 of 83 offensive plays.
"Every play, I have to maul somebody," says Johnson. "I've got to move them out of their gap. … It is a lot of contact, and you feel it the next day. But you feel it a little less when you know the defensive linemen feel it a lot more than you do."
Source of inspiration
The Davidson linemen are a motivated group, and it's not steak dinners that drive them, though most linemen know their way around a ribeye.
The members of Run DMC are getting all the motivation they need from the scoreboard and the win-loss column. They've never had this much success as Wildcats.
"It's a lot of excitement going on with the offense," says Simmons, out of East Forsyth High in Kernersville. "I love going down and celebrating with the guys after we score every time. It keeps morale high, for sure, and it keeps everybody's motor going."
The Wildcats don't plan on slowing down any time soon, and underclassmen such as Johnson see potential for even more growth in the offense down the line.
For Simmons and the rest of the seniors, two games remain. The Wildcats visit San Diego Nov. 10 and host Butler Nov. 17. Simmons beams with pride when he talks about being part of the program's winningest team in more than a decade (6-4 in 2007).
"It's not much more than I could ask for, going out on a high note," he says. "Obviously, we'd like to get two more, but I think it's meant a lot to me helping build the program back up."
DavidsonPhotos.com
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