It’s day seven of spring practice at NC State. The cold weather’s subsided and the Wolfpack is practicing once again. The transition from winter to spring is often considered a new beginning. For the Wolfpack, it signifies new player additions, new offseason workouts and this season it includes a new offensive coordinator.
Eliah Drinkwitz, new offensive coordinator and quarterback coach, is getting his first taste of Pack football this spring.
Drinkwitz was hired as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach following the 2015–16 season. Head coach Dave Doeren announced Jan. 11 that Drinkwitz joined his staff at State. Drinkwitz took the place of former three-year offensive coordinator, Matt Canada.
Under Canada, the Wolfpack was able to finish this past season ranking 31st in offensive rush yards and 56th in total offensive yards for the whole NCAA. Once Canada was dismissed, he was quickly hired by the Pittsburgh Panthers, he will remain in the NCAA.
Before stepping on the green practice fields, Drinkwitz was running up and down the iconic blue turf of Boise State University. Drinkwitz initially joined the coaching staff of Boise State as a tight ends coach in 2014. During the 2014-–15 season, the Broncos ran a spread offense as they passed for 3,926 yards as a team. His two major tight ends, redshirt junior Jake Roh and redshirt senior Holden Huff, combined for 536 reception yards, and both average more than 11 yards per catch.
The following year, Drinkwitz became the full-time offensive coordinator and played a significant role the in Broncos’ 12-2 season with his first downs offense ranking ninth and his total offense ranking 15th nationally by the end of his season.
Drinkwitz’s coaching history also includes a stint on Auburn’s offensive coaching staff from 2010 to 2011. He then served on the Arkansas State offensive coaching staff from 2012 to 2013.
As the season approaches, Drinkwitz is preparing the quarterbacks and the offense in the spring training season.
“We’re still working hard on the process, we’re still trying to figure out who’s gonna be our guys, but man those guys are giving great effort and great energy,” Drinkwitz said.
He will be a significant factor in this upcoming season’s decision on who will replace former starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
Doeren and Drinkwitz don’t plan on naming Brissett’s replacement this spring.
“We’re in no rush to name a position. We’re letting everyone get reps, we’re letting everyone work through the kinks” Drinkwitz said.
Drinkwitz will definitely be a major asset to the Wolfpack’s total offense that finished 57th and a first-down offense that finished 50th nationally.
Based upon Drinkwitz’s track record with offenses, fans of the Wolfpack should be expecting an efficient high-scoring offense from both the rushing and receiving corps of the team. As the offensive coordinator for Boise State, Drinkwitz’s offense totaled 27 passing touchdowns, 39 rushing touchdowns and averaged 6 yards per play.
Drinkwitz shared his philosophy behind having a run game to complement the passing game.
“You have to establish the run,” Drinkwitz said. “You have to establish the line of scrimmage. In order to do that, once you establish the run, you force the defense to come tighter to you and it allows you to make vertical throws.”
Hiring Drinkwitz doesn’t guarantee the Wolfpack will make the College Football Playoff, but he is a step forward in both improving the football program and the Wolfpack’s offense this upcoming season.
“Offensively we believe in details and taking the gray out, make sure guys know exactly how to do it,” Drinkwitz said.
The Wolfpack will showcase its new-look offense under Drinkwitz at the Kay Yow Spring Game on April 9.
Eliah Drinkwitz has got the right skills to lead the Wolfpack’s new offense to the top.
