News, Analysis and Opinion from Bonesville's Denny O'Brien

Pirate Notebook No. 151
Monday, October 28, 2003

By Denny O'Brien
Staff Writer and Columnist

It wasn’t a record-breaking performance by the East Carolina offense, but the Pirates hope Saturday’s 457-yard effort against No. 25 Louisville goes down as a watershed event.

For offensive coordinator Rick Stockstill, it should provide a brief sanctuary from the barrage of criticism of which he has been the target. Given the Pirates’ foundation as a program built on high-scoring offenses, that much comes with the territory of calling the plays for a spoiled bunch.

"We're getting better," first-year coach John Thompson said. "(Quarterback) Desmond (Robinson) is getting better, throwing it to more receivers, being able to do more things. Daggum, this team is getting better."

The Pirates finally have reached the level on offense from which many believed they would start. Entering the season with most of its starters returning, the Pirates' offense figured to carry the load.

Paul Troth was back under center, as was a strong stable of runners, for which the league’s best offensive line would open tank-sized holes. With the only question mark being depth in the receiving corps, 30-point afternoons looked to be the norm.

As it turns out, ECU has reached that milestone once, against an Army defense that ranks among the nation's worst.

Stockstill has become an easy scapegoat for both the fans and media. His vanilla-flavored system and predictable play calling have been questioned. Some also have pointed to the hand he was dealt.

Neither Stockstill nor the personnel should shoulder all the blame for such paltry scoring production. This is a simple case of a marriage in which the opposites simply don't attract.

Former Pirates coach Steve Logan centered his offense around the quarterback and was successful by spreading the field. Using his offensive line to stretch the defense horizontally, shifty runners and speedy receivers were able to explode. He recruited accordingly.

Thompson favors a more traditional approach, with straight-ahead running and vertical throws. With talent that fits the previous philosophy the results have been minimal.

For starters, the Pirates need a strong-armed quarterback who can see over the line and make better decisions on third down. Though Robinson has made tremendous strides since his outing at Wake Forest, he still is too quick to abandon plays before they develop.

He also lacks touch on the deep ball, which proved costly against Louisville.

“If we could have hit that pass, that would have been a big play in the game,” receiver Terrance Copper said of a fourth quarter overthrow. “But stuff happens and we just didn’t complete it.”

That has been the rule during a season underscored by blunders.

Stockstill's immediate task is to stabilize the offense and achieve consistency down the stretch. He's part of the way there, having somewhat stemmed the flood of turnovers that had plagued the Pirates for much of the season.

The long-term challenge is to stockpile athletes who better fit the system.

The welfare of the program is contingent on that.

High marks for Emory

Former Pirates coach Ed Emory received a long-awaited honor when he was inducted into the East Carolina athletics Hall of Fame Saturday.

The skipper of the 1983 team that finished 8-3 and No. 25 nationally, Emory is widely credited for putting East Carolina's program on the Division I map. Thompson made it a point to find Emory prior to the game and offer his congratulations.

"I saw coach Emory in the hotel (Saturday) morning," Thompson said. "I appreciate all of those guys that got inducted today."

"Ed Emory has helped me, helped this football team with his willingness to be for us, and be for this program. The foundation that he laid... I'm very grateful. He's making my job easier."

Emory currently is the head coach at Richmond Senior High School, a 4-A power and factory for Division-I football players. Smart move by Thompson.

Out of range

Trailing 16-13 with 8:07 remaining, Thompson faced a tough decision.

With the Pirates in a fourth-and-six situation from the Cardinals 33, he elected to go for the first down in lieu of the long field goal attempt. Following the game, he said both options were considered.

"We did think about it, but I don't think that was the call," Thompson said. "It was a little bit out of our range."

"Hindsight, maybe if we go back, knowing what happened... try it. We didn't think so right then. We thought we would make it (the first down)."

Helping hands

Copper no longer is the only option in the passing game.

The Pirates’ record-breaking receiver is getting much-needed help from Richard Hourigan and Bobby Good, both of whom have become dependable targets over the past two weeks. Their emergence hasn’t gone unnoticed by Copper.

“They’re great receivers,” Copper said. “People don’t know it, but I try to follow some of the things that they do.”

“They help me out, like with route running and stuff like that. They always had it in them, we just had to get the ball to them. We’re starting to do that and everybody is starting to see how good they are.”

That’s high praise coming from the nation’s fourth-leading receiver.