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

Pirate Notebook No. 143
Tuesday, September 16, 2003

By Denny O'Brien
Staff Writer and Columnist

For three quarters Saturday, East Carolina showed a glimpse of the commotion a John Thompson-coached defense can create.

Trailing just 17-3 to No. 2 Miami, the Pirates were doing things that, for years, have been highly uncharacteristic, if not foreign. Strangers to the program — solid tackling, quarterback pressure, and forced turnovers — made a welcomed debut in ECU's defensive repertoire.

Now if East Carolina can dig up its old offensive blueprint — that philosophical approach that's as risky as a hand of Texas Hold 'em — perhaps the Pirates will start leveling their lopsided record.

Aside from a flea-flicker on the second play of the season — a 34-yard completion to Terrance Copper — and a successful fake punt against Miami, the Pirates have lacked imagination and creativity with their offensive battle plan.

"Mickey McCoy really executed that (fake punt)," Thompson said following the Miami game. "Travis Heath was supposed to be the guy in there. Mickey had gone in there and we called the fake.

"Mickey executed it without having a lot of reps. That tells you what kind of competitor Mickey McCoy is to go in there and get the job done right there."

It also suggests that smoke and mirrors are a large part of the formula for success at East Carolina.

Rarely do the Pirates line up against a foe they can nickel and dime with the passing game, while sustaining drives with smash-mouth runs. That fullback Vonta Leach struggles to gain an inch in third-and-one situations seems to support that notion.

East Carolina's gridiron foundation was built by thinking outside the box. Historically, the Pirates have gotten much of their offensive mileage off an explosive, roll-the-dice mentality designed to keep a defense on its heels.

A steady dose of reverses, halfback passes, unexpected draws, and deep throws kept constant pressure on the opposition during the Logan regime. A scheduled date with East Carolina often was enough to make an opposing defensive coordinator lose a week of sleep.

Lately, though, the Pirates' offense has provided more of a comfort zone for rival defenses.

In all fairness, it is highly possible that ECU already has faced the three fastest, most physical defenses on the slate. It also isn't a stretch to suggest the personnel, especially at the skill positions, isn't what it used to be.

At the same time, though, this is roughly the same group that averaged 28 points per game last year, which is substantially higher than the current 4.3.

True, there are drawbacks to the old mode of thought, to which 31 turnovers last season will attest. Hey, that's the risk you take with a big-play offense.

But even in a system designed to reduce the risk, the Pirates are on pace for 44 giveaways. And they have minimal rewards to show.

But the faded orange and dolphin-green structure still resonates a mystique second to few in the college game.

"This is great ground to walk on," McCoy said. "A lot of legends, a lot of big games have been played here. We're very fortunate to be here."

There, in the same horseshoe where McCoy caught a pass and rumbled 11 yards for a Pirates first down, Larry Czonka once munched on defenders like they were Sunday snacks. Arguably the greatest game in NFL history — the 1982 playoff game between San Diego and Miami — also was staged on this turf.

It was something of which Thompson made his players well-aware while preparing for the the talented Canes.

"We talked about a lot of the players and coaches and teams who have been out here," Thompson said. "Hey, it's an honor and it's a privilege to be a part of this, so let's have respect for that and live up to that part of it.

"It was a thrill for me to stand on that sideline and be a part of it. I think we did the best we could out here and it was a great experience in that regard."

Enough of a thrill that even the 47-year old Pirates coach got caught in the moment.

"Right here where we're standing is where Joe Namath came off and held the #1 up right after the Super Bowl," Thompson said. "In this spot right here.

"Bill Curry told me one time to use (football) as an avenue for great things. It was fun watching my two little boys play out here yesterday. They don't know what they were doing, but one day I will be able to tell them."

Newcomers Iverick Harris and Kevin Roach got their first taste of significant action Saturday against the Canes. Roach made the biggest impact by snagging a 18-yard pass from quarterback Desmond Robinson late in the game.

"It was really a big catch on a critical third down," Thompson said. "It was going to put us in a tough deal on fourth down, whether we were going to go for it or not. Yeah, big play."

Robinson, who has aimed the vast majority of his passes in the direction of Copper, says if the big guy continues to get open, he won't flinch at pitching him the pigskin.

"I've got confidence in all my receivers that can go up and make a big catch," Robinson said. "Kevin Roach made a big catch.

"It's not just one read. I go to the guy that's open and half the time that's Terrance (Copper)."