View from the East
Monday, March 19, 2012
By Al Myatt |
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Pirates
energize for spring football
By
Al Myatt
©2012 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
The energy level in the
football offices on the second floor of the Ward Sports Medicine
Building has been building in anticipation of the start of spring
football practice today.
NCAA regulations restrict
the offseason time where coaches can actually coach so the sessions in
the spring become vital in program development.
The players have been
working with strength and conditioning director Jeff Connors since the
2011 season ended and he has reported significant progress in terms of
improving physical attributes and abilities.
The Pirates will practice
today, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday this week. The spring game is
April 14.
"It's an exciting time for
our coaches, for myself and all of our staff," East Carolina football
coach Ruffin McNeill said. "I think all coaches around the country get
excited because it's a time where you can see how kids have grown
through the offseason. You see kids who have played and how much they
have improved. We also see some young kids who we're waiting on to see
how they blossom and how they've improved as well.
"It's a chance for
development of our schemes on all three sides of the ball. It's also a
time where you can experiment with some kids at different positions and
those kinds of things. We're looking forward to it. We know we have some
improving to do from last year and some things that we can improve on
that we did very well last year. We're anxious to get started on that."
Depth an objective for
demanding schedule
The Pirates face three
straight road games against formidable opposition after opening the
season at home on Sept. 1 against a traditionally-strong Appalachian
State program.
"It is a challenging
schedule," McNeill said. "Appalachian State will be one of the top
Football Championship Subdivision teams. They've won three national
championships. Then going to South Carolina and going to Southern Miss,
our (Conference USA) champion. They'll be a physical group. Then going
to Chapel Hill to play UNC. One of the things after the season that you
evaluate that we need to do is develop depth.
"On the offensive line, we
never started the same lineup two games in a row. There was no chance
for consistency in that group. We got receivers banged up and running
backs, like Reggie Bullock. We have to make sure that we have guys who
can step in and maintain.
"Defensively, we were able
to stay healthy and if somebody did get nicked we had a guy who could
step in and still be productive and keep a level of play that we needed.
"Going into spring, we
want to make sure we develop that and continue to work hard."
Connors delivered a
briefing last week to the football staff about the offseason programs
which are designed to make players bigger, faster and stronger as well
as condition them for the rigors of the season.
"Our kids have worked
hard," McNeill said. "The challenge is there so we've got to make sure
we develop depth to be ready for nicks or anything that might happen in
those games."
More scholarship players
The Pirates have added two
junior college players since signing date in February, Vintavious Cooper
(5-9, 200), a quarterback who projects as a running back at ECU, and
offensive lineman Jens Danielson (6-5, 280), who will leave Coffeyville
(Kansas) Community College after his freshman season and will have four
years to play three seasons at ECU, are the latest signees.
Cooper ran for 1,273 yards
and 11 touchdowns last season at Southwest Mississippi Community
College. He played on the high school level at Clinch County in Georgia.
He runs 40 yards in 4.4 seconds and has excellent agility, according to
reports.
Danielson received
recruiting interest from Oklahoma State and Texas Christian, among
others.
Pirates inside receiver
Derrick Harris, younger brother of former ECU star Dwayne Harris, who
played his rookie season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2011, has been
placed on scholarship. Derrick Harris played in 10 games in 2011 with 23
catches for 168 yards with one touchdown.
"He ended up starting for
us and really making some plays for us last year," McNeill said of the
younger Harris.
Productive sessions with
Connors
McNeill said Connors
concluded offseason testing of players last week.
"That's what Coach Connors
does," McNeill said. "Speed development, strength development. Our kids
have improved immensely, strength-wise. Some guys who needed to put on
weight the proper way have done that. Taylor Hudson (sophomore offensive
lineman), for example, comes to mind very quickly. Maurice Falls
(outside linebacker) comes to mind very quickly.
"At the personnel meeting
on Tuesday, Coach Connors went through each player. We have made not
just strides but tremendous strides. That's based on Coach Connors' 25
years in the business. He feels like we're right on schedule. We made
improvement. We need continued improvement during the spring and the
summer offseason but we feel good about where we are.
"They've worked extremely
hard for Coach Connors. I'm ready to see them put it on the field now."
Quarterback situation
ECU obviously has a big
void to fill at quarterback where record-setting Dominique Davis
directed the offense for the last two seasons.
"I like all four guys,"
McNeill said. "I know a lot of people are wondering about the
quarterback we had in (Kandler Coker), who decommitted, but it didn't
concern us because we have four guys who are ready to go. Rio Johnson,
Shane Carden, Brad Wornick, Cody Keith. All four of those guys
understand the offense. They did a great job in the offseason with Coach
Connors. You see the leadership part of the quarterback position from
those four guys, gathering and doing things on off days, on Saturday
mornings, throwing around with the receivers. You see those
characteristics from those four guys.
"I'm looking forward to
that competition. I think it will be a great competition. I feel great
about that group."
Spring priorities
After McNeill's first
season, ECU's defense was overhauled in terms of personnel and scheme.
The unit was significantly improved during his second season but remains
a work in progress.
"We want to build on what
we began last year," said the Pirates coach. "We want to keep our base
philosophy tight, assignment sound and continue our position mastery in
the 3-4 defense. There is still some learning to go. ... also, adding
some things as far as some different packages because the guys
understand and get it."
Offensively, developing
depth is an objective because of the ravaging effects of injuries last
season. The Pirates will continue to refine the offensive scheme and
will adapt the package to the particular skills of the quarterback that
emerges in spring competition. ECU will also address some fundamental
issues.
"Taking care of the
football," McNeill said. "Making sure we continue to try and take the
ball away on defense is important. Play penalty free and play smart
football, which we improved immensely from year one to year two. ... We
did a great job as a football team of getting rid of the administrative
penalties and if anyone did anything out of character, he understood it
was not acceptable.
"I would say the emphasis
will be on those two sides of the football and taking care of the
intangibles, securing the football, taking care of the football, taking
it away on defense."
There is also work to do
on special teams.
"Making sure we find
return guys who can make a difference, that can give us field position,"
McNeill said. "We need to establish a specialist group from snapping to
punting to kickoffs to placekicking duties. We need to make sure we get
that established and shored up.
"We've got a lot of things
we need to get done in 15 days. It's a challenge but it's a challenge we
look forward to as a coaching staff and as a football team."
Two juco players on hand
Two junior college
transfers are on hand and will be involved in spring practice. Defensive
backs Adonis Armstrong and Godfrey Thompson from Hinds Community College
in Mississippi have been making a good adjustment to the program since
enrolling at ECU in January.
"They've done a great
job," McNeill said. "They've blended with our team. They've worked
extremely hard. There's always an adjustment period for any recruit
coming in but Coach Connors said they have done a great job."
E-mail Al Myatt
PAGE UPDATED
03/19/12 04:24 AM.
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