View from the East
Saturday, August 4, 2012
By Al Myatt |
|
Three sides
of the ball times three
By
Al Myatt
©2012 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
GREENVILLE — Ruffin
McNeill often refers to three sides of the ball when he talks about
offense, defense and special teams. The East Carolina football coach,
who enters his third season in charge of the Pirate program, did a lot
of talking on media day Saturday. So did his coordinators, assistants
and players.
McNeill was met by media
as he came off the practice field after ECU's second day of preseason
workouts. He cleaned up and talked with media again in the Murphy
Center. He spoke to the media as a group from the podium and then sat
for individual questions. [Audio: Replay
Coach Ruffin McNeill's Media Day press conference...]
Players, position coaches
and coordinators also were available for interviews.
There are some obvious
issues facing each side of the ball as the Pirates gear up for the 2012
season, which begins at home on Sept. 1 against Appalachian State. There
also are some important considerations lurking below the surface.
Here, then, is a
three-sided approach to the three sides of the ball as preseason camp
gets going — an obvious issue, a factor that might not be so apparent
and a quick look at some new personnel that may impact that particular
unit.
OFFENSE
The obvious factor: Uncertainty at
quarterback
The "Air Raid" attack that
McNeill and offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley brought from Texas Tech
depends on a capable quarterback and the Pirates have precious little
experience among their distributors of the ball.
McNeill said there's no
hurry to determine a starter among Shane Carden, Rio Johnson, Cody Keith
and Brad Wornick. It's more important to find the right guy. He'll be in
place by game week with the Mountaineers.
The thinking here is that
the redshirt freshman Keith is too young and the senior, Wornick, is too
old. Neither will likely surpass Johnson, who was last year's backup and
who finished spring as the apparent No. 1 or Carden. All factors being
equal, the Pirates will go with a younger player and that may rule
Wornick out since he's unlikely to put himself significantly in front in
the position competition in the next couple of weeks.
Wornick's downside is that
he's a gamer, not a practice player and, hey, the evaluations are being
made in practice. Keith will be a good quarterback but not this year.
McNeill has said as much.
That leaves Carden and
Johnson who were very close until Carden hit his right, passing hand on
a helmet in the spring and went to the sideline. Johnson may be the
better pure passer. Carden may have the better leadership qualities. The
coaches may not make a choice as much as a quarterback may simply emerge
in the coming weeks.
The subtle factor: Running back by
committee
There are even more
running back candidates than the four-man field for the quarterback job.
McNeill has said it may be
running back by committee. Injuries helped ECU develop some depth among
its ball carriers last season. Reggie Bullock, Michael Dobson, Torrance
Hunt and versatile Zico Pasut made starts last season. Hunter Furr sat
out after transferring from North Carolina. The staff also likes
redshirt freshman Chris Hairston, who ran six times for 52 yards in the
spring game.
"Those guys have a lot of
different abilities," said ECU alumnus Kirk Doll, the new running backs
coach. "There are certain plays that they can each excel at. If we can
keep them fresh and healthy, the fewer snaps they have to play, their
health should be better. We're trying to develop them fully in all
areas, but because of their body types or quickness or explosiveness,
they each run certain plays a little bit better than some of the others.
"Who you play and the type
of game situations you're in are also going to be factors. ... They all
have talents they can help you with."
Certain backs may play in
certain situations — or be used as decoys in other situations.
"This offense gives
defenses a lot to think about," Doll said.
One plus for the Pirates
is more depth on the offensive line. That should help whether ECU's mode
of transportation is running or throwing.
Potential impact player
Lance Ray is not even due
in preseason camp until Aug. 9. The Arkansas transfer by way of
Northwest Mississippi Junior College is finishing up some summer school
work. McNeill said he will have a chance to be on the field against the
Mountaineers and will give the Pirates a potential big play performer as
a receiver and a returner.
DEFENSE
The obvious factor: Strength up the
middle
McNeill said strength up
the middle is crucial in baseball as well as football. Pirates nose
tackle Michael Brooks is a preseason All-Conference USA selection.
Inside linebacker Jeremy Grove led the team with 122 tackles last season
as a freshman. Free safety Damon Magazu was second with 80 stops.
"We're strong up the
middle," McNeill said. "We can build out from there."
There is depth. McNeill
said Ty Holmes and Zeek Bigger are right there with Groves. The entire
program recognizes the value of competition in player development.
The subtle factor: Inexperience in
the secondary
Emanuel Davis is gone. So
are Derek Blacknall and Bradley Jacobs. What was the defense's most
experienced group last season has become its least experienced.
Magazu, a virtual coach on
the field, can provide direction and leadership and the guys up front
can take some pressure off the DBs with an effective pass rush. Another
positive is ample athleticism among the secondary candidates although
they must grow up fast.
Potential impact players
McNeill has liked the work
ethic and skill set of defensive backs Adonis Armstrong and Chip
Thompson since they arrived from Hinds Community College in Jackson, MS.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The obvious factor: Key personnel
losses
Placekicker Michael
Barbour put the Pirates in field goal range from roughly the time he got
off the bus. He was good from 57 and 58 yards in the last game of his
career at Marshall. He must be replaced. Warren Harvey of Greenville
Rose kicked well in the spring game. Trent Tignor and Phil McNaughton
will compete as punters. Charlie Coggins is the leader at long snapper.
There are a lot of candidates on returns and Doll, the special teams
coordinator who has BCS championship experience at LSU and NFL
experience with the Denver Broncos, will get the most out of his
material.
The subtle factor: Rules changes
Kickoffs will move from
the 30-yard line to the 35 with rule changes this season. Members of the
kickoff team must line up within five yards of the ball. The receiving
team will take the ball on the 25 rather than the 20 on touchbacks.
Doll said the changes,
designed to reduce severe collisions, may result in some strategic
considerations depending on situations, particularly late in the game.
Some teams may prefer to kick high and deep and try to pin the
opposition back on returns.
"The 25-yard line is a
pretty good start," Doll said.
In another rule change,
punt rushers are no longer allowed to leap over the punter's shield —
the protective blockers in front of him.
Potential impact players
Ray has the ability to
flip the field as a kickoff returner. He averaged a team high in return
yards (22.5) as a freshman at Arkansas in 2010 with a team season best
66-yard return against Vanderbilt.
Harvey hit from 48 yards
into the wind as the third quarter was ending in the spring game.
Article continues after
the following picture
|
ECU head
football coach Ruffin McNeill responds to media after the
conclusion of practice on Saturday morning. (Photo by Al
Myatt) |
Quick hits
Coach McNeill said 2012
Pirate helmets will have the skull and cross bone design — like last
year. He said that's what the players wanted. ... A mentor program
matching former ECU football players with current Pirates will be called
Brotherhood of Pirates. Strength coach Jeff Connors is working
with the new program, which is chronicled in the forthcoming edition of
Bonesville the Magazine. ... Defensive end Matt Milner, a
standout on the gridiron and classroom, hasn't spent any money on
haircuts this summer. You wouldn't recognize him from his media guide
photo. ... Lincoln Riley's annual goal on his summer vacation is to get
out of cell phone range in the southern Rockies. "It's getting tougher
and tougher," said the offensive coordinator. ... Tony Byers had the
assist on Phil Perry's winning hoop against North Carolina that was
discussed in
View from the East on Friday.
Former ECU hoops coach Eddie Payne assisted Lee Foye on a shot that sent
Wake Forest into overtime with the Tar Heels. ... There were workmen on
the job at the site of ECU's new basketball practice facility on
Saturday. AD Terry Holland said the area is being prepared for football
parking. Actual construction is supposed to start during the upcoming
school year. ... Outside linebacker Justin Dixon squatted 700 pounds in
summer workouts. Former Pirate Emmanuel McDaniel, who works on the
strength staff, has a video of the lift on his cell phone. "He's from
another planet," Connors said of the ease of Dixon's effort.
Audio: Replay Coach Ruffin McNeill's Media
Day press conference...
E-mail Al Myatt
PAGE UPDATED
08/05/12 01:54 AM.
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