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One-on-One with the
Pirates
Saturday, August 11, 2012
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By Ron Cherubini
Staff Features
Writer |
By
Ron Cherubini
©2012 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
Ohhhhh… it has been a long wait for Rio Johnson at East Carolina. Recruited
to be the future Patrick Pinkney by the Skip Holtz staff, Johnson saw his
early opportunity to play fall by the wayside when Holtz left for South
Florida. Enter Ruffin McNeill and crew bringing the Texas Tech brand of wide
open passing and Johnson found himself starting all over, learning the
spread offense and trying to find bonds with a new staff, particularly
offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley.
Early on, the road was rocky for Johnson, first watching JUCO come into
the program to be the starter, then seeing a former walk-on take the
back-up job in 2010, leaving him down the depth chart next to a redshirt
freshman hand-picked by Riley. And, worse, Riley and Johnson weren’t on
the same page in regards to Johnson’s maturity level.
Still, Riley saw that Johnson had talent and potential. Fast-forward a
year and in 2011, Johnson earned the back-up job to star Dominique Davis
– now making noise with the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL. Fast forward
again, and Johnson heads into fall camp in the thick of the battle for
the No. 1 job. Just a junior, Johnson has a lot of football ahead of him
if he can separate himself from a game challenge by redshirt freshman
Shane Carden.
Considered the guy with the edge in the all-important leadership
category and with a strong arm, Johnson has the tools to be a good QB in
this system. It might come down to pure want power. He got a tiny taste
of action a year ago, so expect Johnson to leave nothing in reserve as
he vies for the top slot.
Rio was kind enough to sit down for a chat with Bonesville to share his
insights on the upcoming season.
Rio Johnson in action
(ECU SID photo)
One-on-One with Rio Johnson
Q: What a journey to
this point it has been for you, coming in under
former coach Skip Holtz, seeing the offense
wholesale changed, and then seeing the staff go out
and bring in the likes of Dominique Davis and you
found yourself waiting still. Talk about that
journey a bit?
A: You know it has been
a long journey but all along I have always put my
faith in God and that He would lead me in the right
way. I have done what the coaches have asked me to
do to the best of my abilities.
Q: You got just a little
taste of game action a year ago. What do you think
you learned from that experience that you can use to
maybe take the top spot this season?
A: I definitely think
that little bit of game experience has helped me,
mentally, to prepare for (the QB competition). Coach
Riley has told us all that we are not going off the
past, but we are looking forward (to what) we can do
now to help this team.
Q: As you said, Coach
Riley is not giving any credit for the past in this
current competition, and by all accounts, it is a
true competition between the four of you. For you,
what does that competition mean?
A: Competition really
does bring out the best in a person in any
situation, I believe that. You have to bring your
“A” game every day and I think about that each time
I have an opportunity to get a rep in practice.
Q: Coach Riley noted a
couple of times that you have matured a ton in a
year and that has changed everything in terms of
your chances, particularly in the category of
leadership, which Riley puts up there with all the
other skills his QBs must have. Can you talk a
little about your evolution as a leader? Did you
pick up anything working behind Dominique Davis in
that regard?
A: You know, I feel like
a learned a lot from Dominique about how to carry
yourself as the quarterback. He was a great leader
to learn from. I feel like I understand what is
expected from a quarterback when he walks into the
room or into the huddle. You have to be able to lead
to play quarterback… it comes with the territory. I
definitely feel like I know this offense and can run
it at full tempo and at full tilt and I think I
bring that to the huddle and on the field with my
teammates.
Q: What player do you
most respect on this team and why?
A: I respect them all…
but, I would say Trent Tignor (holder/punter). He
works hard, he is always on time, always does his
job the way it is supposed to be done. He is always
straight with you… just a guy I respect.
Q: You have had a chance
to work against our defensive front. Are you seeing
the same thing that outsiders speculate – that this
defensive front is legit?
A:. Man… our front seven
is impressive. They have a lot of guys who are
talented. Going against them in practice you can see
it. Not just the defensive line, but the whole front
seven… man. Yeah, I think that they are pretty good.
Q: Drop a name or two of
a young receiver who will make a name for himself in
2012?
A: Reese Wiggins is off
to a real good start this season and he has that
speed and makes plays. And another guy, Brandon
Weymann, he was a walk on but he has done a lot of
good things and has really stepped up in camp. I
think those two guys could really help this year.
Q: Working with the
offensive line, are you seeing a bunch of
improvement there?
A: I definitely see it.
Last year, we had one of the youngest offensive
lines in the country, but this year, you know, we
have pretty much every one of those guys coming
back. I feel like they have all individually built
on last year’s experiences and together are much
better. I do feel confident in the offensive line.
Q: Coach Riley said you
made a good accounting for yourself in the spring,
yet none of you guys has been able to shake the
other ones free. Tell us why you should be the guy
we’re watching this season?
A: I feel like I have
worked hard at becoming a better leader and that I
am the best leader (in the group), I know the
offense the most and I can recognize defenses and
scenarios the best. I think I am ready for the
challenge.
E-mail
Ron Cherubini
PAGE UPDATED
08/11/12 07:52 AM.
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