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One-on-One with the
Pirates
Sunday,
August 12, 2010
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By Ron Cherubini
Staff Features
Writer |
By
Ron Cherubini
©2012 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
Where Rio Johnson has been the picture of patience, progressing through the
ranks to be the slight favorite to win the starting quarterback job in 2012,
his primary competitor, Shane Carden, has been patient in a different way.
Carden has never run anything but this offense. He has had good spring camps
thus far. He is ready, and another year as the scout QB might not be as
palatable this time around.
If the East Carolina fanbase house is a divided one on the QB topic, Carden
would be the candidate for the camp that believes the QB should be one
hand-picked by this staff, groomed for life in this system, and young enough
to be a three-year starter. Carden was the first signee of the Coach Ruffin
McNeill era and was an all-state quarterback in Texas who was groomed in his
high school program by former star Texas Tech QB B.J. Symons. In short, he
was built to run this offense. Offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley has said
over and again that Carden is the most skilled overall of his quarterbacks.
Carden was, by some accounts, starting to gain the edge in spring camp when
he suffered an injury to his throwing hand that shut him down for the
remainder of camp. Perhaps he would have pulled away with the job had he not
been injured. But now the battle moves on to the fall where it is largely
expected that Carden will be one of the two QBs that get on the shortlist
for the majority of snaps in the battle for the No. 1 job.
Shane was kind enough to sit down for a chat with Bonesville to share his
insights on the upcoming season.
Shane Carden winds up for a pass.
(ECU SID photo)
One-on-One with Shane Carden
Q: By all accounts, you
were having a great spring, maybe even starting to
establish an edge in the competition, and then,
wham, injury. How are you feeling right now and were
you able to get in significant reps this summer with
the receivers?
A: I feel like I came
out and at first it felt a little different than (in
spring camp), but then we got into pads and I got in
a couple of plays and I am feeling good again. I
worked this summer and I feel like I am picking up
right where I left off (in spring). Yeah, I feel
real good.
Q: Your just a
sophomore, but it must feel like you have been
ramping up for this QB battle forever. Are you
chomping at the bit for your shot?
A: Yeah, I know it has
only been two years, but it does… it does feel like
those two years have been a long time. I am hungry
to play football and that injury (in the spring) has
made me even hungrier. All I could do was watch film
so I watched a ton of it and I feel like that is
also helping me right now. I am ready for this
competition for the job.
Q: One item that Coach
Riley has indicated as being an area of need is for
one of the QBs to learn how to be a big-time leader,
something that he credits Dominique Davis with being
so good at. Is that a role you feel is natural for
you? Do you have that mindset and did you learn
anything about yourself as a leader in the spring?
A: Definitely Coach
Riley wants leadership from his quarterback and I
feel like I have gotten more consistent in being a
verbal leader. I feel like I have always led with my
play and work on the field, but I know I have to
speak up. When I first got here, you know, I was
younger and sort of was a little quiet. I didn’t
speak up much because all these guys have been here
and are out there on the field. But now I have
worked with a lot of these guys and have earned the
opportunity to speak up more and I have been. Time
in allows for that. I think I have gained the
respect of my teammates and can lead this team.
Q: What player on this
team do you most respect and why?
A: Hmmm… this is hard to
really answer, but you want one name — I would say
(Andrew) Bodenheimer. He was a walk-on before I got
here but he works so hard and he does every play
right, over and over again. He has earned that
scholarship he has now. He uses every bit of his
ability out there on every play. He is a living
example right here in front of us on how to work,
practice, how to play this game.
Q: If you were a
quarterback on an opposing team, which defensive
player on our defense would you be sure you knew
where he was every snap?
A: Whew… there are some
guys I would want to know where they are, but
probably it would be Derrell Johnson. He is so big
and strong and when he comes off that edge — man is
he big — when he comes off that edge, you have to be
ready. I would say Derrell will be a guy
quarterbacks are aware of.
Q: Drop a name or two of
a young receiver who will make a name for himself in
2012?
A: Well, he’s not a
young receiver, but Dayon Arrington has had a great,
great summer and he looks really good. He could have
a big year. And as for a young guy, I would say
Donte Sumpter — he is a real fast, real good
receiver. But honestly, our receiving group all look
good. We have a bunch of really good players to
throw the football to.
Q: Working with the
offensive line, are you seeing a bunch of
improvement there?
A: Definitely the group
is much bigger and stronger now. Last season,
injuries hurt us, but they all got to play and they
are so much stronger now and you can tell the group
is committed to being better. They look very good to
me.
E-mail
Ron Cherubini
PAGE UPDATED
08/12/12 03:44 AM.
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