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One-on-One with the
Pirates
Saturday,
August 18, 2010
By Ron Cherubini |
By
Ron Cherubini
©2012 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
Without a doubt, when it comes to the East Carolina offensive line, Grant
Harner is the veteran hands down. He heads into what will likely be his
third straight year as the starter at right tackle and for good reason: He
is a very good one, particularly in the pass-happy Pirates scheme.
With 20 starts under his belt, the junior quietly is on path to be a
four-year starter here. It is that kind of stability that OL coach Brandon
Jones is finally starting to see at the other positions on the line. In
Harner, reliability is job one, so when he was held out of contact in the
spring for awhile, it was a bit unsettling. But he is healthy again and the
spring only served to allow him to study more film and let backup Robert
Jones get valuable reps.
Considered a candidate for All-Conference USA honors this season, Harner
will be counted on to keep the right tackle position well-manned and to
continue to develop his rapport with the Pirates other OL ironman — guard
Will Simmons — to form a right side tandem that could be as good as any in
the league.
Grant was kind enough to sit down for a chat with Bonesville to share his
insights on the upcoming season.
Grant Harner in action
(ECU SID photo)
One-on-One with Grant Harner
Q: You're just a junior,
but are somewhat of the wily veteran on the
offensive line, having locked down the ROT position
for two years now. To what do you attribute your
ability to be a stable position on this line?
A: Really, I think it
(has) mostly just been hard work and some of it is
just luck not getting injured too badly. We all have
a common goal and are ready to help our team get
back to the (C-USA) championship game and that is a
powerful motivator for us.
Q: With the OL starting
to look stable now, with a good mix of experience
and guys settling into positions, why do you think
that this year will be a better year for the OL?
A: We really are much
improved and that is because we have played together
now for some time. That is important for the group
to be successful. We worked very hard this year in
summer and in camp. I can assure the fans that we
are going to be much better, much more physical and
it will be obvious on the field.
Q: Does a new QB change
anything for the offensive line? Is it a bit odd
without Dominique [Davis] in the huddle now?
A: I wouldn’t say it is
“odd” without (Dominique) in the huddle, but it is
different. He was here a long time and was great.
But all of our quarterbacks have talent so it
doesn’t really make a difference to us because
whoever it is will be able to manage the huddle. Our
goal is to ensure that whoever the quarterback is,
that we keep him off the ground. I think we are all
adjusting to their different styles and will be
ready for whoever is going to lead us.
Q: So ECU’s offense
always seems to be among the best passing attacks
each year, we get that. But in terms of being able
to effectively run the football, what has been the
focus for the OL to make our team a ground threat
this year?
A: That has been a huge,
huge emphasis for us this year. We are determined to
run the football this year. I think that being much
more physical is helping us see success in the run
game. .
Q: You have mentioned, as have others, that the OL
is much more physical — noticeably so. Talk about
the Coach (Jeff) Connors effect?
A: Let’s just say that
the best way to describe Coach Connors is that he is
an animal. He is determined to get the best out of
us and he is going to get that out of us. I think we
have all been working hard since we got here, but he
is putting us through it particularly hard this
year. We are older and more experienced and he can
demand a lot from us because we know how to give it.
He is focused, which has us all focused on becoming
a great offensive line. And, yes, you can see the
changes physically — they are obvious.
Q: What player on this
team do you most respect and why?
A: I would say "J"
(Justin) Hardy.
His ability to make plays is amazing. He is precise
and always accountable —always. You know when he is
out there, he will pull through and do what he is
supposed to every time.
Q: You and
Will Simmons
have worked together at the right tackle-guard
combination now for a year. Do you like that
relationship? Can you elaborate some on it?
A: I love playing next
to Will and I think — I hope — he feels the same
way. He is intense and is very physical. We know
each other very well and work well together. I would
like to be seen as a formidable combination out on
the right side.
Q: One of the issues
last year was that when the injuries came, the
reserves were not at the same level as the starters.
How are those guys looking to you, as a veteran?
A: I will start with
Robert (Jones). Robert has made huge improvements in
both run and pass blocking. He will definitely be a
factor for us this season and there won’t be a drop
off with him in there. We have nine, 10 guys who are
ready to play right now, so our depth is much
better. Young guys? Tre (Robertson) is doing great…
he’s grown up a lot football-wise and looks good.
We’re two deep at center. I think our depth this
year is an advantage.
E-mail
Ron Cherubini
PAGE UPDATED
08/18/12 12:23 PM.
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