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One-on-One with the
Pirates
Sunday,
August 19, 2010
By Ron Cherubini |
By
Ron Cherubini
©2012 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
Last year, while inside linebacker
Jeremy Groves was drawing the
headlines en route to a Freshman All-America designation, another ILB was
quietly having a pretty impressive East Carolina debut as well.
Daniel Drake, the transfer from Marshall, proved to be a reliable and
consistent force alongside Grove at the Mike position. As defensive
coordinator Brian Mitchell likes to say, Drake was a big-time plugger for
the Pirates, showing a penchant for locking onto running backs and dropping
them in the hole.
Though he has to deal with asthma flare-ups at times that can be
debilitating, Drake has shown an uncanny ability to get himself back up to
speed and in the lineup. He piled up 74 tackles and it could have been even
more had it not been for the emergence of Kyle Tudor late in the season. In
Drake, whether he starts or is a primary reserve, the Pirates have a
tackling machine who gets the job and how it is to be done in the system.
Daniel was kind enough to sit down for a chat with Bonesville to share his
insights on the upcoming season.
Daniel Drake in action
(ECU SID photo)
One-on-One with Daniel Drake
Q: When you look around
at the defensive players, are you seeing any
differences from last year? What would you say the
unit’s focus is this camp?
A: We all came into this
year thinking that we have to continue to get
better. Simple. We had a good year last year as a
(defensive unit), but our record didn’t indicate it.
We want the wins and so we are focused on getting
better. The coaches demand that of us. We want to be
a top-25 defense.
Q: Playing alongside
Jeremy Grove, you and he formed a pretty good duo in
the inside? What would you say the differences are
between you and Grove?
A: Our jobs are
basically the same — tackle the ball carrier. The
coaches are expecting and requiring more of us this
year. Last year, we were both first time starters
and now we have a year under our belts, so the
expectation is we shouldn’t make mistakes. The
coaches demand that we are top notch every play. As
far as me and Jeremy, we do have a good chemistry —
he knows what I can do and I know what he can do. I
think we are great duo.
Q: Got a little banged
up last season and of course the asthma. How are you
feeling in this camp and do you feel like you have a
good handle on things heading into the season?
A: I am a lot more in
shape this year which helps with my body and my
overall health. My body is ready for the season.
Fortunately we have so much depth inside that we
have a rotation that I think will be very good with
Kyle (Tudor) and Brandon (Williams). It will be like
40 snaps a game, which I think is great. Fresh
bodies mean fewer mistakes.
Q: You see the guys on
the defensive line every day working. Do they appear
as good as advertised from your vantage point?
A: Oh, yeah. Those guys
are beasts up there. I can see the difference from
the work they did with Coach (Jeff) Connors. Those
guys own the gaps. Coach C really put it on them and
it shows — it is obvious.
Q: What player on this
team do you respect the most and why?
A: I would have to (say)
it is a toss-up between Cody Lyon and James Craig.
You see, I can really relate to those guys because
they are walk-ons just like I was. I have never seen
two guys who work as hard as they do. And even if
they don’t get in as much as other guys, it doesn’t
keep them from putting in that level of work. They
work hard and I know that both of them, when they
get their chances, will be ready. I have big respect
for them.
Q: What running back on
our roster do you find hardest to get your hands on?
A: Michael Dobson. He
has made great strides. He is a whole new guy out
here. He is fast, keeps his feet moving, hits his
cuts and goes. He has become a real challenge to get
a good hit on him. I think he is going to have a
great season.
E-mail
Ron Cherubini
PAGE UPDATED
08/18/12 10:25 PM.
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