Bonesville: The Authoritative Independent Voice of East Carolina

News & Features from ECU, the AAC and Beyond

  • Home
  • News & Features
  • Recruiting
  • Photos
  • Audio
  • Roundup
  • Comments
  • Legacy Archives

• ECU 2022 Football Schedule
• ECU 2022-23 Hoops Schedule
• ECU 2023 Baseball Schedule

— Recruiting Thumbnails —
Football: 2023 • Hoops: 2023-24

Insights from Brett
It’s all about the defense

February 26, 2018 By Brett Friedlander Leave a Comment

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Spring football practice has begun for East Carolina and all eyes are on the quarterback competition between Reid Herring, Kingsley Ifedi and prized freshman Holton Ahlers.

That’s understandable, since quarterback is the most important position on the field.

But while it does matter how the three untested youngsters perform and grow over the course of 15 practices between last Monday and the annual Purple-Gold spring game on March 24, their battle is little more than a shiny object distracting attention from the real issue that will shape ECU’s 2018 season.

ECU coach Scottie Montgomery gets animated during a game last season. (Bonesville file photo)

And most likely, determine coach Scottie Montgomery’s future with the Pirates.

It’s all about the defense, folks.

Regardless of who eventually takes the first snap from center on Sept. 1 against NC A&T — be it one of the three currently in camp, a graduate transfer or perhaps even incumbent Gardner Minshew should his family issues be resolved — ECU has little chance of improving from its 3-9 records of the past two years by allowing its opponents to score an average of 45 points per game.

Understanding that, Montgomery has made significant changes, starting with the hiring of new defensive coordinator David Blackwell.

A member of the Pirates’ 1992 Peach Bowl team with an impressive history of success at the FCS level, Blackwell is one of three new additions to the defensive staff, joining safeties coach Daric Riley and new line coach Rodrique Wright.

As much of a difference as coaching can make, it can’t solve all of ECU’s defensive issues.

Anyone who saw South Florida’s Quinton Flowers, Virginia Tech’s Cam Phillips or James Madison’s Cardon Johnson hold their own personal track meets at the Pirates’ expense last season knows that the team is in desperate need of more speed. And the only way that can be added is through recruiting.

But that doesn’t mean the roster is devoid of talent.

Seven starters are back on defense, including promising linebacker Aaron Ramseur, nickleback Devon Sutton (the top returning tackler with 68), end Kendall Futrell and cornerback Colby Gore, whose 18 career starts are the most of anyone on the team.

Help, especially in the secondary, could also be on the way with the arrival of seven early enrolling newcomers working with the defense during spring drills. They are backs Myles Berry, Nolan Johnson, Jaren Rainey, Warren Saba and Michael Witherspoon, linebacker Xavier Smith and lineman Chandler Medeiros.

The task of Blackwell and his new staff is to provide those players with a scheme that will put them in the best positions to make plays, then teach them to consistently execute in that system — something that always seemed to be a problem under previous coordinators Kenwick Thompson and Robert Prunty.

While it’s still far too early to judge the progress they’re making after only four spring practices, most of which have been spent installing a new system and learning basics such as knowing where to line up in particular packages, Montgomery said he’s already seen a difference in at least one important area.

“I say that we have always practiced right, now we’re starting to practice well,” Montgomery said. “With their energy and intensity, what we’re getting is guys to chase the ball like I’ve never seen.”

In addition to changing the makeup of his defensive staff, Montgomery is also trying a different approach to the structure of his spring workouts by breaking up individual and positional drills with three full periods of team-on-team simulated scrimmage action.

So far, the offense and defense appear to be fairly even.

“I think right now we have a good give and take on our football team,” Blackwell said after Wednesday’s second workout. “That usually is a good sign.”

As for the quarterback situation, Herring appears to have the early lead on Ahlers and Ifedi based on the number and quality of reported first team reps they’ve been getting. But that’s to be expected considering that the redshirt sophomore from Raleigh has been in the program the longest of the three.

That QB competition has just begun and figures to carry over into the fall before it’s finally decided. As intriguing as the battle promises to be, it won’t really matter who emerges as the starter unless the Pirates’ defense improves enough to give him a realistic shot at winning games.

Related

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Filed Under: News & Features

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent News & Features

VIEW FROM THE EAST: NORTH TEXAS
The new American

Basketball News
ECU rally falls short

ECU Recruiting News
More help is on the way to ECU secondary

Basketball News
Porter leads Shockers past Pirates

VIEW FROM THE EAST: FAU
The new American

Basketball News
Pirates rally past Tulsa to snap losing streak

ECU Recruiting News
Portal delivers blue chipper RaRa Dillworth

VIEW FROM THE EAST: CHARLOTTE
The new American

Basketball News
Owls pull away from ECU in second half

Class of 2023 Early Signing Review (UPDATED)
Pirates tap transfer portal for more talent

More News & Features

ECU Schedules

  • ECU 2021 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2020-21 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2021 Baseball Schedule

ECU Recruiting

  • Football Recruiting Class of 2021
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2020
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2019
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2018
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2017
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2021-22
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2020-21
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2019-20
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2018-19
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2017-18
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2016-17

Past Football Schedules

  • ECU 2020 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2019 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2018 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2017 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2016 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2015 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2014 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2013 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2012 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2011 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2010 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2009 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2008 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2007 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2006 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2005 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2004 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2003 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2002 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2001 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2000 Football Schedule
  • Historical Schedules

Past Basketball Schedules

  • ECU 2019-20 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2018-19 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2017-18 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2016-17 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2000-2015 Basketball Archives

Past Baseball Schedules

  • ECU 2020 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2019 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2018 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2017 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2016 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2015 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2001-2014 Baseball Archives

Recruiting Class Profiles

ECU Recruiting News
More help is on the way to ECU secondary

ECU Recruiting News
Portal delivers blue chipper RaRa Dillworth

Class of 2023 Early Signing Review (UPDATED)
Pirates tap transfer portal for more talent

AAC Early Signing Review
New members dive into AAC recruiting wars

Class of 2023 Early Signing Review
First wave of recruits just the beginning

ECU Recruiting News
Brown finds way to ECU through portal

ECU Recruiting News
Transfer safety McDaniel destined for ECU

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates land coveted Spartanburg quarterback

ECU Recruiting News
Swift ECU recruit ‘in a class of his own’

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates win out for Georgia prep linebacker

ECU Recruiting News
Linebacker with pedigree charts path to ECU

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates find a gem in Palmetto State receiver

ECU Recruiting News
Official visit swayed North Mecklenburg star

ECU Recruiting News
Physical Georgia receiver poses tough matchup

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates project lineman Durant as center

ECU Recruiting News
ECU spotted potential in Conley lineman

ECU Recruiting News
ECU lands fleet-footed Georgia defensive back

ECU Recruiting News
‘Football town’ helps draw Short to Pirates

ECU Recruiting News
ECU targets edge rushers

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates aim high for interior line talent

ECU Recruiting News
Well stocked Pirates enter fray for O-linemen

ECU Recruiting News
ECU faces uphill battle in hunt for tight ends

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates cast wide net for wide receivers

ECU Recruiting News
Loaded Pirates still courting running backs

ECU Recruiting News
ECU targets quarterbacks of the future

Recent Web Roundups

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Friday, February 3, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Thursday, February 2, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Writer Archives

  • Bonesville Staff
  • Brian Bailey
  • Sammy Batten
  • Bethany Bradsher
  • Brett Friedlander
  • Al Myatt
  • NFF
  • Greg Vacek
  • Danny Whitford

Recent Web Roundups

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Friday, February 3, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Thursday, February 2, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, February 1, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, January 30, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Sunday, January 29, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Saturday, January 28, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Friday, January 27, 2023

More Web Roundups

Copyright © 2023 Bonesville.net · Website by Seaport Webworks. · Log in · Privacy Policy