East Carolina coach Mike Houston met with media earlier in the week as practice focus turned to a matchup with No. 2 Michigan in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 2, at noon, in ECU’s season opener.
The preparation process involves the formation of platoons which have the job of replicating Michigan’s anticipated schemes to give the Pirates’ top units the best looks possible to practice against.
“When you start transition to this, now all of a sudden you got guys that are running Michigan’s offense and Michigan’s defense and Michigan’s special teams,” Houston said. “And so, you’ve got to kind of work through that because all those freshmen and some of the new guys, they come in here and they’re going to start their freshman year and they’re going to do this and do that. And sometimes they do and a lot of times they don’t.
“So, we’ve got to work through that and teach them the bigger picture about No. 1, they’ve got to continue to develop each day and try to use examples of Rahjai Harris started out on the scout team his freshman year. Jahri Patterson, the job that he did last year on the scout team. And so many guys, I mean 99 percent of our players in our program started out on the scout team.
“But those freshmen, they don’t see that. All they see is what they’re going through right now, so we’ve got to help them through that. So that’s a few of the things you got to iron out. But it was good to get started on an opponent. Obviously, we have a tremendous challenge in the opener and the more you watch them, I mean not a whole lot of weaknesses with what they have returning, and a very, very good football team and program. Coach (Jim) Harbaugh’s done a great job recruiting the past four years to build this roster.”
Scout teams vital
The scout teams are a developmental aspect of the program, an essential element for teams across the land.
“I reminded them, I said, ‘Listen guys, you’re supposed to be Michigan.’ And obviously they’re not, but one, they have to give us a great look That’s important. And every school in the country went through the same thing today. All of them did. But the other thing too is just trying to get them to see that you don’t become the finished product overnight and you’ve got to push yourself to improve every single day. You’ve got to stay on a positive trajectory in order to become that finished product one day. And so, it’s a twofold deal. But yeah, there’s a lot of things to iron out the first day.
“We weren’t live tackling today; you were thud tackling and we’re a little sloppy after a couple of days off. It’s very important that we really sharpen up our thud tackles because we got to make sure we’re getting our bodies in great position to make those open field tackles and to make good proper fundamental tackles. If you’re not a good thud tackling football team, you’re not going to be a very good tackling team on game day.”
Facing No. 2
The Wolverines have made the College Football Playoff the last two years and are ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press and Coaches polls.
“We’ve got a great challenge, but we’re excited about that challenge,” Houston said. “The kids were very excited. I mean, you could feel their energy in the team room today. You could feel their energy when we took the field. Now, it was a cooker out there when we first got on the field, so appreciate the cloud cover, kind of knocking it down a few degrees and getting that humidity out of here so we could have a very productive day. But it always gets more exciting when now you have something to focus on, like the first ball game. So good first day (since preseason camp ended Saturday).”
Shout out to Minges Bottling Group
Houston prefaced his comments on Tuesday by taking a swig from a water bottle after a practice in the summer sun.
“I got my Aquafina,” said the fifth-year Pirates coach. “It reminds me, I want to wish Minges family and Minges Bottling happy 100-year anniversary this past weekend. So obviously they’re an important part of our community, good friends personally of mine and many of us and certainly great friends and supporters of our athletic department. So happy anniversary to Minges Bottling Company.”
Harbough suspension
Reports this week stated that Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh would not be on the sideline for the ECU game as part of a self-imposed 3-game suspension by Michigan for Harbaugh’s failure to cooperate truthfully with an NCAA investigation.
Houston was doubtful Harbaugh’s absence would impact the game with the Pirates/
“This kind of went back and forth and I think it’s kind of silly to be honest,” Houston said. “I mean, if you want to punish him, punish him, figure it out in the offseason, quit going back and forth like this. So, I hope he is on the sideline.
“He’s going to coach throughout the week. I don’t think it’s going to make a significant difference one way or the other on game day. He has a staff that’s been with him for a while. His offensive coordinator (Sherrone Moore) has been there. A couple of guys on the offensive staff have been there, so they’ll have the game plan and I’m sure do a great job of running it. I just assume he’d be across the field.”
Tight end room
An injury to Tyler Savage has impacted numbers at tight end.
Shane Calhoun has stepped up as a position leader.
“I think the two freshmen are going to be really good ball players and we’ve prepared them since the beginning of camp to be ready to play this year,” Houston sad. “Both of them are very talented. They’re very different. Obviously, Shane is a veteran and has looked very, very solid so far during preseason camp. Really, really like the athleticism of that room.”
Wide receivers
The Pirates have a lot of potential standouts at wide receiver. The group includes Chase Sowell, Kelan Robinsson and Ryan King.
“I thought they all three looked pretty good today,” Houston said. “I mean, I thought towards the end of last week and then a few flashes on Saturday, but I thought today they looked good. All three of them I think will help us in time this year. And you forget Chase has four years of eligibility left. He is a very young player. Kelan’s not that old. Ryan’s a little bit older, but still he’s still got a couple of years of eligibility. But I think all three of them, we’re going to be glad they’re here and I think all three of them will help us at some point this year.”
Zero Week
Houston will get to watch some football this weekend. Navy and Notre Dame play on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in Dublin, Ireland.
“I can promise you this, there’s zero stress because whatever team wins or loses, it’s got no impact on me for the most part,” Houston said. “I enjoy watching. I enjoy watching the sport. I wish I got to see my Cowboys play more often than I do, especially when they’re whipping up on the Commanders or whatever their name is this year. But I enjoy just watching it.
“I look at stuff sometimes and say, ‘Oh, that’s a play we run,’ or ‘that’s a pressure we use,’ or whatever. But for the most part, I just enjoy sitting back and watching,”
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