|
-----
Notes and Quotes
-----
|
 -----
Pirate Notebook
For Wednesday, August 22, 2001
By Denny O'Brien |
�2001 Bonesville.net
Logan Upbeat About Receivers
For most coaches, losing receivers Marcellus Harris and Keith Stokes, along
with tight end Rashon Burns, would be cause for great concern. But not for
ECU�s Steve Logan, who is confident about this year�s receiving corps, which
provides a nice mix of experience and youth.
�You know, we lost Marcellus Harris and Keith Stokes, and those are two
dynamite little playmaking guys,� he said. �They�re both in pro camps right
now � deservedly so. They�re very talented youngsters.�
�At the same time, I feel good about Arnie Powell, Derrick Collier, Terrance
Copper, and Aaron Harris, who has been a steady guy in this program. I feel
pretty good about those kids � they played well in the spring. Marcus White
is a young man that played really well for us last year as a redshirt
freshman that had a wonderful spring. I�m very confident, and I think David
Garrard would tell you that he is very confident throwing to them.�
Fans can expect to see a tight end by committee approach, with Corey Floyd,
Ben Thomas, and Seth Yates all receiving time this season. Though Thomas � a
converted linebacker � was listed as the starter following spring practice,
Floyd made huge strides this summer.
�For the first time in Corey�s career, he has returned in shape,� Logan
noted. �Coach (Jim) Whitten has done a fabulous job with him.�
�Corey has been a steady player for us. He needs to continue to do that.�
Pirates Like to Hit
Junior outside linebacker Antwan Yelverton doesn�t mind that he is
considered undersized. At 5�11� 202 lbs., Yelverton appears out of place
among the Pirates� front seven, but don�t expect the Snow Hill product to
back down from anybody.
�I might look at a guy that�s twice my size, but he�s got to prove to me
that he�s capable of beating me,� he said. �I know that I�m going to get
back up every time.�
�The main thing is what you�ve got inside of you. Size doesn�t mean anything
to me, it�s how you play � it�s just your heart.�
Strength coach Jim Whitten used the term �freaky� when describing Yelverton,
who boasts a 405-lb. bench press � tops among Pirate linebackers. Combining
strength and 4.5 speed, Yelverton has overcome his size disadvantage.
Playing with reckless abandon, Yelverton meets opposing ball carriers with a
nasty disposition, and is generally considered one of the hardest hitters on
the Pirate defense.
Yelverton has plenty of company on the Pirates� hit parade, including junior
Antwan Adams. Antwan and twin brother Anthony provide the Pirates with a
pair of bookend safeties that have developed quite a reputation for
delivering bone-crushing blows.
So, just what goes into rattling one�s cage?
�It�s more of an instinct,� said Antwan Adams. �A lot of guys kid me about
it because I look for the big hit before the interception.�
�When I see a guy and I have a chance of lighting him up, I go ahead and do
it.�
That is the attitude defensive coordinator Tim Rose brought to East Carolina
when he arrived in 1999. Rose�s blitz-happy package has provided the Pirate
defense with quite a metamorphosis, which has been embraced by Pirate
defenders, including Adams.
�Everyone on the defense has a chance to blitz, cover, do whatever,� said
Adams. �We have defensive linemen coming back into coverage.�
�Sometimes you just want to get the big hit so you can get everybody hyped
up and psyched up � you can change the momentum, definitely.�
And perhaps no player on the Pirate defense can shift mometum quite like
senior linebacker Pernell Griffin. The Butkus award and All-America
candidate shows no mercy to the opposition, and has earned great respect
from his teammates.
�Pernell Griffin � he can really let you know how he feels,� Adams added.
Suffice it to say, Griffin rarely takes the field in a jovial mood.
Beefing Up
Freshman quarterback Paul Troth entered East Carolina University a semester
early to acclimate himself to college life and participate in spring
practice. According to Logan, the move has paid off.
�Physically I�m just tickled to death with what�s happened with Paul (Troth)
in the weight room,� Logan said. �He came in � I�ve repeated this a number
of times � he showed up January 8 as a mid-term entrance from high school at
201 lbs. He weighed yesterday at 226 lbs, so he no longer looks like a
zipper.�
�He�s got arms, and they look like college football arms now. But, he needs
to be at 242 � that�s where he�s headed. He�s going to be a 242 lb.
quarterback one of these days when it�s all said and done.�
�Is he ready? I don�t know. He did some fabulous things in the spring that
surprised me quite honestly.�
Troth is battling redshirt freshman Desmond Robinson for the backup
quarterback position.
Intrastate Rivalry
David Garrard readily admits that he has a personal rivalry with fellow
in-state quarterbacks Philip Rivers (N.C. State) and Ronald Curry (UNC-CH).
�I want to be the best,� Garrard said. �Definitely inside the state, you
want to be the one that people on the street talk about.�
�I think with the games that we have this year on ESPN, I have the chance to
make that mark for myself. It is kind of a personal deal with me to make
sure that I am better than them in the fans� eyes and in the people�s eyes
on the street. And I feel that a lot of people have that feeling about it.�
Garrard will have the opportunity to face-off against Curry on October 6
when the Pirates travel to Chapel Hill to play the Tar Heels. It will be the
first meeting between the two schools since 1981. North Carolina won that
game 56-0.
Send an e-mail message to Denny O'Brien.
02/23/2007 01:41:12 AM
----- |
