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Pirate Notebook No. 8
Wednesday, September 17, 2001

By Denny O'Brien
Staff Writer and Columnist

On the surface, the East Carolina defense would appear to be somewhat of a disappointment this season.

For a unit that returned nine starter's from last year's 8-4 squad, it was a phase of the game that figured to provide the Pirates somewhat of a comfort zone this year. Instead, it is near the bottom nationally in both rushing defense (102) and total defense (101).

On the other hand, the lowly defensive rankings are somewhat misleading, for while the Pirates have been very accommodating between the 20s, they have been equally stingy inside the red zone.

"Last year, our defense was interesting from the standpoint that we got pushed around a little bit last year, and I think Tim (Rose) would tell you that," ECU coach Steve Logan said. "But at the same time, inside the red
zone, our defense played some of the most magnificent defense I've seen. It was kind of a paradox of sorts."

Against Wake Forest, the Pirates allowed the Deacons to take their opening drive all the way down to the one-yard line, before stripping the ball from running back Tarence Williams, denying the touchdown.

In the waning seconds of the first half against Tulane, linebacker Reggie Hamphill intercepted a Patrick Ramsey pass near the ECU goal line to preserve a 20-7 halftime lead.

Last season, the Pirates suffered defensive lapses for several reasons, one of which was injuries.

"Some of our misadventures last year were due to Pernell Griffin and Greg LeFever not being able to play an entire month of October," Logan noted. " We were in such dangerous waters at times that (I thought) Coach Rose may have to suit up. That would have been a scary sight.

"We were really down in numbers at the linebacker position. Healthy teams usually end up being pretty good. We were not a healthy team in the month of October."

Though injuries weren't an issue against Wake Forest, Logan readily admits that his defense wasn't prepared for the schemes that it faced. The Deacons used Northwestern and Clemson-like spread formations, while posting Nebraska-like numbers, rushing for 294 yards.

Still, the Deacs struggled in the red zone, cracking the end zone just once in several trips.

�They (Wake Forest) had a fine package that our defense had a hard time identifying, literally, who had the ball,� Logan said following the Wake game.
�With all the cross motion and stuff � they just did a great job.�

Tulane, too, found success against the Pirates, both through the air and on the ground. But, like Wake Forest, the Green Wave struggled in the red zone, scoring just twice.

Ultimately, when you factor in the red zone performance, it's easy to see why Logan isn't hung up on defensive statistics, save for one � scoring.

"You know, the numbers thing � and I talk to our players about this � there are numbers that mean something," Logan said, but he also pointed out the folly of overemphasizing stats.

"I've been in programs to where, good Lord, we had a goal sheet thing," he recalled. "It was so complex that it was information overload. We wanted to hold them to this many yards rushing and this many yards passing.

"All I want to do is hold them out of the end zone. And all we really talk about around here is scoring defense."

So far, the message has apparently been taken to heart by the ECU 'D'.

Henry Gets Stronger as Games Progress

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out when senior running back Leonard Henry gets the bulk of his yardage. At 6'1" 200 lbs, Henry is a nice mixture of power, strength, and durability, and seems at his best
as the game wears on.

"Leonard Henry is what I call a banger," Logan said. "He's not a real flashy, sexy type of guy. He just kind of brings the wood every time he carries the
ball.

"Invariably if you would investigate his statistics, his yards per carry go up late in the game. People get a little bit tired of bringing him down."

Against Tulane, Henry was having his ordinary day at the office, bouncing off would-be tacklers while averaging around five yards per carry.

Then, enter the fourth quarter, during which Henry tacked on 154 yards, including runs of 92 and 54 yards, which all but put away the Green Wave.

Though the Clinton senior won't win many track meets, he obviously
has sufficient speed to spring loose for breakaways from time to time, which adds another dimension to the talented running back's game.

"Leonard's a 4.5 guy -- he's not a burner," Logan said. "He's not very particular whether or not he runs around you or runs over you.

"I really, really like him. There are all kinds of running backs, but I really enjoy having Leonard's strength. Like I say, he's a banger, and late in the
game is usually when he does his best work."

Logan Pleased With Garrard's Performance

Many expected a Heisman-caliber season from senior quarterback David Garrard. Thus far, the Durham native has put up what most would consider to be modest numbers.

In two games this season, Garrard has completed 50% of his passes, while throwing for 397 yards with a touchdown against two interceptions. Those numbers, however, don't tell the whole story.

Statistically, Garrard isn't going to rank among the top quarterbacks because of the offense in which he operates. The numbers of Louisville's Dave Ragone and N.C. State's Philip Rivers, for example, get a boost from offense schemes that concentrate heavily on short, safe passes which call for the receivers to do the bulk of the work.

Garrard, on the other hand, is asked to facilitate a multiple-schemed offense that puts much emphasis on throwing the deep ball off play-action. That's not to mention the three-step, five-step, and seven-step drop-back packages Logan incorporates, to go along with a healthy dosage of option football.

You won't find many quarterbacks of whom more is asked. And thus far, Logan is pleased with the results his four-year starter has provided.

"He's played two superb football games, and he hasn't gotten quite enough help from some of the other people," said Logan. " Although Saturday night
(against Tulane), obviously you know with 51 points, he played almost an impeccable game � he had one bad snap."

"David's doing just what we thought he would be doing."

The Proverbial Next Level

We all have our pet peeves. For some, it is chewing with your mouth open. For others, it may be that excess amount of toothpaste that doesn't seem to find its way down the drain.

For Logan, however, it is a single vague question he fields in various venues from well-meaning interrogators: 'When are you going to reach the next level?'

"The pet peeve about that is that it means something to each person that asks it � there is no answer to that," Logan said. " Where is the next level? I mean, What is that? Somebody answer me... See how quiet it gets."

It's the question Logan gets asked most often, it would seem. The media asks him at his weekly press conference. Fans ask him during his weekly call-in show.

And virtually every time, Logan offers the same answer, the only one he knows to give: When his team defeats its next opponent.

"Where East Carolina is, you know our agenda here through the time that I've been here is to get competitive, gain respect, win the next game. I don't
know what else to do."

"If you win enough next games, maybe that's the next level. The next level? I really don't know what that is."

Pirates Maintain Foothold on State Supremacy

For the past decade, East Carolina has prided itself as being THE football school in the state of North Carolina. With so much hoopla centered around hoops at the state's other I-A schools, the gridiron has always been a source of great pride for the Pirate faithful.

That pride, it would seem, took a major hit on September 1 when Wake Forest waltzed into Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and upset the Pirates, 21-19.

However, the attitude within the ECU program suggests nothing of the sort.

"I think the in-state deal is still there for us," said ten-year offensive coordinator Doug Martin. "We're the winningest football program in the state of North Carolina since 1994. All we've got to do is keep winning to preserve that."

In other words, one game does not a program make. Nor break, for that matter.

Since 1994, East Carolina leads all in-state schools with 53 victories. North Carolina, paced by an 11-win and 10-win season during that stretch, is right behind the Pirates with 52 victories. N.C. State is a distant third, winning 44 times during the seven-year period.

East Carolina will have one more opportunity to knock off an in-state foe this season when it travels to Chapel Hill to face North Carolina on October 6. The game will mark the first meeting between the two schools since 1981.