|
CHERUBINI CHIMES IN
-----
|
 |
One-on-One with the
Pirates
Monday,
August 24, 2010
By Ron Cherubini |
Q&A
with Derek Blacknall
By
Ron Cherubini
©2011 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
 Last
season, Derek Blacknall had finally established himself as a regular in the
lineup at free safety. With a reputation for fierce physicality, Blacknall
did well in his first fulltime gig as a Pirate.
With the spring came news that Blacknall would shift to
corner, opposite all-everything CB Emanuel Davis, to ensure that the
secondary had veteran experience on the outside. The move also cleared the
way for rising sophomore Damon Magazu to get on the field at safety.
Blacknall has made the transition to corner and is working to ensure that he
plays like the veteran he is in the critical position to which he has been
assigned.
Derek was kind enough to sit down for a chat with
Bonesville to share his insights on the upcoming season.
Derek Blacknall (26) in a celebratory moment (ECU SID
photo)
One-on-One with Derek Blacknall
 Q:
You made a big move this past off-season (in the
spring) moving from safety to corner. How did you
take that news when you first heard it?
A: You know that transition was
kind of hard… kind of difficult. At corner, you get
a lot of man, you’re locked and you are focused on
that receiver and what you got to do. At safety, you
can kind of roam the field a little bit and kind of
freelance like I did at free safety. But I am
feeling pretty good right now. I come out here ever
day and work and work at it.
Q: One thing that was very easy
to see about your style of play a year ago is how
physical you like to play. Are you able to bring any
of that physicality to the corner role?
A: There is definitely the
opportunity to play physical in certain types of
coverages. At the same time, I have to be a little
cautious at corner because you can get exposed a
little more by being to quick on an out route and
then they come back at you with an out and up and
you're burned. So, I feel great, and I feel like I
can challenge my receivers, but as far as coverage,
I am a little more careful and watch my man more.
Q: At times last season, it must
have felt like you were asked to cover guys forever
out there while the front seven struggled like they
did. From your perspective, can you talk about the
improvements you saw in front of you this spring?
A: Yeah… I mean we had some guys
who were injured last year back out here this
season, so (of) course things are going a little
smoother now because the quarterbacks can’t hold the
ball as long or roll out on us. That makes my job a
lot easier when our guys up front can get a pass
rush on and also stopping the run.
Q: What player on this team do
you most respect and why?
A: The player I respect the most
on this team right now is my fellow DB, Emanuel
Davis. You know, anytime we are out here he is there
to help push you through. You watch him work and you
know you need to pick it up and finish like he does.
Q: What player on this offense
would you hate to have to play defense against for a
full game?
A: I can tell you right now that
the guy I would hate to have to cover is Mike Price.
No. 14 is a speedster. He is so fast he can get up
on you quick, so you have (to) get your hips turned
or he is by you. You can’t play him too quick either
or he will just do a comeback and make the easy
catch. Mike is one of those guys who when I see him
lined up, I have to really focus in on him because
of his speed.
E-mail Ron Cherubini
Ron Cherubini Archives
08/24/2011 01:58 AM |
