Offense Bounces Back With Strong Thursday Showing
August 14, 2003 | Football
The Pirates, under first-year head coach John Thompson, are continuing their preparations for the season opener on Labor Day, Sept. 1, at defending Conference USA co-champion Cincinnati. That game, to kickoff at 12 noon, will be televised nationally by ESPN.
Thursday was the second day with two practices on the itinerary. Despite facing one of the hottest, most humid days of fall camp, the Pirates turned in a sharper, crisper practice, especially on the offensive side of the ball, from the previous evening's scrimmage.
"We're learning from our mistakes," said J.B. Grimes, ECU's assistant head coach and offensive line coach. "You go into the first scrimmage knowing you're going to have mistakes and then you come back and do something about it."
Juniors Paul Troth and Desmond Robinson, who are battling for the starting role at quarterback, both had several long touchdown passes in team drills today after struggling at times in yesterday's scrimmage. They were aided by a receiving corps that significantly cut down on dropped passes.
The team was on the field at the Cliff Moore Practice Facility for nearly two hours, 20 minutes in the morning session and was scheduled to return at 5:30 p.m. for an evening practice.
Grimes' veteran offensive line, which includes Preseason All-American tackle Brian Rimpf and seniors Charlie Dempsey, Doug White, Brian Fox, Brandon Pope and Corey Schmidt, was solid in Wednesday's scrimmage and is on track with where it should be at this point in preseason, according to its position coach.
"We're starting to come around as far as learning how to be a little more physical and I think that's an important part of what we're going to have to be as a football team. On offense, that starts with the offensive line," Grimes said.
The Pirates will have a single practice on Friday afternoon and will return to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Saturday at 4 p.m. for another scrimmage that is open to the public. Saturday's scrimmage will preceed the annual Meet the Pirates fan fest and dinner which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
