Pirates Prep For First Scrimmage Of Season
August 11, 2006 | Football
Aug. 11, 2006
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina finalized preparations for its first intra-squad scrimmage of preseason camp with a lively two-hour practice in shells under cloudy and cooler conditions Friday afternoon at the Cliff Moore Practice Complex.
The closed contest, which will be held at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium Saturday afternoon, will feature all levels of the Pirates' personnel and serve as the first game-condition evaluation opportunity of the season for head coach Skip Holtz and staff.
As a precautionary measure to ensure freshness for the scrimmage, Holtz held the Pirates to minimal contact during Friday's session which primarily stressed 11-on-11 team work. He also covered situational drills before closing the practice with special teams work.
"Obviously, tomorrow will be our first test and we're looking forward to the opportunity of getting a lot of tape to evaluate where we are," Holtz said. "Today was a whiz (no-physical) day but I thought we accomplished what we needed to heading into the scrimmage. The goal here is to establish our first two-deep, define our repetitions at different positions and move forward."
Holtz indicated the scrimmage, scripted for approximately 105 to 110 snaps, would consist of a series of 10-play possessions for each unit and conclude with a set of goal line drills.
NOTES: Freshman FB Kevin Gidrey (concussion), freshman LB Mike Caple (concussion) and freshman DL Jay Ross (knee) will not play in Saturday's simulated contest ... Senior safety Jamar Flournoy (leg) and freshman running back Norman Whitley (shoulder) returned to action after missing Thursday night's workout because of injury and are expected to experience full contact work during the scrimmage ... Junior tight end J.R. Kraemer (Wildwood, Mo.) has participated in each workout of camp since transferring into the ECU program from Illinois prior to the start of the second summer session ... Kraemer, who played in five games for Ron Zook's Fighting Illini squad in '05, will have to sit out the 2006 campaign in compliance with NCAA transfer regulations ... True freshman Melvin Patterson, a two-way standout (WR/S) at Santa Fe High School in Alachua, Fla., has opened camp as a member of the Pirates' secondary at the free safety position ... After Saturday's scrimmage, the Pirates will enjoy their first non-practice day since opening camp August 3 but will still conduct meetings and a lifting session Sunday ... Saturday's Scrimmage Time: 3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.; Season Opener: Sept. 2 vs. Navy (5:30 p.m.)
