Seniors Lead Pirates Through First Two-A-Day
August 09, 2006 | Football
Aug. 9, 2006
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina completed its first two-a-day schedule of preseason camp Wednesday, working a little over two hours each during the morning and afternoon at the Cliff Moore Practice Complex.
The Pirates, who only have two more double practice days remaining during camp, also began their in-season preparation work in earnest after five introductory sessions which stressed a thorough review of head coach Skip Holtz' offensive and defensive schemes.
"The key at this point has been our senior leadership," Holtz said. "When you get to this stage, when the excitement and enthusiasm from the first two days has started to wear off a little, it's those guys who provide the lift. I was encouraged by what I saw out there with our level of intensity during both practices. I thought we improved and made progress, which is all I can ask for. We continue to practice together which in turn has promoted healthy individual competition."
After coming out in shells (helmets, shoulder pads and shorts) during the morning session, the Pirates worked in full pads during the afternoon and closed the action with first-and-10 team and goal line drills. Offensively, senior running back Brandon Fractious and junior wide receiver Steven Rogers highlighted the effort. Fractious broke through for a pair of 80-yard scoring runs while Rogers was on the receiving end of a 80-yard TD pass from senior James Pinkney before netting 30 and 32-yard catches. Defensively, senior cornerback Markeith McQueen (interception) and redshirt freshman Scotty Robinson (fumble recovery) picked up a turnover each.
NOTES: The Pirates concluded the morning session with a two-minute drill while some stingy defensive play keyed the afternoon workouts' goal line efforts ... Redshirt freshman John Nowell (WR) also caught an 80-yard scoring toss (from Patrick Pinkney) and sophomore Dominique Lindsay added a 40-yard scamper during the afternoon's team work ... True freshman Kevin Gidrey (FB) sat out his third straight practice (concussion) ... Early evaluations on true freshman Jay Ross' (DL) knee injury (suffered Tuesday) were favorable ... Athletic training personnel are still guarded in announcing a possible return date until further testing can be completed ... ECU will return to its single workout schedule Thursday and Friday in preparation for the program's first intra-squad scrimmage Saturday afternoon which will produce the season's initial depth chart ... The Pirates have altered their schedule for Thursday, electing to practice under the lights for the first time this season ... Thursday's Practice Time: 8:15 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.; Season Opener: Sept. 2 vs. Navy (5:30 p.m.)
