Spring Football Notebook No. 9
April 03, 2009 | Football
April 3, 2009
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina officially completed preparations for the program's first intra-squad scrimmage of the season with a light workout in shorts on Hight Field inside the Cliff Moore Practice Complex Friday.
The session was the Pirates' ninth of the spring practice period and leaves just six more workouts to go, including another scrimmage next Wednesday and the annual Purple-Gold Spring Game set for April 18.
"We came out in shorts today to get a lot of one-on-one, fundamental and individual work done," head coach Skip Holtz said. "There was a lot of energy and emotion out there and that is good because these guys have a big day tomorrow in terms of the first scrimmage. Tomorrow is like a test day. A lot of younger guys have had some good practices out here and I am anxious to see how they will respond."
Holtz indicated that Saturday's scrimmage, scripted for approximately 100 snaps, would consist of a series of eight-play possessions for each unit and conclude with a set of goal line drills. All levels of the Pirates' current personnel chart is expected to experience action for evaluation and game-tape purposes.
"We talked today about the scrimmages being important since it formulates the depth chart." Holtz added. "Positions will be earned and we will have a better sense of the bigger picture in terms of our football team. With that said, I think the players are excited about the opportunities they will have in the scrimmages. We do still need to be careful to monitor injuries and that is why we only scrimmage a limited number of times during the spring. If someone happens to get hurt, at least he has experienced those fundamental practices."
After the completion of Saturday's contest, which is closed to the public, ECU will take Sunday off before opening its fourth week of work Monday, April 6.
NOTES: In addition to players who are sitting out the entire spring, there will be five others who are expected to miss Saturday's scrimmage because of injuries - TE Michael Byrd (head), OG T.J. Harper (ankle), DT Robert Jones (knee), CB Darryl Reynolds (leg) and DE Scotty Robinson (ankle) ... Three players are listed as questionable for the contest - LB Jeremy Chambliss (leg), QB Josh Jordan (hand) and DT Linval Joseph (illness).
EAST CAROLINA'S 2009 SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Next Workout: Saturday, April 4 (scrimmage)
Remaining Workouts: April 6, April 8 (scrimmage), April 13, April 15 and April 18 (Purple-Gold Game, 3:00 p.m.)
