McNeill Discusses Upcoming Spring Practice
March 22, 2010 | Football
March 22, 2010
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina University Head Football Coach Ruffin McNeill addressed members of the media Monday morning about the start of spring drills, scheduled to begin in the afternoon.
Opening Statement
"I was thinking this morning driving in that this is my 25th official year starting spring practice. People asked if I'm excited about today. I'm as excited heading into today as any of those 24 years leading up to this one.
"It was a unique morning riding into campus. This is the first official spring that I will have the opportunity to lead a football team and program as my own."
On The Focus Of The Spring Season
"The beauty of spring practice is that this year will be our first one. It will be our chance to develop our fundamentals. I know there has been a lot of talk about our offensive and defensive schemes. The biggest part of spring for our football coaches will be to develop the fundamentals needed. That's what spring is about for me. That's how I've been raised in it.
"This will be the first chance we've had to actually be on the field with the players having a football in their hands. That part is exciting.
"It will be a chance to start developing the trust and commitment on the field we'll need. Our team will be based on those two principles, making them very special right now."
On The Work Leading Into Today's First Practice
"There have been 22 days of offseason workouts with [Director of Strength and Conditioning] Coach Mike Golden. There are only so many times you can watch a player go over bags, change direction on cones, lift and do the agility things we've asked of them."
On The Coaching Staff Working Together
"Everybody has to keep in mind that this will be our first time together as a staff. I know portions of our staff have worked together at previous universities. However, it will be the first time all nine assistant coaches have had a chance to work together in unison.
"It's a really special day for those guys, too. They've been meeting together and bonding in the staff rooms together. It'll be the first time on the field in an actual football setting in which we'll have a chance to develop as a staff.
"We had a staff meeting this morning. It was a very fun and intense feeling in the room. The coaches are anxious to get out on the field. I'm sure our players feel the same way."
On Position Battles Heading Into Practice
"I've already mentioned there is no entitlement here. Another part of this spring season will be seeing players compete for positions and playing time on offense, defense and special teams. Special teams will have as much emphasis on our football team as offense and defense. That comes from my own experience and being a special teams coordinator. I also know the importance of special teams. Mark Nelson will serve as our special teams coordinator this year.
"Our players have to find their role and place on this football team. Every role will be important. Today is a start for that."
On The Weather's Impact On Practice
"We will practice. If it rains, we will practice. The only thing that will stop us from practicing will be lightning. Weather will not determine if we practice or not. We will get work done."
On The Spring Practice Schedule
"We have 15 days to get work done. Three of those days will be in shorts. With practice starting today, it'll be exciting and an exciting time for us. We're really looking forward to it."
On The Team's Personnel
"People have also asked about personnel. This is a chance for us to evaluate our personnel. I can't tell you how a guy can run a route, defend, rush the passer, protect the quarterback or run the football until we actually see him on the field.
"We're starting today in shorts. Some things can be accomplished in shorts, but when we put on pads and start in competitive situations, then we'll know.
"At the end of today, we'll have a chance to start to develop our personality as a football team. We'll learn where our competitive spirit and discipline are as a unit. We'll begin to develop our team's mental toughness and effort on every play.
"We also want to make sure we put a product out there that our fans will like watching. Our team will be one people enjoy watching play. We have a chance to start that today."
On Open Practices
"Today, Wednesday and Wednesday April 14th, in addition to the spring game, will be open practices. Other than that, I want to keep practices closed. We might also open up some Saturday practices at certain times. We've got to have a chance to put our systems in place."
On The Players Learning His Staff's Way Of Doing Things
"We've really begun that process already. Today is the first time the players will see how we run and do things. It'll be on a strict time schedule. Practices will be very up-tempo.
"We'll have a certain way we do things here. Practices will start at 3:45 p.m. with pre-practice, at 4:00 p.m. the horn blows and at 6:15 p.m. practice is done. It will not be where we have one more play here or one more play there. We're interested in getting a quality, full-speed effort out of each player and coach. One of the jobs I have now because I'm not coaching a position, which I miss a little bit already, will be to keep practice on a strict timed schedule.
"It'll be new for the players. I'm sure they have already grasped how I want to run things. Once they get to today, it'll be a little different for them. From the first minute offensively, they'll begin with certain drills they'll do for the entire time they're here. Defensively, coordinator Brian Mitchell and those guys will run the players through some of their exercises. It'll be a little different, but the players will adjust."
On How Important It Is For The Players To Leave Spring Understanding The New Schemes
"One of the things we've been able to do in the offseason is talk a little football with the players. We're not allowed to be on the field with the players, but they've been introduced to the schemes already.
"This spring in particular is real important for the players to grasp the offensive, defensive and special teams' concepts. As far as a certain level of knowledge obtained, that'll be determined by each player. They've really picked up things already this offseason.
"If you've driven by the field as I have, you see a bunch of guys out there running around and doing some things on their own offensively and defensively. Our specialists have also been able to get in some snaps, kicks and punts."
On How Much Impact He Will Have On Play Calling
"My biggest job will be game management. In the spring, that means practice management. During games, I'll be in charge of timeouts, going for it on fourth down and those types of things. Otherwise, I trust Lincoln Riley on offense, Brian Mitchell on defense and Mark Nelson on special teams to make decisions.
"During the week, if there are some things in any phase of the game I see after watching film, I'll make a suggestion. Having been a coordinator before, I think it's important to make coordinators feel confident making particular calls during the game. That won't come from me. Any input from me will be made earlier in the week."
On The Focus Of Spring Practice Aside From Fundamentals
"Besides the fundamental emphasis, it'll be grasping concepts on offense, defense and special teams. The intangible things are also very important. Our competitive spirit, mental toughness and level of effort that we'll be demanding on each play are three intangibles that have to be established here. Those three things will make up our personality.
"We have a chance to start developing this team's personality. A team's personality, no matter what you had the year before, is formed new. Each team is different. This group's personality will be established in these 15 days. The short-term goals are fundamental improvement and concept grasping on offense, defense and special teams. In the long term it's about our intangibles."
On Returning To The Field At East Carolina
"It's exciting. It is a different mode, but exciting. I was driving in this morning and saying this is my 25th spring I've been a part of. That's a lot of springs. When I first started it was 20 days of spring practice. When you add up those spring dates, that's a lot of practices.
"This year is different because I'm having a chance to lead the program and be in charge of its development, which I'm very excited about. It's a chance to get back on the field that I was raised and brought up on. I was raised from a lamb to a ram on this field by Head Coach Pat Dye. I get a chance now to raise some lambs into rams."
On His Biggest Concern Heading Into Spring Practice
"No concerns really. There was some adjustment as far as what we wanted in terms of running from the players. We asked some things to be done a little bit differently. However, the kids adjusted when we explained what we wanted.
"My main concern is really kids trying too hard. Some people don't understand how that can happen. In this game I've found out guys may be trying a little too hard to impress or make plays. They'll relax after some time. That's a concern. That's OK, though. I'd rather have to back them off than push them that way.
"There are a few guys who will not be able to practice due to injuries. If a guy is injured, he needs to get rehabbed. If he's ready to practice then he will. If not, he needs to get healthy, rehabbed and get ready to go. Those guys need to pay attention and learn from the sideline. I wish I had the whole group out there, but some things you just can't control.
"One thing we can control is how we approach each day with our focus and preparation. I know concerns will come up and that we'll have to tell somebody to calm down out there today."
On The Quarterback Competition
"I expect all of them to compete. It's open and we're not going to make a decision until we get a guy we feel comfortable and confident with. All the guys who are here will have their chance of competing and going after it. Right now on campus, we have Brad Wornick, Josh Jordan, Covair Frost and Rio Johnson. Those guys will have a chance to compete and we'll go from there."
On Formulating A Depth Chart
"There is no entitlement here. Our job during the spring is to evaluate and find the best guy. As good as Dwayne Harris has been, he has to earn his spot. There is no entitlement. The plays he has made in the past were great, but none of them count for right now. That goes for everybody. He's got some skills. He's going to have to do it on the field, too. There is no wishing or hoping. He's excited and looking forward to that challenge. He has been told the same thing everybody else has.
"There is no timetable on a depth chart. Some guys may step up and prove themselves early. To me, it's going to be determined on the basis of consistency and discipline. The final line will be: who is making the most plays? If two people each have 10 plays and you make eight and I make six, in my thought process and in what has been directed to our staff, the guy who makes the most plays will start. The other guy will certainly play, but the one who makes the most plays will start.
"Evaluation will be a continuous thing throughout the spring, summer and into fall camp. Some positions may be decided by the end of the spring, but some positions might wait until the summer and beginning of the fall. We're prepared for that, too."
