Football Completes Media Day, Second Workout
August 07, 2010 | Football
Aug. 7, 2010
GREENVILLE, N.C. – After conducting its annual Media Day activities early Saturday afternoon, the East Carolina football team returned to the Cliff Moore Practice Complex for its second practice session of the fall.
The Pirates spent the period in shorts and helmets before entering the next stage of preparation by putting on shoulder pads Sunday. The team will conduct its first practice in full gear Tuesday afternoon.
“We didn’t have a team lift this morning so I did see more energy than yesterday,” head coach Ruffin McNeill said. “We executed better and our tempo picked up today. I was very pleased with the enthusiasm on offense, defense and special teams.”
While yesterday’s session focused mainly on tempo, today’s area of heavy concentration was execution and fundamentals. During the quarterback’s “Routes on Air” period, all five passers had to complete each throw in the segment before moving to the next pattern. On the defensive side of the ball, ends went through multiple repetitions of proper technique work with coach Marc Yellock.
“Fundamentals were a key for today and I saw some guys really reminding each other to play with better pad level and technique,” McNeill said.
The offense spent additional time working against defensive scouts as the wide receivers went one-on-one against the secondary.
“On offense, I saw the kids catching on to some things that [offensive coordinator Lincoln] Riley was installing,” McNeill added. “Special teams also had a really great day running and being active.”
During the early afternoon’s Media Day session, approximately 30 members of eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia newspaper, radio and television outlets came to the Murphy Center to conduct player and coach interviews. Twenty-six players were requested and McNeill gave a preseason state-of-the-team address before going through a question-and-answer session that can be read in its entirety here.
Sunday's Practice Time: 3:15 p.m. - 5:55 p.m.
Season Opener: Sept. 5 vs. Tulsa in Greenville (2:00 p.m.)
