Pirates Wrap Up Second Two-A-Day
August 15, 2011 | Football
Aug. 15, 2011
GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina prepared for its first off day of camp with a pair of team-oriented practices Monday at the Cliff Moore Practice Complex. The Pirates conducted the two-and-a-half hour morning workout in full pads before returning to shells for a spirited hour-and-a-half evening session.
"The players have worked really hard," head coach Ruffin McNeill said. "They get a little bit of a break tomorrow moving out of the dorms and into their apartments. We’re going to let them get away from it tomorrow. They’ve put in some tough few days and I’m proud of the group."
The morning practice featured 15 minutes of skeleton drills, 20 minutes of special teams and 25 minutes of team-on-team work. The offense also spent 10 minutes in screen plays and an additional eight minutes with receivers going one-on-one against defensive backs. The offensive line dedicated time to picking up the pass rush and blitz.
"We had really good team situations on both sides of the ball," McNeill said of the morning workout. "The meat of the practice was the same as it has been, with a run offense versus defense competition. I thought that went well. There were plays being made by both sides of the ball."
McNeill and his staff moved the second practice from afternoon to evening so the team could work out under the lights, simulating the conditions for the 7:00 p.m. season opener against South Carolina. The session was focused solely on the offense and defense going against early-designated scouts.
"I thought we ran around very well tonight," McNeill added. "I felt really good about the energy that was at practice. The guys did a great job executing."
Following Tuesday’s break, ECU will return to practice Wednesday morning.
Note
Junior college transfer John Lattimore, a defensive end who prepped at Lexington (N.C.) High School, has arrived in camp and is expected to be cleared to participate later this week.
Wednesday’s Practice Time: 9:45 – 11:45 a.m.
Season Opener: Sept. 3 vs. South Carolina in Charlotte (7:00 p.m.)
