Pirates Take One Step Closer To Full Pads
August 05, 2013 | Football
Aug. 5, 2013
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Head Coach Ruffin McNeill guided East Carolina through its fourth workout of the fall Monday morning with a two-and-a-half hour session in shoulder pads at Hight Field inside the Cliff Moore Practice Complex.
Under clear skies, low humidity levels and temperatures hovering in the low 80's, McNeill continued to stress fundamentals and competitive work as the Pirates prepare to enter another phase of preseason camp by wearing full pads on Tuesday. ECU will hold the first of three scheduled two-a-day workouts starting Wednesday.
"It was a good second day in uppers (shoulder pads)," McNeill said. "I thought we did a great job of competing, especially in the team periods with good-on-good. One of the things I asked the team before practice was to play smart, fast and confident and I think we did just that. I like the activity and progress I have seen so far with this group. Now we need to have a good day of meetings, a great lift session with Coach (Jeff) Connors and then get back to the meeting rooms to prepare for full pads."
Similar to the first three sessions, Monday's practice featured coverage skills, reads and ball security as points of emphasis for both the offense and defense. The final 25 minutes before the Pirates' conditioning work was spent in a team-on-team segment that pitted the top three units on both sides of the ball against each other instead of scouts.
Camp Notes:
Sophomore Will Foxx, a 6-foot-2, 313-pound lineman from Greensboro, N.C., is now working out at the left (offensive) guard position after making the move from (defensive) nose tackle ... McNeill also announced the addition of freshman walk-on Chris Love to the Pirates' 105-man camp roster Monday ... Love is a 5-foot-10, 175-pound inside receiver who prepped at Wake Forest-Rolesville (N.C.) High School.
Tuesday's Practice Time: 8:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Season Opener: Aug. 31 vs. Old Dominion in Greenville (7 p.m.)
Positional Snapshots
Starting today and running through the end of preseason camp (Aug. 19), ECUPirates.com will highlight a different unit each weekday by visiting with the position coach and two players via a "Q&A" format. Today we will open the discussion with the Pirates' offensive line:
Offensive Line Coach Brandon Jones
For the first time since your arrival in 2010, your line is deep in experience with the return of four starters who have opened a combined 76 games. Does that change your approach in preseason camp, and if so, how? "Not so much changing the approach. I think we got a pretty good formula obviously by playing a lot together last year with the same lineup. My practice philosophy hasn't changed at all. Our goal is trying to get better each day and I think we have a good recipe for success up front."
Of the four, three (G Jordan Davis, T Adhem Elsawi and G Will Simmons) are seniors. What are some of the intangibles of senior leadership for the line that might not be immediately visible? "All three of those young men have done a great job and its been a pleasure to watch them grow. They know my expectations and they want to be successful and help this team win. The big thing I have stressed to them is not to have any regrets (throughout practice and the season) and play as hard as they possibly can every play because for a few of them this might be the last football they ever play. Their leadership has been great thus far and I expect it to continue."
When Coach McNeill says "we throw it for a living, not a hobby," what does that mean for your unit? "Our goal is that we have to be ready do both (pass and run block). We have gotten a lot more balanced when passes are called. We are expected to protect well, not give up any sacks or miss any assignments. So we know what to expect. Our money down is third down. When we get to third-and-long, nine out of 10 times we are passing, and that is on us as a group. We know that we have to make Shane (Carden) feel comfortable and give him all the time he needs in the pocket."
With that said, Vintavious Cooper's 1,000-yard rushing season last year gave the offense some balance. How does the game change for your unit depending on the play call? "It just gives Coach (Lincoln) Riley a lot of flexibility to call both run and pass plays. We should have equal success at both and last year we were. Being an offensive lineman, you want to run the ball first and that's what my guys want to do. But, whatever Coach Riley calls, we have to be able to execute fundamentally and keep our defense off the field."
Other than experience, what are some other elements you feel good about heading into the 2013 season? "How far Ike Harris has come. I am on him everyday because I see the potential he has at this level. Adhem (Elsawi) has gotten a lot better and I have been working with Will (Simmons) on his technique. Both want to play at the next level, so I have been equally hard on those guys as I have been with the younger players. With an experienced group we have high expectations for this season, but we know we have to keep working and improving each day."
On the other hand, What are some things you're addressing? "We have two goals statistically that we want to improve on nationally and in Conference USA. First, we want to move up about 20 spots nationally by cutting our sacks down by half. Next is rushing yards per game. Last year we were at about 135 per game and we want to be around 160 to 170 per game. So those are two things we have been talking about since last spring."
Who are some younger players that have caught your eye, perhaps in the spring or during the first few days of camp? "I have been really impressed with the way Larry Williams has come in and picked up everything we have thrown at him. Keifer Neal, from last spring, has made some significant improvements and Tre Robertson has done a great job as well. He has trimmed down a little bit and is moving around smoothly. So those three guys will get a chance to make the travel squad and will be counted on to help us out this year."
Senior Guard Will Simmons
What are your personal and team goals for the 2013 season? "I haven't set any personal goals for this year other than get better. I just want to win a conference championship and do whatever I have to for the team."
As a guard, what would you consider your biggest responsibility? "To protect Shane and make holes for the running backs. It's a team game and I want to what I can to help the offense be successful."
What would you list as your most memorable ECU Pirate moment to date? "The most memorable moments are those that I share with my brothers on the line. Celebrating after a win with Adhem and Jordan, who I have played alongside with for three years, is always special."
Does QB Shane Carden have any kind of "thank you" system (steak dinner, etc...) in place for every sack-free or 300-yard passing game? "Last year he took us all out to dinner, but unfortunately I couldn't make it because I was working on a group project. He told me he was going to make it up to me though."
Senior Tackle Adhem Elsawi
What are your personal and team goals for the 2013 season? "As an offensive lineman, the group has to play together and not as five individuals. So personally I want to do what ever I can to get this unit to play as one. As for a team goal, its pretty simple and that's winning a conference championship."
As a tackle, what would you consider your biggest responsibility? "Protecting Shane and providing the running backs some room to run. You have to have your head on a swivel and be able to pick up the different types of defensive coverages."
What would you list as your most memorable ECU Pirate moment to date? "Last year having a 1,000-yard back and receiver was something pretty special. As Tay (Cooper) was having those big games and getting close to 1,000 yards, as a line we kept telling the coaches that we wanted to keep running the ball. It was exciting to watch and to have that duality means we must have been doing something right last year."
Does QB Shane Carden have any kind of "thank you" system (steak dinner, etc...) in place for every sack-free or 300-yard passing game? "Shane is a smart guy. He is always taking care of us, not just because we had a good game but because he just wants to hang out. As a group, we spent a lot time together this summer and did so last year as well."
