ECU Turns In First Full-Pad Session
August 10, 2015 | Football
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- After a pair of practices in shorts and two more in shells, East Carolina donned full pads for the first time in preseason camp Monday morning at Hight Field inside the Cliff Moore Practice Complex. The Pirates completed their fifth workout session under warmer temperatures before heading into Tuesday's two-a-day schedule.
"It's hard to believe we are in day five of camp already," sixth-year head coach Ruffin McNeill said. "It has flown by and seems like the guys just returned to campus and checked in. We moved into another phase of camp putting on full pads today. I thought we were dragging a little bit in the first part of practice. The guys have been going hard for me since we opened with their focus and eagerness to get back to work on the field. But the second part of practice was really good. I saw the guys pick it up a step like they were suppose to and adjusted well getting back into full pads mode.
Tuesday's double-dose will be the first of three scheduled two-a-days over the next three weeks, with the others falling on Friday, Aug. 14 and Wednesday, Aug. 19. ECU will begin the morning practice at 8:15 a.m. before returning at 4:15 p.m.
"We have our first two-a-day on Tuesday and I am really looking forward to that," McNeill added. "The kids are practicing well and I like the way they have been competing on all three sides of the ball, and that's encouraging. The brotherhood and bond that is built from last winters conditioning, over the summer and now in fall camp is what I watch the most. This group has really bought into everything that the coaches have been teaching and trust one another explicitly."
Offensively, the Pirates spent 45 minutes on their short passing game with screen drills, specialized one-on-one matchups against defensive backs before engaging in pass rush blocking during their customary skeleton period. On defense, blitz work and an extended team session against scouts followed daily individual segments.
ECU used nearly 20 minutes of practice with the special teams group, primarily focusing on punt return and coverage schemes. During the 25-minute team period, the Pirates' emphasis was on first downs before closing the session with ball security drills and conditioning.
Single-game, three-game mini packs and season tickets for all ECU homes games are still available to the Pirate Nation and can be purchased by calling the ECU Athletic Ticket Office at 252-737-4500, through the Online Ticket Center, or by visiting the ECU Athletics Ticket Office.
Up Next:
Tuesday's Practice Times: 8:15 a.m. -- 11:00 a.m.; 4:15 p.m. -- 6 p.m.
Season Opener: Sept. 5 vs. Towson in Greenville (6 p.m. ET)
