Spring Notebook No. 7 – Halftime Observations
March 27, 2019 | Football
Video Highlights
GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina resumed its on-field spring schedule with a two-hour workout at the Cliff Moore Practice Facility on Wednesday morning.
Excluding the annual Purple-Gold Game, the session marked the official halfway point of the Pirates' spring slate and began preparations in earnest for the program's first full scrimmage set for Saturday morning at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
Mike Houston offered the following observations after completing his seventh practice as ECU's first-year head coach:
Opening Statement
"It's good to be back on the field today. Like we talked about on Saturday, we've spent a lot of time with this film and a lot of time in meetings since then. I'll be honest with you, I challenged them pretty hard these last couple of days and I challenged them very hard this morning. I was very pleased with the way we responded, and I was very pleased with how we practiced this morning. Were we perfect? Absolutely not. We still made some mistakes and we still have some things we need to improve on, but we really competed well today. Across the board. O-line, D-line, wide receivers, DB's, we had more guys competing today than we have had in past practices. On a chilly morning, which was good to see also. Because I told them those games next November, those could be critical ballgames where we're playing for something pretty special. So, we've got to be able to thrive in colder weather. So, I'm very pleased with our effort today."
On guys being refreshed after a few days off:
"Yeah, sure. They go from not practicing at all to piling up six practices in just over a week, so it was a lot. We talked about getting our legs back under us and doing a good job of getting treatment in the training room, getting recovery, getting some rest. I certainly thought that had a factor in today's practice."
On replacing Nate Harvey's production on the defensive line:
"Certainly, Nate was a great player for us last year and it's hard to replace a player of his caliber. The big thing is we're going to have to do it together. I don't know just yet if we have just one individual that will be that productive, but I think we can be very productive as a unit."
On anyone standing out at the wide receiver position:
"There's a tremendous amount of competition. I'll just speak on today. I really had a great conversation yesterday with Tahj Deans and really challenged him on some areas and I thought he came out and had his best practice of the year today. For him, a big guy, he won the 50/50 balls, the balls down the sideline and in the back of the end zone. Those are the ones he has to win. But I think they're all getting better. Deondre Farrier has consistently improved almost every practice. I think Mydreon Vines is doing a consistently good job. Are there areas to improve on? Yes. But they're doing a good job."
On seeing improvement from the start of spring practice to now:
"Yes, there's no doubt. After Saturday, we went in and watched the film and spent a lot of time with it. The thing is, when you sit back and look at it versus that first Monday of contact, there is a drastic improvement. I will be disappointed coming off the field today when we look at the film, if we don't see a drastic improvement from Saturday. So, this team is getting better."
On what's the focus going forward:
"Physicality, technique, and tackling. It doesn't change. We're continuing to try to improve in those areas. Certainly, we're starting to expand the offense and to expand the defense as we're putting more wrinkles in, but it still comes down to the same base fundamentals that on a daily basis we're trying to get consistently good at."
On working on blitzing:
"As we continue to expand our defensive package, we have a variety of different pressures both in zone and man that we'll use next fall. It's something we've always used and something we'll continue to use."
On how he handles players making mistakes:
"The only way I know how to do it is to correct it and hold them consistently accountable and you do not tolerate certain things. Effort, they're going to give great effort. They're going to compete when we go against each other. There are certain standards that you have to hold them accountable to every single day. You just don't tolerate anything that doesn't meet that standard. That's how you do it, but you have to be consistent with it. You can't treat one player one way and another player a different way. You have to treat them all the same and hold them all accountable. I do think they're seeing that, and I do think they're responding positively to that."
On whether effort can be the difference between winning and losing:
"There's no doubt. This morning we watched a clip from the end of the Michigan and App State game from 2007 because we've really been talking about our field goal protection and our rush off the edge. We talked about that one mistake, that one mistake all of a sudden, it's the biggest upset in college football history. That's something that's almost a mindless thing you do every day, but just that technique there at the tight end and wing position where Michigan faltered and App exposed it, completely changed everything for that university to be honest with you. We talked about the small things, the little things. We've got to be good at the little things because when you get in those critical ballgames and you get to those winning moments, if you're fundamentally sound, you will excel. If you have weaknesses in your fundamentals, they will be exposed at the end of the ballgame. Effort and fundamentals are going to come down to winning and losing a lot of those ballgames."
On whether this week is geared towards Saturday's scrimmage:
"No doubt. We talked about it at the end of practice. You get out there Saturday and there's no practice schedule, there's no script. You put the ball down. The coordinators will be calling some things as a live game day and we'll have people in the press box, again, just like a live game day. We'll simulate very much like a game situation. I think they're excited for that. Just to be able to go out there and all of a sudden, you're not doing all the drills and individual work, you just get to go out there and play ball."
On whether the staff is getting a grasp on the depth and options at positions:
"I think we're seeing more guys. That's why I'm so positive about today, we're seeing more guys come along. You're getting more and more depth. But the guys that have been doing a great job, they have to continue doing a great job and we talked about that today. But I think we are getting to know our team. I think our team is getting to know us. I would be really disappointed if we didn't have a great weekend on Friday and Saturday. If we have a really great practice on Friday and a really sharp scrimmage, a real 'go-at-each-other' scrimmage on Saturday, then I will be really pleased heading into next week."
NOTES:
ECU closed Wednesday's practice with 30 minutes of team-on-team action, which included two periods (10 minutes) of redzone work … QBs Holton Ahlers (3-of-7, 24 yards) and Reid Herring (5-of-8, 47 yards) ran the offense and combined on 8-of-15 passing for 71 yards … Herring rifled a pair of scoring tosses during the redzone segment, finding WR Blake Proehl on an 11-yarder and TD Nate Clark on a nine-yarder … DT Alex Turner and OLB Warren Saba each tallied a sack, while ILB Aaron Ramseur and OLB Gerard Stringer added TFLs … The ECU staff will host its popular Coaches Clinic this weekend, which includes former Pirate assistant coach (1989) and former UGA & Miami head coach Mark Richt, along with legendary N.C. high school head coach Chip Williams … East Carolina will conduct its annual Pro Day on Thursday morning … Former Pirates (13) participating include: WR Trevon Brown, LB Cannon Gibbs, WR Terrell Green, DE Nate Harvey, DL Brandon Henderson, DB Marcus Holton, Jr., DT Shaun James, OL Garrett McGhin, PK Caleb Pratt, RB Anthony Scott, DB Corey Seargent, DB Devon Sutton and LB Ray Tillman.
ECU'S 2019 SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Next Workout: Friday, March 29 (4-6 p.m.)
Remaining Workouts: March 30 (scrimmage), April 1, April 3, April 6 (scrimmage), April 8, April 10, April 13 (Purple-Gold Game, 1:30 p.m.)
Excluding the annual Purple-Gold Game, the session marked the official halfway point of the Pirates' spring slate and began preparations in earnest for the program's first full scrimmage set for Saturday morning at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
Mike Houston offered the following observations after completing his seventh practice as ECU's first-year head coach:
Opening Statement
"It's good to be back on the field today. Like we talked about on Saturday, we've spent a lot of time with this film and a lot of time in meetings since then. I'll be honest with you, I challenged them pretty hard these last couple of days and I challenged them very hard this morning. I was very pleased with the way we responded, and I was very pleased with how we practiced this morning. Were we perfect? Absolutely not. We still made some mistakes and we still have some things we need to improve on, but we really competed well today. Across the board. O-line, D-line, wide receivers, DB's, we had more guys competing today than we have had in past practices. On a chilly morning, which was good to see also. Because I told them those games next November, those could be critical ballgames where we're playing for something pretty special. So, we've got to be able to thrive in colder weather. So, I'm very pleased with our effort today."
On guys being refreshed after a few days off:
"Yeah, sure. They go from not practicing at all to piling up six practices in just over a week, so it was a lot. We talked about getting our legs back under us and doing a good job of getting treatment in the training room, getting recovery, getting some rest. I certainly thought that had a factor in today's practice."
On replacing Nate Harvey's production on the defensive line:
"Certainly, Nate was a great player for us last year and it's hard to replace a player of his caliber. The big thing is we're going to have to do it together. I don't know just yet if we have just one individual that will be that productive, but I think we can be very productive as a unit."
On anyone standing out at the wide receiver position:
"There's a tremendous amount of competition. I'll just speak on today. I really had a great conversation yesterday with Tahj Deans and really challenged him on some areas and I thought he came out and had his best practice of the year today. For him, a big guy, he won the 50/50 balls, the balls down the sideline and in the back of the end zone. Those are the ones he has to win. But I think they're all getting better. Deondre Farrier has consistently improved almost every practice. I think Mydreon Vines is doing a consistently good job. Are there areas to improve on? Yes. But they're doing a good job."
On seeing improvement from the start of spring practice to now:
"Yes, there's no doubt. After Saturday, we went in and watched the film and spent a lot of time with it. The thing is, when you sit back and look at it versus that first Monday of contact, there is a drastic improvement. I will be disappointed coming off the field today when we look at the film, if we don't see a drastic improvement from Saturday. So, this team is getting better."
On what's the focus going forward:
"Physicality, technique, and tackling. It doesn't change. We're continuing to try to improve in those areas. Certainly, we're starting to expand the offense and to expand the defense as we're putting more wrinkles in, but it still comes down to the same base fundamentals that on a daily basis we're trying to get consistently good at."
On working on blitzing:
"As we continue to expand our defensive package, we have a variety of different pressures both in zone and man that we'll use next fall. It's something we've always used and something we'll continue to use."
On how he handles players making mistakes:
"The only way I know how to do it is to correct it and hold them consistently accountable and you do not tolerate certain things. Effort, they're going to give great effort. They're going to compete when we go against each other. There are certain standards that you have to hold them accountable to every single day. You just don't tolerate anything that doesn't meet that standard. That's how you do it, but you have to be consistent with it. You can't treat one player one way and another player a different way. You have to treat them all the same and hold them all accountable. I do think they're seeing that, and I do think they're responding positively to that."
On whether effort can be the difference between winning and losing:
"There's no doubt. This morning we watched a clip from the end of the Michigan and App State game from 2007 because we've really been talking about our field goal protection and our rush off the edge. We talked about that one mistake, that one mistake all of a sudden, it's the biggest upset in college football history. That's something that's almost a mindless thing you do every day, but just that technique there at the tight end and wing position where Michigan faltered and App exposed it, completely changed everything for that university to be honest with you. We talked about the small things, the little things. We've got to be good at the little things because when you get in those critical ballgames and you get to those winning moments, if you're fundamentally sound, you will excel. If you have weaknesses in your fundamentals, they will be exposed at the end of the ballgame. Effort and fundamentals are going to come down to winning and losing a lot of those ballgames."
On whether this week is geared towards Saturday's scrimmage:
"No doubt. We talked about it at the end of practice. You get out there Saturday and there's no practice schedule, there's no script. You put the ball down. The coordinators will be calling some things as a live game day and we'll have people in the press box, again, just like a live game day. We'll simulate very much like a game situation. I think they're excited for that. Just to be able to go out there and all of a sudden, you're not doing all the drills and individual work, you just get to go out there and play ball."
On whether the staff is getting a grasp on the depth and options at positions:
"I think we're seeing more guys. That's why I'm so positive about today, we're seeing more guys come along. You're getting more and more depth. But the guys that have been doing a great job, they have to continue doing a great job and we talked about that today. But I think we are getting to know our team. I think our team is getting to know us. I would be really disappointed if we didn't have a great weekend on Friday and Saturday. If we have a really great practice on Friday and a really sharp scrimmage, a real 'go-at-each-other' scrimmage on Saturday, then I will be really pleased heading into next week."
NOTES:
ECU closed Wednesday's practice with 30 minutes of team-on-team action, which included two periods (10 minutes) of redzone work … QBs Holton Ahlers (3-of-7, 24 yards) and Reid Herring (5-of-8, 47 yards) ran the offense and combined on 8-of-15 passing for 71 yards … Herring rifled a pair of scoring tosses during the redzone segment, finding WR Blake Proehl on an 11-yarder and TD Nate Clark on a nine-yarder … DT Alex Turner and OLB Warren Saba each tallied a sack, while ILB Aaron Ramseur and OLB Gerard Stringer added TFLs … The ECU staff will host its popular Coaches Clinic this weekend, which includes former Pirate assistant coach (1989) and former UGA & Miami head coach Mark Richt, along with legendary N.C. high school head coach Chip Williams … East Carolina will conduct its annual Pro Day on Thursday morning … Former Pirates (13) participating include: WR Trevon Brown, LB Cannon Gibbs, WR Terrell Green, DE Nate Harvey, DL Brandon Henderson, DB Marcus Holton, Jr., DT Shaun James, OL Garrett McGhin, PK Caleb Pratt, RB Anthony Scott, DB Corey Seargent, DB Devon Sutton and LB Ray Tillman.
ECU'S 2019 SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Next Workout: Friday, March 29 (4-6 p.m.)
Remaining Workouts: March 30 (scrimmage), April 1, April 3, April 6 (scrimmage), April 8, April 10, April 13 (Purple-Gold Game, 1:30 p.m.)
Players Mentioned
Quarterback
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Wide Receiver
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Tight End
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Outside Receiver
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Inside Receiver
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Linebacker
/ Football
Wide Receiver
/ Football
Defensive End
/ Football
Defensive Line
/ Football
Quarterback
/ Football
Defensive Back
/ Football
Defensive Tackle
/ Football
Offensive Line
/ Football
Placekicker
/ Football
Outside Receiver
/ Football
Inside Linebacker
/ Football
Outside Linebacker
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Running Back
/ Football
Defensive Back
/ Football
Outside Linebacker
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Defensive Back
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Linebacker
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Defensive Line
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Outside Receiver
/ FootballMonday, September 14
Saturday, September 12
Thursday, September 10
Monday, September 07
