Spring Football Notebook No. 5

GREENVILLE, N.C. - ECU Head Football Coach Scottie Montgomery and his staff opened the second week of spring workouts in cool, windy and damp conditions, emphasizing situational execution late Monday afternoon on Hight Field inside the Cliff Moore Practice Complex.

In addition to their traditional pair of team periods devoted to run and pass game development, the Pirates also dove deep into redzone efficiency on both sides of the ball midway through the session while spending two full segments on one-on-one skill matchups and screen calls. The focused practice was ECU's fifth overall, third wearing pads and second in full gear.

"We fought through today and I thought it was a good day of work," Montgomery said. "This is probably as happy as I have been this spring in a practice because of how hard we worked in the elements. A lot of guys, when you get days like today, come up with different reasons for why they can't catch the ball, can't throw or don't want to run, but that didn't even cross their minds.

"We felt like we have had four great days of work and I really think the coaches have a great meeting plan and a great plan out there on the field. Despite the conditions, I thought our coaches did a terrific job and our guys attacked the day. When I came out for the walk-through, I could tell even with the rain that we were going to be focused."

Monday's special teams periods, which continued to feature Jake Verity and Caleb Pratt handling both placekicking and punting duties, also provided an opportunity for Duce Fuller and Keyshawn Canady to join Tim Irvin, Colby Gore and Trevon Brown for added punt return repetitions.

ECU returns to action Wednesday and will follow with another workout Friday before departing for spring break.

NOTES: Canady, a sophomore who started ECU's last three games of the 2017 season in the defensive secondary at cornerback, was moved to the offensive unit Monday and manned the running back position during drills ... He was credited with 12 tackles (10 solo) last fall, which included a career-best five vs. Cincinnati ... As a two-way standout at Wallace-Rose Hill HS, he rushed for 2,798 yards and 56 touchdowns on 216 carries during his prep career ... WR Tahj Deans and TE/OL Dalton Montgomery remained on the sideline Monday after both suffered injuries during the first week of action.

ECU'S 2018 SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Next Workout: Wednesday, February 28 (4:30-6:30 p.m.)
Remaining Workouts: March 2, March 12, March 14, March 16, March 17 (scrimmage), March 19, March 21, March 23, March 24 (Purple-Gold Game, 1:00 p.m.)

Players Mentioned

Trevon Brown

Keyshawn Canady

Tahj Deans

Duce Fuller

Colby Gore

Tim Irvin

Dalton Montgomery

Caleb Pratt

Jake Verity

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