Spring Football Notebook No. 10
March 16, 2018 | Football
GREENVILLE, N.C. - ECU completed its scrimmage preparation with a brisk and spirited 90-minute workout in shells Friday afternoon at Hight Field inside the Cliff Moore Practice Complex.
Although the session served as a polish day of sorts to ready the Pirates for their first intrasquad contest scheduled for early Saturday afternoon, third-year head coach Scottie Montgomery and his staff still covered the usual daily script, albeit in shorter periods. From an 11-on-11 standpoint however, ECU conducted a pair of full segments devoted to its run and pass game.
Montgomery indicated Saturday's scrimmage, the team's initial outing at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium this spring, would consist of approximately 75-to-80 plays.
"I think everyone was a little energized knowing it was going to be a shorter day and I was impressed how the offense was able to handle the pressure Coach (David) Blackwell threw at them," Montgomery said. "We are all squarely focused on the scrimmage and I expect to get a lot of work in depending how healthy we stay."
Approximately 50 coaches representing high school programs in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Maryland and Washington D.C. arrived on campus to participate in ECU's Annual Spring Coaches Clinic. The two-day event features offensive, defensive, special teams and strength/speed presentations by all members of the Pirates' staff.
In addition, Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Randy Fichtner is in town and will serve as this year's special guest speaker. After observing Friday's practice, the prep coaches will also be in attendance during the scrimmage.
After Saturday's matchup and an off day Sunday, the Pirates will return to the practice facility Monday afternoon to begin their final week of spring work.
NOTES: Quarterbacks Reid Herring (8-of-9, 127 yards) and Holton Ahlers (4-of-4, 22) were precise on their passing during the two team periods, combining on a 12-of-13, 149-yard effort ... Herring also found Deondre Farrier on a 49-yard TD pass ... Defensively, Tony Baird recorded a "quick whistle" sack while Da'Andre Beverly picked up a fumble recovery ... DL Brandon Henderson, DB Tim Irvin, TE Ben Norris, RB Darius Pinnix, CB Corey Seargent, LB Ray Tillman and OL Peyton Winstead all will sit out Saturday's scrimmage because of injuries ... Two additions to the ECU coaching staff were officially announced Friday - Curtis Fitch (offensive graduate assistant) and Tony Washington (offensive quality control coordinator) ... Fitch follows in the footsteps of his father Todd, who served as the Pirates' OC/QB Coach from 2007 to 2009 and helped lead ECU to three-straight bowl games and back-to-back Conference USA titles ... Washington played four seasons in the NFL after a stellar collegiate career at Appalachian State ... Montgomery also announced that TE Eric Weber, who was suspended indefinitely earlier this spring, has been dismissed from the program ... DT Tyree Owens has also been removed from the roster as a result of an indefinite suspension related to the team's academic policy.
ECU'S 2018 SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Next Workout: Saturday, March 17 (12 noon-2 p.m.)
Remaining Workouts: March 19, March 21, March 23, March 24 (Purple-Gold Game, 1:00 p.m.)
Although the session served as a polish day of sorts to ready the Pirates for their first intrasquad contest scheduled for early Saturday afternoon, third-year head coach Scottie Montgomery and his staff still covered the usual daily script, albeit in shorter periods. From an 11-on-11 standpoint however, ECU conducted a pair of full segments devoted to its run and pass game.
Montgomery indicated Saturday's scrimmage, the team's initial outing at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium this spring, would consist of approximately 75-to-80 plays.
"I think everyone was a little energized knowing it was going to be a shorter day and I was impressed how the offense was able to handle the pressure Coach (David) Blackwell threw at them," Montgomery said. "We are all squarely focused on the scrimmage and I expect to get a lot of work in depending how healthy we stay."
Approximately 50 coaches representing high school programs in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Maryland and Washington D.C. arrived on campus to participate in ECU's Annual Spring Coaches Clinic. The two-day event features offensive, defensive, special teams and strength/speed presentations by all members of the Pirates' staff.
In addition, Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Randy Fichtner is in town and will serve as this year's special guest speaker. After observing Friday's practice, the prep coaches will also be in attendance during the scrimmage.
After Saturday's matchup and an off day Sunday, the Pirates will return to the practice facility Monday afternoon to begin their final week of spring work.
NOTES: Quarterbacks Reid Herring (8-of-9, 127 yards) and Holton Ahlers (4-of-4, 22) were precise on their passing during the two team periods, combining on a 12-of-13, 149-yard effort ... Herring also found Deondre Farrier on a 49-yard TD pass ... Defensively, Tony Baird recorded a "quick whistle" sack while Da'Andre Beverly picked up a fumble recovery ... DL Brandon Henderson, DB Tim Irvin, TE Ben Norris, RB Darius Pinnix, CB Corey Seargent, LB Ray Tillman and OL Peyton Winstead all will sit out Saturday's scrimmage because of injuries ... Two additions to the ECU coaching staff were officially announced Friday - Curtis Fitch (offensive graduate assistant) and Tony Washington (offensive quality control coordinator) ... Fitch follows in the footsteps of his father Todd, who served as the Pirates' OC/QB Coach from 2007 to 2009 and helped lead ECU to three-straight bowl games and back-to-back Conference USA titles ... Washington played four seasons in the NFL after a stellar collegiate career at Appalachian State ... Montgomery also announced that TE Eric Weber, who was suspended indefinitely earlier this spring, has been dismissed from the program ... DT Tyree Owens has also been removed from the roster as a result of an indefinite suspension related to the team's academic policy.
ECU'S 2018 SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Next Workout: Saturday, March 17 (12 noon-2 p.m.)
Remaining Workouts: March 19, March 21, March 23, March 24 (Purple-Gold Game, 1:00 p.m.)
Players Mentioned
Quarterback
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Defensive End
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Defensive Back
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Wide Receiver
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Defensive Line
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Quarterback
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Defensive Back
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Tight End
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Defensive Line
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Running Back
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Defensive Back
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Linebacker
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Tight End
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Offensive Line
/ FootballThursday, September 10
Monday, September 07
Sunday, September 06
Thursday, September 03
