ECU Begins Transition Into Depth Chart-Producing, Scrimmage Phase Of Spring Drills
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Although the Pirates worked out in shorts, shoulder pads and helmets Monday, East Carolina initiated another phase of its spring practice period by opening preparation efforts for its three intra-squad scrimmages – including the Purple-Gold Game scheduled for April 18.
Monday’s two-hour workout, conducted on Hight Field inside the Cliff Moore Practice Complex, was the Pirates’ seventh overall. In addition, the session officially started the countdown for ECU’s first scrimmage of the spring, which is set for Saturday at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
“We came out in shorts today, just because there are a number of players with bumps and bruises that have mounted up,” head coach Skip Holtz said. “We put in a lot of team and two-minute work today, trying to get ready for the first scrimmage on Saturday. I am chomping at the bit to try and make decisions about the depth chart and the scrimmage will determine a lot about those choices. I wish we could scrimmage every day but we know that is not possible. There are still a lot of question marks out on the table but a lot of guys, especially our younger ones, have put in some good work this spring.â€
As he indicated, Holtz and his staff will aim this week’s work toward the formulation of the program’s initial depth chart of the season after spending the first two weeks of camp evaluating fundamental individual drill work and limited team action. The two-deep, which will be compiled after Saturday’s game, will allow the Pirates to fine-tune personnel in their respective offensive and defensive packages in order for the first and second units to have the opportunity to experience the majority of the action during the last two weeks of workouts.
East Carolina continued work on various sets and schemes with different personnel matchup designations during Monday’s shells-only, no-contact practice before ending the session with a 25-minute team-on-team segment and a 10-minute two-minute drill.
“I want us to polish up some things before the scrimmage,” Holtz continued. “We really haven’t done much to evaluate the big picture and there have been instances where, for example, a linebacker has turned the wrong way and opened up a big hole. As the depth chart comes together, I would like to see us start to mesh both on offense and defense and create some confidence and trust in each other.â€
The Pirates will return to action Wednesday beginning at 4:00 p.m. before closing the week with light practice in shorts Friday before Saturday’s scrimmage, which is closed to the public.
EAST CAROLINA‘S 2009 SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Next Workout: Wednesday, April 1 (4:00-6:00 p.m.)
Remaining Workouts: April 3, April 4 (scrimmage), April 6, April 8 (scrimmage), April 13, April 15 and April 18 (Purple-Gold Game, 3:00 p.m.)
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