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Editor's Note:
James
Pinkney continued East Carolina's rich quarterback tradition,
carving a legacy marked with resilience and unmatched toughness.
With his departure, Pirates coach Skip Holtz must replace a
record setter and longtime starter, a task that won't be easy
given Pinkney's impact on the program.
With
the annual Spring Game approaching, redshirt sophomore Rob Kass
looks to be next in line. Denny O'Brien, Bonesville columnist
and editor of The Pirates' Chest, caught up with Kass recently
to discuss the challenge ahead. |
©2007 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
DO: You're currently
listed as the No. 1 quarterback. How does that affect your approach
right now?
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ROB KASS
(ECU SID) |
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RK: I most definitely have
to continue to fight for my position. I definitely have to continue to
work. You can never be satisfied with anything and there is nothing
that is set in stone that says I'm going to be the starting quarterback
against Virginia Tech. I have to continue to work.
DO: What's the biggest
challenge you face right now?
RK: For me personally?
It's to stay consistent, to continue to improve and limit my mistakes to
a minimum.
DO: What did last year's
game experience do for your confidence?
RK: Really, just sitting
behind James Pinkney the last couple of years has been an incredible
confidence builder. To sit behind him, to watch his toughness, his
ability, has really helped me improve personally.
But obviously getting out
on the field is a great experience. You get those first-time jitters
out, and you're fine after that. I felt much more comfortable going into
the Southern Miss game or the USF game than I did going into the first
game of the year.
DO: What's the biggest
thing James taught you over the past couple of seasons.
RK: Aside from toughness
being that he'd get hit in the mouth and never showed pain, never once;
he got up every single time I'd say the biggest thing was his overall
football knowledge and understanding your teammates. Knowing when to
pick them up and knowing when to get on them.
Let's say a receiver had a
tough time catching the ball. You know what? You go right back to him.
Let him know that you have the confidence in him to make a play every
time.
DO: What do you think is
the biggest thing that you bring to the team?
RK: My leadership. My
leadership in the huddle and both on and off the field. This team is a
family both on and off the field. We stay together no matter what. In
the huddle, I want the guys every one of the offensive linemen, the
tight ends, the wide outs, and the running backs to respect me as a
player, respect my ability. When I step into the huddle, I want them to
understand that it's time to go. It's time to get ready to play. I want
them to have the confidence in me, and to know that we can get it done
together.
DO: You guys lose a lot of
veterans from the receiving corps. What kind of a rapport have you been
able to develop with your receivers?
RK: A strong one. We've
been coming out here every single day since winter workouts. We're out
here until 7-8:00 at night getting extra work in. Whether it's the young
guys like Kyle Johnson and Alex Taylor or it's with the experienced guys
like Philip Henry and Steven Rogers, I feel like I've built a very
strong bond with all of them.
DO: How much are you aware
of the quarterbacking legacy at East Carolina? Over the years, it's been
the flagship position of the program.
RK: It's kinda funny,
actually. I'm in the airport after Coach Holtz's first spring game.
Well, I sit down on the plane, it just so happens to be David Garrard,
who was going back to Jacksonville. So, I sat on the plane with David
Garrard and spoke with him for about an hour, face-to-face, one-on-one,
which was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had, obviously.
Being an ECU quarterback and an NFL quarterback which is a goal that I
aspire to have he really filled me in on the legacy of ECU
quarterbacks.
DO: Did he give you any
advice on the expectations or pressure that is attached to being an ECU
QB?
RK: Really, pressure is
put on by myself. I put pressure on myself to perform well both on and
off the field. I'd say that Coach Holtz and the entire offensive staff,
they expect a lot. But only because that's what I want. As a
quarterback, you have to be the focal point. You have to be the goat
when it's bad or the hero when it's good. The pressure is just put on by
myself to perform well.
DO: You have a new
offensive coordinator in Todd Fitch. What kind of changes will that
mean?
RK: I think Coach Fitch is
extremely knowledgeable when it comes to coaches. He has great, great
experience. I think he's going to put a wrinkle in here and there that
will open up the offense. Every once in a while you'll see a little
different variation, but I'd say the base of our offense is going to
stay what it has been the last couple of years.
DO: We saw James over the
years tuck and run when the pocket broke down. How comfortable are you
out in the open field.
RK: I feel very
comfortable. The guys up front are going to give their best to protect
every single play. But if it happens to break down, I feel like a lot of
people think that just because I'm 6'4"-6'5", 240-250 pounds that I
can't move. I would like to prove to everybody the first game against
Virginia Tech when one of the outside linebackers comes up that I'm not
just a little quarterback. I can tuck my head and knock somebody over,
or I can outrun them.
