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Game
Slants
Saturday, September 1, 2012
By Denny O'Brien |
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Rio has room to grow
By
Denny O'Brien
©2012 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
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View box score and statistics on ecupirates.com
GREENVILLE — We can officially
dismiss the notion that East Carolina’s brand of offense is a plug-and-play
operation at quarterback.
Rio Johnson proved that point
with a shaky debut that ended in a 35-13 Pirates’ victory over Appalachian
State that was much closer than the score would suggest. And much of that
can be attributed to an offense and quarterback plagued by inconsistency at
times.
Johnson, a junior who has
spent the last two seasons in Dominique Davis’s shadow, looked indecisive
early and struggled with accuracy and touch. On a couple of occasions he
missed open receivers that should have led to easy ECU scores.
Those who could withstand the
sweltering heat within Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium demonstrated their frustration
vocally. But East Carolina head coach Ruffin McNeill wasn’t quite ready to
pull the plug.
“I’m pretty patient,” McNeill
said. “Especially when I see him handling it well on the sideline, and then
coming back and making another throw. The touchdown pass to (Andrew
Bodenhiemer) was a big-time toss. He had another one there that should have
been caught going towards the Boneyard on the fade route.
"He’ll complete those balls,
and we’ll be a happy group.”
Through much of the first
half, it looked as if Appalachian would be the happier bunch.
The Mountaineers played as if
they were taking their defensive direction from Pirates offensive
coordinator Lincoln Riley. There very were few occasions when the
Mountaineers looked uncertain, out of synch, or out of position.
They swarmed to the ball,
tackled well, and limited East Carolina from executing big-play
opportunities. For a while, it even looked as if the defense and special
teams would have to provide all the scoring for ECU.
Both units did their part,
too, with timely touchdowns that shifted the game’s momentum.
The first, a 45-yard fumble
return by newcomer Chip Thompson, gave the Pirates their first lead. The
second, a 90-yard kick return by transfer Lance Ray, extended a narrow lead
to 21-13.
From that point forward
Johnson performed with more confidence and poise. He responded with
consecutive multi-play fourth quarter drives that ended in touchdowns that
put Appalachian away.
During that critical stretch,
Johnson hit receivers in stride and directed an offense that finally
performed like many expected.
“I liked the fact that on the
sideline, Rio was calm,” Ruffin McNeill said. “On the sideline, if you could
have seen his demeanor and poise, he never waivered.
“On the field, he was able to
take any kind of adjustments that Lincoln (Riley) made. I thought he ran the
team efficiently. To go out the first game and to be able to, and at the
middle of the game be able to take adjustments and to take them from the
sideline to the field is hard.”
Anyone who witnessed Johnson’s
debut as ECU’s quarterback can see that the talent is there. Johnson has a
strong arm, good mobility, and a solid pocket presence.
He also seems difficult to
rattle and is gifted with a short memory. That, combined with the physical
tools, makes for a solid foundation.
The key now is for Johnson to
put it all together.
Statistically, Johnson’s debut
ended with him completing 28 of his 43 attempts for 242 yards and two
scores. If that ultimately becomes the worst box score of his career, bright
days await the Pirates’ new QB.
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09/02/2012 05:59:37 AM |
