News, Analysis and Opinion from Bonesville's Denny O'Brien

Pirate Notebook No. 140
Friday, September 5, 2003

By Denny O'Brien
Staff Writer and Columnist

By the time East Carolina reached its first intermission under new coach John Thompson, it was clear that a new regime would not provide a painless solution to any problems the program may have been enduring.

Not only did the Bearcats' 361-yard rushing performance reaffirm the Pirates' deficiencies on defense, it suggested that schemes and the overall philosophy of the program are not the primary issues. Personnel is.

With a schedule that gets more daunting by the week, things likely will get worse in Pirate Land before they get better. That means the near-term objective for Thompson and his staff must be incremental improvement, while keeping the enthusiasm and morale high when purple pride gets wounded.

"I talked to almost everybody individually today and there's a focus about our team," Thompson said Tuesday. "The coaching staff is the same way. We've got some adversity to deal with, but we're in this thing for the long haul. I have a better feel for where this team is now so maybe we can focus and get better."

By and large, transition years produce one of two possible results. Either the new coach's system is a glove fit for the talent he inherited, producing a quick turnaround — N.C. State, Maryland, Wake Forest — or the new schemes don't quite mesh with the previous years' holdovers — South Carolina, Florida, Georgia Tech.

Though it still is too soon for a jury ruling on East Carolina, the early evidence is pointing toward the latter.

For the past 14 seasons, the Pirates program has been built around an offense with a pass-first mentality, utilizing strong-armed quarterbacks and a host of fleet-footed receivers. Successfully transitioning to a power-rushing approach that occasionally takes shots downfield doesn't occur overnight, especially when you consider ECU's talent makeup.

Vonta Leach, though the physical blueprint of an NFL fullback, has spent most of his career on defense. The offensive line, which is veteran-stocked, battle tested, and highly-credentialed, is more accustomed to out-finessing the opposition, not pushing the pile.

That goes without mentioning that Marvin Townes, the Pirates' primary ball carrier Monday, is more comfortable as an outside runner, while Kort Shankweiler and Josh Coffman were playing their first games as Division-I tight ends.

Defensively, it could take even longer before East Carolina becomes a respectable unit. Undersized at some positions and slow at others, it should be no surprise that the Pirates still are susceptible to teams that employ a smashmouth system.

The new staff is a work-in-progress, too, one which could take a couple of seasons to gel. While there is a wealth of experience and plenty of talent on the sidelines and in the booth, this group never has worked together as a collective whole and many of them now are in positions with greater responsibility than before.

In 20-plus years as a coach, Thompson never has been the man in charge. This is Jerry Odom's first tour of duty as a Division-I defensive coordinator. The last time Rick Stockstill called the offensive shots was prior to the Tommy Bowden administration in Clemson.

Simply put, until Thompson reels in the type of talent that best fits his schemes — and the staff gets a year or two under its belt — winning won't be easy.

For the time being, a more competitive effort than a 37-point drubbing to Cincinnati shouldn't be too much to ask.

Pirates defensive end Guy Whimper takes exception to the notion that Cincinnati was physically dominant Monday. The Havelock sophomore said the lopsided outcome had more to do with a lack of focus than a matter of muscle.

"Basically, they just came out and played harder than us," Whimper said after the game. "That's basically it. They came out and they wanted it more than us. It wasn't about overpowering us. They were just playing harder and taking proper focus. We were not focused today."

Scholarship athletes have a duty to perform to their maximum ability, maintaining high levels of intensity and concentration in the classroom and on the playing field. Anything less should be unacceptable.

Though part of the onus is on the head coach — and motivation certainly isn't one of Thompson's weaknesses — much of that responsibility lies on the player, who has an obligation to always give 100 percent.

Though pulling the plug now on starting quarterback Desmond Robinson would be unfair, it is something the Pirates staff may have to consider. While his performance Monday wasn't dismal, it's obvious that his presence under center played heavily into Cincinnati's successful plan on defense.

From the opening snap, UC stacked eight in the box, daring the Pirates to take their shots deep. Aside from the second play of the game — a flea-flicker that was badly underthrown — ECU didn't exercise its vertical passing game with Robinson on the field.

Expect a similar gameplan from West Virginia, which boasts bigger, faster athletes. If the Pirates can't get the running game going early, Stockstill will have to take a few shots downfield.

That means he seriously will have to consider yanking Robinson in favor of Troth, who has a better arm and does a better job of checking off his primary receiver.

One of the primary question marks entering the season was the kicking game, where the Pirates lost all-star performers Kevin Miller (kicker) and Jared Preston (punter).

Kicker Cameron Broadwell, who nailed a 36-yard field goal, and punter Ryan Dougherty, who averaged 45 yards per kick, certainly filled the void Monday.

"Well, we made a couple of poor decisions coming out of the end zone, but I think we're going to be okay in the kicking game," Thompson said. "Ryan really kicked the ball well. We got some field position.

"I was happy to see Cam go in there and make our only field goal. We're going to be okay there."