What once was the centerpiece of East Carolina's football program now has become its most glaring concern. That's the abbreviated version of what second-year Pirates coach John Thompson is facing this spring.

The extended anthology is the number of questions — of which there are many — that must be answered in order to recover from last season's abysmal 1-11 finish.

As spring practice — which got underway yesterday — unfolds over the next few weeks, none of the questions is more pressing than the one hovering over the position around which Pirates football has revolved for more than a decade:

Quarterback.

From Jeff Blake to David Garrard, ECU long has been renowned for its tutelage of dynamic playmakers under center. Though not on the same level as Miami or Washington — both of which legitimately can claim the title of Quarterback U — the argument can be made that no school has been more dependent on strong QB play than East Carolina.

Just thumb through a media guide and you'll discover a noticeable trend: The performance of a Pirates quarterback and the success of his team generally go hand-in-hand.

Last season was no exception.

Much of last year's struggles can be traced directly to ECU's lack of a leader in the huddle. Though starter Desmond Robinson was well-liked by teammates and coaches and provided a calming presence in the locker room, his inability to lead by producing was evident by a surplus of turnovers and a shortage of points.

His final numbers read like a reversal of fortune from his predecessors — 13 interceptions, eight fumbles, and only three touchdowns.

Not the type of production you would expect in an offense designed to reduce turnovers by emphasizing a ball-control approach. Instead, that methodology was unsuccessful on both accounts.

In fairness to Robinson, he shouldn't have to shoulder all the blame for last season's offensive meltdown. The case easily can be made that the Pirates' starter was the victim of a system that frequently put him in difficult situations.

Predictable, conservative play-calling repeatedly led to third-and-long, which meant jailbreak blitzes that forced Robinson to make hasty decisions.

The good news is Thompson has rethought his offensive philosophy and hired former Washington Redskins quarterbacks coach Noah Brindise to implement it. Brindise replaces Rick Stockstill, who sought refuge under Lou Holtz at South Carolina amid scrutiny from a fan base accustomed to lighting the scoreboard.

Whether or not Brindise can resurrect the Pirates offense will depend largely on his ability to pinpoint and groom a capable field general.

Of the candidates, only Robinson has seen extended action at the Division I level. But given Brindise's background in Steve Spurrier's system, Robinson would have to be considered a long shot to retain the starting job.

At its core, the Fun-'n-Gun emphasizes a vertical passing game that requires a quarterback with superb downfield vision. Only 5'10", Robinson doesn't possess the preferred physical tools.

Odds are the job will be seized by either Florida transfer Patrick Dosh or sophomore James Pinkney. Both have the desired build and are considered blue-chip talents, but neither is a sure-fire solution.

Dosh, though strong-armed and fleet afoot, has yet to see the field against Division I competition. And while Pinkney made strides when he took over for Robinson late last fall, he now must digest his third offensive system in as many seasons.

Still, East Carolina should upgrade at quarterback based solely on the expertise Brindise gained as an understudy to Spurrier. How much will depend upon the QB's ability to grasp the offense and limit mistakes.

As it stands, the margin for error will be slim for East Carolina come September. Make that razor thin for its quarterback.

Despite the heavy concentration on Florida with his second recruiting class, Thompson insists that North Carolina high schools still are the Pirates' top priority. At the same time, the Pirates coach also says that his M.O. is to find and sign the best player available, regardless of his are code.

This year, most of the phone calls were traced to the Sunshine State, long considered the nation's top area for high school football. One of the reasons, Thompson says, is spring football, which he would like to see instituted in North Carolina.

"I think it has made a huge difference," Thompson said a while back. "If you look at the states that have implemented spring football, there are more prospects that are going on and playing college football.

"You look at this state and the number of recruits in this state as opposed to the number in other states. Weather is a little bit of a factor, but there needs to be more players in this state. There are still ways to get better, not just spring football. ... But you take a guy who has two or three spring practices under his belt and it's like he has a whole other year by the time he gets to his senior year."

NCHSAA executive director Charlie Adams hasn't favored a spring season for high school football in the past because it could lower participation in other sports.

Secondary set for preseason showdowns

Thompson has made it clear that decisions on potential redshirts for incoming freshmen won't be made until fall practice. That means that, with impressive preseason camps, many of the newcomers could see significant action next season.

Positions up for grabs include the secondary, where three freshmen — Erode Jean, Kyle Chase, and Kasey Ross — earned valuable playing time last year.

"One thing you can't teach is experience," defensive backs coach Matt Graves said. "Those kids have some games under their belt now. For the new guys to come in and beat them out, it's going to be hard.

"Last year, the freshmen came in and beat out some guys who had been on the field. Don't ever count anybody out because we're going to put the best guy on the field."

All totaled, East Carolina inked seven defensive backs last month, but the number of players in the secondary mix could grow if additional skill players shift positions in the fall.