By
Denny O'Brien
©2009 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
By the time East Carolina
landed in Tulsa last December for
its Conference USA championship clash
with the Golden Hurricane, the Pirates' offensive depth chart closely
resembled a scout team ensemble.
Decimated by injuries and
suspensions, especially at key skill positions, ECU went from an
efficient, drive-sustaining offense to one that almost exclusively
emphasized field position and a cautious approach. In a league
identified by its circus aerial attacks, the Pirates' championship run
became a departure from the blueprint that has defined success in C-USA.
As East Carolina
approaches the 2009 season, almost all of its offensive weaponry from
the beginning of last season is back. Tight end Davon Drew is now
earning a paycheck from the Baltimore Ravens, but much of the ECU
offense that effectively moved the chains in victories over Virginia
Tech and West Virginia in 2008 returns and is plenty deep at most
positions.
With the Pirates aiming to
achieve what no team has done in C-USA's current configuration —
successfully defend a title — the return of so may key contributors is
key to another championship march. Though ECU returns a defense as good
or better than the one that carried it during the second half of last
season, relying too heavily on defense can be dangerous in what has
evolved into a predominately offensive game.
With no shortage of
offensive personnel, that shouldn't be the case this fall.
"We were excited in the
spring," offensive coordinator Todd Fitch said. "That was kind of the
preview for what was coming up this fall. As we got into the second half
of the spring, we saw some guys mature and really play with confidence.
That's really the biggest part of it.
"As we get into this
[preseason] camp, there are a lot of possibilities. One of the things
that you have to do when you have good skill on the outside, good
running backs on the inside, good experience on the line and at
quarterback, is you don't want to do too much.
"We want to be wide open
in terms of our package, but week by week we have to do a really good
job to make sure we prioritize what's going to help us win."
And that means you
shouldn't expect the Pirates to mimic Houston, Tulsa, or some of the
other pass-happy spread attacks that litter C-USA. Head coach Skip Holtz
said during the team's media day that it is important for the offense to
complement the defense.
The offensive approach
that was displayed to open 2008 — strong inside running and efficient
play-action passing — is likely what the Pirates will implement again
this season. After some off-season mending, the Pirates should have the
legs they need for a strong inside rushing attack.
"The thing that we like
about it is, we've got a veteran line who has played a lot of football,"
Fitch said. "So, you have a group of (running backs) who can make
adjustments on the run.
"The running back position
is one of competition no matter where you coach or where you are
playing. Every time you get a rep, you better make it special. The guy
behind you can take your job. That's a great motivating factor for those
guys, and it makes them all better. And that's the whole key. Can you
make yourself better?"
That's the question each
of ECU's talented running backs must positively answer to ensure he
receives his share of carries. At a position now six-deep, there is
little room for error. One missed block, a fumble, or a poor read at the
line of scrimmage could be enough to redistribute the workload.
Heading into Saturday's
scrimmage, Kentucky transfer Brandon Jackson had the inside track on the
starting job. He blends speed and power to provide the Pirates with a
complete option at tailback, but not too complete that he can just
assume his role as the starter.
With the return of
Dominique Lindsay (knee), Jonathan Williams (suspension), and Norman
Whitley (suspension), there is no shortage of proven contributors at the
position. Combine that with the off-season strides made by J.R. Rogers
and the addition of junior college transfer Giavanni Ruffin, and a
once-thin position on the roster is suddenly one of the deepest.
That likely will translate
into a by-committee approach.
"I think it's a good thing
if you can have two or three guys who can come spell you," Jackson said.
"When you have to carry the ball 20-30 times a game, it really wears
down on your body and it's hard to last an entire season.
"You see that a lot with
the NFL backs and college backs now. To have guys like, Jon (Williams),
Dominique (Lindsay), J.R. (Rogers), and Norman (Whitley) come in and
help me reach the goals that I'm trying to reach and keep me fresh at
the same time, it's a great feeling."
No unit was more
devastated by attrition last season than the receiving corps, where the
Pirates lost Jamar Bryant, T.J. Lee, Dwayne Harris, T.J. Terrell, D.J.
McFadden, and Darryl Freeney at one point or another. That thrust a
number of inexperienced players into the fire and greatly limited what
ECU could accomplish through the air.
It forced Holtz and Fitch
to focus heavily on the running game and to utilize the tight ends more
when going airborne. But it also provided a blessing in disguise —
valuable game repetitions for several inexperienced receivers.
"That is the position that
really got devastated," Fitch said. "Running back was a bad situation,
but the receivers, you just didn't have guys you could go out there and
count on and win with last year.
"In the long run, a Darryl
Freeney, Joe Womack and those guys would be coming into this fall camp
right now and saying, 'Well, I wonder if they can play 20 plays for us.'
Well, we know what they can do. It's helped them so much with their
confidence level that they're playing fast right now. A guy like Darryl
Freeney, who was a bit player last year, he's probably the most
confident guy we have out there right now."
And with so many returnees
who were MIA last season, it has both Fitch and Holtz feeling confident
that the offense will be more productive this fall.