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CHERUBINI CHIMES IN
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One-on-One with the
Pirates
Monday,
August 24, 2010
By Ron Cherubini |
Q&A
with Grant Harner
By
Ron Cherubini
©2011 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
 What
a difference a year makes. At this time a year ago, Grant Harner was
surprising everyone as he was earning the top spot on the depth chart at
right offensive tackle as a redshirt freshman. He was the rookie… the guy
everyone was worried about.
After a stellar first campaign, Harner now finds himself
the wily old veteran on a young but physical and talented line for the
Pirates. Harner has high praise for his new linemates and believes that this
unit is playing together better already than the unit in 2010.
Grant was kind enough to sit down for a chat with
Bonesville to share his insights on the upcoming season.
Grant Harner (67) in action last season (ECU SID
photo)
One-on-One with Grant Harner
 Q:
A year ago, you were basically the rookie on a
vastly experienced offensive line and now you are
the veteran. How is the line looking and what might
you have learned from a year ago that can help your
teammates?
A: You know, last year… wow… I
try not to think too much about last year. I am
focused on this year and doing what we need to do to
be successful this year with the guys I am playing
with this season. We are all working together a lot
better than how we played last year. I know we are
going to be successful because I know everybody in
the lineup this year wants to be very good. (The new
guys) will settle in and get comfortable, but they
are some good players and we will be a good group.
Q: Which of your linemates would
you call the most physical of the group and why?
A: Will Simmons, who is playing
right guard, right next to me. I know that me and
him together will get the job done. He comes off the
ball hard as hell on every play. And he plays every
play like it is truly going to be the last play. He
is a real physical guy and I am excited to line up
next to him.
Q: How quickly would you say you
picked up the offensive protection schemes a year
ago when thrown into the fire, and how quickly do
you believe your linemates will adjust to the
demands of the offense?
A: Last year, honestly, I don’t
know if I was comfortable at all last year. It was a
whole new thing for me out there last year. Over the
summer and the spring, I felt more comfortable than
at any point last year.
Q: What player on this team do
you most respect and why?
A: Probably Dominique (Davis) the
most because he is literally the leader of our team.
He leads the offense and we all respect him. He’s
earned that from all of us.
Q: So far, what player on our
defense would you hate to have to work against for a
full game?
A: Well… to answer that, I
wouldn’t care who I would have to block for a whole
game because I love the challenge. But, I believe
the most explosive player we have on our defense is
Justin Dixon. He is an animal out there.
Q: With four linemen debuting
against South Carolina, tell the fans why this line
will be a good one and that the offense will not
take a step backwards?
A: The motivation comes from the
fact that they are (the) first team we play this
season. We all want the opportunity to show the
nation that we are a complete team this year and
that it is not a repeat of last year. The opponent
really doesn’t matter — it is the respect that we
earn and that we show people that we can compete
that matters.
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08/24/2011 01:58 AM |
