CHERUBINI CHIMES IN
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One-on-One with the
Pirates
Sunday,
August 19, 2010
By Ron Cherubini |
Q&A with
Daniel Drake
By
Ron Cherubini
©2012 Bonesville.net
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Last year, while inside linebacker
Jeremy Groves was drawing the
headlines en route to a Freshman All-America designation, another ILB was
quietly having a pretty impressive East Carolina debut as well.
Daniel Drake, the transfer from Marshall, proved to be a reliable and
consistent force alongside Grove at the Mike position. As defensive
coordinator Brian Mitchell likes to say, Drake was a big-time plugger for
the Pirates, showing a penchant for locking onto running backs and dropping
them in the hole.
Though he has to deal with asthma flare-ups at times that can be
debilitating, Drake has shown an uncanny ability to get himself back up to
speed and in the lineup. He piled up 74 tackles and it could have been even
more had it not been for the emergence of Kyle Tudor late in the season. In
Drake, whether he starts or is a primary reserve, the Pirates have a
tackling machine who gets the job and how it is to be done in the system.
Daniel was kind enough to sit down for a chat with Bonesville to share his
insights on the upcoming season.
Daniel Drake in action
(ECU SID photo)
One-on-One with Daniel Drake
Q: When you look around at the
defensive players, are you seeing any differences
from last year? What would you say the unit’s focus
is this camp?
A: We all came into this year
thinking that we have to continue to get better.
Simple. We had a good year last year as a (defensive
unit), but our record didn’t indicate it. We want
the wins and so we are focused on getting better.
The coaches demand that of us. We want to be a
top-25 defense.
Q: Playing alongside Jeremy
Grove, you and he formed a pretty good duo in the
inside? What would you say the differences are
between you and Grove?
A: Our jobs are basically the
same — tackle the ball carrier. The coaches are
expecting and requiring more of us this year. Last
year, we were both first time starters and now we
have a year under our belts, so the expectation is
we shouldn’t make mistakes. The coaches demand that
we are top notch every play. As far as me and
Jeremy, we do have a good chemistry — he knows what
I can do and I know what he can do. I think we are
great duo.
Q: Got a little banged up last
season and of course the asthma. How are you feeling
in this camp and do you feel like you have a good
handle on things heading into the season?
A: I am a lot more in shape this
year which helps with my body and my overall health.
My body is ready for the season. Fortunately we have
so much depth inside that we have a rotation that I
think will be very good with Kyle (Tudor) and
Brandon (Williams). It will be like 40 snaps a game,
which I think is great. Fresh bodies mean fewer
mistakes.
Q: You see the guys on the
defensive line every day working. Do they appear as
good as advertised from your vantage point?
A: Oh, yeah. Those guys are
beasts up there. I can see the difference from the
work they did with Coach (Jeff) Connors. Those guys
own the gaps. Coach C really put it on them and it
shows — it is obvious.
Q: What player on this team do
you respect the most and why?
A: I would have to (say) it is a
toss-up between Cody Lyon and James Craig. You see,
I can really relate to those guys because they are
walk-ons just like I was. I have never seen two guys
who work as hard as they do. And even if they don’t
get in as much as other guys, it doesn’t keep them
from putting in that level of work. They work hard
and I know that both of them, when they get their
chances, will be ready. I have big respect for them.
Q: What running back on our
roster do you find hardest to get your hands on?
A: Michael Dobson. He has made
great strides. He is a whole new guy out here. He is
fast, keeps his feet moving, hits his cuts and goes.
He has become a real challenge to get a good hit on
him. I think he is going to have a great season.
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