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CHERUBINI CHIMES IN
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One-on-One with the
Pirates
Tuesday,
August 24, 2010
By Ron Cherubini |
Willie Smith
By
Ron Cherubini
©2010 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
Offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley,
when asked about the prototypical offensive lineman who would be recruited
to East Carolina by Ruffin McNeill's new staff, abruptly said: “Willie Smith, if I could have
five of him, we would be where we want to be.” The long, athletic left
tackle locked down the starting position in 2009 after having moved over from
tight end at the end of the 2008 season. Ever since, he has been a stalwart,
starting every game a year ago. He has been selected as a Preseason All-Conference USA
selection at tackle.
Willie was kind enough
to sit down for a chat with Bonesville to share his insights on the
upcoming season.
Q: What can Pirate fans expect
from our offense this year based on what you are seeing on the field through
summer?
A: First, I have to give all
the glory and honor to God to have blessed me as he has. The coaches have
brought in a prolific offense and we are going to throw the ball around and
put points on the board. We’ve put a lot of work in this summer and I am
really ecstatic about what we’re doing out here. Everybody is out here
pushing themselves to be the best they can be. Man, I am really excited
about this year.
Q: When you hear Coach
(Lincoln) Riley calling you the model lineman for his offense, what is your
reaction to that?
A: Oh man, that makes me feel
great. I am just glad to please the coaches. You work hard for that respect
out here and to have respect from the coaches means a lot to me.
Q: How difficult has the
transition been from a run-first oriented team to a pass-first scheme?
A: It hasn’t been that
difficult, you know. We (three veterans) have been playing a lot here and
had all spring and summer to prepare. We’ve all put the work in and are
making the transition pretty good, I think.
Q: How good can this offensive
line be? How concerned are the veterans about the center position and how
are those guys coming along?
A: They are coming along real
good. They have been working all summer on technique just like the rest of
the offensive line. None of us has reached a point where we can stop
working. I am very confident that our centers — all of our guys — can get
the job done.
Q: Who on the offense do you
expect to be a star/stud this year that wasn’t a star last year?
A: There are few guys. You’ve
got Jordan Davis who is currently playing behind me, but man he has some
great potential. He has really come along. We have Will Simmons, who we call
The Beast… that man does not know how to slow down at all. He’s got
one speed and that’s full speed… he is a good looking lineman. Steve Baker,
too, he is ready. He’s doing some great things out here.
Q: Who on this team do you
most respect as a player and why?
A: That is a hard, hard
question right there because there are a lot of guys out here who are so
good and work so hard out here. I really can’t say just one… there is no one
not working hard out here.
Q: What has changed for you
this season? What is expected of you this season that was not expected last
season?
A: Last year, there was a
little bit of uncertainty for me because I was coming off my surgery and I
had just started running when camp came so they weren’t sure if I was going
to be able to play or not. This year, the coaches are really relying on me
to be a leader out there on that O-line and to really make plays this year.
My personal goal is to be an impact player who wins every down.
Q: You make your living taking
care of the quarterback, any thoughts you can share on the quarterback
competition right now?
A: Man, I really don’t pay
attention much to the guys behind me. I am always focused on the guys in
front of me… on a run play, I am focusing on knocking someone off the ball.
That competition will work itself out.
 Q:
Who on our defensive front would you say has the potential to be the next C.J.
Wilson, Linval Joseph, or Jay Ross?
A: There are a couple guys. I
know that Josh Smith ... has a ton of potential and the man
plays all over the
place. You got D.J. (Derrell Johnson) he plays hard and can be the next CJ.
if he keeps working and going at it like he does every down… he has a lot of
potential. Antonio Allison is a guy who put so much work in the summer and
you can see it now. There are a bunch of guys over there who can be good,
real good.
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