082510 RON CHERUBINI ::: One-on-One Interview with Steve Spence [fb]

One-on-One with the Pirates
Wednesday, August 25, 2010

By Ron Cherubini

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Steve Spence

Since junior middle linebacker Steve Spence came into the East Carolina program, he has been discussed in terms of having the potential to progress into the starting role at the heart of the Pirates defense. A smart, engaging personality in a prototypical MLB body, Spence clearly has prepared for his time to anchor down the demanding position and it shows in every play he runs. Though a first-time starter, Spence already has the respect of his teammates and is held up as a defensive leader. The question is, will bigger, stronger, and faster translate into reliable and productive? Spence has the goods.

Q: What can Pirate fans expect from our defense this year based on what you are seeing on the field through summer?

A: Coming into the spring, we had an understanding that we would have an attacking defense, a fast-paced defense. Through the summer, we had all the guys out there, the defensive lineman, the linebackers, the corners, the safeties all working their tails off working on our 40 times, working on our strength. We are bigger, stronger, and faster. Coming out here in full pads we are running around here hitting and banging and the younger guys are picking things up.

A: We are just reloading. Nothing against the guys from last year. We lost, obviously, some great players in Nick Johnson and Jeremy Chambliss and also Chris Mattocks. However, we are replacing them with myself, Matt Thompson, and Dustin Lineback, and Melvin Patterson is back as well. We have some guys who are strong, have speed, have talent. Myself and Matt are two-year lettermen, we’ve all played in games, we are doing a great job of working hard together and jelling. We’re not rebuilding here at East Carolina, we’re reloading.

Q: How important is it for the front seven to have guys like Emanuel Davis and Travis Simmons on the corners back there?

A: It is great for us because now if there are any mistakes up front, we know we have two guys on the perimeter back there that can cover guys and save our butts. At the same time, we can't leave them out there too long in coverage. However, it allows us to have some money in the bank knowing that whoever we play, we have two guys who can cover our opponents two best receivers every time.

Q: Coach Lincoln Riley had indicated previously that the pace of the offense really should not affect the pace of the defense, indicating that the defense always has the same job, stop the opposing offense. Thoughts?

A: It’s a complete role-reversal from last year. Having a fast-paced, high-power offense, just allows us as a defense to go out and say, “Hey you know what? We don’t have to go out here and do everything.” The last few years this defensive unit has had been the strength of the team. So many times last year, on the sidelines, I would see these guys come off the field after 5-6-7 plays in a row, get a stop, and then the offense goes out there and has a 3-and-out and it was so demoralizing for those guys. But now, with our offense, we have an opportunity to have an offense that can literally run up and down the field. It gives us more confidence to go out there and know we have an offense that is going to put up points. We go out knowing the offense has our back so we can go out and have their back. This is a great situation for a defense.

Q: Who on the defense do you expect to be a star/stud this year that wasn’t a star last year?

A: Justin Dixon is one of the young guys I am working with and he is getting really good already and he is coming along in understanding the system. Ty Holmes, too, he is coming along really well.

A: You know I have to point right there back at Emanuel Davis. He was a Freshman All-America and All-Conference the last couple of years. He goes out there and continues to play. He’s not a guy who is out there coasting on cloud nine, he’s out there making plays. He will go out there and talk trash and back it up. He is a guy who will routinely cover your best wide receiver and shut him down. Bar none, with his personality, awareness and knowledge of the game, he is out there covering routes, directing traffic, telling this guy to watch for this, that guy to watch for that, and all the time. He’s a guy to respect. Even though he is in my class, I look up to Emanuel.

Q: When you are playing against our offense, describe what it does to the middle linebacker in a defense?

A: Playing against our offense. One thing I always joke about with my teammates when I go to dinner, one thing about this offense is that they spread out the defense. So now when I am looking at this thing, I have no help in the box. The outside linebackers are scraping outside, so now I am alone in the box. So now its just the defensive lineman up front. Obviously our outside linebackers will be keying the inside receivers so I cant expect them to key in on a run right away. It is a nightmare for the middle linebacker.

A: The main player for us in this offense… obviously with our situation at quarterback with Dominique [Davis] and Brad [Wornick] and Rio [Johnson] battling in there, and they are all talented quarterbacks... and even with Dwayne Harris at the slot, I have to say Jonathan Williams — or whoever is at tailback — will make this offense go. Going back to how this offense spreads out the defense and isolates one linebacker in the box, going against this offense with a back like Jon Williams or Giavanni Ruffin in the backfield, if we get one of our offensive lineman — a center or a guard — pulling out in front, now you got running lanes and really you have our backs one on one with the safety… Jon makes that guy miss. So I look forward to seeing Jonathan and all of our backs out in the spread offense against a lot of nickel packages and getting the ball against that one linebacker in the box. It will be fun to watch.

Q: Though this appears to be your first year as a starter, do you feel the need to be a leader on this defense? A role you embrace?

A: I love (being a leader). These last couple of years I have been preparing for this moment and it has been a pleasure to be out here, by the grace of God, to be out here taking the role of starter in the middle of this defense, running the defense, calling the plays. It is a great opportunity to go out there and be the mouthpiece for this team, be the spokesman for this team. I love this opportunity and welcome it with open arms.