|
CHERUBINI CHIMES IN
-----
|
 |
One-on-One with the
Pirates
Saturday,
August 28, 2010
By Ron Cherubini |
Dustin Lineback
By
Ron Cherubini
©2010 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
Though technically East Carolina's linebacking corps does not return a starter, outside linebacker Dustin
Lineback does carry a couple of starts from a year ago into the 2010 season. He has a
starter’s mentality and a nose for the football that makes him a very
effective backer. A former walk-on, Lineback has progressed through the
depth chart to earn a position as a senior starter. No frills, no glitz,
but a hitter and a guy who knows what the position demands, he should
be a leader on the defense this season.
Dustin 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 defense this year based on what you are seeing on the
field through summer?
A: The fans can expect a
great defense just like we have had the last two years. You know, the
championship defenses we have had we are continuing to build on with this
defense. We have the same goals. We do have a lot of new guys, but we have
all played a lot so we will be able to give the fans what they expect from
an ECU defense. We are going to be blitzing a lot and we are going to be
running a lot of man coverage and bring a lot at them and hopefully get a
lot of interceptions out of it.
 Q:
Are we reloading or rebuilding?
A: I believe we are doing a
little bit of both this season. You know, we have a some young guys who we
are building up and trying to get ready but we are also putting more bullets
in the gun as well. As far as the linebackers here, we have played a lot, we
know what is expected and what it is like in a game out there and we know
the schemes. We are ready to go out and execute those schemes to the level
that is expected based on the previous guys we have had out here. Like
Jeremy Chambliss, Nick Johnson, Chris Mattocks, they used their minds last
year and that is what we are doing out here this season.
Q: Who on this team do you
most respect as a player and why?
A: Absolutely. I look at a
guy like Travis Simmons. He doesn’t get as much publicity as Emanuel Davis,
but he is so fundamentally sound. He is almost the perfect corner. He is
everything you want from a corner. He is not a loud guy and he doesn’t say
much but he does his job every play at 100% and if they throw his way, the
wide receiver he is covering isn’t going to catch the ball. He’s a great
player and I really look up to him.
Q: Talk a little bit about
your journey to this starting role?
A: You know, when I walked-on
I was hoping I could play on the kickoff team and then when I got in here, I
realized that I could play here. That was a big boost and I continued to
work hard and so my first year on the field, I actually got a couple of
starts – the UAB and UTEP games – and I did well. I graded out a winner my
sophomore year and then I battled for a starting position last year with
Chris Mattocks and he got it, he beat me out for the starting position, but
when Jeremy (Chambliss) went down, I stepped in over on that right side and
had a good time, did well. I am looking at this season as the same, but at a
higher level. Being a starter, I am going to have to play more plays than I
have ever played and that is why I go as hard as I can every play, every day
out here to get better. I am finally a starter and that is what I have been
working to be here. I am excited as a guy can be for this season.
Q: How does the defensive line
look in front of you?
A: I look at our defensive
line and I see some guys coming back who are coming off some injuries. We
have Josh Smith coming back in here and he makes a tremendous impact on our
line and Jimmy Booth has been stepping up in there. We still have a few guys
who are coming back from injuries – Michael Brooks and Antonio Allison – and
we need to get these guys back in here because they both have a lot of
playing experience and are very good on the ball.
 Q:
You work every day against one of the better offensive lines in the league,
how does the group appear to be progressing from you viewpoint?
A: When I look at our
offensive line, they are tremendously good. They are huge and fast and
fundamentally sound. They have played a lot of football over there and going
against them every day, they work you. They are going to spread the
defense out and pass protect and also run the ball. They are executing the
blocking at a high level already and I am excited to see how they do this
season.
E-mail Ron Cherubini
Ron Cherubini Archives
08/30/2010 12:59 AM |
