082810 RON CHERUBINI ::: One-on-One Interview with Antonio Allison [fb]

One-on-One with the Pirates
Saturday, August 28, 2010

By Ron Cherubini

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Antonio Allison

In 2009, Antonio Allison was on his way to a breakout season at defensive tackle. In his first two games, he had 6 tackles and was looking every bit like a stalwart in the next generation of the vaunted East Carolina defensive front. Then a foot injury took him out for the season. Missing the season was more painful than the injury and Allison has attacked his preparation for this season like a man on a mission. He is primed to excel in 2010 as the Pirates look to reload the defensive line with Allison and highly talented players like him.

Antonio 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? What differences are you seeing philosophy-wise?

A: Mainly, Coach (Ruffin) McNeill is one who wants us to keep attacking. Run to the ball, take the ball away, that mindset. Pretty much the same mindset that Coach (Greg) Hudson had. The past of couple of seasons we have had, you know, an awesome defense… we want to continue that so we are all out here going over everything and things are going really smoothly. So, we pretty much need to take it from the practice field to the game field.

Q: What if anything did you learn working with guys like Linval Joseph, C.J. Wilson, and Jay Ross over the past two seasons?

A: I have learned a good bit from the whole D-line and front seven, for that matter, last year. They really helped me out last season and took me under their wings. Coach Rock (Roggeman), rest in peace, always told me to hang around those guys all the time, 24-7, work out with them, because it would make me a better player. So, I talked to the boys, hung out with them all the time, and they really worked with me and made me a player. I got to play in the West Virginia game last season, the second game of the season, and really whatever the guys told me, my steps, my form, my hands, whatever, I did throughout that game and I had a great, great game that game. I came out with, I believe, 5 tackles – I was extremely productive that game. It carried over to the Carolina game where I had a very good first quarter before I was taken out for the season. But, those guys had me playing my best football.

Q: Josh Smith was saying that everyone will be shocked with you this season, pointing to how much you worked on getting into great shape for this season and working on your speed. Can you elaborate?

A: Actually, I have lost about 10-15 pounds, where last year I was around 295 and this season I am around 280 and intend to keep my weight around 280-285 pounds, because I am a lot more mobile and can move a lot better at this weight. I don’t tire out as quick and have a lot more energy. I really did hit it hard as I could this summer because I am really looking forward to this season. It was really hard to have such a good start last season and then miss the rest of the season just like that. I am going to keep working on it and hopefully improve this season and make it the whole year.

A: The guy I respect in particular would have to be Josh Smith. We got together a lot over the summer and we would talk, you know. He talked about he was in his last season and I was in my junior season and we wanted to work together every day after workouts to get better and better. He has really helped me out and I hope I have helped him out some. He is a really great guy and is the guy I respect the most, but I respect a lot of guys out here.

Q: How do you think the fast-paced, high-flying offense will impact the defensive side of the ball?

A: We may be on and off the field more often, but really, defense is defense. You know, we come on an try to make a stop. If its three plays and out, then we aren’t going to get so tired. I don’t think it has a huge impact. We are working hard to be in great shape to be able to play at the pace, but if we come in and stop teams and force turnovers, then having an offense that can take those stops and score, makes it a lot easier on the defense.