Spring Football Notebook No. 3
 
ECU Conducts First Full-Pad Workout
 
 
 

 
The Pirates turned in their first full-pad workout of the spring practice period Wednesday.
 
 

March 5, 2008

GREENVILLE, N.C. - After two non-contact orientation sessions in shorts and helmets, fourth-year head coach Skip Holtz and the East Carolina Pirates began their spring practice schedule in earnest Wednesday afternoon by working 150 minutes in full pads on Hight Field inside the Cliff Moore Practice Complex.

Holtz guided ECU's first full-pad practice after pair of introductory workouts last Friday and Monday. The contact session was the first of 12 which will be conducted in full gear, including a pair of scrimmages and the Purple-Gold Spring Game on April 12.

"Similar to last Friday, today was another good start to another phase," Holtz said. "I continue to be impressed with our work ethic and enthusiasm but we're still early in this game and have a lot of work to do. Things moved at a much quicker pace today, so naturally, I thought our upperclassmen were one step ahead of the rest. It's an exciting time for all of us to be in a teaching mode again and we're looking forward to seeing everything develop as we continue to move further along."

Despite the addition of equipment, Holtz and his staff spent the majority of the workout stressing fundamentals while continuing the review process of ECU's playbooks on both sides of the ball. The Pirates closed the workout with passing drills that incorporated running backs, tight ends and receivers going against linebackers and defensive backs.

East Carolina will return to the practice facility Thursday afternoon before taking a week off to enjoy Spring Break, which begins after a 6 a.m. lifting session and classes Friday. Upon its return to campus Monday, March 17, ECU will have just four practices to prepare for the first scrimmage of camp scheduled for Friday, March 28 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.


 

 

NOTES: The East Carolina program welcomed scouts and several position coaches from over 20 different National Football League organizations to its annual outgoing senior pro-timing day Wednesday afternoon ... The combine-type workout included weight and agility sessions, and the 40-yard dash in the strength and conditioning center and traditional speed drills such as various shuttle runs on the artificial surface of Hight Field ... Former Pirate regular starters such as offensive guard Matt Butler, offensive tackle Josh Coffman, tight end Jay Sonnhalter, receiver Phillip Henry, defensive tackle Mark Robinson, cornerback Travis Williams and linebacker Fred Wilson joined approximately a dozen or more other hopefuls during the tryout ... Running back and return specialist Chris Johnson, projected as a possible first-day pick by many draft publication and television experts, did not participate in Wednesday's testing but is expected back on campus at a later date this month to engage in an individual session with the NFL personnel.