Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Pirates Kass arrested over weekend
By PETER WILLIAMS, Staff Writer
East Carolina University’s head football coach Skip Holtz has not determined the fate of Rob Kass, his 20-year-old starting quarterback who was arrested last weekend for drunk driving.
Kass was listed to start Saturday’s season opener at Virginia Tech, and Monday Holtz would not speculate on that.
“I know there has been a lot made of the Rob Kass situation from a public standpoint,” Holtz said at a weekly press conference that was attended by athletic director Terry Holland.
“It is something we’ve been made aware of, we’ve known about for a couple days. It’s something that coach Holland and myself have talked about. I’ve visited with Rob, but at this point I’m not ready to address it publicly.
“Right now I’m going to handle it from within this football team until I have the opportunity to address and talk to everybody that I have to talk to. When it’s appropriate I will make it a public issue but at this point right now, it’s not.”
Holtz wouldn’t rule out playing Kass, but he also could start either sophomore Brett Clay or junior Patrick Pinkney.
“I feel like we have three quarterbacks that we can play with. I don’t feel like we have one we’re going to win because of. They all three have some talent that can give us a chance.”
Kass has a court date scheduled for Nov. 13 in Pitt County. He was arrested after being stopped driving a 2003 Dodge Ram at a checkpoint on East Fifth Street and Green Springs Parkway. He had a blood alcohol level of .19, twice the legal limit.
Kass saw limited action in five games last year, completing 14 of 30 passes for 184 yards. He was less successful trying to run the ball, and had a net loss of 23 yards on seven carries.
The Pirates are facing one of the top defenses in the nation against the Hokies and Kass’s loss would add just one more question mark to an ECU offense that is already struggling.
“We are not ready to line up and compete offensively,” Holtz said bluntly. “I think we are still too inconsistent because we don’t do the little things well enough.
“You look at a guy like D.J. Scott (freshman offensive tackle) who has never really played and he is backed up by Willie Barton (junior) who also hasn’t played. Brandon Setzer (junior) has received many of the reps but his knee has swollen up and he hasn’t been able to go in practice.
“They all have talent but none of the three are a polished product. You go out there and play 10 plays and you don’t gain a yard on any of them. Your quarterback makes a bad throw, the right guard breaks down on a play, the center has a bad snap and a young receiver drops the ball. Each player only may have messed up one play but as a team we messed up too many plays.”
Holtz did say the defense had the potential to be good, and clearly made a point that the defense will have to keep the team going while the offense matures. Northside graduate C.J. Wilson remains second in the depth chart for left defensive end.
“We have a chance to be a very decent defensive football team,” Holtz said. “The front seven has a real opportunity to be two-deep. Our defensive line has the potential to be the best that we have ever had in my time here. The second defensive line is better than the first defensive line we had here in our first year. We have great talent on defense and have the chance to roll out fresh bodies.
“I think our secondary is developing nicely. If we have a chance to compete on Saturday, our defense will have to carry us. This first game will be an opportunity for us to showcase what we have to the entire nation.”
Kickoff is set for noon in Blacksburg, Va.
Kass was listed to start Saturday’s season opener at Virginia Tech, and Monday Holtz would not speculate on that.
“I know there has been a lot made of the Rob Kass situation from a public standpoint,” Holtz said at a weekly press conference that was attended by athletic director Terry Holland.
“It is something we’ve been made aware of, we’ve known about for a couple days. It’s something that coach Holland and myself have talked about. I’ve visited with Rob, but at this point I’m not ready to address it publicly.
“Right now I’m going to handle it from within this football team until I have the opportunity to address and talk to everybody that I have to talk to. When it’s appropriate I will make it a public issue but at this point right now, it’s not.”
Holtz wouldn’t rule out playing Kass, but he also could start either sophomore Brett Clay or junior Patrick Pinkney.
“I feel like we have three quarterbacks that we can play with. I don’t feel like we have one we’re going to win because of. They all three have some talent that can give us a chance.”
Kass has a court date scheduled for Nov. 13 in Pitt County. He was arrested after being stopped driving a 2003 Dodge Ram at a checkpoint on East Fifth Street and Green Springs Parkway. He had a blood alcohol level of .19, twice the legal limit.
Kass saw limited action in five games last year, completing 14 of 30 passes for 184 yards. He was less successful trying to run the ball, and had a net loss of 23 yards on seven carries.
The Pirates are facing one of the top defenses in the nation against the Hokies and Kass’s loss would add just one more question mark to an ECU offense that is already struggling.
“We are not ready to line up and compete offensively,” Holtz said bluntly. “I think we are still too inconsistent because we don’t do the little things well enough.
“You look at a guy like D.J. Scott (freshman offensive tackle) who has never really played and he is backed up by Willie Barton (junior) who also hasn’t played. Brandon Setzer (junior) has received many of the reps but his knee has swollen up and he hasn’t been able to go in practice.
“They all have talent but none of the three are a polished product. You go out there and play 10 plays and you don’t gain a yard on any of them. Your quarterback makes a bad throw, the right guard breaks down on a play, the center has a bad snap and a young receiver drops the ball. Each player only may have messed up one play but as a team we messed up too many plays.”
Holtz did say the defense had the potential to be good, and clearly made a point that the defense will have to keep the team going while the offense matures. Northside graduate C.J. Wilson remains second in the depth chart for left defensive end.
“We have a chance to be a very decent defensive football team,” Holtz said. “The front seven has a real opportunity to be two-deep. Our defensive line has the potential to be the best that we have ever had in my time here. The second defensive line is better than the first defensive line we had here in our first year. We have great talent on defense and have the chance to roll out fresh bodies.
“I think our secondary is developing nicely. If we have a chance to compete on Saturday, our defense will have to carry us. This first game will be an opportunity for us to showcase what we have to the entire nation.”
Kickoff is set for noon in Blacksburg, Va.
 |
||
| Washington uses balanced attack to top Northside |
