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Pirates looking to plug holes up front
By STEVE FRANKLIN, Sports Writer
GREENVILLE — Trying to replace an NFL caliber player is a difficult chore for a college position coach. Having to replace two NFL-worthy stars, well, that’s darn near impossible.
However, that’s exactly the daunting task that East Carolina co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler faces in 2008.
With left guard Matt Butler and tackle Josh Coffman now attempting to play on Sundays, Shankweiler must fill the shoes of two behemoths up front. Butler is now in training camp with the Detroit Lions, while Coffman is still weighing his NFL options after a brief stint with the Patriots.
“Any time you lose two guys of that caliber, it’s going to have a negative impact,” Shankweiler said. “But like any transition, the biggest variable is going to be time. We’ve got guys that have the potential to be as talented if not more talented than Matt and Josh, but it’s going to take time for them to develop.”
The good news for Shankweiler’s offensive line is that the Pirates will return five guys who made at least five starts last season and another who started 13 games as a freshman before sitting out last season with an illness.
Leading the charge will be junior right guard Doug Palmer, who was the only offensive lineman other than Butler to start all 13 games last fall. Palmer moved to the right guard slot last season after playing on the defensive side of the ball as a freshman, and earned honorable mention All-C-USA in 2007.
“Doug is as good as any offensive lineman in Conference USA,” Shankweiler said. “He’s a big guy who moves real well. We expect big things from him this season.”
At the center position, ECU will have Fred Hicks back from his season-ending ankle injury and will also have the services of Stephen Heis who started the final eight games at center in Hicks’ absence.
At the other guard slot, Shankweiler is hoping that either Terrance Campbell or T.J. Harper can take over for Butler. Campbell is back with the Pirates this season after sitting out 2007 following a mild heart attack during East Carolina’s offseason conditioning program. Campbell started 13 games as a freshman and was named to C-USA’s All-Freshman Team in 2006. Meanwhile, Harper comes to the Greenville campus from Pearl River Community College in Mississippi. He was two-year starter at PRCC and picked up All-Region honors last fall. Right now, Harper is listed as the starter, but Campbell will likely see plenty of action.
The tackle slots will be manned by a couple of young guys that Shankweiler is very high on. D.J. Scott is etched in at the right tackle position, while Stanley Bryant is scheduled to start at left tackle.
Scott started eight games last season and was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team. Shankweiler thinks he’ll be even better this season.
“We are tickled to death with D.J.’s progress,” Shankweiler said. “He’s come a long way this spring. He’s probably our most improved lineman.”
Meanwhile, Bryant also possesses limited starting experience as either Patrick Pinkney or Rob Kass’ backside protector. Bryant started eight games last year as well, taking over at the left tackle spot after Coffman flipped to the right side midway through the season. Although he started just eight games last season, he was second to Palmer in knockdowns with 40 for the 8-5 Pirates.
“D.J. and Stanley are a couple of young guys who are going to be long-term solutions at the tackle positions,” Shankweiler said. “Our guys are young, but they’re a very talented group.”
Junior Sean Allen and sophomore Corey Dowless will serve as valuable backups along the front.
“Replacing Matt and Josh isn’t going to be easy, but we think we’ve got the tools to get it done,” Scott said. “Of course we’ll miss those guys, but us young guys are ready to step in and show what we can do. This may be the most talented offensive line that we’ve had here under Coach Holtz and we’re ready to prove it.”
However, that’s exactly the daunting task that East Carolina co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler faces in 2008.
With left guard Matt Butler and tackle Josh Coffman now attempting to play on Sundays, Shankweiler must fill the shoes of two behemoths up front. Butler is now in training camp with the Detroit Lions, while Coffman is still weighing his NFL options after a brief stint with the Patriots.
“Any time you lose two guys of that caliber, it’s going to have a negative impact,” Shankweiler said. “But like any transition, the biggest variable is going to be time. We’ve got guys that have the potential to be as talented if not more talented than Matt and Josh, but it’s going to take time for them to develop.”
The good news for Shankweiler’s offensive line is that the Pirates will return five guys who made at least five starts last season and another who started 13 games as a freshman before sitting out last season with an illness.
Leading the charge will be junior right guard Doug Palmer, who was the only offensive lineman other than Butler to start all 13 games last fall. Palmer moved to the right guard slot last season after playing on the defensive side of the ball as a freshman, and earned honorable mention All-C-USA in 2007.
“Doug is as good as any offensive lineman in Conference USA,” Shankweiler said. “He’s a big guy who moves real well. We expect big things from him this season.”
At the center position, ECU will have Fred Hicks back from his season-ending ankle injury and will also have the services of Stephen Heis who started the final eight games at center in Hicks’ absence.
At the other guard slot, Shankweiler is hoping that either Terrance Campbell or T.J. Harper can take over for Butler. Campbell is back with the Pirates this season after sitting out 2007 following a mild heart attack during East Carolina’s offseason conditioning program. Campbell started 13 games as a freshman and was named to C-USA’s All-Freshman Team in 2006. Meanwhile, Harper comes to the Greenville campus from Pearl River Community College in Mississippi. He was two-year starter at PRCC and picked up All-Region honors last fall. Right now, Harper is listed as the starter, but Campbell will likely see plenty of action.
The tackle slots will be manned by a couple of young guys that Shankweiler is very high on. D.J. Scott is etched in at the right tackle position, while Stanley Bryant is scheduled to start at left tackle.
Scott started eight games last season and was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team. Shankweiler thinks he’ll be even better this season.
“We are tickled to death with D.J.’s progress,” Shankweiler said. “He’s come a long way this spring. He’s probably our most improved lineman.”
Meanwhile, Bryant also possesses limited starting experience as either Patrick Pinkney or Rob Kass’ backside protector. Bryant started eight games last year as well, taking over at the left tackle spot after Coffman flipped to the right side midway through the season. Although he started just eight games last season, he was second to Palmer in knockdowns with 40 for the 8-5 Pirates.
“D.J. and Stanley are a couple of young guys who are going to be long-term solutions at the tackle positions,” Shankweiler said. “Our guys are young, but they’re a very talented group.”
Junior Sean Allen and sophomore Corey Dowless will serve as valuable backups along the front.
“Replacing Matt and Josh isn’t going to be easy, but we think we’ve got the tools to get it done,” Scott said. “Of course we’ll miss those guys, but us young guys are ready to step in and show what we can do. This may be the most talented offensive line that we’ve had here under Coach Holtz and we’re ready to prove it.”
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