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Pirates’ running backs are confident
By STEVE FRANKLIN, Sports Writer
GREENVILLE — Each time Dominique Lindsay needs a little pick-me-up before practice, he reaches down to grab one of the many college football magazines stacked on the floor in the corner of his dorm room.
He flips to the 2008 East Carolina football preview and in almost every magazine it reads, “2008 Outlook: The big question is how will the Pirates replace all-everything running back Chris Johnson?, Does ECU have enough offensive weapons after the loss of Chris Johnson? Is there a running back capable of taking over for Chris Johnson?
It’s all the motivation the 5’10”, 220-pound senior running back needs.
“I take it personal,” Lindsay said. “That’s a challenge to me. Chris Johnson left behind some big shoes, but all of us running backs feel like we can play too. We learned a lot from C.J. last year, and we feel like we are capable of stepping in and taking his place.”
Last season, Johnson became only the tenth Pirate in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season when he ran for 1,423 yards and an ECU record 17 touchdowns. He also set a single season record with 2,960 all-purpose yards and 24 total touchdowns, and left East Carolina holding eight career records, including ones for most career receptions by a running back (125), most all-purpose yards (6,993), and most touchdowns (44).
Pirates running back coach Junior Smith believes that load is too big for just one man to handle. But he also thinks that as a group, he has the talent to fill the void left by the 24th overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft.
“Anytime you lose a player like Chris Johnson there’s going to be some sort of pressure to replace him,” Smith said. “But just because he’s gone doesn’t mean we don’t have talent. We’ve got a good group of running backs this year. We’ve got five or six guys who are fighting to get carries.”
Among those guys vying for carries this season will be Lindsay, whose 607 career rushing yards are more than anyone else on the roster, fellow senior Brandon Simmons, junior J.R. Rogers, and sophomores Jonathan Williams and Norman Whitley.
All bring their own flair to the running back position.
Lindsay is currently listed at the top of the depth chart because of his experience and ability to handle the football. In 146 carries, Lindsay has five touchdowns and just one fumble.
“Dominique is a complete back,” Smith said. “He can do a little bit of everything with the ball. He can be shifty and make you miss, or he can run you over.”
In short yardage situations, Brandon Simmons could be the guy. The 6’1”, 223-pound transfer from Elizabeth City State University, has impressed coaches with his ability to gain those tough yards between the tackles.
“We don’t really feel the pressure as much as you would think,” Simmons said. “The coaches are expecting us to be us, not C.J. We all know that we have the ability to make things happen on the football field and we are all ready to show that ability.”
Another junior college transfer who has made quite an impression this offseason is junior J.R. Rogers. Rogers, who wrapped up a two-year career at Bakersfield Community College as the school’s fourth all-time leading rusher with 2,162 yards and 25 touchdowns, could be the big play back that Johnson was. The 5’11” junior redshirted last season, but after a season in the conditioning program, could be the fastest man on the team.
“J.R. is going to do some special things,” Smith said. “He has some of the eye-popping ability that Chris Johnson had. He’s fast. When he breaks into the open, not many people are going to catch him.”
Of the young guys, Williams is the most-heralded back. Williams probably has the most potential of any of the running backs and after a strong offseason is poised to see the field a lot this season. He’s a gifted runner, who’s quick and physical and he’s ready to contribute more after averaging 6.8 yards per carry on 22 rushes last season.
“We’re all competing to get on the field because we all want to be the No. 1 guy,” Williams said. “But at the same time it’s a team sport. So we want to do whatever is best for the team.”
The guy lost in the shuffle right now is Norman Whitley. Whitley was recently cleared to resume practice after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery for the second time since joining the Pirates’ program in 2006. A 5’9”, 187-pounder, Whitley is explosive out of the backfield and has a great knack for catching the ball.
“I’m not to worried about the running back position,” fourth-year head coach Skip Holtz said. “It’s probably one of the deepest positions on our football team. We’ve got four or five guys who are capable of playing at a high-level.”
Holtz and offensive coordinators Todd Fitch and Steve Shankweiler are so pleased with this group, that they’ve added offensive packages to get two running backs on the field at a time.
“We want the best 11 guys on the field,” Shankweiler said. “We’ve got a very talented group of running backs, and to get our best 11 on the field, we may have to use more two back sets.”
Regardless of who gets the ball, all the ECU running backs will be expected to contribute.
“We’re a very competitive group, and I think we’ve all got better over the last year by watching C.J. and competing to get on the field this year,” Simmons said. “The name on the front is what matters. We are all playing for the Pirates, so it doesn’t matter who carries the ball. We’ve all just got to go out and do our part and help this team win football games.”
He flips to the 2008 East Carolina football preview and in almost every magazine it reads, “2008 Outlook: The big question is how will the Pirates replace all-everything running back Chris Johnson?, Does ECU have enough offensive weapons after the loss of Chris Johnson? Is there a running back capable of taking over for Chris Johnson?
It’s all the motivation the 5’10”, 220-pound senior running back needs.
“I take it personal,” Lindsay said. “That’s a challenge to me. Chris Johnson left behind some big shoes, but all of us running backs feel like we can play too. We learned a lot from C.J. last year, and we feel like we are capable of stepping in and taking his place.”
Last season, Johnson became only the tenth Pirate in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season when he ran for 1,423 yards and an ECU record 17 touchdowns. He also set a single season record with 2,960 all-purpose yards and 24 total touchdowns, and left East Carolina holding eight career records, including ones for most career receptions by a running back (125), most all-purpose yards (6,993), and most touchdowns (44).
Pirates running back coach Junior Smith believes that load is too big for just one man to handle. But he also thinks that as a group, he has the talent to fill the void left by the 24th overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft.
“Anytime you lose a player like Chris Johnson there’s going to be some sort of pressure to replace him,” Smith said. “But just because he’s gone doesn’t mean we don’t have talent. We’ve got a good group of running backs this year. We’ve got five or six guys who are fighting to get carries.”
Among those guys vying for carries this season will be Lindsay, whose 607 career rushing yards are more than anyone else on the roster, fellow senior Brandon Simmons, junior J.R. Rogers, and sophomores Jonathan Williams and Norman Whitley.
All bring their own flair to the running back position.
Lindsay is currently listed at the top of the depth chart because of his experience and ability to handle the football. In 146 carries, Lindsay has five touchdowns and just one fumble.
“Dominique is a complete back,” Smith said. “He can do a little bit of everything with the ball. He can be shifty and make you miss, or he can run you over.”
In short yardage situations, Brandon Simmons could be the guy. The 6’1”, 223-pound transfer from Elizabeth City State University, has impressed coaches with his ability to gain those tough yards between the tackles.
“We don’t really feel the pressure as much as you would think,” Simmons said. “The coaches are expecting us to be us, not C.J. We all know that we have the ability to make things happen on the football field and we are all ready to show that ability.”
Another junior college transfer who has made quite an impression this offseason is junior J.R. Rogers. Rogers, who wrapped up a two-year career at Bakersfield Community College as the school’s fourth all-time leading rusher with 2,162 yards and 25 touchdowns, could be the big play back that Johnson was. The 5’11” junior redshirted last season, but after a season in the conditioning program, could be the fastest man on the team.
“J.R. is going to do some special things,” Smith said. “He has some of the eye-popping ability that Chris Johnson had. He’s fast. When he breaks into the open, not many people are going to catch him.”
Of the young guys, Williams is the most-heralded back. Williams probably has the most potential of any of the running backs and after a strong offseason is poised to see the field a lot this season. He’s a gifted runner, who’s quick and physical and he’s ready to contribute more after averaging 6.8 yards per carry on 22 rushes last season.
“We’re all competing to get on the field because we all want to be the No. 1 guy,” Williams said. “But at the same time it’s a team sport. So we want to do whatever is best for the team.”
The guy lost in the shuffle right now is Norman Whitley. Whitley was recently cleared to resume practice after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery for the second time since joining the Pirates’ program in 2006. A 5’9”, 187-pounder, Whitley is explosive out of the backfield and has a great knack for catching the ball.
“I’m not to worried about the running back position,” fourth-year head coach Skip Holtz said. “It’s probably one of the deepest positions on our football team. We’ve got four or five guys who are capable of playing at a high-level.”
Holtz and offensive coordinators Todd Fitch and Steve Shankweiler are so pleased with this group, that they’ve added offensive packages to get two running backs on the field at a time.
“We want the best 11 guys on the field,” Shankweiler said. “We’ve got a very talented group of running backs, and to get our best 11 on the field, we may have to use more two back sets.”
Regardless of who gets the ball, all the ECU running backs will be expected to contribute.
“We’re a very competitive group, and I think we’ve all got better over the last year by watching C.J. and competing to get on the field this year,” Simmons said. “The name on the front is what matters. We are all playing for the Pirates, so it doesn’t matter who carries the ball. We’ve all just got to go out and do our part and help this team win football games.”
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