By Staff
 ECU Sports Information
GREENVILLE — East Carolina took another step forward in preseason camp by completing its first two-a-day schedule Wednesday at the Cliff Moore Practice Complex. The Pirates spent two hours at the morning practice wearing full pads before returning to shells for the hour-and-a-half session in the afternoon. ECU fought through intense heat and humidity during both workouts as the temperature climbed into the mid-90s and the heat index reached 105 in the afternoon.
“The biggest things we’re now concentrating on are our offensive and defensive packages,” head coach Ruffin McNeill said. “This morning we had more special teams work and this afternoon we spent more time with team-on-team so we could get more schematic things done.”
During the morning, the offensive and defensive lines worked on snap acceleration and creating a solid push. At the end of the session, the squad’s No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 offenses and defenses went extensively against each other for the first time in camp.
The afternoon practice opened with the linebackers working on run coverage and the wide receivers focusing on the timing of routes. The quarterbacks then went through a series of scramble drills with the receivers before the extended session of team-on-team work.
“This morning I thought we were a little sluggish because of practicing earlier than usual,” McNeill said. “This afternoon I thought the defense had the better session, but the offense was stronger in the morning.
“The biggest thing now is the evaluation process,” McNeill continued. “We are trying to make sure we establish starters and also develop depth at all positions. I feel good about the progress.”
Notes:
The Pirates return to the single-workout schedule Thursday and Friday, practicing from 8:45-11:30 a.m. both days, in preparation for the program’s first intra-squad scrimmage Saturday afternoon … East Carolina has three more two-a-days scheduled for Friday, Aug. 13; Monday, Aug. 16; and Wednesday, Aug. 18 … Antonio Allison, Michael Brooks, Anthony Garrett, Ben Herlocker, Robert Jones, Marke Powell and Josh Smith missed Wednesday’s practice sessions and all are listed as day-to-day … McNeill announced Justin Dixon has moved to defensive end, which will also include work in the Pirates’ hybrid position.