08/15/2022 After practice, ECU football head coach Mike Houston addressed the media and expressed how impressed he was by Kennesaw State transfer ILB Chance Bates. Bates an all conference linebacker who transferred to the Pirates early in the summer, flew under the radar due to bigger commitments like Georgia WR Jaylen Johnson and Toledo WR Isaiah Winstead. With an experienced inside linebacker group with the likes of Myles Berry and Xavier Smith is it possible that the newcomer Bates could see significant playing time?ECU Football head coach Mike Houston talks about what specific aspects of the team need to be focused and improved upon ahead of their September 3rd season opener against the NC State Wolfpack in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.With the departures of key receivers such as Audie Omotosho & Tyler Snead, much has been made in the offseason about the chemistry and dynamic, the newcomers in Jaylen Johnson and Isaiah Winstead bring to the table with Holton Ahlers. With the team’s best returning receiver in CJ Johnson just returning to football activities due to a team suspension, it was expected that there would be some growing pains in camp. ECU offensive coordinator Donnie Kirkpatrick gets candid and honest about those issues. ECU defensive coordinator Blake Harrell details how he implements different game plans and schemes from week to week with this Pirate defense, highlighting the fact that some things being learned and perfected in camp right now on the defense may not be used until the midpoint of the season.
