New East Carolina defensive backfield coach Brandon Lynch has a lot of tools in the tool box from his vast experience in college football, the NFL and in the CFL.
Lynch arrives in Greenville knowing how to win from being a part of three different championship teams. He was the team captain on Middle Tennessee’s Sun Belt title team in 2001, a member of the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts in 2007 and even participated in the Saskatchean Roughriders’ Grey Cup title run.
We caught up with Lynch to give his observations of the Pirate defensive secondary group as a whole and he made no bones about it, he’s liking what he is seeing so far.
“It’s a blessing and it’s a group that really mimics what Coach Wick and Coach Montgomery embody. Guys being accountable, guys just really being intentional learners," Lynch told PI, "It’s probably one of the best secondaries from that aspect that I’ve been around both as a player and a teacher. Guys want to learn, they want to do it the right way and from a former teacher, guys who have the courage to try new things.”
Lynch had high praise for both second year Pirate head coach Scottie Montgomery as well as ECU defensive coordinator Kenwick Thompson.
“Coach Montgomery wants a championship program. He’s used to championship caliber attributes in his players and his coaches. He demands the best and really he’s on the details from the defensive staff with Coach Thompson to Coach Montgomery the way he structures our organization, so it just leaks over to our players.”
It’s still somewhat early, but we asked Lynch who is grabbing his attention in the ECU defensive backfield and making the most progress after a week and a half of spring camp.
“Bobby Fulp is one who is really going to surprise some people this year,” said Lynch, “Tim Irvin is making some plays and Corey Seargent is a young man who is growing daily.”
The new 4-3 scheme could be just what the doctor ordered for an ECU unit that had difficulty applying pressure on the quarterback. That in turn has put an inordinate amount of stress on the Pirate defensive secondary to cover receivers longer.
“It adds pressure as well as adding Coach Prunty with our defensive line, we are fundamentally better,” Lynch said to PirateIllustrated on Wednesday, “Guys are putting pressure on the quarterback. We’re really making guys move. We’re physical up front and that leaks over to our linebackers as well as to our secondary.”
So far, Lynch has made quite the impression on the second year Pirate head coach. Lynch is a very impressive guy and his personality and knowledge of the game could pay big dividends come this fall.
“He’s pretty special. He’s a special talent. He’s one of those coaches who has a way of reaching them. They’re playing hard for him now. I like him. He’s a great technique coach, but he’s also understanding our scheme and our scheme has come to the room a little bit more than in the past in my opinion,” ECU head coach Scottie Montgomery said of Lynch who arrives at ECU after four years at Northern Iowa. Lynch's NFL experience both with the Tennessee Titans as well as on the 2007 Indianapolis Colts team that played in the Super Bowl exudes confidence.
There are high expectations from the defensive backfield in Greenville. There is a lot of ability to call upon and Coach Mo knows that replacing a veteran coach like former ECU defensive coordinator and then secondary coach Rick Smith required bringing in a dynamic guy who can get the attention of the group.
“I think it’s a room that is tremendously talented and I think Brandon is filling such big shoes of Rick Smith. For those kids who was a mentor to them, he’s come in and pretty much done the best job he can do,” Montgomery told PirateIllustrated.com.
Lynch says he is quickly acclimating to life in Greenville.
“Man, I’m loving it. When we get to see pine trees, I know that I’m closer to home.”