East Carolina will have a massive emptiness to fill in its exclusive teams in 2007 due to the departure of Ryan Dougherty. The Orlando-indigenous has furnished the Pirates with a incredible weapon in the kicking match in excess of the past four seasons and is ending his occupation for the purple and gold in type.
The 6’1″, 232-pound Dougherty has been an integral element in the Pirates’ accomplishment this period. He has helped “boom” East Carolina to its 1st bowl game given that 2001.
You want not glance back any more than the year finale’ at NC Point out to observe the good effects Dougherty has on this crew. Needing a get to be certain them selves of a bowl bid, the Pirates been given a clutch general performance from their senior punter towards 1 of the nation’s greatest punt returners in NC State’s Darrell Blackman. Dougherty averaged 43.6 yards on 7 attempts and allowed East Carolina to acquire the battle for field position by pinning the Wolfpack inside its very own 20-garden line on 6 diverse situations.
By the a long time, European has experienced some very expert punters. Names this sort of as John Jett, Matt Levine, Andrew Bayes and Jarad Preston appear to brain.
Jett averaged 42.2 yards for every punt in the Pirates’ 11-1 year in 1991 he continues to be the program’s most decorated punter with regards to achievements at East Carolina and skillfully. He punted for quite a few years in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions.
In 1994, Matt Levine posted a 42.6 mark, which ranks as the eighth finest single-time general performance in Pirate record.
From 1996 to 1999, Andrew Bayes compiled the second-very best profession common in East Carolina history, as he averaged 43.5 yards for every boot. This remarkable mark bundled the Pirates’ leading-solitary period effectiveness when Bayes averaged 48.1 yards per attempt in 1999.
Two-12 months participant Jarad Preston topped Bayes’ job mark, averaging 43.7 for each punt through the 2001 and 2002 seasons, which will make him the Pirates’ all-time leader.
Let us not neglect Claude King, who wore the purple and gold in the 1950’s. King has the longest punt in European background (88 yards) and the next-greatest one year mark (45.7 in 1954).
Ryan Dougherty surely has a place within that team and 1 could make a scenario that he is the finest punter to at any time don an East Carolina uniform. He was named first-staff All-Convention United states of america in 2003 and 2006, while currently being chosen to the next-workforce as a sophomore in 2005. Dougherty, who is averaging 43.9 yards per endeavor this time, was a semi-finalist (prime 10) for the prestigious Ray Dude Award, which is presented every year to the nation’s major punter.
This Pirate senior has not only gotten it performed on the soccer discipline, but extra importantly, in the classroom. Dougherty, who is majoring in physical instruction, was named to the Eu Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for four consecutive semesters for the duration of the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 university yrs.
Prior to becoming recruited to East Carolina by previous mentor Steve Logan, Dougherty experienced only performed two years of soccer. He began enjoying through his junior yr at Orlando’s Boone Significant Faculty and had results quickly. He handled all three kicking duties in each and every of his two seasons, but the multi-proficient Dougherty failed to quit there.
You see, Dougherty is not your stereotypical kicker, but alternatively an all-all-around athlete. As a senior, he also begun at extensive receiver whilst seeing occasional time at other positions these types of as quarterback and running again. Throughout his senior year, he was an all-point out punter and an all-Central Florida choice at wide receiver. Additionally, Dougherty was an all-point out performer in soccer when also lettering in keep track of.
Logan was dismissed, but that didn’t continue to keep Dougherty from exploding on to the scene as a freshman less than new Pirate head mentor John Thompson.
In 2003, he manufactured the 3rd-very best solitary period effort and hard work in European heritage when he averaged 44.5 yards for every punt. This set him in the nation’s prime 10 and he was the only freshman to gain first-staff all league honors that period.
There would be no sophomore slump, as Dougherty adopted up his original accomplishment by submitting a 41.8 mark that resulted in him currently being named 2nd-workforce CUSA.
Following the 2004 season, East Carolina created one more coaching transform when it replaced the fired John Thompson with Skip Holtz.
Holtz seems to have solidified the Pirates’ plan and offered some continuity, but Dougherty has noticed two coaches in as numerous seasons. On the other hand, he insists that he has drawn some thing from all of the coaches he has played beneath for the duration of his remain in Greenville.
“Each one particular had their strengths and with the correct personnel all will be profitable. I unquestionably gained both equally ends of the spectrum with regards to their coaching variations. I expert the yeller, as well as the laid again, conservative, tranquil coach. I is not going to point out who was which, but I have preferred everybody that I have experienced,” Dougherty said.
Nonetheless, he did go on to say that when John Thompson and his employees experienced its potent points, East Carolina is considerably much better off with the Holtz’ regime.
“Coach Holtz had been a head coach ahead of and the demands of what he expects from his players are unique. His workers is additional seasoned as a entire and is completely ready to consider on the anticipations of the Pirate Country.”
Subsequent two standout seasons at punter, Dougherty’s ordinary dipped to 40.8 yards in 2005, but he did area extra punts inside of the 20-garden line. Some speculated that the little drop off in his regular may perhaps have been owing to the elevated position Dougherty was seeking to tackle for the first time in his higher education career, as he was handling the kickoff obligations in addition to currently being the starting off punter. Even so, he begged to vary and has established that this time.
It is usually mentioned that assurance breeds achievement and vice versa. Dougherty’s self confidence is largely attributable to the video game experience that he obtained in his initial 3 seasons as a Pirate. It is this self-confidence and psychological toughness that he credits for his enhanced functionality in his senior campaign.
“I think I came into this yr with far more confidence than I have experienced given that I’ve been in this article. Also, the working experience also helps. I have not had the typical sport working day jitters like I’ve experienced in the previous. I would not say that I have worked tougher this 12 months than in the earlier because I have not changed my get the job done behavior for the reason that I didn’t truly feel that I required to. I believe I was just more powerful mentally than I have been in the past.”
You should not underestimate the effects that Dougherty’s relentless operate ethic has on his achievement, while. His exemplary observe behavior and powerful sense of self-willpower have authorized him to turn into a extra comprehensive player. There are some drills that are carried out each day, even though other components of the observe program are dictated by the opponent’s return game titles.
“My regime variations based on what group we are taking part in, their strengths and weaknesses, their return gentlemen, and issues of that nature. Some standard punt drills are drops, no stage punts and just one techniques. I also exercise sky pooch punts, line drives and seriously all forms of punts in the course of the week so when video game day comes I am completely ready for any scenario I am questioned to facial area. For case in point, the rugby punt at NC Point out and then switching back again and forth from rugby to frequent. One particular of my ambitions this year as a punter was to be functional and to be able to do just about anything in any problem.”
A normal apply commonly is composed of 30 to 40 punts, which involves the heat-up, and 20 of these will be at whole power. Kickoffs are only practiced one day a week and just 10 reps are taken. This is naturally intended to restrict the pressure positioned on the prized right leg of Dougherty.
In addition to the normal stretching plan that all the Pirate players do, Dougherty gets just one of the energy coaches to set him by means of a total back again extend.
As a lot of coaches normally emphasize, specific teams are a third of the recreation and are pretty generally the selecting factor in near video games. Ryan Dougherty has been the Pirates’ unique teams’ participant-of-the-calendar year, and has offered them the edge in quite a few tight games this season.
A punt team’s execution is a incredibly timely procedure where fractions of seconds are of the essence. It is crucial that one particular places a high quality on taking the proper measures and using the appropriate fundamentals. The full procedure should really never get extra than 2.1 seconds. The snap needs to be .80 seconds or superior and the punter’s capture to kick stage requirements to be right at 1.2 seconds.
Dougherty usually needs the hold time to be at least four seconds, but would like to average about 4 and a 50 percent. Even so, the hang time, as effectively as the route and design of punt employed, are dictated by variable factors this kind of as: the wind, the opposing team’s return man (adult males), the capability of the kicking team to include, and so on. For occasion, when there is a brisk wind, he wants to have a decrease fall and a driving kick that will knife via the wind. A primary example of earning the swap from a regular punting style to the rugby system was witnessed at NC Point out, as the Pirates wanted to allow their coverage group extra time to get down the industry.
Only participating in a handful of plays (usually no a lot more than 15 or 20) that are spaced sporadically during the video game, protecting your concentrate and understanding the video game cases is paramount. Dougherty appears to have mastered this ability.
Not only has he punted and kicked off beautifully, but he has also done a fantastic career of finding the snaps down on area targets and further-factors.
“I try out my greatest to stay into the match and know the predicaments. I seriously attempt to make Coach Hudson my greatest mate,” claimed a laughing Dougherty. “I want to pin the other workforce again as much as I can. If I am doing a sky punt, I might somewhat strike a 20-lawn punt and have them get started at the 15-garden line than strike a 40-yarder that goes into the endzone and they get it on the 20. I just check out to deal with each individual circumstance the most effective way I can and do what I have to do to support the team.”
Through the offseason, Dougherty used some of time as a counselor at Gene Muriaty’s Nationwide Kicking Company camp.
“I have worked the Steelers’ area kicker Jeff Reed. I also operate with Gene (Muriaty) in between camp periods on my things and keep in call with him for the duration of the calendar year.”
Dougherty, who would like to check out his foot in the NFL in the foreseeable future, mentioned that he does not have a preferred punter or place kicker, but that he has a several he likes to observe.
“I do not really have a preferred, but there are fellas that I just like to look at. Like Adam Vinatieri and what he has finished in his profession with the Tremendous Bowls. As for punters, I like to view Shane Lechler of the Oakland Raiders. I just think it is wonderful what he does with the ball and his ball control. It shows, as he has created the professional bowl quite a few situations.”
Dougherty, who only has a person sport remaining in an East Carolina uniform, took some time to replicate back again on what has been a outstanding career.
He had a tough time pinpointing a favored instant or activity, indicating there had been so many wonderful reminiscences however, if he experienced to opt for, he would decide this year’s acquire above instate rival NC Point out thanks to it locking up the Pirates’ bowl bid.
“This is a challenging dilemma because there are so lots of great memories–from scoring two touchdowns to hitting some huge punts and kickoffs to paying out time with all the men following some enormous wins–but, I must say my greatest second is this season and having a bowl bid by beating instate rival NC Point out. It was these a excellent school environment and you could not inquire for a greater location to enjoy with the lovers and the way every person stepped up. I have by no means been more proud to be a PIRATE!”
Independently, he feels that this season’s acquire around UVA was in all probability his finest overall performance. In that sport, Dougherty averaged around 55 yards for each punt on a few tries, kicked off very well and also ran for a touchdown on a pretend discipline goal that sealed the gain. He claimed that if he experienced to pick another, it would be the nationally televised game at Miami his freshman 12 months. Dougherty held just one of the nation’s ideal punt returners in check, even though averaging 49.3 yards on four punts.
When asked what he will miss out on most about East Carolina, Dougherty was brief to reply.
“I certainly will miss out on the gamedays, but I will also miss out on just hanging out with the fellas and getting a section of the crew.”
A “exclusive” unity exists amid the kickers, punters, holders and deep snappers. They go out for evening meal each and every Thursday and appreciate paying time alongside one another absent from the soccer location.
“We vote that working day at apply on in which to eat and go cling out. We often have a good time.”
Whilst Dougherty only has just one much more activity as a Pirate participant, he will be a Pirate eternally.
“There is practically nothing that will at any time get the position of currently being a PIRATE. I will be a PIRATE for good and I will under no circumstances neglect the reminiscences I have created right here and the persons I have achieved.”
