PRE-GAME ANALYSIS
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Keys to the
Game
Friday,
October 9, 2009
By Kevin Monroe |
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ECU at SMU
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, 8 pm
Gerald J. Ford Stadium
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For the fourth
straight year, Kevin Monroe, color analyst for the Pirate ISP Sports
Radio Network, provides “Kevin’s Keys to The Game,”
his weekly breakdown of what East Carolina must do to beat its
upcoming opponent.
Monroe brings a unique perspective to the task as a
member of the broadcast team and as a former star defensive
back for the Pirates (1995-99). |
©2009 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
East
Carolina can defeat Southern Methodist if it accomplishes these key objectives:
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Pressure the QB
The Mustangs have the second best passing offense in Conference USA and
11th best in the nation with 304 yards per game. Quarterback Bo Levi
Mitchell has 108 completions and 8 touchdowns this season. It's going to
take the ECU defense working together as a complete unit in order to
slow down SMU’s passing attack. Stopping that attack will start with the
big guys up front. For the secondary to have any chance of making plays
in the back end, they will need Mitchell to be under pressure all game
long. The defensive line and linebackers must hit him early and often to
disrupt his ability to be effective in the passing game. The Mustangs
have 101 rushing attempts to compliment 187 passes, which means they are
passing the ball almost twice as much as they are running it.
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Compete in the Secondary
It will be a tough day in the Pirate defensive
backfield Saturday night because of the intensity of the SMU air attack.
Through four games, the Mustangs are throwing approximately 46 passes
per game, with 56 and 57 passes, respectively, in their last two
outings. One of the main concerns of the secondary will come in the form
of Mustangs star wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. The senior is leading
all active receivers in the nation with 29 touchdowns. The ironic thing
about that statistic is that the Pirates faced the nation's leading
rusher
last week at Marshall. This game
will be a polar opposite of the matchup with the Thundering Herd because
SMU will be passing to set up the run. This is a game that corners and
safeties live for. There will be several opportunities for them to make
plays on the football and they must compete for every ball.
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Take Care of the Football
The Mustangs lead the nation with 12 interceptions and have 17 total
takeways. The same intensity that I am suggesting that the Pirate
secondary play with on Saturday is what the SMU secondary brings to each
game. Senior safety Dennis Rock is leading the way for the Mustangs with
3 interceptions, but eight of his defensive teammates have also made
picks. Patrick Pinkney will have to be very smart with the football on
Saturday night. Keeping the ball out of the hands of SMU will be
priority number one.
The
Bottom Line
If the Pirates want to keep their momentum going and remain
in the lead in the East Division of
Conference USA they will have to win their second straight road game. The
Mustangs are beatable, but they are also very explosive. Keeping their
offense off the field, controlling the clock and not turning the ball over
is what it will take to win the game.
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10/09/2009 03:04:07 AM
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