By
Kevin Monroe
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East
Carolina steps out of conference this week to play rival N.C. State. The
Pirates (8-2) are playing well and headed for a postseason berth, while
the Wolfpack (3-7) is struggling to avoid its worst season since
finishing 3-9 in 2006. But don’t let the teams' relative fortunes to
date sway your opinion of how competitive this game will be. State is a
worthy opponent and this matchup has all the makings for a great game.
The Pirates will need to play solid football and execute the following
assignments to prevail:
MAKE THE ROUTINE PLAY
The East
Carolina offense has exploded over the last several weeks, averaging 52
points per game and winning four straight since
a 36-33 overtime loss at Tulane. The
Pirates' only other defeat was by a 15-10 margin in
a September defensive battle against
Virginia Tech. East Carolina's current four-game win streak is a result of
the offense clicking on all cylinders and the defense doing its part as
well.
Quarterback Shane Carden has been successful piloting the offense
through the air and on the ground, with the Pirates taking what each
of these last four opponents has given them. Against the Wolfpack,
Carden can’t afford to make errant passes and the receivers can’t
have dropped balls. Blocking assignments in the running game and
passing game will be of the utmost importance. It only takes one
mistake to change the momentum of the game.
BE
WARY ON KICK COVERAGE
One of the few things the Pirates have struggled with this
season is covering kicks, especially kickoffs. State has a very good return
man in Rashard Smith. The Wolfpack is averaging 17.6 yards per kickoff
return and 14.6 yards per punt return. ECU cannot afford to concede the
field position advantage to the Pack on special teams — or even worse, give
up a touchdown return. Several defensive starters are on the Pirate kickoff
coverage team and they must take pride in not letting opposing offenses
benefit from their miscues.
The Pirates have strategically opted to sky kick or
squib kick a few times this season. If covering kicks becomes
problematic on Saturday, expect them to deploy that tactic again.
PRIZE THE FOOTBALL
This is a
key that I often emphasize because, frankly, it’s the most important key
every week. Rarely do teams win games against opponents that win the
turnover battle. If the Pirates give the ball away, State will accept the
gift and is good enough to convert it into points.
The
Pack has lost six straight games but has been close in each of those
losses outside of the Florida State game. On the season, State is
only -1 in the turnover category, which means it has matched its
foes almost turnover for turnover. Regardless of the relative
strengths of the teams, mistakes by the Pirates can change the
complexion of the game and can be hard to overcome.
BOTTOM LINE
The ECU offense has imposed its
will against Conference USA opponents over the last month. However, it’s no
secret that the level of competition in C-USA is not on the same level as
that faced by the Wolfpack in the Atlantic Coast Conference. State's lack of
success is as much a credit to its competition as it is an indictment of its
shortcomings. The Pack is a better team than the record indicates.
The Pirates must make
the routine plays, cover kicks on special teams and protect the
football if they want to prevail on Saturday. If they do those
things, they are good enough to win this game.
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archives.
ECU
coach
Jeff
Lebo
and
players
Greg
Alexander
&
Petar
Torlak
addressed
the
media
after
the
Pirates'
win
over
Chowan:
