©2007 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
Next week Conference USA coaches will convene in New Orleans for the
league’s annual football media blitz.
During the event, their predictions for C-USA supremacy will be
revealed. And if recent voting trends and the current preseason
literature are any indication, East Carolina is likely to land somewhere
between third and fifth in the East Division.
At the top, you can bet Southern Miss will continue its long reign as
the East favorite. With the starting backfield and one of the nation’s
most talented tight ends returning, you can certainly understand why.
Because that’s exactly what the coaches will note when placing their
votes for preseason supremacy.
When they glance at ECU’s depth chart
– assuming that much research is
even put into the preseason rankings – they won’t find the quarterback
who started the last 39 games for the Pirates. They also won’t find last
year’s leading rusher or receiver.
That formula likely won’t prove favorable for the Pirates when Skip
Holtz’s colleagues hit the polls. But if they’re smart, they’ll take a
longer look at an East Carolina defensive front that returns intact – not
just a
few new faces at the more visible offensive skill positions.
It’s the same front seven that last year held Southern Miss to 180 yards
of offense, limited Central Florida to 263, and stymied Marshall’s
heralded rushing attack to a paltry 35. And it’s that same front seven
that welcomes blue chip transfer Khalif Mitchell to a group already
peppered with NFL prospects.
But fat chance of the league coaches taking note of that.
Just like they won’t notice the 260 pounds at which senior middle
linebacker Fred Wilson is now listed, or the fact that he also lowered
his 40-time this spring. Or that the ‘depleted’ secondary still includes
Travis Williams, Leon Best, and perhaps ECU’s best overall player – Van Eskridge.
Instead, much of the focus will emphasize the relative inexperience of
quarterback Rob Kass and his posse of unheralded receivers. And it will
be difficult to quantify an offensive line that last year was the subject
of constant tinkering.
No other explanation can be made for ECU’s lack of respect in the
preseason publications, a trend that is likely to carry over into the
league’s official preseason poll.
It’s a strange trend, really. So much preseason weight is placed on
returning offensive skill, yet the league title so often is decided by
defensive performance.
Houston can certainly attest to that. Though the Cougars were anchored
by Kevin Kolb and a high-flying offense, it was the defense that finally
turned the corner and helped Art Briles grab his first title.
And what about Southern Miss? Do you really think the Golden Eagles won
their trio of titles on the backs of their offensive personnel?
Hardly.
In fact, this year’s version of Southern Miss
– with Jeremy Young, Damion Fletcher, and Shawn Nelson – is almost a complete departure from
the program’s foundation. Though the defense again should be solid, it’s
those offensive weapons that have some national observers penciling USM
into the Top 25.
East Carolina can certainly relate. In 2001 the Pirates by far had the
league’s best offense, but their inability to stop anyone led to a
disappointing three-way tie for second.
That shouldn’t be the case this season. For once ECU enters a season in
which defense has evolved into the program’s backbone.
Given last year’s performance, 21 points should be enough to win on most
weekends this fall. Despite the presence of unproven faces in key
offensive positions, that’s not an unreasonable request.
That’s why any prediction that ranks the Pirates near the bottom of
C-USA’s East division can’t be taken seriously. The league’s coaches
would be wise to take note.
