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Keys to the
Game Friday,
October 19, 2012
By Kevin Monroe |
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ECU at UAB
Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012 • 7 pm
Legion Field (cap. 72,000)
TV: FCS
By
Kevin Monroe
©2012 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
East
Carolina can defeat UAB Saturday night if it performs well in these
key aspects of the game:
MENTAL TOUGHNESS
East
Carolina is
3-1 in Conference USA and is coming off of
a blowout win over the
Memphis Tigers. The Pirates have a ton of a momentum heading into this road
game against UAB. They need to capitalize on that momentum. I am sure the
coaches and players have all heard the phrase “trap game,” and that is
exactly what this is. The Pirates are in conference play and should not only
match up with the remaining teams on their league slate, but they should be
favored in each of those remaining games. The Navy game a week from Saturday
is probably the best team left on the schedule. If the Pirates allow
themselves to look ahead to next week… that is the trap. Staying in the
moment, playing each play, each series, and each quarter throughout the game
is so important. It takes mental toughness to have the type of laser focus
that will be needed Saturday night
at Legion Field. If the
Pirates can do that, they can put up the kind of points against the Blazers
that they did against Memphis.
KEEP THE CHAINS
MOVING
Two games ago ago,
against Central Florida, the
Pirates got out to a fast start, scoring on their first two possessions.
After that, the offense stalled and struggled to put together any sustained
drives the rest of the game. With UCF putting good pressure on ECU
quarterback Shane Carden, the passing game was held at bay. Then last week
against Memphis, the Pirates again started on fire, scoring on their first
two possessions. After that, they only scored three more points in the first
half. ECU will need to start fast again against the Blazers on Saturday, but
then keep their feet on the gas pedal. Getting first downs and keeping the
UAB defense on the field will be paramount in gaining and maintaining the
advantage. As long as the chains are moving, the offense is doing its job.
Getting touchdowns is important, too, but moving those chains will be first
and foremost on the offenses agenda.
RED
ZONE DEFENSE
Even
though UAB has only one win, it has scored at least 15 points in every game
this season except its encounter with South Carolina. The Blazer offense is
capable of moving the ball and putting points on the board. UAB is averaging
close to 400 yards of total offense and 27 points. ECU has played well on
defense this season, but the Blazers can be expected to move the ball
successfully at times. One of the the Pirates' goals will be to keep UAB out
of the end zone once it gets in the Red Zone. So far this season, the
Blazers are 16-of-19 (84%) in the red zone. Twelve of those 16 scores were
touchdowns. If the Pirate defense shows up in the Red Zone Saturday night,
the game's outcome is more likely to fall in ECU's favor.
BOTTOM LINE
Playing
UAB always seems to be a tough task for East Carolina, regardless of the
teams' comparative records. In a historical example from 1999, a
nationally-ranked and bowl-bound ECU team went into Legion Field 7-1 and
heavily favored only to absorb a 36-17 loss. The Pirates will have to be
focused and ready to play solid football for 60 minutes to get this tough
road victory.
E-mail Kevin Monroe.
PAGE UPDATED
10/19/12 05:22 PM.
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