By
Denny O'Brien
©2013 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
CHAPEL HILL – The last two
weeks probably weren’t the easiest for Lincoln Riley.
After
a frustrating 15-10 loss to Virginia Tech
two weeks ago, the East Carolina offensive coordinator was the target of
scrutiny from the media and fans alike. Seems like everybody took their
shots at the Pirates’ OC.
His play calling was
questioned. His offensive philosophy was examined. Many were read to
abandon his pass-heavy spread.
After the Pirates’
dominating 55-31 victory over North Carolina
in Kenan Stadium, my hunch is those opinions have changed. Riley could
run for mayor of Greenville and win as handily as the Pirates did
against the over-matched Tar Heels.
From the Pirates' opening
possession, Riley's up-tempo attack toyed with a North Carolina defense
that was thoroughly humiliated in front of its home crowd. You have to
believe it was a vindicating afternoon for ECU's young offensive boss.
And that's an
understatement when you look at the final offensive tally. In addition
to the Pirates' 55 points, the offense collected 227 yards rushing, 376
more passing, and held a more than 12-minute advantage in time of
possession.
Those numbers would have
been even more inflated had ECU not taken a merciful knee on its final
series.
“Obviously, it worked,”
Pirates quarterback Shane Carden said about Riley's offensive plan.
“When we came out, we knew we wanted to be much more balanced. We had
gotten into a little too much run here, a little too much pass there.
“I thought we did a really
good job running the ball. The offensive line played outstanding. They
played physical in the running game and passing game. I had plenty of
time back there to throw.”
At times it seemed like
centuries. Carden again demonstrated that when given the time to run
through his progressions, he can be a near-flawless tactician. His
protection allowed him to distribute 32 completions to 12 different
receivers for 376 yards and three scores.
But as good as the
Pirates’ offensive line was in protecting its captain, it was even
better at opening holes for running back Vintavious Cooper. All he did
was carry it 35 times for 186 yards, while snagging eight passes for 70
more.
Most of that production
can be credited to the excessive bullying North Carolina's defensive
front experienced. The Pirates’ front pushed the Tar Heels around,
carved gaping holes, and essentially dictated the flow of the game.
Riley was able to expand
the playbook as a result.
“We want to be in that 90
range, plays wise,” Pirates head coach Ruffin McNeill said. “I thought
Lincoln did a great job of blending his calls. He had a great game plan
coming in. We were able to throw the football, but also run the
football.”
To summarize, ECU did
essentially anything it wanted.
Screens? Those generally
went for 12, 13 yards.
Runs off tackle? Cooper
weaved around and pummeled through the Tar Heel defense.
Play-action? Carden
repeatedly sucked the wind out of the North Carolina crowd.
The deep ball? Davon
Grayson and Lance Ray asserted themselves as capable vertical threats.
Heck, about the only thing
that kept the Pirates from scoring was the Kenan Stadium clock. It was
the only salve for a thoroughly dismantled Carolina defense.
Give Riley credit for much
of that, if not all of it. Outside of lining ECU up in wishbone
formation, there wasn't much that he didn't try in this Pirate offensive
party.
Saturday's win over North
Carolina is no doubt the feather in Riley's relatively young coaching
cap. Regardless of what happens during the remainder of his promising
career, he'll always be remembered by ECU fans for what his offense did
on the last Saturday in September in 2013.
That was a complete
embarrassment of hated North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He earned a lot of
mileage with that.