Keys to the Game Friday, November 15, 2013 By Kevin Monroe

East Carolina vs. UAB
Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013 • 2 pm
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (cap. 50,000)
TV: WITN

By Kevin Monroe
©2013 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.

East Carolina needs to win its last two conference games to nail down a spot in the Conference USA championship game. The Blazers of UAB just happen to be the one team in between the Pirates and a trip to Huntington to battle Marshall for the East Division title.

The Blazers have talented players, but if ECU executes the following assignments, it should prevail and leave its seniors with a fond memory of their final home game:

CONTROL EMOTIONS

Senior Day is a special for not only outgoing seniors, but for the whole team. For the underclassmen, they want to play their best to make sure the seniors go out on a good note. They know that one day they will be seniors and they hope that the underclassmen will play their hearts out for them on their Senior Day.

These seniors have worked tirelessly on and off the field for four or five years and their last time playing in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium will be very emotional. That emotion can be great if used the right way. It needs to be bottled up and dispersed strategically.

Getting all worked up and dispensing that emotion and energy early in the game only serves to make players tired. Controlling it and playing within themselves will allow the Pirates to remain focused but explosive.

DEFEND WITH TENACITY ON THIRD DOWN

The Pirates are allowing opponents to convert 43% of the time on third down. UAB is only converting 37% of the time but is scoring 26 points per game. The Blazers can get the ball in the end zone and have scored multiple points on all their foes, including 17 points against a powerhouse LSU team. If the Pirates allow UAB to hang around and stay within striking distance, the Blazers have the offensive capability to spring an upset.

ECU must press the Blazers into third and long situations and set up the inevitable punt on fourth down. Third downs will be big for both teams, but if the Pirates can keep UAB from exceeding its conversion average, they will win this game.

TREASURE THE FOOTBALL

East Carolina is plus-5 in turnover margin this season. Quarterback Shane Carden has been nearly flawless. He is completing approximately 75% of his passes and has only thrown 5 interceptions while connecting on 25 touchdowns. The Pirates have fumbled 14 times, but have luckily only lost 6 of those 14.

In most instances, the team that wins the turnover battle will win the game. ECU appears to be the better team on paper, but if it turns the ball over, UAB and its 26 points per game are good enough to ruin Senior Day. Ball protection will be the number one priority when the Pirates take the field on offense.

BOTTOM LINE

UAB has struggled on defense to stop teams this season, surrendering 490 yards and 40 points per game. The Blazers are giving up an average of 216 yards per outing on the ground and 273 through the air. If the Pirate offensive engine stays in the same gear it has throughout most of the year, the result should be a piling up of yardage and points.

The emotion of the day will play a factor as will protecting the football and getting off the field on fourth down. If the Pirates keep their cool and get down to business, they should win this game.

E-mail Kevin Monroe.

PAGE UPDATED 11/16/13 12:25 AM.