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Keys to the
Game Saturday,
September 13, 2014
By Kevin Monroe |
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East Carolina at Virginia Tech
Lane Stadium (cap. 65,632); TV: ESPN
By
Kevin Monroe
©2013 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
Today’s game is a big
one for both East Carolina and Virginia Tech. The Hokies are 2-0 coming
off a huge win over Ohio State in the Horseshoe in front of 108,000
screaming Buckeye fans. The Pirates are 1-1 coming off a tough loss in
which they went toe to toe against South Carolina and, arguably,
outplayed the Gamecocks everywhere but on the scoreboard.
The Hokies have spent
the week being heroes and hearing how good they are because of the
monumental win in Columbus. The Pirates spent the week disappointed
because they let the opportunity to beat a top 25 team on the road get
away.
How will each team
respond? What do the Pirates need to do to beat the Hokies in Lane
Stadium?
BE
AGGRESSIVE ON OFFENSE
The Pirates scored on
their first two possessions against the Gamecocks last week, but both
scores were field goals. ECU moved the ball up and down the field,
particularly in the first half. From the 20 to the other 20 they were
unstoppable, but things stalled when it was time to put it in the end
zone. Offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley and quarterback Shane Carden
are amongst the best in the country at what they do. To beat the Hokies
they will need to be aggressive and take some shots down field and in
the end zone. The receiving corps, led by Justin Hardy and Isaiah Jones,
run routes well and catch the ball well. Carden will have to trust his
instincts, get the ball out quickly, and let those guys do the rest.
ATTACK
ON DEFENSE
Tech is starting a new
quarterback in Texas Tech transfer Michael Brewer. Today's game will
mark only his third career start. Thus far this season, the Pirates have
been solid up front. Last week they played against arguably one of the
best offensive lines in the country and held their own. Ohio State put
plenty of pressure on Brewer and hit him early and often last week.
Brewer has only been sacked two times, but he was hurried and hit a lot
by the Buckeyes and had two interceptions. Montese Overton, Maurice
Falls and Brandon Williams play extremely fast from their line backing
spots, and Freddy Pressley and Chrishon Rose have done a good job of
pressuring up the middle. Those ECU defenders will have to turn the
pressure up a notch to win today.
BE
SPECIAL
The Hokies have
developed a reputation over the years for their ability to block punts
and kicks. The press likes to call this success “Beamer Ball.” East
Carolina has been pretty good this year on special teams. Kicker Warren
Harvey has been very accurate with the only blemish being a blocked kick
last week. New punter Worth Gregory is averaging 51 yards per boot. ECU
has done nothing spectacular thus far in the return game, but the
Pirates have fielded the ball safely and gotten positive yards. They
will need to make a big play on special teams today either in the return
game or defensively by causing a turnover.
BOTTOM
LINE
This should be a great
game today. Both teams are well coached, and each needs to win this
game. Virginia Tech has only beaten the Pirates by a total of 12 points
over the last two seasons. The first half should be a close one and the
team that responds in the third quarter will probably be the team that
wins the game.
E-mail Kevin Monroe.
PAGE UPDATED
09/13/14 03:18 AM.
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