Keys to the Game Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014 By Kevin Monroe

East Carolina at Temple

12 pm | Lincoln Financial Field (cap. 69,176) | TV: ESPNN

By Kevin Monroe
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East Carolina will face off against the 4-3 Temple Owls in Philadelphia today. It will mark the first time the Pirates meet an American Athletic Conference team with a winning record and it will also be their toughest league test to date.

The Owls have lost back to back American games to Houston and Central Florida and are looking to get back on track. Temple is one of only 12 teams in the nation averaging more than 30 points per game while giving up less than 20 points per game. The Owls have a solid track record when it comes to red zone defense, giving up scores only 61 percent of the time. The Pirates will need to be mistake-free in the red zone and turn each trip into points. If ECU wants to win this game to stay undefeated in the AAC, it will need to follow this script:

PROTECT THE BALL

I used this key last week and it would be appropriate to use it every week. There isn’t anything more important than taking care of the football. That fact is magnified this week because Temple is tenacious at swiping the ball from opposing offenses. The Owls have 8 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries through 7 games, just shy of 3 takeaways per game. Add in their 23 pass breakups and the Owls are getting their hands on the football at an alarming rate. Anthony Davis and Shariff Finch each have 3 fumble recoveries and Tavon Young has 3 interceptions. The Pirates have done a pretty good job of taking care of the football. The offense has thrown 7 interceptions and lost 3 fumbles this year. Quarterback Shane Carden will need to make smart passing decisions and the ECU ball carriers will need to wrap the ball up with an iron grip.

BE SPECIAL

Temple has been impressive on special teams with 3 punt returns for touchdowns and 3 blocked kicks. Just last week, the Owls blocked two UCF punts and returned one for a touchdown. ECU punter Worth Gregory has had a really good year and was recently added to the Ray Guy Award list. The Alabama transfer is averaging 45.6 yards per boot. The execution in the punt game will need to be flawless today, including covering and tackling effectively once the ball is kicked. In the field goal kicking game, Warren Harvey has to be more consistent. He is 6 for 11 on the year but it hasn’t hurt the Pirates yet. However, in a tough road conference game like this that could go down to the end, Harvey has to be dependable from start to finish.

CONVERT, CONVERT, CONVERT

The Pirates are pretty good converting on third down plays, moving the chains 46 times in 96 chances, almost a 50% rate. Temple is giving up first downs only 38% of the time. Even more impressive is the Owls' proven ability to force three and outs. They are 17th in the nation in that defensive statistical category. In 94 total drives by opponents, 36 of those drives (38%) have ended in three plays and a punt. Carden and this Pirate offense will need to be efficient against that kind of resistance. It starts with getting 4 or more yards on first down in order to make second and third down less imposing. Converting in the red zone will also be paramount as the Temple defense buckles down when backed up near its goal line.

BOTTOM LINE

Though the Pirates have played down to the level of their competition over the last three weeks, they have fought hard, been mentally tough and found ways to win each game. Today the level of competition will present a much stiffer test. If the Pirates don’t come ready to play, they will lose. If they protect the football on offense, are solid in execution on special teams and convert third downs and trips to the red zone, they will win.

This one should be a good one. Expect the Pirates to rise to the occasion.

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PAGE UPDATED 11/01/14 02:57 AM.