Keys to the Game Saturday, November , 2015 By Kevin Monroe

East Carolina vs. South Florida

7:30 pm | Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (50,000) | TV: CBSSN

By Kevin Monroe
©2015 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.

East Carolina comes into tonight's home game with South Florida at 4-5 and reeling after back to back losses to Temple and Connecticut. The Pirates are trying to figure out how to work through their offensive struggles, but with missing links on the offensive line and at running back and receiver, they're struggling to get things on track. The two-quarterback system seemed to work okay early on, but both Blake Kemp and James Summers have struggled lately.

USF has played one of the toughest schedules in the conference and comes into the contest with a 4-4 record. The Bulls are fresh off a loss to Navy but they have battled hard and been in every game this season.

The Pirates can win tonight's game if they follow this script:

ESTABLISH RHYTHM

Through nine games, the ECU offense has had several ups and downs. The run game has worked sparingly and the passing game, though more consistent, has sputtered recently. Summers is a great athlete who has yet to show he can pass the ball consistently. Kemp is an accurate passer, but he doesn’t have a very strong arm and has turned the ball over too much. In earlier games the pair worked well off of each other, but lately neither guy is having success.

The offensive tempo needs to be fast and there should be a steady diet of run and pass. Penalties and turnovers have stalled too many drives and scoring has suffered because of it. The Pirates need to find a way to get the ball to wide receiver Isaiah Jones 10-15 times tonight. He is the team's best offensive weapon.

STOP THE RUN

USF has a one of the best rushing attacks in the nation. The Bulls are averaging 236 yards rushing behind star back Marlon Mack. Mack is running for 114 yards per game and quarterback Quinton Flowers is averaging 80 yards on the ground. That kind of production makes the duo one of the top rushing tandems in the nation.

Mack and Flowers both have 106 rushing attempts and the Bulls have two other rushers with 37 or more attempts. All four of the main ground threats are averaging more than 4 yards per carry. The Pirates are allowing 177 yards rushing per game and have allowed 20 rushing TDs this season. To win this game, ECU will have to keep USF well under 200 yards rushing – closer to 150.

MAKE THE GUT CHECK PLAYS

This game means a lot for ECU and it’s against a solid opponent. In games like this late in the season against conference opponents, the team that wants it the most usually wins. It’s time for the Pirates to look in the mirror and point the finger at themselves. Each player has to put it on himself to make plays and win the game. Coming up just short tonight isn’t an option.

The Pirates can’t afford to press and play tense, but they do need to play with passion, play fast and play like the season depends on this victory.

BOTTOM LINE

Both teams still need two wins to become bowl eligible. The Bulls have played well offensively lately, but they have had some letdowns on defense. ECU is getting better defensively each week, but the offense is coming along slowly.

If the Pirates can get the tempo going, pick up some first downs and maintain a rhythm, they will have a great shot to win this game. Defense will have to play well against the run, and the entire team will need to dig deep and find a way to prevail in a close one.

E-mail Kevin Monroe.

PAGE UPDATED 11/07/15 02:59 AM.