CHRONICLING EAST
CAROLINA & CONFERENCE USA
SPORTS
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View from the East
Thursday, September 27, 2012
By Al Myatt |
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Pirates have fresh challenge
By
Al Myatt
©2012 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
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Coaches are sometimes
cautious about losing games that involve high stakes or considerable
emotion. Don't let a team beat you twice, as they say, because you
dwelled on a setback too long. Put the disappointment behind you,
learn from your mistakes and move on.
That has been the process
the East Carolina football team has been involved with this week as it
prepares to return to Conference USA play at home on Saturday at 7 p.m.
against Texas-El Paso after
a 27-6 loss at North Carolina
last Saturday afternoon.
For three straight
seasons, the Pirates have played one half of competitive football
against their neighbors in the Piedmont.
In 2010 in Chapel Hill,
the game was tied at 14 at intermission before North Carolina revved up
its ground attack and took
a 42-17 win. In 2011 in
Greenville, four first-half turnovers by ECU helped the Tar Heels to a
28-3 lead. The Pirates outscored the Heels 17-7 in the second half but
it was
too little, too late.
The 30-minute pattern
persisted as the Tar Heels led 10-6 at halftime last week. A missed
tackle on a 62-yard North Carolina touchdown pass play and a Pirates
turnover at their own 15 produced two scores that made the difference in
the second half in this year's matchup. ECU had to settle for field
goals deep in Tar Heels territory twice in the first half.
"I thought we had a pretty
good first half," McNeill said. "We wanted touchdowns there in the red
zone. We've been one of the best red zone teams in the country the first
two years (2010 and 2011) so we've got to get that in the end zone. I
think that will come with the more experience Shane (Carden,
quarterback) gets. I think that will be a given there, but we had to
settle for field goals. Second half, we had three or four plays in a row
that took us back a little bit. Often, a game is determined by five or
six plays and they had 'em.
"I thought we did some
things running-game wise in the offense. I thought we blocked well up
front against a pretty good defensive line. They hit some long plays on
us. We could have tackled better because we do tackle better. We've been
a pretty good tackling football team. Defensively, I thought we held our
own up front against a team that — yesterday the scouts came in and said
'All five of those guys (offensive line) get drafted.' I thought our
defensive line did a very stout job against those guys.
"It was one that we felt
great about going into the game. We knew we needed to execute. We
learned that we have to feed off of one another. Momentum changes in the
game. Sometimes it goes your way. Sometimes it goes the opponent's way.
When momentum is in our favor, we must keep that thing going for a
series of plays. If it goes against us, we have to have one of our three
areas stop it by making a play. ... We learned that from the game. We
watched the film, evaluated it and started on UTEP on Sunday."
There hasn't seemed to be
a hangover from the loss in Chapel Hill.
"They've responded pretty
well," said the Pirates coach. "They're pretty resilient. They worked
hard Sunday night. They really flew around on all three sides of the
ball. (Tuesday) was a big installation day where we put the majority of
the game plan in. They grabbed it and embraced it well. ... I'm looking
to see us carry over practice into the game."
Getting back into league
play was a factor the Pirates took hold of even before they shed their
shoulder pads after the game in Chapel Hill.
"That's one of our goals,"
McNeill said. " ... In the long run, you want to win your division and
have a chance to compete in the conference championship and play extra
games. The team has kept that in perspective. We took something from
each game that we hopefully can apply Saturday versus UTEP."
In a year after
quarterbacks Case Keenum (Houston), Dominique Davis (ECU) and Austin
Davis (Southern Miss) have all moved on to the NFL, the Miners have
benefited from having a quarterback, Nick Lamaison, who has experience.
"He's been around it and
understands it," McNeill said. "You won't be able to rattle him much,
especially early, because he's been there and done that. That's always a
help. Dominique had some tough moments last year but knowing he had been
there before ... you felt comfortable in tight situations. I know
(Texas-El Paso) coach (Mike) Price feels the same way about Nick."
UTEP has faced road
challenges at Ole Miss and Wisconsin this season, which should prepare
the Miners for the atmosphere at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
In a sense this will be
the first true home game for the Pirates as the afternoon heat was so
severe for the season opener
against Appalachian State that
much of Pirate Nation vacated their seats. Conditions should be such on
Saturday night that fans can watch the game comfortably.
The Pirates have been on
the road for the last three games.
"We're looking forward to
being back home, getting around our fans and Pirate Nation," McNeill
said. "I've said it countless times that I believe and know that Pirate
Nation is second to none. I believe that. I know we'll have great
support. I know we've faced some hostile environments. I'd like for ours
to be one that's supportive of us and ready to provide the energy we'll
need to win the game on Saturday."
McNeill shared his
thoughts about important factors in getting to
2-0 in C-USA.
"It's important that we
don't hesitate," he said. "One thing that we've preached is take care of
the ball. ... That's been harped on, not just by us but even the media.
We've done that and I want to continue that. We've had one turnover in
two games since the South Carolina game but, at the same time, I don't
want them to hesitate and worry about making mistakes. It's a fine line
but it's able to be done. We don't want them to hesitate while also
playing smart.
"We have to feed off one
another in every game. This game will be important that offense, defense
and special teams feed off one another and have consistent play from
each group to give us momentum during the game. We have to be able to
change momentum back if the opponents do get momentum.
"Then we talk about it and
I think when it happens it's going to be fun to watch — starting fast,
sustaining it and finishing a game."
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09/27/2012 12:46 AM
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