|
East
Division |
SCHOOL |
C-USA |
ALL |
Marshall
UCF
UAB
ECU
Memphis
USM |
1-0
0-0
0-0
0-0
0-0
0-1 |
1-1
2-0
0-1
0-2
0-2
1-1 |
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West
Division |
SCHOOL |
C-USA |
ALL |
SMU
Tulsa
Houston
Rice
UTEP
Tulane |
1-0
1-0
0-0
0-0
0-1
0-1 |
1-1
1-1
2-0
1-1
1-1
1-1 |
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 |
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By
Denny O'Brien
©2011 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
Despite a vocal outcry of criticism last
fall, East Carolina head coach Ruffin McNeill stuck by defensive
coordinator Brian Mitchell.
McNeill insisted that the Pirates’
defensive shortcomings were not the product of Mitchell’s inability to
implement a system capable of delivering respectable results.
Two games into the 2011 season, it
appears that McNeill was operating on more than a hunch.
Against the nation’s 11th- and
12th-ranked opponents, Mitchell’s defense more than held its own. And it
did so against personnel headlined by several future first round draft
picks.
Much of that can be attributed to a new
3-4 alignment that seems to accentuate the speed and talent of ECU’s
defensive personnel. It has allowed Mitchell to showcase the significant
talent upgrade the Pirates have experienced within their linebacker
unit, while also opening opportunities to mix up personnel groupings.
There seems to a specialized package for
almost every scenario. The Pirates can go with a supersized package in
short-yardage situations, or a smaller and faster one on definitive
passing downs.
Both are luxuries ECU did not enjoy in
2010. And the result has been a unit that applies more pressure on
opposing quarterbacks while forcing five turnovers in two weeks of
action, six if you count the fumble recovered by the Pirates’ punting
unit last week against South Carolina.
The most notable improvement has been a
pass defense that has allowed opponents to complete only 40% of their
passes while limiting them to 111 yards per game. The Pirates already
have broken up 10 passes this year, including four from cornerback Derek
Blacknall.
“I feel good about the progress of this
defense,” McNeill said. “I think that Brian Mitchell, John Wiley, Marc
Yellock, and Duane Price have done a great job of schematically
installing this defense.
“They’ve got some parts for the run and
then a pass defensive package. They’ve done a great job of fundamentally
installing the defense, because there is a different thought process,
operation, and fundamentals for each group.”
Starting safety Damon Magazu, whose
tightrope interception in the end zone nullified a Hokies scoring drive,
credits the success of the ECU secondary to a new system that opens more
opportunities to make plays.
“Last year we ran a 4-3, but we had a
bunch of stand up defensive end type of guys,” Magazu said. “The 3-4
really makes it easy on the defensive backs because the defensive line
and (outside linebackers) are getting into the quarterback’s face, and
the ball is starting to float and go to places that the quarterback
doesn’t want it to go.
“That gives us an extra step or two to
get to the ball and make plays. That alone helps. Also, the coverages
that we’ve been running have been helping as well.”
Looking back, it’s clear that East
Carolina’s primary defensive flaws in 2010 were twofold: 1) an overall
shortage of talent; and, 2) a rash of injuries that depleted an already
thin group.
If the Pirates can remain healthy, this
is a defense that will continue to improve.
Conditioned bunch
East Carolina’s inability to extend
drives against Virginia Tech created a huge advantage for the Hokies in
time of possession.
Nearly 16 minutes separated the two
teams in a scenario that ordinarily would cause the disadvantaged team
to wilt. But the Hokies’ 17-10 victory was not the product of wearing
down the Pirates.
“I don’t think any of us were tired,
honestly,” Magazu said. “At the end of the game, I felt like I could go
another half. I felt like I played only a half.”
“Coach (Jeff) Connors, his staff, and
his offseason program, I don’t think anyone has a better staff coaching
them. I don’t thinking anyone is as well-conditioned as we are.”
Better physical conditioning and depth
should keep the Pirates fresh late in games. And considering ECU already
has played its two most physical opponents, the results of the Pirates’
conditioning will likely be more reflective on the scoreboard moving
forward.
Disciplined effort
Penalties were a huge issue for East
Carolina last year. The Pirates were flagged often, and it ranged from
an epidemic of false starts to too many senseless 15-yard infractions.
Against a historically disciplined
Virginia Tech program, the Pirates were cited for zero penalties while
the Hokies were whistled 12 times. That’s an amazing statistic when you
consider the Pirates’ inexperience along the offensive front, the
effectiveness of Virginia Tech’s pass rush, and the new abandon with
which ECU now plays on defense.
For the year, ECU has been flagged only
3 times for 30 yards. Needless to say, it’s much easier to stay in games
against elite opponents when you don’t shoot yourself in the foot.