092611 DENNY O'BRIEN ::: Turnovers trending for ECU [fb]

That’s exactly what occurred during the Pirates’ surprisingly narrow victory over an inferior UAB club. Thanks to being on the beneficial end of seven turnovers, the Blazers literally came within an inch of beating heavily favored ECU.

“I’m proud of my team for being able to do that,” Pirates head coach McNeill said in reference to winning despite the presence of seven turnovers. “A lot of teams would not be able to withstand that and have the competitive desire to do that.

“The seven turnovers, I was very disappointed in that. We talk about taking care of the ball. But to be able to overcome that and to win the football game, I’ll be able to use that to our advantage.”

The big question is how.

Turnovers were a point of emphasis after the Pirates committed five of them in a loss to South Carolina in the opener. ECU’s inability to secure the ball let the Gamecocks overcome a 17-0 deficit and eventually take control of the game.

After an improved effort against Virginia Tech, followed by an off week of preparation, the Pirates returned to their careless ways. At times it even seemed as if the Pirates were taking for granted how easily they were moving the sticks against the Blazers.

And turnovers weren’t the only moments of self-destruction.

ECU had 60 yards in penalties Saturday, all the product of major infractions. One nullified a big punt return by Lance Lewis, while two others extended UAB drives after the Pirates had stopped the Blazers on third down.

The final penalty — a personal foul on Pirates linebacker Justin Dixon — extended what nearly was the game-winning possession for UAB. Given this was the only time this season that we’ve witnessed the Pirates lose their cool, this seems more the exception than the rule.

But it’s difficult to make that same assumption about the turnovers. Given the number the Pirates committed against the Gamecocks, along with the debacle against UAB, it has the characteristics of a trend.

If that continues, the number of ECU losses will most certainly exceed the wins.

Bullock, line emerge

Despite East Carolina’s landslide of turnovers Saturday, there still were numerous offensive bright spots. Running back Reggie Bullock was one of them.

The junior college transfer broke loose against the Blazers for 169 yards on 24 carries and scored a touchdown. Most of those yards were amassed outside the tackles where Bullock used his shiftiness to elude defenders in space, and his speed to run away from them.

Pirates quarterback Dominique Davis wasn’t at all surprised by the performance, or by the success of a relatively inexperienced offensive front that opened sizable holes.

“We knew what he was capable of doing, and it finally showed for him,” Davis said. “It’s all on the offensive line. The offensive line probably played its best since the new coaches have been here, even from last year.

"There wasn’t a time when I had to scramble. I was able to just stay in the pocket.”

Even more impressive about the Pirates’ offensive front is the unit's performance without center Doug Polochak, who left the game with an injury. It didn’t miss a beat with backup center Hugh Parker snapping the ball.

Coaching veto?

Scheduling the military academies for occasional home-and-home series is one thing. Getting force fed games as part of a conference schedule is another.

It’s no secret that head coaches and defensive coordinators don’t look forward to playing the service academies, almost exclusively due to their style of play. In addition to generating a preparation nightmare, it introduces the potential for injuries throughout the defensive depth chart.

Especially along the defensive front.

If the Big East adds both Air Force and Navy, that will add two annual games in which league members will be tasked with defending the triple option. That means two games each season in which the defensive line will spend the better part of three hours with offensive linemen diving at their legs.

Just think of the net result if a current Big East member drew Air Force and Navy on consecutive weeks. The training staff would more than earn its keep in that scenario.

It’s not far-fetched to believe that the additions of Air Force and Navy could deplete the defensive line depth for Big East programs and, ultimately, negatively affect the recruiting of those athletes in the future.

Considering that possibility, you have to wonder if current Big East coaches might encourage the league to seek a different direction.