 |
Brian Mitchell |
(ECU SID image) |
Harris BCS Poll

For the sixth year in a row, columnist Denny O'Brien is a member
of the voting panel
for the Harris Interactive College Football Poll
commissioned by the Bowl Championship Series. O'Brien was nominated to the panel by Conference USA.
His weekly ballot will
be published in this space each Monday throughout the season.
The
Harris Poll is a component of the BCS Standings. O'Brien's
ballot below was filed in conjunction with this week's
Harris BCS Poll.
|
Denny O'Brien's Harris Poll Ballot
[Ballot
filed
11.06.11]
(Conference USA
teams and ECU opponents highlighted in yellow.)
1. LSU
2. Oklahoma State
3. Stanford
4. Alabama
5. Boise State
6. Oregon
7. Oklahoma
8. Arkansas
9. Houston
10. Clemson
11. Virginia
Tech
12. Penn State
13. South
Carolina
14. Georgia
15. Kansas State
16. Nebraska
17. Michigan State
18. Wisconsin
19. Texas
20. Southern
Miss
21. Auburn
22. Georgia Tech
23. Ohio State
24. Michigan
25. Cincinnati
|
BCS
Standings |
Harris/AP/Coaches Polls |
|
|
|
C-USA Standings |
(Through games of 11.05.11) |
|
East
Division |
SCHOOL |
C-USA |
ALL |
USM
ECU
Marshall
UCF
Memphis
UAB |
4-1
3-2
3-2
2-3
1-4
1-5 |
8-1
4-5
4-5
4-5
2-7
1-8 |
|
West
Division |
SCHOOL |
C-USA |
ALL |
Houston
Tulsa
SMU
Rice
UTEP
Tulane |
5-0
5-0
4-2
2-4
1-4
1-5 |
9-0
6-3
6-3
3-6
4-5
2-8 |
|
|
|
By
Denny O'Brien
©2011 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
It’s too bad
Conference USA doesn’t annually recognize the league’s top assistant. If
it did, East Carolina defensive coordinator Brian Mitchell would be a
top candidate in 2011.
Considering the
Pirates’ defensive improvement this season compared to last, it would be
difficult to find someone more deserving of such an honor. Under
Mitchell’s guidance, East Carolina has moved from 120th nationally in
total defense last season to 49th following the Pirates’ Saturday
loss to Southern Miss.
No one could have
predicted that much of a jump following a series of humbling losses to
close out the 2010 campaign. Especially when each one was characterized
by record-setting performances by offenses that regularly gashed the ECU
defense for 60- and 70-yard gains.
The difference
this season certainly can be attributed to an upgrade in defensive
personnel and less attrition on the injury report. But credit also goes
to the adoption of a more aggressive defensive philosophy that has been
embraced by the ECU defenders.
“I think it is the
attitude,” Pirates linebacker Jeremy Grove said about the Pirates’
improvement. “Throughout the week, even at practice, we’re getting after
it.
“We’ve got some
leaders on defense that have stepped up. We’ve been getting after it.
But as a defense we could have done something (Saturday). We could have
gotten a turnover or a big play.
"It’s
a loss as a team and not one side of the ball.”
Maybe so, but
where the Pirates literally are dropping the ball this season are when
the defense is taking a breather. ECU ranks dead last nationally in
turnovers committed (27), and is 119th in punt return coverage.
And if you’re
looking for an explanation behind some of the high point totals by
Pirates’ opponents, just consider this: ECU has surrendered nine
touchdowns this year without its defense on the field. That statistic is
considerably higher if you factor the numerous turnovers deep inside ECU
territory that have led to scores.
Meanwhile, the
defense that last year could never get off the field now routinely
forces punts. Even high-scoring Southern Miss converted only three of
its ten third down attempts in a 48-28 Pirates’ loss.
With three games
remaining, the Pirates need to win two just to become bowl eligible.
After nine games, we now have enough evidence to conclude that ECU has a
defense more than sufficient to accomplish that goal.
Now the pressing
question is whether or not the Pirates can put it together enough on
offense and special teams to get two wins against a trio of mediocre
opponents.
Miscues explained
At first glance,
Phil McNaughton’s first punt looked flat. The low line drive kick was
fielded by Tracy Lampley at the Southern Miss 40 and returned 60 yards
untouched for the score.
But according to
McNaughton, the kick was too high and did not have the intended angle
that was called by the ECU coaching staff.
“I got a little
too much air under the ball,” McNaughton said. “That’s the type of kick
that is supposed to be a non-returnable kick because it is going to hit
the ground and roll.
“That was just
some poor execution. I just needed a little bit more to the side and a
little bit more roll on the ball and not caught.”
McNaughton’s
second attempt also resulted in a Golden Eagles score, only this time he
was unable to boot the ball at all. Southern Miss broke through the
Pirates’ protection to block the kick and then scoop and score.
“The snap was a
little bit high, but I’ve still got to get the ball off quickly when
that happens,” McNaughton said. “They sort of brought a few people from
the right side. As soon as I caught the ball, I knew that they were
right there.
“They have shown
from time to time (on film) that they do come after kicks, and it looks
quite similar. They moved a few people around and shifted.”
Filling the void
Reese Wiggins had
some serious shoes to fill Saturday, replacing injured Lance Lewis at
one of the Pirates’ outside receiver positions.
He responded with
a four-catch, 85-yard effort. His biggest was a 72-yard touchdown dash
off a receiver screen on the Pirates’ second play.
“We run that play
every day,” Wiggins said. “It’s one of our main plays. The scout team
gave a good look in practice as to the types of looks (Southern Miss)
was going to give us. All I had to do was catch the ball, stem the
safety in there, and hit the outside.
"I’m
always joking around that if I get out in the open, I’m not going to get
caught. As soon as I saw the safety coming at an angle, I knew I could
beat (him).”
Wiggins, just a
sophomore, will be counted on heavily with Lewis’s availability for the
remainder of the season in doubt. Combined with freshmen Justin Hardy
and Danny Webster, the future is bright for ECU at receiver.