PRE-GAME ANALYSIS
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Keys to the
Game
Saturday, September
22, 2007
By Kevin Monroe |
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Game 4: ECU at WVU
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Each week, Kevin Monroe, color analyst for the ISP Pirate Sports
Radio Network, provides “Kevin’s Keys to The Game,”
outlining what East Carolina must do to beat its opponent.
Monroe brings a unique perspective to the task, not only as a
member of the broadcast team, but also as a former defensive
back for the Pirates (1995-99). |
©2007 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
East
Carolina can defeat West Virginia if it accomplishes these key objectives:
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Contain the WVU
rushing attack:
The West Virginia
rushing attack is number one in the Big East and number twp in the
country. Running back Steve Slaton was a consensus All-American in 2006
and returned to WVU for his junior season. He is the NCAA’s active
leader in touchdowns (46) and yards per game (125.5), and he is just two
touchdowns shy of breaking the Mountaineers' career rushing touchdown’s
record (42). Through three games this season, Slaton has 66 carries for
392 yards, eight TD’s and a 5.9 yard rushing average. For the first time
in two seasons, quarterback Pat White is not the second leading
rusher. True freshman Noel Devine has 256 yards and three touchdowns on
only 17 carries for a 17.1 yard per carry average. Devine’s guardian is
future hall of famer Deion Sanders. White is a run first, pass second
quarterback who led all Division I-A QB’s in rushing in 2006 (1,219 yds).
East Carolina held both Slaton and White under 100 yards rushing last
year. The Pirates will need another such performance to have a chance
against the Mountaineers on Saturday.
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Play better in the back end:
If the Pirates can contain the run, West Virginia can and will pass the
football. East Carolina has to be prepared to defend against an air
attack. This is the third straight week that I have been concerned about
the pass. The Pirates have made some improvement in pass defense, but
still have a long way to go. White is 31 of 49 for 436 yards and four
touchdowns through the first three games. He is a much more accurate
passer — completing 63 percent of his passes — than he was the last time
ECU visited Morgantown in 2005. Van Eskridge and Chris Mattocks will be
needed in the run defense from their safety positions, but they must
remain aware of White’s ability to pass the football.
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Handle a tough
environment:
Morgantown is a
college town and West Virginia is a football school. The Mountaineer
fans pack Milan Puskar Stadium and cheer hard for their team. It’s the
most hostile environment East Carolina will play in this season. As a
player, I experienced everything from being cursed at to having things
thrown at us in Morgantown. The Pirates must not allow those things to
distract them. They will need tremendous focus to be successful against
the number five team in the country.
-
Reduce the
penalties:
The Pirates have
over 30 penalties season-to-date, averaging about 11 penalties per
game. The Mountaineers have been flagged only 11 times all season, and
they take pride in the discipline reflected by that statistic. East
Carolina must erase those mental mistakes against WVU.
The
bottom line:
The Pirates will be playing a very good football team on Saturday, but they
know the things that need to be done to be successful. The last two meetings
between ECU and West Virginia have been great games in which the Pirates
hung in until late. East Carolina has the personnel to beat WVU and shock
the country, but going out and doing it is another story.
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09/22/2007 01:30:31 AM
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