PRE-GAME ANALYSIS
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Keys to the
Game
Saturday, November
28, 2009
By Kevin Monroe |
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ECU vs. Southern Miss
Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, 1:30 pm
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium
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For the fourth
straight year, Kevin Monroe, color analyst for the Pirate ISP Sports
Radio Network, provides “Kevin’s Keys to The Game,”
his weekly breakdown of what East Carolina must do to beat its
upcoming opponent.
Monroe brings a unique perspective to the task as a
member of the broadcast team and as a former star defensive
back for the Pirates (1995-99). |
©2009 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
East
Carolina can defeat Southern Miss if it accomplishes these key objectives:
-
Leverage the Home Field
The Golden Eagles have been known over the years as a team that will go
anywhere and play anybody. This year the "anywhere" part of that slogan
has rung a bit hollow as Southern Miss is 6-0 at home but only 1-4 on
the road. That one road win came two weeks ago against a struggling
Marshall team with not much left to play for. East Carolina has sold out
every home game and usually has a strong home field advantage in front
of the rowdy Dowdy crowd. The Golden Eagles are giving up nearly 35
points per game on the road, which is somewhat skewed because of the 50
that Houston poured on them in Week 9. If the fans show up in big
numbers again on Saturday, it will surely count for a touchdown or so
difference.
-
Air It Out
Just like UAB last week, Southern Miss has struggled
in its pass defense this season. Opponents are passing for 265 yards per
game against the USM secondary. The Golden Eagles have given up 18
passing touchdowns through 11 games, which is just shy of two per game.
ECU quarterback Patrick Pinkney is playing very well over the last few
games. He has not thrown an interception the last two games and is a
red-hot 40-55 (72%) passing with 5 touchdown passes. The emergence of
receiver Darryl Freeney as a compliment to Dwayne Harris has bolstered
the Pirate passing game. Freeney has had 100-yard receiving games in
three of his last four outings and all three of his touchdowns have come
during those games. Opposing secondaries will now have to respect
Freeney as well as Harris, making it tough to double-team one over the
other.
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Contain Damion Fletcher
Damion Fletcher has been the starting running back at Southern Miss
since his freshman year in 2006. He rushed for at least 1,000 yards in
each of his first three seasons and is looking to become one of only
eight players in college football history to rush for at least 1,000
yards in all four years of their careers. That list includes Tony
Dorsett, Ron Dayne, and Cedric Benson. Fletcher has played in 10 games
this season. He has 877 yards rushing with 8 touchdowns and is averaging
over 4 yards per carry. He leads The Golden Eagles in most career
rushing records, including yards, touchdowns and number of 100-yard
games (25). If the Pirates are going to win Saturday, they will need to
keep Fletcher in check and not allow him to run wild.
The
Bottom Line
It goes without saying that this is a game with big stakes. The Pirates have
the opportunity to be the first team in Conference USA history to repeat as
champions, but they have to win this weekend to even have a shot at the
trophy. The winner of this game will most likely face Houston in the
championship game. USM is solid in most facets of the game but has struggled
on the road. The Pirates will have to establish the run early and then
punish the Golden Eagles through the air. Defensively, it all starts with
hemming in Fletcher, but the Pirates have to be aware of the talents of
wideout DeAndre Brown, who burned ECU for a 97-yard touchdown reception last
season, and quarterback Martevious Young. It will take a total team effort
to bring home this win.
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11/27/2009 03:07:06 AM
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