PRE-GAME ANALYSIS
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Keys to the
Game
Friday,
October 1, 2010
By Kevin Monroe |
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East Carolina at North Carolina
Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, 3:30 p.m. (TV:
ESPN3.com)
Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
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For the fifth
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). |
©2010 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
East
Carolina can defeat North Carolina if it accomplishes these key objectives:
Move the Chains
The
Pirate offense was fast-paced, high-powered and dynamic through 10 quarters.
However, the last two quarters of the Virginia Tech game the offense seemed
a little rattled and confused. Dominique Davis appeared rushed and unsure of
himself and the offense stalled. The Hokies made some adjustments at
halftime that the Pirates never solved. Offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley
and the staff have had a couple of weeks to go over where things broke down
and prepare for the North Carolina defense. The Tar Heels are giving up over
200 yards rushing per game and 128 yards passing. Those numbers are very
misleading because of a game against Georgia Tech, which ran the ball 90
percent of the time. Whether it is through the air or in the running game,
the Pirates can’t afford to stall on Saturday. They must keep the chains
moving and put points on the board.
Stop
the Run
In the
second half of the Virginia Tech game, the Hokies pounded the Pirates on the
ground. After Ryan Williams went down with a bad hamstring, Darren Evans
stepped in nicely to pick up the slack. The Hokies finished the game with
249 yards rushing. The Pirates will have to be better on the defensive front
against North Carolina if they expect to win this game. The Tar Heels have
two running backs averaging over 5 yards per carry, Johnny White (5.1 ypc)
and Shaun Drauhn (5.5 ypc). The Heels have a balanced offensive attack with
101 passes and 95 rushes through three games, but they would love to
establish the run, eat up the clock and keep the East Carolina offense off
the field.
Win the Turnover Battle
After
three games, ECU is plus-3 in the turnover battle and the Tar Heels are
plus-1. North Carolina has fumbled the football 10 times in three games,
losing 7 of those. In an in-state rivalry game like this, the team that
turns the ball over the least is usually the one that wins. Playing
disciplined football offensively and defensively usually leads to winning
the turnover battle.
THE
BOTTOM LINE
East Carolina is 2-0 and in first place in Conference USA. After losing its
first non-conference game because of a poor second half, ECU has had two
weeks to prepare for this game. Coach Ruffin McNeal was raised in Lumberton,
NC, and played for the Pirates, so nobody knows better what it means to beat
the Tar Heels. The game won’t mean much in terms of bowl bids or conference
standings, but the winner of this game will have a leg up in the recruiting
battle. North Carolina is the top dog when it comes to getting the state of
North Carolina’s top recruits. Coach McNeil would love nothing better than
to knock them off that perch. On the road, in a hostile environment, this
will be another tough test for the Pirates.
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10/01/2010 02:49:38 AM
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