PRE-GAME ANALYSIS
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Keys to the
Game
Friday,
November 25, 2011
By Kevin Monroe |
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East Carolina at Marshall
Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011 � 3:30 p.m.
Joan C. Edwards Stadium (38,016), Huntington, WV
Television: CBS Sports Network
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For the sixth
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). |
�2011 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
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C-USA Standings |
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(Through games of 11.19.11) |
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East
Division |
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SCHOOL |
C-USA |
ALL |
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USM
ECU
Marshall
UAB
UCF
Memphis |
5-2
4-3
4-3
3-5
2-5
1-6 |
9-2
5-6
5-6
3-8
4-7
2-9 |
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West
Division |
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SCHOOL |
C-USA |
ALL |
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Houston
Tulsa
SMU
Rice
UTEP
Tulane |
7-0
7-0
4-3
3-4
2-5
1-7 |
11-0
8-3
6-5
4-7
5-6
2-10 |
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C-USA SCHEDULE
FRIDAY,
NOV. 25:
Houston at Tulsa
UTEP at UCF
SATURDAY, NOV. 26:
Rice at SMU
ECU at Marshall
Memphis at USM
UAB at Florida Atlantic
Tulane at Hawaii
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East
Carolina can defeat Marshall on Saturday if it achieves these key objectives:
FIX THE
KICK COVERAGE
This game is going to be hard fought and hard hitting. Special teams will be
very important. East Carolina's coverage teams have really struggled lately,
but the kickoff coverage team is usually pretty good. The unit is led by
junior Rahkeem Morgan, who always seems to be the first guy down field.
Lately, the coverage teams have given up some big returns at very untimely
moments. Opponents are averaging 23.2 yards per kickoff return, which isn�t
terrible, but the Pirates can ill afford to have a big return against
Marshall with so much on the line. Punt coverage has been very lackluster
and has been burned by several big returns. Southern Miss returned one punt
for a touchdown and blocked a punt and returned it for six. Foes are
averaging 19.4 yards per punt return, which is not very good at all. Special
teams are such a big part of the game that the team that manages the most
return yards will most likely be in the driver�s seat.
CONTAIN VINCE CURRY
The Pirates will face one of the nation�s top defensive linemen in Vince
Curry. After getting 1.5 tackles for a loss last week against Memphis, Curry
leads all Football Bowl Subdivison players in career tackles for loss with
47.5. He currently ranks 8th on the school�s all-time tackles for loss list.
He is also a sack master, having recorded 26.5 quarterback takedowns, which
ranks him 4th on the school's all-time list. This has been Curry�s breakout
season as he is already credited with 20.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in
2011. He will need to receive some special attention from the East Carolina
offense on Saturday. On every snap, the Pirates need to be aware of where
Curry lines up and make sure that one or maybe two players are assigned to
handle him.
MOVE
THE CHAINS
The
Pirates have struggled with offensive consistency this season. They appeared
to finally get things going last week
against Central Florida. ECU rushed
for 186 yards against the Golden Knights, one of their best performance of
the season. The Pirates also passed for 203 yards � which is on the low end
of where they want to be � with 4 passing touchdowns. The most important
stat of the day was the 18 first
downs picked up by ECU. The Pirates managed to keep the chains moving
throughout the game. The only negative stats that stood out to me were the 2
turnovers that came at inopportune times and the 3-for-14 success rate on
3rd down. Fortunately, ECU was 3-for-5 in on those 3rd down opportunities in
the 4th quarter when it mattered the most.
The
offensive line needs to protect the quarterback and open up holes for the
runners. Dominique Davis has to be efficient and effective in the passing
game, and Davis, Zico Pasut and Torrance Hunt must protect the football and
get positive rushing yards on every touch.
BOTTOM LINE
The
Pirates have gone to five straight bowl games and must win this game in
order to keep the postseason streak going. Marshall is in the same boat,
sitting at 5-6 with just this final regular season game remaining. The
Thundering Herd also has the extra incentive of a potential East Division
title. Having beaten division leader Southern Miss earlier in the season,
Marshall gets the benefit of the tiebreaker in the event the teams finish
with identical records. If Marshall beats ECU and Memphis beats USM, the
Herd will represent the East in the Conference USA championship game against
Houston or Tulsa. The Cougars and Golden Hurricane are going head to head
today in Tulsa for the West Division title.
Marshall
will be very hungry to win this game. It will take a total team effort by
the Pirates on offense, defense, and special teams to win the game. East
Carolina will have to leave it all on the field in Huntington in order to
come away with the victory. ECU will be without emerging standout Jacob
Geary at outside linebacker and starting receivers Danny Webster and Lance
Lewis, not to mention the numerous offensive linemen that have been banged
up all year. It's now or never for a trip to a bowl game.
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11/25/2011 02:28:49 AM
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