PRE-GAME ANALYSIS
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Keys to the
Game
Friday,
November 2, 2012
By Kevin Monroe |
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For the seventh
straight year,
Kevin Monroe, color analyst for the Pirate
ISP Sports Radio Network, provides “Kevin’s
Keys to The Game.” In 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).
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ECU vs. Houston
Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012 • 12 pm
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (cap. 50,000)
TV: FSN
By
Kevin Monroe
©2012 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
View the Mobile Alpha version of this page.
East
Carolina can defeat Houston on Saturday if it performs well in these
key aspects of the game:
TEAM
ACCOUNTABILITY
The
Pirates have struggled at times this season with accountability.
Accountability can mean a lot of things, but in this scenario, I mean each
player being responsible for his role in the game. Coach Ruffin McNeill
always says, “Do your job.” If each player is accountable for his job on
every play on offense, defense and special teams, the team will perform
better as a unit. Against Navy, the Pirates needed to be flawless in their
assignments on defense in order to stop the Midshipmen’s rushing attack.
They did not perform up to par on because each player was not accountable
for his defensive assignment. Regardless of the coaches' schemes, when
players go out and do what they are coached to do, they will be successful
as a unit. Against Houston, ECU will face a vastly different type of
offensive attack. The Cougars love to throw the football instead of running
it like Navy.
PASS DEFENSE
The Cougars are averaging 512 yards per game offensively with 340 of those
coming through the air. Their offensive scheme is very similar to the
Pirates. They like to use an up-tempo approach. They spread you out from
sideline to sideline and throw the ball all over the field. Houston had a
slow start this season after losing its head coach (Kevin Sumlin to Texas
A&M) and its all-star quarterback (Case Keenum to the NFL) in the offseason.
They have since bounced back, winning four of their last five games and
scoring at least 39 points in each contest.
Behind the strong arm of QB David Piland, who has thrown for over 2,400
yards and 12 touchdowns to seven different receivers, the Cougars offense
has started to blossom. Piland has five receivers with at least 300
receiving yards and 2 touchdowns season-to-date. The Pirate defensive backs
have been tested this year and have given up significant yards at times.
They have also stepped up on occasion, picking off passes in key situations.
The ECU front seven will need to get tons of pressure on Piland, who is
completing less than 60 percent of his passes and has thrown 9
interceptions. If the defensive front can bring the heat, it will definitely
help the ECU secondary.
TURNOVERS
This game
is likely to be won by the team that gives the ball away the least. The
Cougars have really struggled with turnovers this season. They have thrown
13 interceptions and lost 12 fumbles for a total of 25 turnovers.
Defensively, the Cougars have picked off 11 passes and recovered 8 fumbles
for a total of 19 takeaways. That is a -6 differential. The Pirates have
thrown 10 interceptions and fumbled the ball 7 times for a total of 17
turnovers. Defensively, ECU has recorded 6 interceptions and 9 fumble
recoveries for a total of 15 takeaways, a differential of -2. Both teams
have turned the ball over more than they have taken it away, but the team
that turns it over the least today will probably win this game.
BOTTOM LINE
The
Pirates have a lot to prove to themselves and to their fans after their
performance last week. They are still in great shape in
the conference race, but their
confidence has to be a little shaken after
the beating they took at the hands of Navy.
The only medicine for a bad loss is a good win.
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Kevin Monroe.
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11/02/2012 01:16:11 AM
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