OwlSportsWatch.com - Gameweek Preview: East Carolina Defense

October 16, 2009

David Mooney
OwlSportsWatch.com Publisher

It's Homecoming at East Carolina this weekend and the Pirates would love to do exactly what teams usually do to homecoming opponents - beat the snot out of them and send them back on their way home.

Of course East Carolina wants to win Saturday but even more so, is looking to rebound from a stinging loss in Dallas last weekend to SMU. The Pirate Defense actually played very well in a losing effort, holding Southern Methodist to less than 300 yards in the game.

However the Pirates were victimized by a few big plays that made the difference in the outcome, including a 96 yard touchdown hook-up between Bo Levi Mitchell and Aldrick Robinson, a 63 blocked field goal return, and a 53 yard interception return.

The Pirate Defense yielded only 14 points on the day, still ECU lost 28-21.

Overall, the Pirate D has made consistent improvements each week this season in their Defensive play - giving up 509 yards to West Virginia, then steadily improving to a season best yards allowed 294 against the Ponies.

Let's hope that remains their best effort after Saturday's game with the Owls is done...

Probable Starting Lineup

Pos ## Defense
LE 95 C.J. Wilson, 6-4 278, sr.
LT 90 Jay Ross, 6-3 314, sr.
NG 97 Linval Joseph, 6-6 322, jr.
RE 53 Scotty Robinson, 6-4 271, sr.
OLB 49 Jeremy Chambliss, 6-0 220, sr.
MLB 44 Nick Johnson, 6-1 217, sr.
OLB 28 Matt Thompson, 6-2 212, soph.
SCB 38 Emanuel Davis, 5-11 190, soph.
SS 1 Levin Neal, 5-11 192, sr.
FS 4 Van Eskridge, 6-0 195, sr.
WSB 13 Travis Simmons, 5-10 177, jr.

Pirate Stats

Leading Tackler - Linebacker Nick Johnson leads the Pirates with 44 tackles on the season.

Interceptions - Defensive Back Van Eskridge and Nick Johnson each have 2 picks in 2009.

Pass break-ups - Defensive Back Levin Neal has 3 pass break-ups this season.

Sacks - Senior Defensive End Scotty Robinson has 2.5 sacks. Noseguard Linval Joseph has 2 sacks, but add 7 tackles for a loss and 5 quarterback pressures to his total and Joseph has easily been the most disruptive of the Pirate front four in 2009.

Defensive Rank in C-USA - The Pirates rank 4th in C-USA in total defense, giving up 354 yards a game.

Defensive Rank Nationally - Skip Holtz' Carolina squad ranks 58th nationally in total defense.

Pirate Notes

- Reserve Defensive Lineman Antonio Allison is expected to miss this weekend's game with an undisclosed injury.

- East Carolina Free Safety Van Eskridge was named in the pre-season as C-USA's "Hardest Hitter" by The Sporting News. He is a two time All-C-USA selection.

- Pirate Defensive End C.J. Wilson finished last season second in C-USA with 9 sacks. Houston's Philip Hunt had 14 to lead thje league in 2008.

- ECU Defensive Coordinator Greg Hudson's Pirates had the top Defense in C-USA in 2008, allowing only 333 yards per game.

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