CUSA 2008 Football Previews > 2008 ECU Football Preview

2008 East Carolina Pirates football preview

East Carolina Pirates - Conference USA

2007 Record: (8-5, 6-2)

2007 Bowl: Hawaii Bowl vs. Boise State (W 41-38)

Coach: Skip Holtz (20-17 at East Carolina, 54-40 overall)

Offensive Coordinator: Todd Fitch and Steve Shankweiler

Defensive Coordinator: Greg Hudson

Returning Leaders for the Pirates:

• Rushing: Patrick Pinkney, QB, 306 yards

• Passing: Patrick Pinkney, QB, 1,358 yards

• Receiving: Jamar Bryant, WR, 704 yards

• Tackles: Van Eskridge, S, 104

• Sacks: C.J. Wilson, DE, 7.0

• Interceptions: J.J. Milbrook, S, 3

Other Key Returnees: LB Pierre Bell, OT Stanley Bryant, TE Davon Drew, C Stephen Heis, CB Jerek Hewett, QB Rob Kass, DT Khalif Mitchell, G Doug Palmer, DT Jay Ross, DE Zack Slate

Key Losses: OG Matt Butler, OT Josh Coffman, WR Phillip Henry, RB Chris Johnson, DT Mark Robinson, TE Jay Sonnhalter, CB Travis Williams, LB Fred Wilson

Coach Skip Holtz is back after leading East Carolina to consecutive bowl games. And with the turnaround under his tutelage, taking a bigger job was a distinct possibility…and will be again if the success continues. With defensive ends C.J. Wilson and Zack Slate and tackle Jay Ross returning, the Pirates frontline will once again be among the best in the conference.

East Carolina's 2008 Strengths:

The offense is not explosive by any means, but they are an opportunistic bunch who gets the job done when necessary. Quarterbacks Patrick Pinkney and Rob Kass will battle it out for playing time once again. Pinkey was the more effective quarterback, throwing for 11 touchdowns and four interceptions last year and doing some damage with his legs. With receivers Jamar Bryant and Dwayne Harris back, the quarterback will have a couple decent targets to work with down the field. Add tight end Davon Drew into the mix and ECU has plenty of weapons. With three offensive linemen returning, the offense has all the tools they need to rank better than 11 th in total offense in the conference.

East Carolina's 2008 Weaknesses:

But the offense has to have somebody ready to replace running back Chris Johnson. Johnson rushed for 1,423 yards and 17 touchdowns before being drafted by Tennessee with the 24th overall selection in the NFL Draft. But it was not his rushing that will be missed the most. Johnson was a great return man and an even better receiver out of the backfield. It will take a handful of players to step up and replace all of that production. Dominique Lindsay was Johnson’s backup last year and has plenty of experience and Dwayne Harris and Jonathan Williams both have potential. However, it is Brandon Simmons who is expected to be the great back of the future. Those four should do a fine job, but it remains to be seen how much the offense will really miss Johnson. On the defensive side of the ball, the secondary is the big problem. Despite the front four getting a ton of pressure on the quarterback, the opposition had an easy time throwing on the Pirates.

The Bottom Line for the Pirates:

The good news in the secondary is that safeties Van Eskridge and J.J. Milbrook are solid players. Corner Jerek Hewett is back with a year of experience, but redshirt freshmen Derek Blacknall and Emanuel Davis can win the job if they prove that they can be halfway decent and Leon Best and Travis Simmons are slightly more experienced options who failed to secure too much playing time last year. East Carolina should go to another bowl game, but there will need to be some drastic improvements in the secondary to match last year’s effort.

2007 East Carolina Team Stats:

Rushing Offense: 182.92 (34th in nation, 5th in conference)

Passing Offense: 202.54 (79, 9)

Total Offense: 385.46 (66, 11)

Scoring Offense: 31.00 (43, 6)

Rushing Defense: 142.15 (50, 5)

Pass Defense: 289.00 (114, 9)

Total Defense: 431.15 (95, 5)

Scoring Defense: 30.38 (83, 4)

Turnover Margin: 1.31 (4, 1)

Sacks: 2.08 (60, 5)

Sacks Allowed: 2.00 (58, 6)