Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Perhaps one of the only things on East Carolina's 2009 football schedule that makes life easier on the Pirates is playing Appalachian State and West Virginia in consecutive weeks to open the season.
That's because one team uses the other team's attack strategy, meaning the ECU defense should be ready to see a Mountaineer offense this Saturday that greatly resembles the Mountaineer offense it faced last Saturday in a 29-24 Pirate victory.
Having just played App State also means the freshest game film is even more valuable than usual.
?All of our preparation for App State is going to help us,? fifth-year ECU coach Skip Holtz said of the Pirates' impending 3:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday at West Virginia. ?Everybody today plays some form of the spread offense, some form or variation of it. App State got their offense from West Virginia a number of years ago.
?There are similarities between the two. The talent level may be different, but there are a lot of similarities between the two.?
That App State game film has likely been heavily dissected by the ECU coaching staff already after the Pirates became invisible on offense in the second half.
But Holtz said at Monday's weekly press conference he was happy with his team's immediate reaction to what became a close call on opening day.
?They were a little bit down after the game, a little bit down (Sunday) because they realize there are a lot of things we can do better, a lot of things that we can improve on, and that's where you want a football team to be,? Holtz said. ?I think this team is really focused.?
Cramp control
Holtz said he's not concerned with the amount of cramping that occurred during last weekend's game.
Players like defensive end C.J. Wilson and safety Van Eskridge were among those who battled cramps through out the game, but Holtz said he doesn't expect those problems to continue.
He said the nervous energy of the first game alone likely played a role in the cramping in the App State victory.
?They expended a lot of energy just getting ready,? Holtz said. ?We had a number of guys who cramped up that were too nervous and didn't eat a pregame meal. It wasn't overly hot, and C.J. Wilson has never cramped a day in his life, Van Eskridge has never cramped a day in his life.?
Holtz said the Pirates routinely practiced in much higher temperatures throughout August and never encountered many cramping problems.
Injuries
Strong safety Levin Neal injured is ankle in the early moments of the App State game, and while the injury was not as serious as it initially appeared, Holtz said Neal is doubtful for the West Virginia game.
That means Derek Blacknall, who battled Neal throughout camp for the starting job, will be back in the top spot, where he was for a majority of last Saturday's game.
Corner Emanuel Davis injured his shoulder during the game and is also doubtful for Saturday, Holtz said.
Wide receiver Michael Bowman remains out with a broken arm, while running back J.R. Rogers is on the shelf with a knee injury.
Perhaps one of the only things on East Carolina's 2009 football schedule that makes life easier on the Pirates is playing Appalachian State and West Virginia in consecutive weeks to open the season.
That's because one team uses the other team's attack strategy, meaning the ECU defense should be ready to see a Mountaineer offense this Saturday that greatly resembles the Mountaineer offense it faced last Saturday in a 29-24 Pirate victory.
Having just played App State also means the freshest game film is even more valuable than usual.
?All of our preparation for App State is going to help us,? fifth-year ECU coach Skip Holtz said of the Pirates' impending 3:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday at West Virginia. ?Everybody today plays some form of the spread offense, some form or variation of it. App State got their offense from West Virginia a number of years ago.
?There are similarities between the two. The talent level may be different, but there are a lot of similarities between the two.?
That App State game film has likely been heavily dissected by the ECU coaching staff already after the Pirates became invisible on offense in the second half.
But Holtz said at Monday's weekly press conference he was happy with his team's immediate reaction to what became a close call on opening day.
?They were a little bit down after the game, a little bit down (Sunday) because they realize there are a lot of things we can do better, a lot of things that we can improve on, and that's where you want a football team to be,? Holtz said. ?I think this team is really focused.?
Cramp control
Holtz said he's not concerned with the amount of cramping that occurred during last weekend's game.
Players like defensive end C.J. Wilson and safety Van Eskridge were among those who battled cramps through out the game, but Holtz said he doesn't expect those problems to continue.
He said the nervous energy of the first game alone likely played a role in the cramping in the App State victory.
?They expended a lot of energy just getting ready,? Holtz said. ?We had a number of guys who cramped up that were too nervous and didn't eat a pregame meal. It wasn't overly hot, and C.J. Wilson has never cramped a day in his life, Van Eskridge has never cramped a day in his life.?
Holtz said the Pirates routinely practiced in much higher temperatures throughout August and never encountered many cramping problems.
Injuries
Strong safety Levin Neal injured is ankle in the early moments of the App State game, and while the injury was not as serious as it initially appeared, Holtz said Neal is doubtful for the West Virginia game.
That means Derek Blacknall, who battled Neal throughout camp for the starting job, will be back in the top spot, where he was for a majority of last Saturday's game.
Corner Emanuel Davis injured his shoulder during the game and is also doubtful for Saturday, Holtz said.
Wide receiver Michael Bowman remains out with a broken arm, while running back J.R. Rogers is on the shelf with a knee injury.
