2009 Liberty Bowl: A look at the East Carolina Pirates

by Ken Howlett on Jan 2, 2009 5:11 AM EST in Football Comment 28 comments

Kentucky fan itinerary: Graceland, Beale Street, barbecue, B.B. King's joint, the blues, and a big bowl win (actually, any size bowl win will do). The Liberty Bowl may not be what Rich Brooks and Crew dreamed of after Kentucky's 5-2 start, but after an avalanche of injuries and one pre-season forced defection, the 'Cats managed to scratch their way to a 6-6 record and a third straight bowl bid.

One thing the Liberty Bowl provides the football 'Cats is a chance to redeem themselves after disappointing losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee which ended the regular season. But, as with everything football related this year, it won't be easy; Randall Cobb is recovering from knee surgery, and running back Moncell 'Turtle" Allen has been deemed academically ineligible for the game. Neither Dicky Lyons nor Derrick Locke will be available, although Dicky allegedly pulverized 'em with his pulsating pelvis in winning the Elvis impersonator contest earlier in the week.

Alas, UK is not alone in having no vacancies on the training table. East Carolina has suffered through an unusually high number of injuries and suspensions, as well: Wide receivers T.J. Lee and Dwayne Harris endured season-ending surgeries; projected starting running back Dominique Lindsay was lost in the pre-season; top wide-out Jamar Bryant was suspended for a violation of team rules in mid-season; running back Jon Williams was suspended for violating team rules in late October.

ECU offensive coordinator Todd Finch bemoaned his fate; "Our top five skill guys haven't played the second half of the season for us." Join the club, coach Finch. I say we rename the 2009 Liberty Bowl, the M.A.S.H. 4077 Bowl. But, enough of the pity party.

Instead, let's take a look at the East Carolina Pirates, beginning with ...

Head Coach Skip Holtz

Holtz took over a program that has a tradition of winning (ECU has produced two NFL quarterbacks in Jeff Blake and current Jaguar David Garrard), but was only 7-28 the three seasons leading up to his hiring. Since Holtz was hired in 2004, the Pirates have posted the following records: 5-6, 7-6, 8-5, and this years 9-4. As with UK, the Conference USA champs are playing in their third straight bowl game. Last year they defeated #24 Boise State 41-38 in the Hawai'i Bowl for ECU's first bowl win in seven years.

Interesting Holtz tidbit -- He was hired in December of 2004 by former Virginia Cavaliers head basketball coach Terry Holland (yeah, the guy who recruited Ralph Sampson away from UK) who is now the athletic director at ECU.

The Pirate Season

Wins -- #17 Virginia Tech 27-22, #8 West Virginia 24-3, Tulane 28-24, Memphis 30-10, Central Florida 13-10, Marshall 19-16, UAB 17-13, UTEP 53-21, Tulsa 27-24.

Losses -- N.C. State 30-24, Houston 41-24, Virginia 35-20, Southern Miss 21-3.

ECU began the season with the two upset victories over Virginia Tech and West Virginia. They then beat Tulane, which was followed by three straight losses. Since their 3-3 start they have bounced back to win six of their final seven games.

Pirate Offensive Personnel

Quarterback Pat Pinkney: 6'0", 198 lb senior -- This season Pinkney was 205 of 327 (62.7%) through the air, for 2,379 yards, with seven interceptions and 12 touchdown passes. He ran the ball 80 times for a gross of 206 yards, but he lost 156 yards due to his 18 sacks, so he posted only 50 net yards rushing. As I noted, Pinkney has been sacked 18 times this year (Virginia got to him six times), but he's only been sacked four times in the last seven games (a result of a change in the offensive game-plan, due to injuries).

Pinkney, having lost his top receivers, relies heavily on the running game to set up the pass. Pinkney has endured multiple shoulder surgeries, but has been injury-free this year.

Running back Norman Whitley: 5'9", 187 lb sophomore -- Whitley rushed 135 times for 667 yards (4.9 yards per carry). He averaged 51.3 yards rushing per game, and scored four rushing touchdowns.

Whitley ran a 4.47-40 in high school.

Running back Brandon Simmons: 6'1", 223 lb, senior -- Simmons rushed 124 times for 430 yards (3.5 ypc). He averaged 33.1 yards rushing per game, and scored six rushing touchdowns. He also caught 24 passes for 149 yards (6.2 yards per catch) and three touchdowns.

Whitley and Simmons (a former walk-on) form quite a formidable combination in the Pirate backfield. With the loss of so many receivers, Holtz has gone to a two-back set on most plays, relying on the run more than ever.

Receivers and Tight end

Tight end Davon Drew: 6'4", 260 lb senior -- Drew pulled in 38 receptions for 575 yards (15.1 ypc) and three touchdowns. He averages 44.2 receiving yards per game.

Wide receiver Alex Taylor: 6'4", 210 lb junior -- He snagged 23 catches for 310 yards (13.5 ypc) and one touchdown. He averages 23.8 receiving yards per game.

Wide receiver Darryl Freeney: 5'11", 196 lb redshirt freshman -- Freeney made 17 catches for 240 yards (14.1 ypc) and one touchdown. He also returns punts -- 13 on the year, for a 7.3 yard average return.

Freeney ran a 4.47-40 in high school.

Wide receiver Joe Womack: 6'1", 195 lb true freshman -- Womack grabbed 16 receptions for 215 yards (13.4 ypc).

Field goal kicker Ben Hartman: 5'11", 210 lb junior -- Hartman was 19 of 29 (65.5%) on his field goal attempts. He was 15 of 18 from 20 to 39 yards, but only 4 of 11 beyond 40. For his career Hartman is 35 of 56 (62.5%).

He bears a remarkable likeness to UK's own Dicky Lyons, Jr.

Pirate Defensive Personnel

Defensive end C.J. Wilson: 6'4", 271 lb junior -- Wilson is fourth on the team with 64 tackles. He also has an incredible 18.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, and five quarterback hits.

Wilson was named First Team All-Conference USA. He was also named Conference USA Defensive Most Valuable Player by The Sporting News.

Defensive end Zack Slate: 6'5", 221 lb senior -- Slate recorded 45 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks and five quarterback hits.

Wilson and Slate have been honored with a nickname: "Lumber and Lightening." Wilson is the "Lumber" and Slate is the "Lightening." In ECU's 4-3 defensive set they have proved to be quite an effective combination in rushing and pressuring the quarterback; they have combined for 109 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks.

Linebacker Pierre Bell: 6'2", 233 lb senior -- Bell leads the team with 92 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, one sack two interceptions and five pass break-ups.

Bell was named Second Team All-Conference USA.

Linebacker Nick Johnson: 6'1", 215 lb junior -- He is tied for second on the team with 89 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and three pass break-ups.

Free safety Van Eskridge: 6'0", 200 lb junior -- Eskridge also had 89 tackles, four interceptions and three pass break-ups. He returned one of his INT"s for a touchdown.

He was named First Team All-Conference USA.

Defensive back Emanuel Davis: 5'11", 190 lb freshman -- Davis recorded 42 tackles, two tackles for loss, four interceptions and seven pass break-ups. He also returned one of his INT's for a touchdown.

Davis was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team. The Sporting News named him to their national All-Freshman Team.

Punter Matt Dodge: 6'2", 220 lb junior -- Dodge punted 65 times for an average of 43.5 yards (16th nationally). He had 22 punts travel over 50 yards. He also kicks-off: 66 kick-offs, with four touch-backs.

Dodge was named an Honorable Mention All-America by SI.com.

UK National Ranking Comparison to ECU

Total Defense -- UK - 34th (327 yards allowed), ECU - 43rd (334 yards allowed) ... Scoring Defense -- UK - 38th (21.7 points allowed), ECU - 31st (20.8 points allowed) ... Rushing Defense -- UK - 66th (142 yards allowed), ECU - 52nd (138 yards allowed) ... Pass Defense -- UK - 28th (184.6 yards allowed), ECU - 48th (196.7 yards allowed) ... Team Interceptions -- UK - 56th (12 INT's), ECU - t5th (21 INT's) ... Total Offense -- UK - 105th (298.4 yards per game), ECU - 83rd (336.0 yards per game) ... Scoring Offense -- UK - 87th (22.4 points per game), ECU - 79th (23.8 points per game) ... Rushing Offense -- UK - 78th (129.3 yards per game), ECU - 83rd (128.3 yards per game) ... Pass Offense -- UK - 98th (169.2 yards per game), ECU - 64th (207.7 yards per game).

Miscellaneous ECU Information

ECU is +5 in the takeaway department, but they've turned the ball over 27 times ... In the red zone ECU has converted 35 of 41 chances (85%), but they've only scored touchdowns on 22 of those 41 opportunities (54%) ... ECU's red zone defense has been effective; in 42 opportunities their opponents have scored a touchdown 20 times (48%) ... ECU has executed 30 sacks in 13 games ... ECU averages 3.4 yards per rush as a team.

Tennessee Titan rookie, and former ECU Pirate Chris Johnson, was recently named to the Pro Bowl.

ECU's victory over Boise State in last year's Hawai'i Bowl, coupled with the two season-opening victories over ranked opponents this year, marks the first time in Pirate history that they have defeated three straight ranked teams.

Thoughts and a Prediction

This is a game with two teams who are going to attempt to execute very similar game-plans; both teams are going to look to run first, and pressure, pressure, pressure the quarterback on passing downs.

I think the game hinges on UK quarterback Mike Hartline's performance. If Hartline plays up to the praise he's been recently receiving, then I feel UK wins the game. But, if he goes 12 for 25, for 140 yards (or something similar) the the 'Cats are in for a long evening. With ECU knowing that Kentucky wants to run, if Hartline and his receivers aren't on the same page, then Holtz will stack eight in the box and dare UK to handoff.

There are reports that say that Hartline and his stable of colts have progressed nicely over the last few weeks. I want to believe, but in a year as strange as this, I'm hopeful, but not expectant.

Three straight bowl wins for the first time in school history? I can't pick against that -- UK 23 ECU 20.

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats!

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Good info, Ken

Low scoring game. Both defenses are better than either offense.

Here is my prediction:

UK 17, ECU 13 :-)

by OGETARTS on Jan 2, 2009 6:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, OGETARTS -- I'll take 17-13 UK all day long.

by Ken Howlett on Jan 2, 2009 12:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hyperbole Has Its Place

Francis Bacon said:

"The speaking in perpetual hyperbole is comely in nothing but love"

I suppose “loving the Wildcats” could be extended to the point of countenance for the following:

but after an avalanche of injuries

Avalanche? Please. It gets quire tiresome that some of us UK fans relentlessly use injuries as an excuse for the underachieving. I would hazard that Wildcats injuries are about average for a FBS team, i.e. more than some, less than others.

by Wild Weasel on Jan 2, 2009 8:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'd be forced to disagree.

Kentucky’s injuries have been significantly more severe and numerous than the average, at least in the SEC. Among SEC schools, only Georgia has suffered more injuries to important players or had more games missed by starters due to injury. How this stacks up to the rest of the NCAA FBS, I don’t know, but I strongly suspect it is significantly more than average.

As to whether injuries are an, “excuse for the underachieving,” it is true that injuries are part of football, and hence, all teams could be considered equally susceptible to them. It is my opinion, however, that UK has had enough injuries to critical positions to make an argument that those injuries disproportionately affected the team’s ability to achieve. Your mileage may vary and you can call me a homer if you want, but that’s how I see it.

Does that constitute an “avalanche?” Well, please permit Ken a little poetic license here, even if you disagree. :-)

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Jan 2, 2009 9:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Wild Weasel

Losing ones presumptive starting quarterback, best player, best wide receiver on a team of severely inexperienced receivers, and best running back is certain to have a negative impact on almost any team. To deny this is to deny reality. I have been a UK football fan since the mid to late ’70’s and I can’t recall Kentucky experiencing this many injuries to skill position players in one year.

As far as UK underachieving — They are currently 6-6, which is a win or more than most pundits predicted for UK. So, no, UK did not underachieve this year, even considering the injury situation.

by Ken Howlett on Jan 2, 2009 11:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also ...

… I don’t have to build in an excuse for defeat. I am not Denny Crum.

by Ken Howlett on Jan 2, 2009 11:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I hope Ken and OGE are right...

because I don’t see the same result…without injuries (!!!! Weasel !!!!) we would match up well here. I’m not saying “UK will lose, but only because of injuries” by any means. Just saying it’s a circumstance that will factor into what I sadly think will be a loss.

by mrmondaynite on Jan 2, 2009 9:13 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Nice read Ken.

Thanks for the season-long breakdowns. They’ve been great.

The game. We’ve truly had a “tsunami” of injuries this season, maybe not in number of players lost but certainly in the places we lost of them. Without Cobb, Lyons, Locke, and Ford the Cats have very few experienced skilled players. Mike Hartline is an ineffective QB. Yes, he has supposedly matured. Color me dubious. We’ll see if he continues to blame his teammates for his recent demise.

Despite it all, UK should win. The Cats defense, fully rested and with a month of preparation, should revert to its dominant form. The inept UK offense and the inept UK special teams will not be so woeful as to cost victory. In a game only the mothers of the players will love to watch (made worse by the loathsome Bob Davie and Mark Jones announcing the game for ESPN), I predict the UK victory by three.

Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.

by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Jan 2, 2009 9:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, THM.

I hope you are right about the defense, but stopping the run has been problematic all year. Let’s hope they are more effective today.

by Ken Howlett on Jan 2, 2009 11:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This is a heart vs money game

Heart says 28 – 13 UK

Money says 17 – 13 ECU

God I hated typing that. My bluest of blue gear is in the dryer and the pot of 5 alarm chili is on a simmer. The Vodka is in the freezer and the tonic is cold.

I am ready for the heart to win out!!!!!!!!!!

Changing how you think will change what you think.

by wilson452 on Jan 2, 2009 10:59 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree with your "money" pick.

Unless the defense holds ECU to less than 10 points, I don’t see a UK win…combining Hartline’s past track record and the lack of assets he has to hand/throw the ball to makes an already mediocre (at best) offense even more suspect.

by mrmondaynite on Jan 2, 2009 11:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course my heart says UK, also.

by mrmondaynite on Jan 2, 2009 11:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No Shame?

First, avalanche; now, tsunami.

Paraphrasing Joseph Welch:

“Have you no sense of shame, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of shame?”

It appears not so why not overwhelming, crushing, deluge, annihilating, ravaging, cataclysmic?

Nothing like building excuses before a loss.

by Wild Weasel on Jan 2, 2009 11:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you in principle,

but the veracity of your claims is unsettling…did you put a TON of money on ECU ?

All I have to say in regard to your argument and Tru’s is that good, QUALITY teams do not need to make injury excuses because they have adequate DEPTH and are BUILT TO LAST…clearly UK is neither one.

by mrmondaynite on Jan 2, 2009 11:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And Georgia?

Would anyone argue that they they aren’t a quality team? Would anyone argue that they had sufficient depth to reach their potential after suffering all those injuries?

As I say, injuries are a part of football, but they can also be a valid defense against excess criticism. Who could argue that Florida would be in the BCS championship if Tebow had gone down? Who would argue that they are not a quality team?

I think THM makes a very sound argument on this above, “tsunami” notwithstanding.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Jan 2, 2009 11:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I definitely agree it's a valid defense against excess criticism...

I guess what I am trying to say is, if UK loses, I don’t want anyone saying, “if the team wasn’t so plagued by injury, we would have won.”

by mrmondaynite on Jan 2, 2009 11:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree.

In fact, a month is more than enough time to recover from those injuries. It’s one thing to lose your best players mid-season for long stretches, but when you have a month to prepare, injuries are are really no longer a valid defense unless you lose an all-American or all-SEC guy. We did in Lyons, probably, but we have had most of the season and now an additional month to work around that.

It should be enough. If we lose this, there will be no injury excuse, in my opinion.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Jan 2, 2009 11:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I hope my prediction is wrong...

just glad we get to see 1 more UK football game this season.

by mrmondaynite on Jan 2, 2009 11:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I hope the Cats can pull this out as a win.

I ,like you ,am just pleased to see the football team one more time. I think the players deserve it even with our 6-6 season. Nice to see they are enjoying Memphis.

Go Cats!

by kykat51 on Jan 2, 2009 1:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I am not giving up hope. . .

That we have at least a fair chance of winning this bowl game. However with Newton coming in next year and the other quarterback options that we will have I think that if Randall Cobb could get back to playing mainly a running back and or receiver we should be significantly better next year. I continue to think that the present coaching staff has done an excellent job under Coach Brooks.

by gright on Jan 2, 2009 11:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I expect ...

… UK will give a good account of themselves. In fact, I fully expect them to win this game. They no longer have injuries as an excuse — a month is plenty of time to heal, overcome and find away around those.

In that sense, I agree with Wild Weasel. Injuries would not be a defense for losing this game. We have had plenty of time to work around them and heal, unlike during the regular season.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Jan 2, 2009 11:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: gright

I agree wholeheartedly.

Although there have been times when I and others have questioned some of the play-calling (of course that’s true in most programs), overall the staff has done a nice job this year.

The QB battle in the spring and fall should be very competitive, which hopefully will bring out the best in all of the competitors.

by Ken Howlett on Jan 2, 2009 3:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

SHould be close game

I am going to predict ECU wins a hard fought game 20-16. UK’s offense is offensive and I don’t buy the sudden improvement for Hartline and the receivers. ECU is hot winning 6 of their last 7 in addition to big wins over WVU and VA Tech at the beginning of the season. UK does not have a comparable win. UK beat a 3 small schools, U of L, Arkansas and Miss St. Color me unimpressed.

In a game that will seemingly be a defensive batlle turnovers and big plays will rule the day.

Go Blue!

Slower Traffic Keep Right!

by SevenRings on Jan 2, 2009 11:48 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

ECU was hot.

They have had a long time to cool down, and that works against a hot team. But like you, I’m not willing to buy Hartline and an improved receiving corps sight unseen.

I think the game will be hard fought, just as you suggest. I would flip that score, though. :-)

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Jan 2, 2009 11:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs