CSNbbs

I did not get a chance to make it to the Purple/Gold game. I know Justin Hardy will step it up even more this year as only a FS doing it big last year. Who seems like the fit for QB and has the Defense improved

Post-spring game thoughts blog

Here are some of my thoughts on the spring game from my blog a while back. The defense looked really good throughout the spring covering each practice. The QB battle will come down to Rio Johnson and Shane Carden in the fall.

6-6 to 8-4. I hesitant about the QB situation.

Assuming we've done something about the ridiculous number of turnovers last year:
10-2 regular season. Print it. Losses to South Carolina and one of UAB/Memphis/UTEP/Tulane. Betting on UAB.
Meet Tulsa or SMU in the C-USA championship at home and throttle them.
Texas A&M in the Liberty Bowl. We throttle them too.

(05-19-2012 01:29 AM)Steelbeard Wrote: [ -> ]Assuming we've done something about the ridiculous number of turnovers last year:
10-2 regular season. Print it. Losses to South Carolina and one of UAB/Memphis/UTEP/Tulane. Betting on UAB.
Meet Tulsa or SMU in the C-USA championship at home and throttle them.
Texas A&M in the Liberty Bowl. We throttle them too.

Man...your faith is staggering. I wish I had it.

(05-19-2012 04:50 PM)Lethemeul Wrote: [ -> ]

(05-19-2012 01:29 AM)Steelbeard Wrote: [ -> ]Assuming we've done something about the ridiculous number of turnovers last year:
10-2 regular season. Print it. Losses to South Carolina and one of UAB/Memphis/UTEP/Tulane. Betting on UAB.
Meet Tulsa or SMU in the C-USA championship at home and throttle them.
Texas A&M in the Liberty Bowl. We throttle them too.

Man...your faith is staggering. I wish I had it.

It's as simple as winning the turnover battle. If we stopped coughing the ball up and giving the other team these ridiculously easy and lucky touchdowns, we'd probably have won eight games last year. UNC won solely on tipped balls for interceptions and stupid fumbles on our side of the field. Ditto South Carolina, ditto Southern Miss, ditto Virginia Tech. All were winnable games.

I'm not worried about the QB situation at all. My concerns are Punting, OL, and Corners, which I think we should be alright as long as we keep those JUCO transfers eligible and they stay out of trouble.

(05-19-2012 01:29 AM)Steelbeard Wrote: [ -> ]Assuming we've done something about the ridiculous number of turnovers last year:
10-2 regular season. Print it. Losses to South Carolina and one of UAB/Memphis/UTEP/Tulane. Betting on UAB.
Meet Tulsa or SMU in the C-USA championship at home and throttle them.
Texas A&M in the Liberty Bowl. We throttle them too.

Texas A&M in the Liberty Bowl would be awesome

As for the season ?? I think we should go worst case OOC 2-2 We beat ASU and Navy and I if we squeeze a win out of UNC or USC that would definitely set us up for a great season. CUSA I think we go 6-2 this year.

argh - could be a lovely 10 win season! I don't expect an excuses from this squad. Let's get it done

12-0 then 13-0 for 3rd c-usa title then 14-0 and orange bowl champs!

(05-21-2012 09:50 PM)ecumbh1999 Wrote: [ -> ]12-0 then 13-0 for 3rd c-usa title then 14-0 and orange bowl champs!

:badger::dance::dirtyvegas:

We really need an undefeated season. I'd like to see it at least once in my lifetime.

(05-19-2012 06:57 PM)Steelbeard Wrote: [ -> ]

(05-19-2012 04:50 PM)Lethemeul Wrote: [ -> ]

(05-19-2012 01:29 AM)Steelbeard Wrote: [ -> ]Assuming we've done something about the ridiculous number of turnovers last year:
10-2 regular season. Print it. Losses to South Carolina and one of UAB/Memphis/UTEP/Tulane. Betting on UAB.
Meet Tulsa or SMU in the C-USA championship at home and throttle them.
Texas A&M in the Liberty Bowl. We throttle them too.

Man...your faith is staggering. I wish I had it.

It's as simple as winning the turnover battle. If we stopped coughing the ball up and giving the other team these ridiculously easy and lucky touchdowns, we'd probably have won eight games last year. UNC won solely on tipped balls for interceptions and stupid fumbles on our side of the field. Ditto South Carolina, ditto Southern Miss, ditto Virginia Tech. All were winnable games.

I'm not worried about the QB situation at all. My concerns are Punting, OL, and Corners, which I think we should be alright as long as we keep those JUCO transfers eligible and they stay out of trouble.

I see limitless potential in this team and staff. However I also see that almost everything that can go wrong has gone wrong the first two years. Its still early for me to be too sure of which way this thing is going to go. Like they say though if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck its probably a duck.

I will say that year 3 should be a very good indicator of which way we are heading. The first class that the new staff brought in will be juniors and the team will be somewhere around 70% this staff's players. There are fewer and fewer of the old regime's kids around who may or may not believe in what Ruff and Co. are doing 100%. It is encouraging that we have seen a strong offense and a capable defense under this staff, though not at the same time. It is equally discouraging that we have seen an abysmal offense and defense with this staff.

Right now I feel that by the end of this season I will either be fully behind this staff or ready to see them go. Hopefully we do great and are talking about giving Ruff an extension by the end of the year.

As I have said before, this is do or die year for Ruff, arguably the most likable coach in the nation, now he needs to put wins on the field.

I think that 2012 will be a successful year for the Pirates.

We need to reduce the turnovers by about 20.

We could be good or bad. I'm really not sure what to expect. It does look like we have a slightly easier OOC schedule so that should be a benefit.

(05-19-2012 06:57 PM)Steelbeard Wrote: [ -> ]

(05-19-2012 04:50 PM)Lethemeul Wrote: [ -> ]

(05-19-2012 01:29 AM)Steelbeard Wrote: [ -> ]Assuming we've done something about the ridiculous number of turnovers last year:
10-2 regular season. Print it. Losses to South Carolina and one of UAB/Memphis/UTEP/Tulane. Betting on UAB.
Meet Tulsa or SMU in the C-USA championship at home and throttle them.
Texas A&M in the Liberty Bowl. We throttle them too.

Man...your faith is staggering. I wish I had it.

It's as simple as winning the turnover battle. If we stopped coughing the ball up and giving the other team these ridiculously easy and lucky touchdowns, we'd probably have won eight games last year. UNC won solely on tipped balls for interceptions and stupid fumbles on our side of the field. Ditto South Carolina, ditto Southern Miss, ditto Virginia Tech. All were winnable games.

I'm not worried about the QB situation at all. My concerns are Punting, OL, and Corners, which I think we should be alright as long as we keep those JUCO transfers eligible and they stay out of trouble.

Surely its not actually this simple. I'm not sure I've seen such an optimistic and over simplified post before. You're pretty much saying we'll win 10 games if we essentially play perfect football for 10 games. A new QB is always an issue. I'm thinking we win 8 regular season games with a shot at a 10 win season if we beat USM. I believe the defense will carry this team as we break in a new QB. Hopefully by the halfway point he's settled into his role.

(06-06-2012 12:13 AM)blunderbuss Wrote: [ -> ]Surely its not actually this simple. I'm not sure I've seen such an optimistic and over simplified post before. You're pretty much saying we'll win 10 games if we essentially play perfect football for 10 games. A new QB is always an issue. I'm thinking we win 8 regular season games with a shot at a 10 win season if we beat USM. I believe the defense will carry this team as we break in a new QB. Hopefully by the halfway point he's settled into his role.

Winning the turnover battle is not playing perfect football, it's not turning the ball over more than your opponent, and not consistently dropping the ball on the 20 yard line and giving the other team an easy touchdown. And I've seen enough of the Air Raid from watching old Texas Tech games and our games the past two years to really understand the methodology. It's not too far off from Steve Logan's Spread offense just with more wideouts. It's really a system of plugging in a guy and having him do his reads and adjustments at the line. It's a tough system to learn, but it's very elegant in its execution when you've got a guy that understands the system.

Plus every stupid ACC homer outlet always goes weep woop ECU lost their QB they'll never be good again. I've seen and heard that enough to know we'll be alright.

If we can force more turnovers and committ less turnovers this year, as well as improvement in special teams and the offense, then I think we could go 8-4. This is the make or break year for Ruff. If he gets a third straight losing season, then fan support will plummet and he will pretty much be on his way out.

Prayerfully, Pirates will never see a reoccurrence of the Thompson years. Though I am concerned about Ruff's ability to manage a program. Of course, turnovers have to be in Pirate favor for any chance, and a re-invented offense will have to put up big points, but defense wins games and if the meat isn't on the street, look for a long season.

Who's on ECU's OOC schedule this year? I expect the UAB - East Carolina game this season to be an instant classic.

(06-21-2012 10:54 AM)Matrix Wrote: [ -> ]Who's on ECU's OOC schedule this year? I expect the UAB - East Carolina game this season to be an instant classic.

App St

@ South Carolina

@ UNC

Navy