ECU looks like it is back. On path for a bowl game. Congrats Pirates.

(11-06-2021 11:17 PM)No Bull Wrote:  ECU looks like it is back. On path for a bowl game. Congrats Pirates.

Close. Still think we need a better QB to be able to beat good teams.

(11-07-2021 12:36 PM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  

(11-06-2021 11:17 PM)No Bull Wrote:  ECU looks like it is back. On path for a bowl game. Congrats Pirates.

Close. Still think we need a better QB to be able to beat good teams.

...or a little better offensive line that can sustain blocks just a couple of seconds more. When he gets time to work..he is pretty darn good..especially when the line opens up holes and we can run the ball effectively. Just like every team...it all starts up front. Winning the battle at the point of attack makes everyone looks good.

We have another year of Ahlers. Hopefully our O line can improve and he shows everyone how good he can be. I expect the O line will be Houstons top priority going forward. We have the skilled players to really be good if we can block for them consistently. We have seen this year glimpses of how good this offense can be when we win the battle in the trenches. It just need to be more consistent.

(11-06-2021 05:26 PM)CLTPirate Wrote:  

(11-06-2021 05:23 PM)ncbeta Wrote:  Best we've played since the Ruff era.

This defense is so young too it can only go up from here.

Both our running backs are freshman and we have one of the top recruiting classes in the conference coming in.

We need to keep our fingers crossed that we don't lose key players to the portal. Mitchell could be very good anywhere. I really hope we get to see him graduate. IMO he is a better back than CJ was at this stage. He is showing more ability to break tackles than CJ could. Another year or two in the weight room and there is no telling how good he could be.

(11-07-2021 06:10 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(11-07-2021 12:36 PM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  

(11-06-2021 11:17 PM)No Bull Wrote:  ECU looks like it is back. On path for a bowl game. Congrats Pirates.

Close. Still think we need a better QB to be able to beat good teams.

...or a little better offensive line that can sustain blocks just a couple of seconds more. When he gets time to work..he is pretty darn good..especially when the line opens up holes and we can run the ball effectively. Just like every team...it all starts up front. Winning the battle at the point of attack makes everyone looks good.

We have another year of Ahlers. Hopefully our O line can improve and he shows everyone how good he can be. I expect the O line will be Houstons top priority going forward. We have the skilled players to really be good if we can block for them consistently. We have seen this year glimpses of how good this offense can be when we win the battle in the trenches. It just need to be more consistent.

That's definitely a good thing. I've been waiting for Garcia to get some garbage reps just to shut everyone up. The backup quarterback is always the best player on the roster until they actually play any.

Until the next fanbase implosion, the rhetoric has quickly flipped from the ridiculous "bench Ahlers now" and "I hope he chooses not to stay next year" to "I hope he sticks around next year". If he does decide to hang it up, look for a transfer to come in to compete with Garcia.

(11-06-2021 11:17 PM)No Bull Wrote:  ECU looks like it is back. On path for a bowl game. Congrats Pirates.

We honestly should be undefeated in conference right now. Should've beaten South Carolina and probably should've lost to Marshall if I am being honest.

We're 5-4, should be at minimum, 6-3, probably 7-2. It will be interesting if we finish strong what we are preseason in this league next year.

(11-06-2021 11:17 PM)No Bull Wrote:  ECU looks like it is back. On path for a bowl game. Congrats Pirates.

I honestly believe had we maintained our winning ways we would be joining you in the Big 12. Oh well.

(11-08-2021 08:36 AM)baruna falls Wrote:  

(11-06-2021 11:17 PM)No Bull Wrote:  ECU looks like it is back. On path for a bowl game. Congrats Pirates.

I honestly believe had we maintained our winning ways we would be joining you in the Big 12. Oh well.

Get the offense more consistent next year has the potential to be special.

(11-07-2021 06:10 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(11-07-2021 12:36 PM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  

(11-06-2021 11:17 PM)No Bull Wrote:  ECU looks like it is back. On path for a bowl game. Congrats Pirates.

Close. Still think we need a better QB to be able to beat good teams.

...or a little better offensive line that can sustain blocks just a couple of seconds more. When he gets time to work..he is pretty darn good..especially when the line opens up holes and we can run the ball effectively. Just like every team...it all starts up front. Winning the battle at the point of attack makes everyone looks good.

We have another year of Ahlers. Hopefully our O line can improve and he shows everyone how good he can be. I expect the O line will be Houstons top priority going forward. We have the skilled players to really be good if we can block for them consistently. We have seen this year glimpses of how good this offense can be when we win the battle in the trenches. It just need to be more consistent.

It doesn’t really matter when he misses wide open receivers 20 yards downfield

(11-08-2021 08:48 AM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  

(11-07-2021 06:10 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(11-07-2021 12:36 PM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  

(11-06-2021 11:17 PM)No Bull Wrote:  ECU looks like it is back. On path for a bowl game. Congrats Pirates.

Close. Still think we need a better QB to be able to beat good teams.

...or a little better offensive line that can sustain blocks just a couple of seconds more. When he gets time to work..he is pretty darn good..especially when the line opens up holes and we can run the ball effectively. Just like every team...it all starts up front. Winning the battle at the point of attack makes everyone looks good.

We have another year of Ahlers. Hopefully our O line can improve and he shows everyone how good he can be. I expect the O line will be Houstons top priority going forward. We have the skilled players to really be good if we can block for them consistently. We have seen this year glimpses of how good this offense can be when we win the battle in the trenches. It just need to be more consistent.

It doesn’t really matter when he misses wide open receivers 20 yards downfield

I've done my fair share of griping too, but you have to admit he threw a couple of dimes Saturday. The pass to Audie on 4th down was just over the hands of a Temple defender(see below), and the one to Calhoun in the back of the end zone had Shane Carden touch on it. If that pass were lower, higher, or a half second behind schedule, the band isn't playing.

(11-08-2021 08:36 AM)baruna falls Wrote:  

(11-06-2021 11:17 PM)No Bull Wrote:  ECU looks like it is back. On path for a bowl game. Congrats Pirates.

I honestly believe had we maintained our winning ways we would be joining you in the Big 12. Oh well.

Tough to say. I'd almost lean no. Look at Memphis. They've done just about everything right, have invested heavily, made a NY6 in football, and are a way better basketball team/brand if that matters, are in a bigger market, and they are still here. We would have really had to kill it to make it in.

(11-08-2021 09:43 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(11-08-2021 08:36 AM)baruna falls Wrote:  

(11-06-2021 11:17 PM)No Bull Wrote:  ECU looks like it is back. On path for a bowl game. Congrats Pirates.

I honestly believe had we maintained our winning ways we would be joining you in the Big 12. Oh well.

Tough to say. I'd almost lean no. Look at Memphis. They've done just about everything right, have invested heavily, made a NY6 in football, and are a way better basketball team/brand if that matters, are in a bigger market, and they are still here. We would have really had to kill it to make it in.

Correct, ECU must improve academically and excel in football, while becoming average in basketball just to have a decent shot in the next wave of realignment. ECU is currently tied with Texas Tech at #213 in the USNWR rankings for National Universities (Memphis is #249 (tied with WVU) & USF is #103). We need to get back up to the 180 range IMO. If CSU can claim the Denver market then ECU can claim Raleigh (both 1:15 minute drives). Moreover, there are a ton of ECU alums in Raleigh and I often see ECU stickers/gear all over the place up there FWIW. We seem to be trending in the right direction now so hopefully we make some noise. We most likely need to be the most dominate AAC football team for the next few years to make the cut.

I'll call ECU "back" if we beat Memphis this weekend. Right now we have 3 conference wins against the 3 worst teams in the league in Temple/Tulane/USF. Right now I can safely proclaim we are nowhere near the bottom, but you gotta at least be able to beat someone near the middle to top to brag about anything. Came up short against UCF and Houston.

(11-07-2021 06:10 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(11-07-2021 12:36 PM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  

(11-06-2021 11:17 PM)No Bull Wrote:  ECU looks like it is back. On path for a bowl game. Congrats Pirates.

Close. Still think we need a better QB to be able to beat good teams.

...or a little better offensive line that can sustain blocks just a couple of seconds more. When he gets time to work..he is pretty darn good..especially when the line opens up holes and we can run the ball effectively. Just like every team...it all starts up front. Winning the battle at the point of attack makes everyone looks good.

We have another year of Ahlers. Hopefully our O line can improve and he shows everyone how good he can be. I expect the O line will be Houstons top priority going forward. We have the skilled players to really be good if we can block for them consistently. We have seen this year glimpses of how good this offense can be when we win the battle in the trenches. It just need to be more consistent.

This is 100% of the problem. Ahlers is much better than every QB other than Carden and Garrard in the past 25 years. Ahlers has a less than adequate O line and it shows in his decision making when the defense is teeing off on him. It also shows with Kirkpatrick's rudimentary play calling. It takes a guy like Mitchell or Harris that can make explosive plays to make up for the <2 yd runs due to the O line getting stuffed.

(11-08-2021 10:14 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(11-07-2021 06:10 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(11-07-2021 12:36 PM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  

(11-06-2021 11:17 PM)No Bull Wrote:  ECU looks like it is back. On path for a bowl game. Congrats Pirates.

Close. Still think we need a better QB to be able to beat good teams.

...or a little better offensive line that can sustain blocks just a couple of seconds more. When he gets time to work..he is pretty darn good..especially when the line opens up holes and we can run the ball effectively. Just like every team...it all starts up front. Winning the battle at the point of attack makes everyone looks good.

We have another year of Ahlers. Hopefully our O line can improve and he shows everyone how good he can be. I expect the O line will be Houstons top priority going forward. We have the skilled players to really be good if we can block for them consistently. We have seen this year glimpses of how good this offense can be when we win the battle in the trenches. It just need to be more consistent.

This is 100% of the problem. Ahlers is much better than every QB other than Carden and Garrard in the past 25 years. Ahlers has a less than adequate O line and it shows in his decision making when the defense is teeing off on him. It also shows with Kirkpatrick's rudimentary play calling. It takes a guy like Mitchell or Harris that can make explosive plays to make up for the <2 yd runs due to the O line getting stuffed.

James Pinkney would have this team 8-1 easily

(11-08-2021 10:14 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  

(11-07-2021 06:10 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(11-07-2021 12:36 PM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  

(11-06-2021 11:17 PM)No Bull Wrote:  ECU looks like it is back. On path for a bowl game. Congrats Pirates.

Close. Still think we need a better QB to be able to beat good teams.

...or a little better offensive line that can sustain blocks just a couple of seconds more. When he gets time to work..he is pretty darn good..especially when the line opens up holes and we can run the ball effectively. Just like every team...it all starts up front. Winning the battle at the point of attack makes everyone looks good.

We have another year of Ahlers. Hopefully our O line can improve and he shows everyone how good he can be. I expect the O line will be Houstons top priority going forward. We have the skilled players to really be good if we can block for them consistently. We have seen this year glimpses of how good this offense can be when we win the battle in the trenches. It just need to be more consistent.

This is 100% of the problem. Ahlers is much better than every QB other than Carden and Garrard in the past 25 years. Ahlers has a less than adequate O line and it shows in his decision making when the defense is teeing off on him. It also shows with Kirkpatrick's rudimentary play calling. It takes a guy like Mitchell or Harris that can make explosive plays to make up for the <2 yd runs due to the O line getting stuffed.

Eh, this is a little overstatement. I said in another thread that ECU has a love/hate relationship with Holton, and I think we are in that love stage right now after beating a couple of bad teams. Certainly OL play impacts any QB but his decision making is still questionable, especially against good defenses. Let's see how he does against Memphis before we start naming him with Carden and Garrard. I think Dom Davis, James Pinkney and Minshew are all better pure QB's that Holton.

Ahlers not better than: Minshew, Nelson, Benkert, Carden, Davis, James Pinkney, Garrard.

Who is he better than? Troth, Dan Gonzalez. Maybe Patrick Pinkney?

(11-08-2021 10:24 AM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  Ahlers not better than: Minshew, Nelson, Benkert, Carden, Davis, James Pinkney, Garrard.

Who is he better than? Troth, Dan Gonzalez. Maybe Patrick Pinkney?

Good point I had forgotten about Nelson, and I know ECU fans don't love on Patrick Pinkney a lot because he had a great team around him, but I think he was underrated, the guy was a gamer and led us to some huge wins (I admit I'm biased because I was a student then).

I wouldn't take much from last game. Temple's players just want their coach gone. They'd probably lose to FCS schools right now.

No doubt ECU is better overall though, this weekend would be a better test. I like some of the skill position guys, not sure I believe Ahlers is the guy to take ECU to the top of the conference.

(11-08-2021 10:24 AM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  Ahlers not better than: Minshew, Nelson, Benkert, Carden, Davis, James Pinkney, Garrard.

Who is he better than? Troth, Dan Gonzalez. Maybe Patrick Pinkney?

Blake Kemp, James Summers