My prediction for last week against UTEP was 31-30 in favor of ECU (Actual score was 28-18). Expected more offense out of the Miners, but pretty close on the ECU score.

I mentioned in another thread that ECU had to get the ball to Cooper 25-30 times and Carden needed to protect the ball, but didn't need to hold back from airing it out down the field. Cooper ended up carrying 23 times for 154 yards and a TD. On a wet night, Carden aired it out down the field many times and ended up with 258 yards passing plus rushed for another 63 yards and a TD. The one glaring stat was the interceptions, but fortunately UTEP returned the favor everytime.

The offense finally got clicking in this game though. The playcalls for the most part kept UTEP off balance and the Pirates moved the ball with relative ease finally in the 5th game of the season. All this with the rain coming down.

I feel pretty good about this team right now. Stars are emerging, the defense is playing soundly and the team is 2-0 in the conference. ECU outgained UTEP 475 yards to 302.

As of today the Knights are 14.5 point favorites playing at home. UCF is giving up around 205 passing and 141 rushing per game which ECU is now capable of gaining and more. I am little surprised at the spread, figuring UCF would be favored by 7 to 7.5. I expect that spread to drop some before Thursday. Historically, ECU usually beats the oddmakers and I see this game being no different. If we play like we did against UTEP and let Cooper run the ball and he does so effectively and Carden minimizes the mistakes, tucks and runs, ECU has a great chance to pull the "upset".

It's great that Cooper has become the workhorse on the ground, but I think our reliance on Hardy is something that UCF and teams down the road can take advantage of. I've mentioned before that we need to get Justin Jones more involved in the offense. The guy is a 6-8, 257 pound beast that can sky over defenders. If we could find a way to get him the ball more, it takes some of the attention of Hardy and Cooper and opens those two guys up for some big gains downfield.

Having said all that and as usual, I can't "pick" against my Pirates, so barring any injuries to anybody between now and Thursday, I'm picking the Pirates in the upset....................

24-21

This is a tough one. If the good UCF team shows up then we are in trouble and will lose. If the disfunctional UCF team shows up then we will win. It is hard for me to predict. I have a strange feeling that we are going to go down to Orlando and pull this one out. ECU 24-23.

If we get blown out in this game, expect for people to start calling for Ruff's head.

(10-02-2012 08:39 AM)Raleighwood Pirate Wrote:  This is a tough one. If the good UCF team shows up then we are in trouble and will lose. If the disfunctional UCF team shows up then we will win. It is hard for me to predict. I have a strange feeling that we are going to go down to Orlando and pull this one out. ECU 24-23.

If we get blown out in this game, expect for people to start calling for Ruff's head.

Fans will be pissed, but a blow out would be a tougher pill to swallow at home versus an away game. Some fans will cuss up a storm, but no individual game this year with the "youngness" of this team means that much so long as Ruff wins most of the games ECU should be favored in the rest of the season and gets us to a bowl. That doesn't mean we can be 6-6 though. If we end up 8-4 and playing for the CUSA Championship in Ruffs Third Year, he definitely ain't going anywhere. If we end up 7-5 and simply making a bowl, fans will be agitated, but he'll get at least one more year. IMHO.

For the first time this year, I feel optimistic about a game. I'm thinking we win this one. I think it's close until halfway through the third when our defense takes over. I think the Pirates take this one 28-20.

I'm sure because I feel this way I'm horribly wrong.

(10-02-2012 10:25 AM)ECUPirated Wrote:  That doesn't mean we can be 6-6 though. If we end up 8-4 and playing for the CUSA Championship in Ruffs Third Year, he definitely ain't going anywhere. If we end up 7-5 and simply making a bowl, fans will be agitated, but he'll get at least one more year. IMHO.

I've actually heard something very similar from people who I know to be relatively connected. It's 7-5 or Ruff is job hunting. Having said that, I'm betting 6-6 and he gets to stay but some changes to his staff have to happen.

I think if UCF throws a lot we're going down. However, knowing how conservative GOL is, I think we should stuff their run and win this one. 27-21 or thereabouts.

Every game I keep hoping O leary will let Blake Bortles throw the ball more. He's a very accurate passer with a good arm. He'll only get better as he gets more games under his belt. Plus we have several extremely talented receivers. That being said, O leary never utilizes players to their full potential so who knows what will happen this game. I think the Knights will win by 2 touchdowns, but it could be closer. I think this game will have a huge impact on who wins the East. Here's to a great game with no injuries. Go Knights!

(10-02-2012 05:19 PM)knightmare2014 Wrote:  Every game I keep hoping O leary will let Blake Bortles throw the ball more. He's a very accurate passer with a good arm. He'll only get better as he gets more games under his belt. Plus we have several extremely talented receivers. That being said, O leary never utilizes players to their full potential so who knows what will happen this game. I think the Knights will win by 2 touchdowns, but it could be closer. I think this game will have a huge impact on who wins the East. Here's to a great game with no injuries. Go Knights!

Whomever wins this game will win the east hands down. The East is terrible and so is the west. If the winner of this game cannot lock down the east then that coach may not be coaching at said school next year.

I was in Dowdy Ficklin last year watching us play you guys. I was extremely impressed that a freshman could look so poised and confident without much playing time. There was an ECU fan next to me who lives in Orlando and came up with his wife for the game. He said Bortles came from the city he lives in. He hates UCF, but he really liked Bortles. He kept telling me about his high school stats and the records he broke. If O'Leary lets him throw he will be able to light up our secondary.

He looked really good last year. He was an accurate passer and had a great arm.

Quote: ECUPirated - As of today the Knights are 14.5 point favorites playing at home. I am little surprised at the spread, figuring UCF would be favored by 7 to 7.5. I expect that spread to drop some before Thursday.

Spread is now @ 11.5 points.

GAMEDAY

GOOD LUCK PIRATES.

PURPLE HAZE !!

ECU leads 14-7, 2nd quarter, but UCF is threatening to tie it up.

My fault.

(10-05-2012 06:44 AM)Lethemeul Wrote:  My fault.

Gee, thanks a lot.


If all it takes to get the wheels off is a run back for a TD then shame on the team.

I will be real interested to see how we come back against Memphis with the extra time we will have to think about what we didn't do and how we didn't show up against UCF.

(10-05-2012 10:06 AM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  

(10-05-2012 06:44 AM)Lethemeul Wrote:  My fault.

Gee, thanks a lot.


If all it takes to get the wheels off is a run back for a TD then shame on the team.

I will be real interested to see how we come back against Memphis with the extra time we will have to think about what we didn't do and how we didn't show up against UCF.

If players lose it when something bad happens, then there is probably something going on that needs to be addressed with the guys in charge. Ruff had everybody huddled around him after the kickoff return screaming that the game is 4 quarters long, and all the players looked disinterested, at best.

There is no reason we can't win at least 5 of the 6 remaining games, but my confidence in the staff is pretty low today. I ain't predicting jack for the Memphis game.

(10-05-2012 03:23 PM)Lethemeul Wrote:  

(10-05-2012 10:06 AM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  

(10-05-2012 06:44 AM)Lethemeul Wrote:  My fault.

Gee, thanks a lot.


If all it takes to get the wheels off is a run back for a TD then shame on the team.

I will be real interested to see how we come back against Memphis with the extra time we will have to think about what we didn't do and how we didn't show up against UCF.

If players lose it when something bad happens, then there is probably something going on that needs to be addressed with the guys in charge. Ruff had everybody huddled around him after the kickoff return screaming that the game is 4 quarters long, and all the players looked disinterested, at best.

There is no reason we can't win at least 5 of the 6 remaining games, but my confidence in the staff is pretty low today. I ain't predicting jack for the Memphis game.

Yeah, I'm bout frustrated also and predictions are now a dime a dozen. ECU is the Jekyl and Hyde of CFB. UCF was good, but not good enough that ECU just simply falls apart. We're like a dry azz cookie that just disintegrates with the slicest pressure. At some point, people will look at Ruffin and this staff as a "lifetime" .500 coaching staff. And that's as good as it gets. Houston could take us. Marshall could take us. Navy could take us. So I ain't holding my breath anymore. If the players are disinterested, it's not long before the "CROWD" becomes that way too.

"Three sides of the ball" my azz.

I've seen enough of ECU in CUSA play to not say any game is a given win or a given loss. One game, one team at a time. Survive and advance.


Throwing out an interesting stat though:

Ruff 2-1 over USM, 1-2 vs UCF.

(10-05-2012 03:50 PM)ECUPirated Wrote:  

(10-05-2012 03:23 PM)Lethemeul Wrote:  

(10-05-2012 10:06 AM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  

(10-05-2012 06:44 AM)Lethemeul Wrote:  My fault.

Gee, thanks a lot.


If all it takes to get the wheels off is a run back for a TD then shame on the team.

I will be real interested to see how we come back against Memphis with the extra time we will have to think about what we didn't do and how we didn't show up against UCF.

If players lose it when something bad happens, then there is probably something going on that needs to be addressed with the guys in charge. Ruff had everybody huddled around him after the kickoff return screaming that the game is 4 quarters long, and all the players looked disinterested, at best.

There is no reason we can't win at least 5 of the 6 remaining games, but my confidence in the staff is pretty low today. I ain't predicting jack for the Memphis game.

Yeah, I'm bout frustrated also and predictions are now a dime a dozen. ECU is the Jekyl and Hyde of CFB. UCF was good, but not good enough that ECU just simply falls apart. We're like a dry azz cookie that just disintegrates with the slicest pressure. At some point, people will look at Ruffin and this staff as a "lifetime" .500 coaching staff. And that's as good as it gets. Houston could take us. Marshall could take us. Navy could take us. So I ain't holding my breath anymore. If the players are disinterested, it's not long before the "CROWD" becomes that way too.

"Three sides of the ball" my azz.

Unfortunately, I agree with you. We won't beat good teams under Ruff. Mediocre is as good as it gets. I have checked out on this coaching staff. It has been three years of unmotivated play, no discipline, players not practicing the fundamentals in games, on the job training for the coaching staff, etc.... I can't in good conscience support this coaching staff any longer. We have the players, the problem is the staff. The only exception is Coach Connors and Kirk Doll. I want those guys to stay.