Spring Break
Pirates trying to get back to winning ways
ECU plays Virginia on the road
Kellen Holtzman
Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Sports
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The Cavaliers' dominance over the Terrapins, who were previously 4-1, has cast a new shadow on this Saturday's showdown at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville.
"I think this is a different [UVA] football team than it was three weeks ago, and knowing that we have to go play them at home will present a great challenge for us," said ECU coach Skip Holtz.
The Cavaliers' three losses have come by way of rather stiff competition in formerly No.1-ranked USC, Connecticut and Duke. But how UVA lost the games is more telling than just the results themselves.
The loss to a more athletic and overpowering USC team was no surprise, but a 45-10 loss to UConn followed by a 31-3 drubbing by Duke sent the Wahoo Nation into panic mode.
As Holtz implied, this doesn't appear to be the same team that ranked in the bottom 10 of the nation in total offense after its first four games-or that was outscored 128-36 by its opponents.
Instability at quarterback has been one reason for the Cavaliers' continued inefficiency offensively.
"I think you could give most of it to what they were going through at the quarterback situation and their turnovers more than anything else," Holtz said of UVA's early struggles. "Now that they're managing the game and doing a much better job, I think they're a very dangerous football team offensively, which can obviously score a lot of points."
Quarterback Marc Verica is beginning to come into his own after taking over for Peter Lalich after the second game of the season.
Verica struggled against UConn and Duke, but put together an admirable performance against the favored Maryland team. The sophomore went 25-for-34 for 226 yards and threw for two touchdowns with no interceptions against the Terrapins.
Stopping Kevin Ogletree, arguably UVA's biggest offensive threat, will be one of the ECU defense's toughest obstacles. The junior wide-out leads the Cavaliers with 318 receiving yards and two touchdowns, making him the fourth-leading receiver in the ACC.
Senior cornerback Jerek Hewett will be one of the members of the secondary who are aiming to rebound from a lackluster showing against Houston.
"I'm always out there looking for competition," Hewett said of the UVA receivers. "It's going to be a fun matchup. We're going to go out there and give it our all and hopefully we'll come out with a win."
Ogletree's two touchdowns came in the Cavaliers' last outing against the Terrapins, and marked UVA's first scores of the season through the air.
ECU's receiving corps is headed in the opposite direction however, as Holtz announced the indefinite suspension of junior Jamar Bryant Wednesday afternoon. Holtz did not address the specifics of the suspension but said in a release that, "Bryant has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team policy. There is an expectation of conduct associated with being a member of the Pirate football program."
Bryant is currently ECU's second-leading receiver, with 216 yards and three touchdowns on the season.
Verica's acclimation to the starting quarterback role is one explanation for the Cavaliers' turnaround, but his improvement can't explain the rushing surge against Maryland.
Although UVA coach Al Groh's teams are noted for utilizing two-back sets and pounding the football, the Cavaliers rank 10th in the ACC in rushing and dead last in scoring at 13 points per game. But those numbers appear to be on the rise after a surprising effort against its neighbors to the north.
UVA got the breakout game it had been hoping for from its leading rusher Cedric Peerman, who ran for 110 yards. Peerman's counterpart, running back Mikel Simpson, also rushed for 77 yards.
"I think they're finding something and you're seeing a little bit of a changing of the guards right now at running back with Peerman getting the number of carries that he is," said Holtz. "I think both running backs are very productive, but Peerman has really been impressive. If they are going to turn and spread us out, we're going to have to play in space. But I think they'll also play some two-back."
While Groh seeks to establish a running game on offense, his defense is centered on stopping it. The Cavaliers completely shut down the Terrapins' offense, holding them to just 79 yards rushing.
UVA senior and reigning ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week Clint Sintim played a major role in that feat with one sack, six solo tackles and a pass breakup. Sintim, who lines up at linebacker as well as the defensive end on third-down plays, is tied with former Cavalier Chris Long with 22 career sacks.
"We've seen him on film," said ECU offensive lineman Cory Dowless. "That kid's a really good player. You just have to prepare for him. Everybody has to step up as a unit and execute their job."
Holtz believes UVA's linebackers are the key to a defense that after last week is beginning to look menacing.
Holtz also pointed out that the Cavaliers' size across the board could pose a problem for the Pirates. UVA's starting defensive ends are both 6-foot-7 and their offensive line is massive.
Center Jack Shields is the smallest player on the offensive front, at 6-foot-5 and 289 pounds. His four line mates are all at least 6-foot-6 and weigh in over 300 pounds.
For both ECU and UVA, the question is: which team will show up? Both sides have had a puzzling array of results. If the Cavaliers put forth a Terrapin-like effort, the Pirates could be in for a battle during their first trip to Charlottesville since 1975.
"I'm very honest with them," Holtz said. "I'm not a bag of tricks guy to try and motivate them. I think we have to go back to holding everybody accountable, from coaches to players to being productive."
ECU has a 2-0 all-time record against UVA-making the Cavaliers the only ACC team the Pirates have a winning record against. ECU's two victories came in 1975 and 2006.
This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.
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