***ECU Pirates Football 2009***

[head_strong]

East Carolina Pirates 2009 Schedule

9/5 vs Appalachian State Mountaineers

9/12 @ West Virginia Mountaineers

9/19 @ North Carolina Tar Heels

9/26 vs Central Florida Knights

10/3 @ Marshall Thundering Herd

10/10 @ Southern Methodist Mustangs

10/17 vs Rice Owls

10/27 @ Memphis Tigers

11/5 vs Virginia Tech Hokies

11/15 @ Tulsa Golden Hurricane

11/21 vs UAB Blazers

11/28 vs Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles

[head_strong]

2009 Preview:

OFFENSE: The Pirates received good news when quarterback Patrick Pinkney was granted a 6th year of eligibility. Pinkney has a good deal of experience and he started 13 of 14 games for ECU last season, throwing for 2,675 yards and 13 touchdowns.

"We're all excited for Patrick and our program that he'll be with us another year," Holtz said. "It's nice to see his resiliency and ability to face adversity on and off the field rewarded in some respect."

Pinkney could exceed last season's production with the return of wideout Jamar Bryant, who had 19 grabs and three touchdowns through the first 4 games of last year before being suspended for violating team rules. Bryant had 48 catches and 6 touchdowns in 2007 and he has the big play potential that was missing from this unit last season. Add Dwayne Harris, the team's leading receiver with 58 catches last year, into the mix and ECU should be able to move the ball through the air a little easier in 2009.

ECU's offensive line returns just about everyone, so protecting Pinkney shouldn't be an issue. Center Sean Allen highlights the line and he is a candidate for all-league honors once again.

In the backfield is where there is uncertainty for ECU, although the team does have several options. The leading candidate for a starting role is Brandon Jackson, who transferred from Kentucky and sat out last season. Jackson is a tough runner that can carry the load and help the Pirates improve on the modest 126.4 rushing ypg they averaged last season.

"Brandon Jackson has shown that he is capable of being an every down player in this offense," stated Holtz. "Brandon Jackson has definitely solidified himself as a guy who is going to be competing for the starting job and is definitely going to play in the opening game."

DEFENSE: The Pirates' defense played the biggest part in the team's success last year, posting their highest take-away total since 1996 with 33 forced turnovers, including 22 interceptions. This year's unit figures to be just as strong and it all starts with defensive lineman C.J. Wilson. A first-team all- league choice last season, Wilson ranked second in the conference with 10.5 sacks, to go with 18.5 TFLs and 70 tackles, and he figures to terrorize opposing quarterbacks once again in 2009. Throw in the return of tackles Linval Joseph (43 tackles) and Jay Ross (48 stops, 4.5 sacks) and ECU has one of the top defensive fronts in the conference.

At linebacker, the Pirates lack experience overall, but the return of Nick Johnson and Jeremy Chambliss for their senior campaigns gives the team some stability in the middle. Johnson led ECU with 102 tackles last season, while Chambliss chipped in with 60 stops of his own. The duo are capable of handling anyone that happens to get past the talented front line of ECU.

Things don't let up in the secondary either, as the return of Van Eskridge gives ECU a big time talent in the back of the defense. Eskridge, a free safety, was a big contributor to the defense last season with 91 tackles and four interceptions and he earned recognition with a spot on the all-conference first team. The return of corners Dekota Marshall (41 tackles), Travis Simmons (30 tackles) and Emmanuel Davis (45 stops, four INTs) help form an experienced and dangerous secondary.

SPECIAL TEAMS: ECU's kicking game should be sound once again in 2009, as punter Matt Dodge and kicker Ben Hartman are both welcomed back. Dodge averaged 43.9 yards per punt in 2008, while Hartman made good on 21-of-31 field goals, with a long of 51.

OUTLOOK: The Pirates are stocked and ready for a repeat, although things will be much tougher now with a target on their back. The offense has the potential to be better than last season, especially if they can find a running back, and the defense will once again be stout and the strength of this team. ECU has dates with West Virginia, North Carolina and Virginia Tech, so there is potential to make some headlines again against BSC programs. The Pirates also have a favorable conference slate, with their toughest road game coming at Tulsa. When all is said and done, it could very well be ECU standing atop C- USA for a second straight year.

"I understand the expectations are extremely high right now," said Holtz. "They're extremely high with the people on the outside with the fan base and they are also high from the coaching staff and players alike. We are aware of what is at stake."

[head_strong]

The Pirates Return 16 Starters from 2008…..Record: 9-5 Overall 6-2 C-USA

National Preseason Award Watch List

Patrick Pinkney #15 QB-Johnny Unitas Award

C.J. Wilson #95 DE-Ted Hendricks & Rotary Lombardi Awards & Bronko Nagurski Watch List

Sean Allen #54 OL-Rotary Lombardi Award

Van Eskridge #4 FS-Jim Thorpe Award

Nick Johnson #44 LB-Rotary Lombardi Award

Ben Hartman #30 K-Lou Goza Award

Matt Dodge #42 P-Ray Guy Award

Offensive Impact Players:
QB-Patrick Pinkney #15
RB-Jonathan Williams #2
RB-Brandon Jackson #7
RB-Norman Whitley #33
WR-Dwayne Harris #17
WR-Jamar Bryant #10
WR-Darryl Freeney #81
C-Sean Allen #54
OG-Doug Palmer #70

Defensive Impact Players:
MLB-Nick Johnson #44
OLB-Jeremy Chambliss #49
FS-Van Eskridge #4
CB-Emanual Davis #38
NG-Linval Joseph #97
DE-C.J. Wilson #95
DE-Scotty Robinson #53
DT-Jay Ross #90

Head Coach Skip Holtz (2005-Present)

[Shortstop]

The Pirates will start out strong and finish strong. East Carolina will play in a Bowl this year.

[jattanz]

Shortstop got bought by points

[Shortstop]

LET'S GO PIRATES !!!

[jattanz]

Ecu will go 8-4 at best

[Willie Bee]

Anyone that might be wondering where their posts in this thread went, check the Private Zone. Let's keep comments in this thread on topic, that being East Carolina football. Thanks.

[MJT1212]

GO PIRATESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! I'll be at every game once again this season...We should go 11-3 in a WORST case scenario by the end of the season...mark my words. UNC, WVU, VT, APP ST., ALL GOING DOWN and GOING DOWN HARD! Reg. Season record 10-2/ Final 11-3 WORST CASE... May the beatings continue...8-4 guy...your out of your mind with that lowly prediction.

[Shortstop]

Shortstop got bought by points

jattanz, where have you been guy?

[Shortstop]

The Pirates will start out strong and finish strong. East Carolina will play in a Bowl this year.

East Carolina just lost to SMU, forget about going bowling this year.

[ucbearcats1027]

dj skill void

[PsychoQ]

What a trash thread..

[Intuitive_Edge]

Told him VT would certainly not lose months ago. I won

[sportscash]