NCAA Football Preview - East Carolina Pirates

By Ralph Lauro Aug 20, 2007, 14:05 GMT

OFFENSE: The Pirates thrived with their passing attack last season, ranking 31st (232.6 passing ypg) in the nation, but with the loss of quarterback James Pinkney and star wideout Aundrae Allison the team will turn to its ground game to carry the load in 2007. Leading the way will be Chris Johnson, who rushed for 314 yards and four touchdowns last season. The speedy and undersized senior however, hasn't proven he can be an every-down back, so look for 212-pound Dominique Lindsay to get his fair share of touches. With four starters returning on the offensive line, the Pirates should be able to improve on the modest 115.5 rushing ypg they averaged in 2006. The experienced line should also help ease the transition of sophomore Rob Kass into the starting quarterback role. The 6-4, 250-pound Kass has a strong arm and is the only player besides Pinkney to throw a pass last season. Kass will look to form a solid tandem with Phillip Henry, who is the team's leading returning wideout, with 34 catches and 484 receiving yards last season.

DEFENSE: ECU ranked a solid 52nd in the nation in total defense (329.3 ypg) last season and with seven starters back in the fold this unit could do even better in 2007. While the defense was solid overall, the unit was susceptible to the run, allowing 145.2 ypg, and therefor an improvement up front is certainly needed. Three starters return and eight players that started a game on the line are also welcomed back, giving the Pirates depth as well as experience. Mix in North Carolina transfer Khalif Mitchell (6-6, 320 pounds) and ECU has the pieces to possibly dominate up front. In the middle of the field the Pirates should be every bit as strong with the return of all three starters. Junior Quentin Cotton highlights the LB trio and he is the team's leading returning tackler after placing second with 68 stops a year ago. In the secondary is where the Pirates may struggle this season, as only one starter is welcomed back. ECU, which had one of the league's best pass defenses the last two years, will lean on returning starter Travis Williams to be a leader. The senior got burnt a few times last year, but still finished with 55 tackles and eight passes broken up.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Tailback Chris Johnson was a First-Team All-C-USA selection as a return specialist last season, and he has the potential to make something happen on every return. ECU will be breaking in a pair of new kickers this season and that could cause a few problems. Redshirt freshman Nathan Przestrzelski and sophomore Matt Dodge are competing for the punting duties, while sophomore Ben Hartman is poised to take over the placekicking duties after playing sparingly in 2006.

OUTLOOK: The Pirates have a tough schedule and some important holes to fill and therefor a second straight bowl appearance may be out of the question. The team is without a proven quarterback and the secondary is also inexperienced. Mix this all in with several tough road games and ECU could be in for a rough season, although Holtz does have the program on the right track.

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