PirateIllustrated.com - Tulsa Week: How They Stack Up

November 12, 2009

Kevin Jones & Mark Davis
PirateIllustrated.com Staff

Mark Davis and Kevin Jones bring you the latest installment of HOW THEY STACK UP. This week the 5-4 Pirates hit the road to Tulsa, Oklahoma to take on the (4-5)Golden Hurricane in a rematch of last year's Conference USA title game.

Offense

Quarterback

ECU: The play of Patrick Pinkney has been stagnant throughout the year for the Pirates. Last Thursday against Virginia Tech, Pinkney finished 16 for 33 with 167 yards passing and an interception. The season hasn't been productive either as Pinkney has only thrown 8 touchdowns to his 10 interceptions.

A consistent passing game has been missing for ECU and Skip Holtz indicated to PI on Monday that there could be some changes with the quarterback position "Right now, we've talked about some different things? Do we increase Dwayne Harris' role as a quarterback?

Does Josh Jordan play a little bit more at quarterback? We'll just have to look at these options and see what will work out best."

Tulsa: Quarterback is not a concern for Tulsa and they've had great play from University of Texas transfer G.J. Kinne.

On the year Kinne has thrown for 1,832 yards, completed 60.1% of his passes, and tossed 15 touchdowns to his 6 interceptions. Kinne has also proven to be a threat running the ball. So far this season Kinne has rushed for 283 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Last week was Kinne's best performance of the season. In a 46-45 heartbreak loss to Houston , Kinne finished 19 for 25 with 334 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He also added 100 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown.

Advantage: Tulsa . Patrick Pinkney has not been very effective in 2009 while G.J. Kinne for Tulsa has been very productive. Kinne is also more efficient running the football.

Running Back

ECU: Dominique Lindsay has been very valuable to the ECU offense. Despite fighting injuries throughout the year, Lindsay has been able to gain 639 yards and 3 touchdowns. Those stats won't blow anyone away, but on only 112 carries, Lindsay's 5.7 yards per carry proves his worth.

Brandon Jackson would probably enjoy some more carries after only carrying the ball two times last week for 7 yards. On the season Jackson has 75 carries for 278 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Giavanni Ruffin injured his ankle last Thursday against Virginia Tech and is questionable for the game.

Dwayne Harris could see an even more involved role in the offense against Tulsa. As mentioned above Skip noted at his weekly press conference that Harris might see some more direct snaps. This season Harris has carried the ball 24 times for 114 yards and 4 touchdowns. Harris is the Pirate's most dynamic player and they will find many ways to get the ball in his hands.

Tulsa: Outside of G.J. Kinne's 102 rushing attempts, Jamad Williams is Tulsa 's leading rusher. For 2009 Williams has gained 304 yards on 77 carries for a 3.9 yards per carry. Williams however has only scored one touchdown this year and it came five weeks ago against Rice.

Tulsa has lost their past four games, and in those four games Williams has not gained more than 46 yards. A more productive and balanced rushing attack will be key if Tulsa wants to change their losing ways of late. Charles Clay only has 43 carries for the year, but he can expect some more after scoring 2 touchdowns against Houston last week. Clay is also a viable option in the passing game with 24 receptions for 293 yards and 2 touchdowns. Receiver Damaris Johnson has also been used in the running game. Johnson has 22 carries on the season for 150 yards. Johnson is used in a similar way as ECU's Dwayne Harris.

Advantage: ECU. Although Tulsa statistically has a better rushing attack, Dominique Lindsay can impact the game and take over more than the running backs for Tulsa.

Wide Receiver

ECU: Outside of Dwayne Harris' 50 receptions for 566 yards and 3 touchdowns, the production at receiver for ECU is pretty minimal. The Pirates don't lack talent at the wide receiver position, but they do lack consistency.

The past two weeks have been good for Darryl Freeney, as he has combined for 9 catches, 166 yards and a touchdown. Jamar Bryant who has caught 21 passes for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns in limited playing time this year, is once again questionable against Tulsa. Alex Taylor is another receiver that has bounced in and out of the stat book. Last week against Virginia Tech, Taylor finished with 5 receptions for 60 yards. The previous four games Taylor combined for 4 catches and 28 yards.

Tulsa: The Golden Hurricanes have two very talented receivers in Damaris Johnson and Slick Shelley. Both have the ability to stretch the field and beat the secondary over the top, which has been a problem for the ECU defensive backs. For 2009 Damaris Johnson has 39 receptions for 711 yards and 2 touchdowns. Johnson is averaging 18.2 yards per catch. Slick Shelley has come down with 24 receptions 458 yards and 4 touchdowns. Shelley is also averaging a very impressive yards per catch with 19.1 yards. If those receivers are covered G.J. Kinne can rely on A.J. Whitmore who has caught 21 passes for 209 yards and a score.

Advantage: Tulsa- Dwayne Harris is a great player, but the 1-2 punch for Tulsa gives the Golden Hurricanes the advantage at receiver. Damaris Johnson and Slick Shelley are both averaging very impressive yards per catch. The Pirate secondary will have their hands full Sunday night.

Offensive Line

ECU: The Pirate offensive line currently ranks 28th in country in total sacks allowed. On the season ECU has given up 11 sacks. From the start of the season to now, the ECU offensive line has improved immensely. One of the most important things is that ECU has been able to stay healthy at offensive line. Center Sean Allen and guard Terence Campbell specifically have played great and have opened running lanes for Lindsay on most of his big runs.

Tulsa: Keeping the pressure off of G.J. Kinne has been a problem for Tulsa . Currently the Golden Hurricanes are ranked 117th in country in sacks allowed. Allowing 34 sacks, the Pirate defensive line will surely be excited for this match-up against the offensive line for Tulsa . Tulsa will be happy to get Tyler Holmes back at left tackle. Holmes has missed the past six games with an injury. With the return of Holmes this will be the seventh different starting lineup on the offensive line for Tulsa.

Advantage: ECU. The Pirates have been playing well up front and continue to improve. ECU also has the advantage of an offensive line that has played together week in and week out.

Defense

Defensive Line

ECU- Ryan Williams was able to have his way with the Pirate defense last Thursday on ESPN. The freshman had a career high 187 yards, but East Carolina was able to hold him out of the end zone. In fact Virginia Tech's only touchdown came right before halftime on an acrobatic run from Hokie quarterback Tyrod Taylor. The defense has something to be proud of. Holding an explosive ACC team to 4 field goals and a touchdown is doing your job. If ECU's offense played to win the game earlier on, this one could have been a lot closer.

The defensive line kept up the intensity for most of the game. The Pirates line engaged in blocks long enough to allow teammates to get 6 tackles for a loss. Both Jay Ross and Linval Joseph were able to hold down the middle. V-Tech had success running on off tackle. Josh Smith has an ailing shoulder but should play this week. C.J. Wilson was held to a mere .5 tackle in the biggest game of ECU's season.

Mentioned above, Tulsa's quaterback G.J. Kinne (a Longhorn transfer) poses just as big a threat as Tyrod Taylor did with his legs. And he's coming off his best game as a college quarterback. Kinne will be playing with confidence, but the Pirates should take note he has been sacked at least 3 times every game. The sophomore has tendencies to hold onto the ball too long and Greg Hudson needs be sending linebackers to aid the defensive lines pressure.

Linval Joseph leads the Purple and Gold in sacks with 3 and the team has only 15 on the year.

Tulsa: Tulsa uses a typical small ball defense in the 3-3-5 stack. The Golden Hurricanes chiefly show teams the 3 down lineman front, but have recently added a few 4 down lineman packages.

Un'Tavious Scott a 245 pound senior is Tulsa's leading pass rusher. His 6 sacks double that of any Pirate and he has also produced 2 forced fumbles. Opposite Scott is promising red-shirt Freshman Cory Dorris. The 6'4 255 defensive end has an impressive 43 tackles and 3 sacks. Dorris will be a problem for future C-USA quarterbacks.

Plugging the middle in the of the 3-3-5 package is senior Wilson Garrison (6'4 283). A 2008 All C-USA honorable mention, Garrison has regressed this season with just 24 tackles compared to last season's 53 and is undersized for a Nose Guard.

Junior Ordrick Roy was a starter before Dorris' breakout play. He will be in rotation with senior hybrid end/linebacker George Clinkscale.

Advantage: ECU- The undersized Golden Hurricanes will have trouble penetrating East Carolina brick wall of an offensive line. The Pirates have allowed just 9 sacks all season. Tulsa's inexperienced line will force the offense to work out of the shotgun more than they will probably want to. ECU Opponents have averaged 122.9 yards per game on the ground.

Linebackers

ECU - Jeremy Chambliss brought his 'A' game against Virginia Tech. Chambliss had 8 tackles, 3 for a loss and the Pirates lone sack. His 53 tackles are 3rd on the team. Chris Mattocks played well with 5.5 tackles, while Nick Johnson was surprisingly quiet most of the night with just 3 tackles. Virginia Tech's speed (mainly Ryan Williams) was just too much for the linebackers to handle. Dustin Lineback will continue to see playing time and his energy off the bench has been unmatched.

Tulsa got its first individual 100 yard rusher of 2009 last week against Houston and it happened to be G.J. Kinne. The quarterback will take designed runs and also create plays on his own. Fullback Charles Clay can play running back and tight end as well, and is powerful with the ball.

Blitzing on the outside is necessary on Sunday night. Tulsa has to pass the ball down the field even in during their 4 game losing streak. Which means the linebackers will be as active in coverage as they were against Southern Methodist.

Tulsa: Preseason 1st team All-CUSA middle linebacker Mike Bryan has lived up to his expectations and then some. The 6'3 226 lb. senior has 72 tackles and doesn't make mistakes. Bryan can get into the backfield with 7.5 tackles for a loss and coaches have raved about his football instincts.

Junior Tanner Antle is a second year starter at outside linebacker. A tall linebacker (6'4 225), Antle added muscle this offseason but still possesses rock-solid skills in coverage. Mentioned above George Clinkscale plays on the outside and has 28 tackles but only 1 sack. The senior even lost weight (now 238 pounds) before the season to become more of a blitzer off the edge, but hasn't produced.

As of late sophomore Curnelius Arnick has picked up the slack adding 41 tackles. In his first career game last season Arnick led the team with 8 tackles. JUCO transfer Kaipo Sarkissian can fill in at middle linebacker and play special teams.

Advantage: Push- Mike Bryan may be the best linebacker in the C-USA. Antle can make plays in coverage and Curnelius Arnick has been playing is a tackling machine when in the game.

For ECU, Jeremy Chambliss has been getting into backfields with relative ease and we expect that to continue. Nick Johnson will be big Sunday because likes using the middle of the field with crossing patterns.

Secondary

ECU - The secondary was the biggest reason ECU was able to upset Tulsa in their own stadium for the 2008 conference championship. Travis Simmons returned a touchdown 72 yards for a touchdown and East Carolina was able to force 5 interceptions.

The unit as a whole might have played its best game of the season against VT. The Hokies longest pass play went for only 23 yards and the Pirate defenders were all over the ball. Van Eskridge had 8.5 tackles to up his team leading total to 68 on the year. After some early season struggles, Eskridge has re-solidified himself as an All-CUSA candidate.

Fellow Safety Levin Neal nearly had a game changing interception in the 3rd quarter and will need to be make sure Tulsa's Damaris Johnson doesn't slip behind him in coverage.

Dekota Marshall was lost for the season with a broken leg and could be out until August. Sophomore Derek Blacknall has been moved from safety to cornerback and could be tested in Tulsa's 4 wide sets.

Emanuel Davis was in perfect position last week but needs to jump a route this week. He only has one interception this season. Tulsa is 3rd in the C-USA in passing offense.

Tulsa: How many young studs do the Golden Hurricanes have? Add sophomore sensation DeAundre Brown to that list. One of 3 safeties (remember Tulsa plays a 3-3-5) Brown leads the team in tackles with 76 and sticks to ball carriers like a magnet. Playing the Spur position is senior James Lockett. 5'11 203, Lockett is a free-lancer who makes plays in coverage and behind the line of scrimmage. 5'9 senior Charles Davis plays at deep safety. The former corner has good vision, but has given up big plays to bigger opponents.

Cornerback is a different story for TU. Though they play 2 seniors, Tulsa is giving up 261.7 yards per game in the air. Kenny Sims has 29 tackles and no interceptions. His partner Jon Destin has been better with 4 interceptions but Tulsa has been ravaged through the air in recent losses. Freshman Dexter McCoil has started recently and is a great tackler.

Advantage: ECU - But barely. Though the secondary has played solid recently, Kinne can deliver strikes all across the field. If Tulsa had more of a veteran presence at Corner this is one would be a push.

Special Teams

ECU: Dwayne Harris will rightfully handle to kick return duties. Harris is threat to take it all the way as evident by the SMU game tape. Dwayne Harris is averaging 25 yards a kick return. Travis Simmons will return punts and Harris might see some as well. Simmons has been doing a good job this season but hasn't taken one back for a touchdown.

Matt Dodge has lived up to the hype this year and continues to be a weapon on special teams. Dodge is ranked 3rd in the nation for punting, and is averaging 45.5 yards a punt. Ben Hartman will most likely get the nod over fellow kicker Ben Ryan. For 2009 the senior kicker is 9 for 13 with a long of 48 yards.

Tulsa: Returning kicks for the Golden Hurricanes will be Damaris Johnson. Johnson is averaging 23.4 yards a return. Johnson also handles the punt return job and has been very effective this year. Johnson ranks 13th in country averaging 14.5 yards a punt return. Damaris Johnson has also scored a touchdown on a punt return. Punting the ball for Tulsa will be Michael Such. Such is 14th in the nation with 44.0 yards a punt. Kevin Fitzpatrick has made 8 of his 9 field goal attempts, but only has a long of 36 yards.

Advantage: Push. Both teams have players that can take it the distance and both teams have great punters that can ultimately change the game.

Overall

After advancing (and choking)in back-to-back Conference championships, Tulsa has taken a step back this season. There 4-5 record is a bit unfair due to losses to Boise State, Houston and Oklahoma, but their most notable win as over a below average Tulane squad.

Tulsa has a good recruiting class coming in with a bunch of already talented underclassmen, which means they'll challenge again next season for C-USA crown.

All but eliminated from the C-USA title game, the Golden Hurricanes still have 3 motivating factors. First an ESPN national audience. Secondly becoming bowl eligible. Finally Tulsa wants revenge on last season's demoralizing Conference USA championship loss to an injury ravaged East Carolina.

This will be a tough game for the Pirates, but again they have ten days to prepare. Tulsa's defense is weaker than the statistics suggest. Running the ball will be a priority, but the Pirates will need a balanced attack.

Last week the passing game had viewers wondering if Pinkney was even the same person who led the Pirates in 2008. Skip Holtz needs to open up the offense up to more than just draws and screens. In Pirates losses this season it has felt as if ECU was trying not to 'lose' the game. The Pirates must play to 'win' Sunday night at Tulsa.

?2009 PirateIllustrated.com. All rights reserved.

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