 |
 |
|
| | Monday, September 4 Offense has to carry Pirates in title chase | |||||
| By Eric Crawford Special to ESPN.com East Carolina Pirates 1999 record: 9-3 (4-2 C-USA) Coach: Steve Logan Returning starters: 15 (9 offense, 6 defense) Outlook Last year, the defense took the Pirates to a bowl game. This year, it will be the offense's turn behind junior QB David Garrard. The 6-3, 235-pounder threw for 2,359 yards and 14 touchdowns but also rushed for 439 yards and eight TDs. Garrard's challenge will be to cut down on the 12 interceptions he threw last season. "It's tough for a guy with David's physical tools," coach Steve Logan said. "But he's going to have to look at his position more intellectually." He'll be able to look at it confidently behind an offensive line that features All-C-USA C Sherwin Lacewell, T Samien Jones and Gs Chris Nelson and Aaron Walker. That seasoned front will give RBs Jamie Wilson and Leonard Henry plenty of running room. The biggest hole left on offense is the loss of WR Lamont Chappell, last season's leading receiver. But Logan has plenty of young receivers ready to fill the void, led by HB Jamie Williams and TE Rashon Burns. On defense, ECU must overcome the loss of FS Chris Satterfield, who elected to go forego his senior year to go pro. CBs Kevin Monroe and Forrest Foster both graduated, leaving SS Anthony Adams as the only returning starter in the backfield. Two-time all-conference LB Jeff Kerr is also gone, but the return of LB Pernell Griffin, the team's top tackler a year ago, gives the Pirates something to build around. "Pernell needs to be the rock of that whole defense without a doubt," said Logan, who believes he'll field the fastest defensive team he's ever had at ECU. No loss will be bigger than P Andrew Bayes, whose 48.1-yard average earned him All-America honors. If the defense develops the way Logan's units traditionally have, the offense should provide enough punch to have the Pirates challenging again for a conference title. Keep an eye on ... QB David Garrard. He showed up as a 270-pound freshman who now plays at a chiseled 235. "You could strike a match on him," Logan said. "He runs a 4.75 in the 40, and that's probably as fast as he's going to get. But a 4.75 beer truck coming at you is a bad feeling, so when he takes off on a scramble, it's OK with me." It's a good season if ... The Pirates can be playing for a Liberty Bowl berth at Southern Miss in their regular-season finale on Nov. 25. |
ALSO SEE C-USA not happy with just being good | |||||