(11-24-2013 09:32 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 05:38 AM)MUther Wrote:  Definitely one of our strategies should be to use our strong running attack to keep Carden off the field. The difference in QB stats for this year is that we are running the ball very well. Cato hasn't had to throw for 400 yards a game. We're fairly balanced on offense. Eating clock and keeping ECUs offense off the field will be much easier for us to do. If it becomes a shootout, Cato is more than capable of taking over with a passing game and that quickstrike hurry offense. I like having the extra dimension, but we'll see how our backs do against ECU's run defense.

Mark it down. Marshall will not win running the ball. The key will be Cato throwing and then scrambling. Marshall will be able to move the ball through the air much easier than on the ground. If Doc comes in with a ground attack plan...it will be abandoned at some point in the game.

Cato's arm and scrambling ability will be the key to Marshall winning. IMO...He is the best athlete on the field. ECU must stop Cato..or we get rolled.

Also, ECU has been a lot more balanced the last few weeks. I wouldn't be surprised if ECU out-gained Marshall on the ground because of ECU's stout rush D, Marshall's susceptibility to a ground attack, and ECU's recent trend of pounding the rock more.

Marshall fans don't fool yourselves, ECU can be very balanced when needed & Cooper is on a roll right now. Don't look now, but despite a slow start, Cooper is less than 100 yards away from another 1,000 yard season!

I don't think either team's Offense or Defense is really "better" than the other's. Each team is strong in different categories of offense and defense. I'm not so sure that SOS is that much in favor if ECU. Even that is fairly even. I wish this game was going to be on prime time broadcast television. It's going to be classic!

Marshall Winning Stats
Scoring Margin: 9th vs 14th
Total Offense: 11th vs 30th
Yards Per Play: 11th vs 50th
Opponent Yards Per Play: 8th vs 14th
Pass Yards Per Att: 32nd vs 34th
Passing TDs: 2nd vs 7th
Opponent Pass Completion Pct: 8th vs61st
Opponent Pass TDs: 19th vs 84th
Rush Yards Per Att: 19th vs 106th
Rush TDs: 25th vs 35th
Opponent Third Down Conv Pct: 18th vs 101st
Sacks Given Up: 50th vs 92nd
Opponent Kick Off Return Yards Per Att: 23rd vs 71st
Punt Return Yards Per Att: 17th vs 27th
Field Goal Pct: 100th vs 105th

East Carolina Winning Stats
Total Defense: 21st vs 24th
Turnover Margin: 32nd vs 49th
Time of Possession: 79th vs 121st
Pass Completion Pct: 1st vs 58th
Opponent Pass Yards Per Att: 14th vs 17th
Opponent Rush Yards Per Att: 9th vs 22nd
Opponent Rush TDs: 8th vs 32nd
Total First Downs: 6th vs 9th
Third Down Conv Pct: 6th vs 9th
Penalty Yards: 45th vs 73rd
Sacks : 10th vs 31st
Kick Off Return Yards Per Att: 3rd vs 34th
Opponent Punt Return Yards Per Att : 65th vs 80th
Punting Yards Per Att: 32nd vs 89th
Opponent Win Pct (SOS): 112th vs 122nd

Two very good teams...edge to Marshall for home field. Whoever wins this game wins CUSA

(11-24-2013 09:51 AM)oasispirate Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 09:32 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 05:38 AM)MUther Wrote:  Definitely one of our strategies should be to use our strong running attack to keep Carden off the field. The difference in QB stats for this year is that we are running the ball very well. Cato hasn't had to throw for 400 yards a game. We're fairly balanced on offense. Eating clock and keeping ECUs offense off the field will be much easier for us to do. If it becomes a shootout, Cato is more than capable of taking over with a passing game and that quickstrike hurry offense. I like having the extra dimension, but we'll see how our backs do against ECU's run defense.

Mark it down. Marshall will not win running the ball. The key will be Cato throwing and then scrambling. Marshall will be able to move the ball through the air much easier than on the ground. If Doc comes in with a ground attack plan...it will be abandoned at some point in the game.

Cato's arm and scrambling ability will be the key to Marshall winning. IMO...He is the best athlete on the field. ECU must stop Cato..or we get rolled.

We never stopped him last year yet won in a shootout. It could be same kind of shootout this year. Good to get that road confidence this week in preparation.

This may end up being a lower scoring game than most people think. Both defenses will have a chip on their shoulders over the performances they had last year. The pre-game hype will all be on the offenses..I think both defenses will come into the game ready to play. Also with the cold weather expected for the game it will probably cause some issues for the offenses.

I know MU fans respect the Pirate team. It will take a solid game from us to win.

(11-24-2013 03:18 AM)CoachMaclid Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 02:17 AM)Ned Low Wrote:  -ECU has the edge at QB.

You probably think you're clever trying to sneak that one past the fans of the team with the reigning conference player of the year at QB.

ECU does not have the better 3rd Down Conversion Rate. Marshall is 7th nationally at 52.7%, ECU is 10th nationally at 52.0%. One thing I do note is how similar statistically these two teams are across the board.

Average Marshall score: 42.8 - 22.2
Average ECU score: 41.5 - 21.5

No, I don't think that I'm "clever" in "trying to sneak in anything". Carden, statistically, is the better QB.

Also, I did not made a mistake on the 3rd Down Conversion Percentage. ECU is ranked 6th and Marshall is ranked 9th.

I am sure the game was put on Friday for tv purposes, which may help even more casual fans watch because of rankings, but I and a lot of other pirates fans would have been able to make the trip if it was on Saturday. How do you expect your turn out Marshall fans?

I am just happy we will not be playing in front of a empty seats....we play much better on the road when there is a good crowd. I am counting on Marshall fans to show up; I know it is not the best day for a game but we need a crowd....no more Tulane's, MT's or FIU's!

(11-24-2013 10:28 AM)ECU-DMB Fanatic Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 09:51 AM)oasispirate Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 09:32 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 05:38 AM)MUther Wrote:  Definitely one of our strategies should be to use our strong running attack to keep Carden off the field. The difference in QB stats for this year is that we are running the ball very well. Cato hasn't had to throw for 400 yards a game. We're fairly balanced on offense. Eating clock and keeping ECUs offense off the field will be much easier for us to do. If it becomes a shootout, Cato is more than capable of taking over with a passing game and that quickstrike hurry offense. I like having the extra dimension, but we'll see how our backs do against ECU's run defense.

Mark it down. Marshall will not win running the ball. The key will be Cato throwing and then scrambling. Marshall will be able to move the ball through the air much easier than on the ground. If Doc comes in with a ground attack plan...it will be abandoned at some point in the game.

Cato's arm and scrambling ability will be the key to Marshall winning. IMO...He is the best athlete on the field. ECU must stop Cato..or we get rolled.

We never stopped him last year yet won in a shootout. It could be same kind of shootout this year. Good to get that road confidence this week in preparation.

This may end up being a lower scoring game than most people think. Both defenses will have a chip on their shoulders over the performances they had last year. The pre-game hype will all be on the offenses..I think both defenses will come into the game ready to play. Also with the cold weather expected for the game it will probably cause some issues for the offenses.

I agree. I don't think that both offenses will score at will... nor do I think that one will. I would not be surprised to see a winning score of 30-27 or 35-32 or something like that.

(11-24-2013 12:34 PM)ECUgradstudent Wrote:  I am sure the game was put on Friday for tv purposes, which may help even more casual fans watch because of rankings, but I and a lot of other pirates fans would have been able to make the trip if it was on Saturday. How do you expect your turn out Marshall fans?

There is a big push. But once again, noon kick, on black friday.

If this was a Saturday 3:30 game, easily 35k.

But methinks 28-30k

Only thing I know for sure:

ECU will start with the ball
ECU will score on first offensive series

Outside of that, it should be a hell of a game!

(11-24-2013 12:59 PM)PurpleReigns2012 Wrote:  Only thing I know for sure:

ECU will start with the ball
ECU will score on first offensive series

Outside of that, it should be a hell of a game!

Huh??

Anyway, great game. Anyone that stakes themselves out on this game is delusional. And no offense, West, the conference champion is playing in THIS game.

(11-24-2013 03:40 PM)Greg H Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 12:59 PM)PurpleReigns2012 Wrote:  Only thing I know for sure:

ECU will start with the ball
ECU will score on first offensive series

Outside of that, it should be a hell of a game!

Huh??

Anyway, great game. Anyone that stakes themselves out on this game is delusional. And no offense, West, the conference champion is playing in THIS game.

ECU has some crazy streak on winning coin tosses. And I imagine with their offense they will want the ball first.

(11-24-2013 12:34 PM)ECUgradstudent Wrote:  I am sure the game was put on Friday for tv purposes, which may help even more casual fans watch because of rankings, but I and a lot of other pirates fans would have been able to make the trip if it was on Saturday. How do you expect your turn out Marshall fans?

I know it is going to be on the CBS sports channel but is it on the Greenville station locally? I will be in Swansboro for the holiday and I'm not sure if my in-laws have CBSSN on their cable package but do know they get WITN.

We had like 12 straight coin toss wins or starting with the ball.

VegasInsider has Marshall as a 1.5 point favorite at open. Consensus right now is Marshal by 3.

Keep in mind that if ECU wins and MT beats UTEP that MTSU will be 2nd in the East. Pretty cool prospect IMHO

(11-24-2013 04:07 PM)dawgitall Wrote:  

(11-24-2013 12:34 PM)ECUgradstudent Wrote:  I am sure the game was put on Friday for tv purposes, which may help even more casual fans watch because of rankings, but I and a lot of other pirates fans would have been able to make the trip if it was on Saturday. How do you expect your turn out Marshall fans?

I know it is going to be on the CBS sports channel but is it on the Greenville station locally? I will be in Swansboro for the holiday and I'm not sure if my in-laws have CBSSN on their cable package but do know they get WITN.

CBSSN only.

Ecu game plan all season has been to score early, stop the run, keep everything In front, and get teams throwing the ball. Once that happens we get after the qb and our safeties start ball hawking.

There will be a ton of passing yards in this game but the stats to watch will be rush yards and red zone efficiency.

GO HERD!!