Pirates looking to tame the Mustangs

This Saturday under the bright lights of Gerald Ford Stadium, in the blistering Texas heat, Skip Holtz and his Pirates will take on June Jones and the Southern Methodist Mustangs in what promises to be a thrilling, high-scoring shootout in Dallas.

Fresh off two straight victories, ECU (3-2, 2-0 C-USA) will enter into battle with a lot of momentum, and to make matters even better, it's their first night game of the season.

"Being a night game, it's going to be a lively situation. It'll be a great atmosphere," Holtz said on playing a night game at SMU.

The Pirates got off to a bit of a shaky start in the 2009 season, winning in less than spectacular fashion to an FCS team in Appalachian State and followed that up with two losses to West Virginia and North Carolina on the road.

Nonetheless, ECU has bounced back to win two big conference games against UCF and Marshall to take control of the Conference USA East Division.

The Mustangs (2-2, 1-0 C-USA) have had similar steps of faith this season, keeping their fans on the edge of their seats with two slim margin wins against FCS's Stephen F. Austin State University and UAB while dropping contests to Washington State and No. 10 TCU.

However, based on last year's standards, SMU's start is a vast improvement from last year's horrendous season when the Mustangs won only one game.

Last season marked the beginning of Jones' tenure, who was coming off a Sugar Bowl appearance with Colt Brennan and the University of Hawaii along with his newly incorporated spread run-n-gun offense.

What started off as a learning process for SMU quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell has turned into a lethal weapon for the Mustangs' offense.

This season, SMU is averaging over 305 yards a game through the air alone.

"Offensively, they're throwing it all over the yard and putting up huge numbers," Holtz said about June Jones' prolific offense.

The Mustangs are putting up huge numbers indeed as they rank second in C-USA in passing offense.

But in order to have a successful passing game, a solid running threat must be unveiled. So what about the running game?

SMU has a very explosive runner in junior Shawnbrey McNeal, a transfer from Miami. Although, upon his arrival, he seemed more like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of backs, gaining 158 yards on 19 carries one week and 26 yards on 13 carries the next.

Another main concern for the SMU rushing attack is that it averages a poor 83.5 yards a game (put up negative 18 yards last week against TCU).

So, one can simply do the math; stop the pass, win the game.

Enter C.J. Wilson, the Pirates' senior captain defensive end who led the team in sacks and tackles for the loss in the 2008 season.

When asked what his defensive unit could do to help put the quarterback Mitchell on his back, Wilson replied by saying, "(We'll) do what we do, pressure the quarterback, play the game and don't let it play us."

With the spread style formation SMU runs, tight ends flanking the offensive tackles will be non-existent, leaving the corners and gaps open for the taking.

If Wilson and the front four on the defensive line can jump the snap and put pressure on the line, SMU will have absolutely no time to get rid of the ball.

Unfortunately for the Pirates, getting rid of the ball quickly, efficiently and safely is one thing any June Jones gun-slinging offense is good at.

There's no question that the SMU offense will put points on the board this Saturday, but it will be up to the defense to maintain it.

Fortunately for ECU quarterback Patrick Pinkney and the Pirates, SMU boasts one of the worst defenses in the country, giving up roughly 31 points per game.

Confident much?

"Have to be," Pinkney said. "Especially on the road and going into a conference game. We feel good and the offense will do its job."

Going up against a defense this ghastly, breakout games from quarterback Patrick Pinkney along with playmaking skill players Dwayne Harris and Brandon Jackson could possibly be seen Saturday.

All three have had stellar seasons so far but have yet to go off for big games consistently. Pinkney has yet to throw a 300-yard game, Harris has only one game of 100 yards receiving or more and Jackson has not been able to eclipse the century mark on the ground.

"Any week can be a breakout week," Pinkney said. "But it takes 11 to win; it's not a two or three man show."

Indeed the six-year senior from Fayetteville, N.C., is correct, the key to the game this week will be the team molding together as a unit to take down the stud passing game of SMU, and with the leadership Pinkney poses, this shouldn't be a problem.

One last key factor for the Pirates will be third down conversions.

So far on the season, the Pirates are 34 for 76 on third down, which is less than 50 percent.

If the defense can stop the high-powered spread offense of SMU and the offense can take advantage of a weak defense, the Pirates will be able to notch another important C-USA victory.

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.