East Carolina Pirates: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
East Carolina Pirates: Key To The 2022 Offense
Run, keep running, and keep controlling the clock.
East Carolina wasn’t always consistent and the O didn’t always work, but it held the ball for 32:33 a game even though it wasn’t all that great on third downs. That’s where the rushing attack came in.
It’s a tad coincidental considering a few of the wins came down to a few key bounces and big moments, but the Pirates were able to stay in games on the ground.
They were 7-0 when running for 150 yards or more and 0-5 when they didn’t. Going back to the 2020 loss to Cincinnati. they’re 9-0 when they hit the mark, and now the backfield should be even stronger.
East Carolina Pirates: Key To The 2022 Defense
Generate more of a pass rush.
The 26 sacks weren’t all that bad considering they came from several different parts, but the tackles for loss came in waves.
The Pirates were able to hang with Houston thanks to 13 tackles for loss, and they were able to bring it early on over the first half of the season 55 tackles for loss in the first seven games.
And then an odd thing happened – the tackles for loss weren’t there, but the wins were. Part of that was because of the style of the offenses they were going against, and part of it was the ECU O controlling the clock.
Even so, more sacks against the better passing teams – and more tackles for loss – to keep the third down stops going will be a must.
East Carolina Pirates: Key Player To The 2022 Season
CB Malik Fleming, Jr.
Yeah, the key backups from last year will Next Man Up and be ready to take over in the secondary, but the production losses will still matter. The biggest problem is the loss of Denver Bronco CB Ja’Quan McMillian.
Fleming had a nice year with 34 tackles, two interceptions and nine tackles for loss, but now he – and S Shawn Dourseau – has to be the anchor star of the young and reworked secondary.
East Carolina Pirates: Key Transfer
RB Kamorro Edmonds, RFr.
East Carolina is already solid at running back – Keaton Mitchell might be the team’s best player – but the offense just upgraded the overall position with the arrival of Edmonds.
The 6-0, 230-pound back was a terrific get for North Carolina with his combination of size and quickness. He didn’t do anything last year for the Tar Heels and took off through the transfer portal, and very soon he might be a difference-maker in the rotation.
East Carolina Key Game To The 2022 Season
Memphis, Oct. 15
The Pirates were able to slip by the Tigers in a 30-29 thriller last season that secured six wins and bowl eligibility. This time around a win might be for survival.
The easy part of the schedule is in the first half – East Carolina has got to bank most of its wins there. It’s going to be a brutal run – more on this in the Prediction section right after that – but overall it might be tough to get to six wins without taking down the Tigers.
East Carolina Pirates: 2021 Fun Stats
– Sacks: Opponents 37 for 222 yards – East Carolina 26 for 182 yards
– ECU 3rd Quarter Scoring: 50 – ECU 4th Quarter Scoring: 120
– Fumbles: East Carolina 24 (lost 11) – Opponents 10 (lost 6)
O, D Breakdown | Season Prediction, What Will Happen
East Carolina Top 10 Players | East Carolina Schedule