HN went in-depth with an expert that covers MU's upcoming opponent. In this week's "Ask the Expert," we caught up with PirateIllustrated.com's Mark Lindsay to get his thoughts and perspective on Saturday's game.
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1. Talk a little bit about ECU's start to the season. Opening with App State and South Carolina would be tough for most teams.
While there have been some bright spots and every chance to win in both the Appalachian State and South Carolina games, the Pirates find themselves winless at 0-2 heading into Huntington. Both were competitive games, but ECU’s inability to follow up on fast starts offensively have proven to be their undoing. If ECU is able to score more points, all bets are off. Until they do so, it is hard to see the Pirates winning this game on the road.
2. Where do you see ECU's advantage over Marshall in this game?
If there is an advantage and that remains questionable it might be on defense where the Pirates are much improved and have more than put themselves in a position to win games if they had gotten more help on offense.
The trick now is to get the offense up to speed. ECU has a boat load of opportunities last Saturday and were largely unable to convert inside the thirty yard line and in the red zone. The running back tandem of Rahjai Harris who ran for 70 yards last week and speedster Keaton Mitchell, who is also dangerous catching passes out of the backfield, give ECU a potent group behind quarterback Holton Ahlers. Ahlers has been spotty so far. If he plays like he is capable, it could turn into a close contest.
3. What about Marshall concerns you the most for ECU?
Marshall is averaging over forty points a game and East Carolina has yet to score more than 19 in either of their two games falling 33-19 to Appalachian State and 20-17 to South Carolina last Saturday. Scoring just 18 points a game isn’t going to win many football games for the Pirates.
Another issue is a formidable Thundering Herd defense that is giving up a total of just 17 points in Marshall’s first two games.
4. Score prediction and how you see the game playing out?
I see Marshall winning this one 38-20. ECU continues to struggle to find ways to score points. Holton Ahlers has struggled this season in an offense that may not fit his skills the best. If they turn him loose to run the football a little more, things could get interesting, but so far they have done their best to try to protect him knowing that there isn’t much experience behind him on the bench.
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1. Talk a little bit about ECU's start to the season. Opening with App State and South Carolina would be tough for most teams.
While there have been some bright spots and every chance to win in both the Appalachian State and South Carolina games, the Pirates find themselves winless at 0-2 heading into Huntington. Both were competitive games, but ECU’s inability to follow up on fast starts offensively have proven to be their undoing. If ECU is able to score more points, all bets are off. Until they do so, it is hard to see the Pirates winning this game on the road.
2. Where do you see ECU's advantage over Marshall in this game?
If there is an advantage and that remains questionable it might be on defense where the Pirates are much improved and have more than put themselves in a position to win games if they had gotten more help on offense.
The trick now is to get the offense up to speed. ECU has a boat load of opportunities last Saturday and were largely unable to convert inside the thirty yard line and in the red zone. The running back tandem of Rahjai Harris who ran for 70 yards last week and speedster Keaton Mitchell, who is also dangerous catching passes out of the backfield, give ECU a potent group behind quarterback Holton Ahlers. Ahlers has been spotty so far. If he plays like he is capable, it could turn into a close contest.
3. What about Marshall concerns you the most for ECU?
Marshall is averaging over forty points a game and East Carolina has yet to score more than 19 in either of their two games falling 33-19 to Appalachian State and 20-17 to South Carolina last Saturday. Scoring just 18 points a game isn’t going to win many football games for the Pirates.
Another issue is a formidable Thundering Herd defense that is giving up a total of just 17 points in Marshall’s first two games.
4. Score prediction and how you see the game playing out?
I see Marshall winning this one 38-20. ECU continues to struggle to find ways to score points. Holton Ahlers has struggled this season in an offense that may not fit his skills the best. If they turn him loose to run the football a little more, things could get interesting, but so far they have done their best to try to protect him knowing that there isn’t much experience behind him on the bench.
