ECU may be tested by SMU's pass attack

Credit: AP File Photo

Bo Levi Mitchell of SMU has passed for 1,209 yards, but has been intercepted a lot.

By: JournalNow Staff | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 10, 2009

DALLAS

East Carolina finds itself in some pretty familiar territory. The Pirates' challenge: staying there.

ECU, the defending Conference USA champion, is in first place in the East Division heading into tonight's game at SMU.

"There are no weeks off in this league," Coach Skip Holtz said.

East Carolina (3-2, 2-0) is trying to open league play with three straight wins for the first time since 2001, but this interdivisional matchup with the Mustangs (2-2, 1-0) sets up as a shootout. SMU ranks 11th nationally in passing offense, and receiver Emmanuel Sanders has 29 career touchdowns -- tied with Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant for most among active players.

Bo Levi Mitchell has passed for 1,209 yards -- but has been intercepted at least twice in every game. That's a welcome sign for an East Carolina defense that, led by safety Van Eskridge, has picked off eight passes.

"They're throwing it all over the yard and putting up huge numbers," Holtz said of an SMU offense that averages 304 yards passing. "It's going to be a challenge for our defense this week. SMU is going to be totally different from anything we've played so far this season. The difference is the space SMU, Houston or UTEP puts you in. They make you defend the entire field, sideline to sideline. They're going to score a lot of points."

The Pirates seem to have found themselves after a 1-2 record dashed dreams of a big sixth season for Patrick Pinkney, whose 30-yard touchdown run last week beat Marshall.

"He needs to be more of a runner, at times, for us offensively," Holtz said. "If the play is not there, I don't want him to just throw the ball away. I would like him to put the ball under his arm, run for five yards and make it second-and-5. That's smart football, moving the chains and moving forward. Those are little successes that we need to do a better job with."