GREENVILLE
Coach Skip Holtz of East Carolina has reason to smile again.
ECU's two-game losing streak is over, and Holtz hopes that his team continues to make progress this week when it plays at Marshall.
Holtz said yesterday that the morale was positive even during a two-game losing streak to West Virginia and North Carolina. But beating Central Florida last week was "a nice boost and shot in the arm to get a win."
East Carolina (2-2) is perfect at home this season but is winless in two road games. In recent years, the Pirates also have had trouble playing in Huntington, W.Va.
They're 1-1 there since Marshall joined Conference USA in 2005, including a 26-7 loss two years ago when Holtz's team could have clinched its first East Division title. "Marshall was 1-8 and kind of beat our brains in," Holtz said.
Holtz hopes that his offense, led by quarterback Patrick Pinkney, finally has things on track.Pinkney was 27 of 40 for 293 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the 19-14 victory over Central Florida, a significant step forward for a quarterback who came under fire for erratic play in the two losses.
"I don't know if it was a turnaround for Patrick Pinkney as much as progress," Holtz said. "I thought Patrick did a nice job managing the game. From a performance standpoint, we just have to keep improving."
The offense had its first 400-yard game of the season, rolling up 403 yards against UCF, but had only one touchdown and two field goals in five trips inside the 20. Holtz called the lack of production "probably the Achilles' heel."
"If we could have pushed the ball into the end zone from the red zone, we could have had a chance to empty the bench in that game," Holtz said.
"From an offensive standpoint, that's the thing we have to shore up right now."
Holtz also hinted at working other players into the mix at tailback, where Jonathan Williams has two fumbles in his last few carries.
With leading rusher Dominique Lindsay "kind of doubtful" with an injured right shoulder, Holtz indicated that transfers Brandon Jackson and Giavanni Ruffin could gain additional playing time.
"I wouldn't say I've lost confidence in (Williams), but right now there are other backs who deserve the opportunity to carry the ball," Holtz said.
"If somebody is not protecting the ball, he's not going to carry it. That's where we are with Jonathan right now. We are not putting him out to pasture, but at the same time, those guys are going to get their opportunity to prove they can hold onto the ball."
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