2009 East Carolina Pirates Football Preview
2009 East Carolina Pirates season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official East Carolina Pirates football preview as well as the 2009 East Carolina Pirates Football Schedule. Get Free football predictions against the sportsbooks college football betting line.
Coach: Skip Holtz (5th year at East Carolina)
Team Name: Pirates
2008 Overall Record: 9-5
Returning Starters: 16
After capturing the East Division title and the conference championship, the East Carolina Pirates (9- 5 overall, 6- 2 Conference USA) traveled to the Liberty Bowl where they lost to Kentucky 19- 25. It was the club’s third straight bowl appearance and their second bowl loss in three years.
The Pirates were rated 81st in point production last season, scoring an average of 23.4 per game. The club sees sixth-year QB Patrick Pinkney (363 ATT, 223 COMP, 2,675 YDs, 7 INTs, 13 TDs), a senior, return for yet one more season. It’s hoped that he can toss more touchdown passes and fewer picks. The offensive line is seasoned and deep. The pass catchers are also deep and versatile. Junior wideout Dwayne Harris (58 REC, 654 YDs, 1 TD) and sophomore wide receiver Darryl Freeney (22 REC, 363 YDs, 2 TDs) are both fine talents. The rushing game will benefit if Jonathan Williams (75 ATT, 380 YDs, 5 TDs), who has had legal issues, returns. Junior Norman Whitley (142 ATT, 698 YDs, 4 TDs) could also be a big help. Again, he has had off-field issues.
The defense held opponents to 21.1 PPG (30th nationally). There’s good news concerning this group. Senior DE end C.J. Williams (70 TKLs, 10.5 SKa, 8 TFL) leads a frontline that includes senior Jay Rose (48 TKLs, 5 SKs, 4.5 TFL) at defensive tackle. The linebackers are also seasoned and include ILB Nick Johnson (102 TKLs, 1 SK, 9 TFL, 2 INTs), a senior, and senior OLB Jeremy Chambliss (60 TKLs, 1 INT, 5 TFL). The secondary is rich. All-conference free safety Van Eskridge, a senior, and corner Emanuel Davis, a sophomore, had four picks each last season. Eskridge notched 97 tackles and Davis had 45. This side of the ball is primed and ready to go.
On special teams, kicker Ben Hartman (24- 26 Extra Pts, 21- 31 FG), now a senior, had a tough season in 2008 missing 10 field goals. But he came on strong at the end of the year, making eight of his last nine field goals. He’s capable of hitting from beyond 50 yards. Matt Dodge (73 Punts, 3,207 YDs, 43.9 YPP, 20 In20), also a senior, was the 14th ranked punter in the nation. Two juniors handle returns. On punts, Travis Simmons (13 Punt RET, 147 YDs, 11.3 YPR) proved to be an asset, while Dwayne Harris (19 Kick RET, 235 YDs, 23.5 YPR) offered fine yardage bringing back kicks.
Coach Skip Holtz (29- 22 in fours years at East Carolina) sees a wealth of talent return but the recruiting class is one of the least favorable in the conference. The Pirates travel to West Virginia on September 12. The Big East Mountaineers will be looking to revenge last year’s humiliating 24- 3 loss to the Pirates. The final game of the season with Southern Mississippi on November 28 could certainly determine who wins the East Division title. In 2009, the Pirates will get an invite to a low tier bowl.
East Carolina Pirates Football Schedule
| Date | Team | Opponent | Site | Line | Total | Points | Opp Points |
| 9/5/2009 | East Carolina | Appalachian St. | home | ||||
| 9/12/2009 | East Carolina | West Virginia | away | ||||
| 9/19/2009 | East Carolina | North Carolina | away | ||||
| 9/26/2009 | East Carolina | UCF | home | ||||
| 10/3/2009 | East Carolina | Marshall | away | ||||
| 10/10/2009 | East Carolina | SMU | away | ||||
| 10/17/2009 | East Carolina | Rice | home | ||||
| 10/27/2009 | East Carolina | Memphis | away | ||||
| 11/5/2009 | East Carolina | Virginia Tech | home | ||||
| 11/15/2009 | East Carolina | Tulsa | away | ||||
| 11/21/2009 | East Carolina | UAB | home | ||||
| 11/28/2009 | East Carolina | Southern Miss | home |
For more info on the 2009 East Carolina football program, view the Pirates website or read up on the rest of the non BCS ncaa football teams below.
