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In preparation for Saturday’s Birmingham Bowl, SDS goes Behind Enemy Lines to speak with Josh Graham of InsideECUSports.com.
We get his thoughts on the matchup between the Pirates and the Florida Gators and see how he precuts the game will play out.
A huge thank you to Josh Graham for participating! You can follow him on Twitter: @JoshDGraham
Drew Laing: What area do you feel like ECU can exploit the most?
Josh Graham: No matter who they are lining up against, the Pirates feel their greatest strength is the high-octane tempo of which they play with on offense. Although DJ Durkin is still around at Florida, there is no denying the loss of Will Muschamp, w ho is one of the great defensive minds in college football, is going to pay a toll and ECU feels it can move the ball on the Gators. Also, it wouldn’t surprise me if ECU comes out more motivated to play this one. After all, 19 seniors are still seeking redemption from the Dec. 4 “Senior Night” loss to UCF, which ended on a last-second, 51-yard Hail Mary, and ECU hasn’t defeated an SEC opponent since 1999. On the flip side, Florida, which is just a handful of years from winning national titles, will be playing a non-Power 5 school in a non-sponsored bowl game in Birmingham, Ala., after gaining six wins and firing its coach.
Laing: Have you noticed any difference in ECU’s preparation since the Pirates are going up against a brand name and SEC team like Florida?
Graham: Not really. It certainly makes things more exciting from an outsider’s perspective, but the Pirates have faced brand name programs this season that include South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia Tech. The one big difference in preparation this year has been how much time ECU has had to actually prepare. The Pirates’ previous two bowl games were both played before Christmas. In fact, Jan. 3 marks the latest date ECU has ever played a bowl game in its storied history.
Laing: How has ECU performed against dual-threat QBs this season and how do you see the defense containing Treon Harris?
Graham: Ruffin McNeill has spoken several times over the last few seasons that he has become more accustomed to preparing for dual-threat QBs than typical drop-back passers. For the most part, ECU has kept the mobile passers it has face — UNC’s Marquise Williams and, despite losing to the Owls, Temple’s PJ Walker — under wraps for the most part. Defensive coordinator Rick Smith said the key to the game is getting pressure on the young Harris with its base defensive package, which becomes a taller order to ask for when ECU learned that senior nose tackle Terry Williams was ruled academically ineligible to play in the Birmingham Bowl.
Laing: What individual matchup will you be watching throughout the game?
Graham: This one’s easy: ECU receiver Justin Hardy vs. Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III. McNeill joked in his bowl luncheon that he remembered recruiting Hargreaves and wishes he had the talented corner on his team. It will be fascinating to see what spots on the field ECU offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley puts Hary, who is the NCAA FBS’s all-time leader in catches, and how Florida decided to utilize Hargreaves.
Laing: What’s your Birmingham Bowl prediction?
Graham: There’s no question this game means more for the Pirates’ program than Florida’s. So with the most prolific tandem in ECU history — consisting of quarterback Shane Carden and Hardy — playing its last game in purple and gold uniforms, I think they go out a winner. Prediction: 31-23 ECU.
Drew Laing will be providing analysis and insight on Florida, Georgia, Missouri and South Carolina.
