The Mid-Season Report Cards are a subjective look using objective numbers with a look toward the remainder of the season as well. Teams are being reviewed in random order once they reach 6 games.
East Carolina began its season with its usual slate of top 25 non-conference games, like they do nearly every season. Things got off to a shaky start, going 1-2 in the early weeks of the season. Since then, a 2-1 conference record has the season stabilized, but not the results that ECU fans hope for and expect.
- Wins: C. Losses to West Virginia and even in-state rival North Carolina are not a huge surprise, but this weekend’s defeat at the hands of SMU is not what ECU expected.
- Offense: D-. Oddly, both the rushing and passing attack for ECU are ranked 87th in the categories. Unfortunately, the combined total of 308 is down at 105th nationally, and the scoring offense is 102nd, at only 21.17. Even in the games ECU has won, they’ve only scored 29, 19, and 21. 21 is the most they’ve scored against any 1-A team.
- Defense: C+. The defense is what has won games for ECU, ranking 58th in total defense and 4th in C-USA. Scoring defense is close, 24.83, good for 64th in the country.
- Special Teams: B-. ECU is ranked 5th in the country in punt returns, averaging over 21 yards each time. Meanwhile, kick returns are about average, and so is net punting.
- Turnovers: B. ECU is +4 on the year, gaining 14 while giving 10 back, which is good for 32nd overall and 5th in the league.
- Grading Curve: Bonus Points. If you’re going to play a 1-AA team, it might as well be a good one, and ECU beat Appalachian State, a squad best known for beating Michigan a couple years ago and winning a bunch of 1-AA championships. After than, ECU took on WV and UNC before heading into league play.
- Final Grade: C+. ECU is good enough to beat at least a handful of C-USA teams, but the future of the wide open East is unclear.
Remaining Games:
- Rice
- at Memphis
- Virginia Tech
- at Tulsa
- UAB
- Southern Miss
Best Case Scenario: 5-1. ECU’s defense could shut down most of the teams on their schedule, but I don’t see ECU taking down a top 10 Va Tech team, even at home.
Worst Case Scenario: 2-4. Depending on how the other teams in the league progress or fade, ECU could end the year with a four game losing streak.
Prediction:3-3. Depending on exactly who they lose to, this would put them at 6-6 and probably 5-3 in the league. Quite possible enough to go to a bowl, but 7-5 would improve their chances substantially.