Oct. 25, 2010
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By Marc Daniels
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Texas in 2007,USF in 2008, Miami and Houston last year and Tulsa, in the conference title game back in 2007, may have been the biggest and most anticipated games in the young history of Bright House Networks Stadium. Now comes a new anticipation. Now comes a new challenge. Now comes the two-time conference champions into UCF's house with title implications.
Saturday's matchup with East Carolina has the makings of a classic game. The Pirates bring a high-flying offense to town while UCF offers one of the nation's top defenses. Two electric quarterbacks hit the field and play makers line both sides of the ball.
How big of a regular season game is it for the league? UCF-ECU marks the latest date that two teams, both undefeated in Conference USA, have played since the league expanded to 12 teams. Overall it is the latest since 5-0 Southern Miss beat 7-0 TCU on Nov. 20, 2001.
And by the way, the two teams really don't get along. East Carolina has won the last two conference titles and owns an 8-1 series advantage. UCF is aware of the series record but believes it has handed the Pirates a few of those games, see last year's 19-14 loss in Greenville where UCF turned the ball over five times and still had a chance to win. More on the rivalry in a bit, but first some leftovers from the games against Rice:
49 + 53 + 58= SACK: Those are jersey numbers of Bruce Miller, Darius Nall and Troy Davis. The three are among the best pass rushers in the country. Nall and Davis lived in the Rice backfield and combined for five sacks. Miller's performance cannot be judged by a stat sheet. When moved to defensive tackle, Miller takes on two offensive linemen and that frees up Nall and Davis to bring the heat. The entire defensive front shined against Rice.
Even Daunte was impressed: The Mr. UCF of Football saw his predecessor. Culpepper marveled at Jeff Godfrey's ability from the sideline. Godfrey threw just two passes in the second half, an interception and an incomplete pass. It was the rookie's first half performance, going 13-of-16, that dazzled. His deep ball to Kamar Aiken got the offense going. His patience to find Ronnie Weaver on a third and long was a sign of maturity and his footwork to extend a play and find Adam Nissley on fourth down was a sign of leadership.
Props to L.D.: Quarterback L.D. Crow had the worst start to a drive at the two yard line by dropping the snap. But after that gaffe, Crow marched UCF down the field and found Ricky Kay for a great touchdown play. That drive and the other snaps go a long way in building confidence for the guy one snap away from becoming a starter.
More Props to Nissley and Kay: Often asked to block, Nissley and Kay are catching weapons. Often open on play fake rollouts by Godfrey, both are big catching targets. Nissley finally got his first collegiate touchdown against Rice. Kay has always been big when thrown to and Saturday was no different. He even had an extra gear in getting to the end zone.
Into the end zone has not been a problem for East Carolina this season. The Pirates have scored 33 or more five times. Quarterback Dominique Davis has thrown for 18 touchdowns and over 2,000 yards. He has won numerous C-USA Offensive Player of the Week awards. UCF saw Davis two years ago when he played for Boston College. The Knights have also seen ECU's Dwayne Harris over the last three seasons. The talented wideout has had success as a receiver, returner and running the wildcat for ECU.
While the Pirates have had no problem moving the ball up and down the field, defense has been another story. Before holding Marshall to 10 points this past Saturday, the ECU defense allowed 27 or more points against everyone else. They've allowed 40 or more four times this season, but did win two of those four. Here's this week's key matchups:
UCF's speedy defensive front vs. ECU QB Dominique Davis: By design Davis gets rid of the ball quickly. That means little time to get a pass rush. UCF might drop Bruce Miller into coverage in certain situations. If Knight defenders can cover ECU receivers, Davis will look to run and that's where UCF's defense takes over.
Slow the pace: ECU wants to play quickly. UCF doesn't prefer to play quickly. Anyone remember Houston last season? The Knights controlled the ball and clock and frustrated Case Keenum and Cougars. UCF ran the ball effectively and converted third downs to move the chains. It is not that UCF's defense cannot stop the Pirates, it's just limiting ECU's possessions means fewer chances for them to score.
UCF receivers vs. ECU's secondary: The Pirates secondary has struggled at times this season. ECU's offensive passing game is among the nation's best. Their pass defense is just the opposite. UCF showed a few wrinkles in the Rice game that ECU has a few more things to note in preparing for the game. Look for UCF to test the opposition's secondary early.
Win the special teams battle: It sounds like a no brainer. But the game will feature some of the best kick returners in the country in Quincy McDuffie for UCF and Dwayne Harris for East Carolina. But it's not just kick returns, which UCF's kick coverage team has been outstanding, it's punting as well. Each team's punter could play a big role in field position and momentum.
Ruffin McNeill has returned to coach his alma mater after serving as an assistant at Texas Tech, the last two seasons as defensive coordinator. Despite McNeill's defensive background, Dominique Davis has made ECU's defense look like the Mike Leach coached offenses from Texas Tech at times. One reason is the team's offensive coordinator is Lincoln Riley. Riley is one of the nation's youngest coordinators, just 27, who was receivers coach at Texas Tech the last three seasons. No team has more C-USA wins over the last four seasons than East Carolina (23). Like UCF, the Pirates have won nine-straight conference games.
Knights notes and more: Daunte Culpepper has been reborn in a certain way with his play in the UFL. Culpepper has played well in his time with the Sacramento Mountain Lions. He is in the best shape he has been in years and if the NFL never calls, he plans on continuing to play in the UFL. Let's hope Kevin Smith continues his road back and stays with the Lions and in the NFL. But the chance of Culpepper handing off to Smith in a game is not that crazy...Do you want a good workout? Try Donnie Jones' four-on-four-on-four drill during a UCF men's basketball practice. The weak should not even step into the gym. It's a fast paced, pressure-filled, move-the-ball and find the open shot drill. And you have 20-seconds to score on two teams of four...Final thought: How can a product be "new" and "improved"? If it's new, what are you improving?
Marc Daniels' From the Press Box runs several times per month on UCFAthletics.com. Listen to Marc during UCF football, men's basketball and baseball radio broadcasts on the UCF-ISP Sports Network. Each weekday, Marc hosts "The Beat of Sports" on ESPN 1080 in Orlando from 9-11 a.m.