ECU defense faces big test in Keenum

Among the most impressive statistics in college football this season are Houston's six interceptions in 631 passing attempts.

To put those numbers in perspective, Texas has been intercepted nine times in 432 attempts and Florida four times in 293 attempts.

All of those numbers perfectly frame the challenge East Carolina's defense will face at noon Saturday in the Conference USA championship game in Greenville.

It's hardly surprising that Pirates coach Skip Holtz refers to Cougars quarterback Case Keenum as a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Keenum doesn't have a prayer of winning, or even getting many votes for the award, of course. He's in the same situation as Philip Rivers at N.C. State in 2003.

With 412 completions for 4,922 yards with 38 touchdown passes in 12 games, Keenum may be the best passer in the land. But he's below the national Heisman radar, and like Rivers, Keenum may not be appreciated by the masses until he reaches the NFL.

A redshirt junior with pro size (6 feet 2, 210 pounds), Keenum is probably down to two remaining college games - at ECU this week and a bowl appearance later.

"It's like video-game numbers," Holtz said.

In wins over Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Mississippi State, Keenum and the Cougars (10-2) averaged 548 yards of offense. In their two losses - at Central Florida and at Texas-El Paso - the offensive average output was essentially the same.

"No one stops them," said SMU coach June Jones, who has a reputation as a cutting-edge offensive thinker.

The stats back up that observation up, too. The Cougars have averaged 44.9 points per game this season. A year ago, it was 40.6 and in 2007, it was 34.5. At ECU last season, Kevin Sumlin's team won, 41-24.

"We're a match-up offensive team," Sumlin said. "We try to take what you give us."

In ECU's case, that could be a lot of deep passes.

Through a rocky early season that included losses at West Virginia and North Carolina in addition to a close call against Appalachian State, the Pirates (8-4) often were victimized by long, quick strikes that wiped out leads and put the season in jeopardy.

Injuries played a role in those struggles. Senior safety Levin Neal and sophomore cornerback Emanuel Davis have fought injuries almost all season, and corner Dekota Marshall was lost for the season in early November.

Since the return of Neal and Davis, the number of haymakers has waned. Holtz says it's no coincidence.

"We lost Neal in the first game, which made a big difference," he said. "It's not easy for new guys in the lineup when they have to go to West Virginia and North Carolina right off the bat. Getting them back has made a big difference, too. Our communication back there [secondary] is a lot better than it was."

Since the 31-17 loss at Carolina on Sept. 19, the Pirates have surrendered more than 21 points only once - a 28-21 loss at SMU on Oct. 10. Against C-USA foes, ECU is giving up a relatively modest 18.6 points per game.

Holtz gives most of the credit for the recovery to a senior-dominated unit led by linebacker Nick Johnson, safety Van Eskeridge and end C.J. Wilson.

"The defense has really responded," Holtz said. "They didn't get down on themselves when things weren't going our way."

But to keep the C-USA crown and earn a return trip to the Liberty Bowl, the Pirates' defenders will have to overcome their toughest challenge yet.