Pirates' QBs missing mark

Holtz wants a better passing attack

Skip Holtz would be happy to see his East Carolina football team ground out a victory over Marshall on Saturday at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville.

But the Pirates' coach also wants a more productive passing attack, which he calls "the concerning part" of the offense.

While ECU's linemen run-blocked impressively and Norman Whitley rambled aggressively (135 yards rushing) in Sunday's 13-10 overtime win over Central Florida, the Pirates struggled throwing the ball.

They completed just 13 of 34 attempts for 149 yards, with Rob Kass going 7-for-19 with one interception and Patrick Pinkney going 6-of-14.

Some passes were inaccurate. Some were dropped. And sometimes the protection was missing, resulting in six UCF sacks.

"You can't attribute it to any one area,'' Holtz said, but emphasized, "we've got to get more accurate."

As for the quarterback rotation, that's still up in the air.

"There's a possibility both could play," Holtz said. "We're going to have to see what we do as a game plan and how [they] fit."

WOW! In a season it seems East Carolina might run out of running backs, somebody keeps bolting out of the background.

Norman Whitley is the latest to emerge, showing he can turn in a highlights performance with his physical, cutting style when given a sliver of daylight.

"As the season goes on, and as I've said before, a lot of people are going to see Norman Whitley and say, 'Wow,' " Holtz said.

Also keep an eye on backup J.R. Rogers, who Holtz says fans also are going to go "Wow!" about.

GIMME ME A "D": Despite losing several key players to injuries, coordinator Greg Hudson has the Pirates playing defiant defense.

ECU leads Conference USA in fewest points allowed per game (21.9), ranking ahead of Marshall (26.9). The Pirates are second in total defense (331.1 yards per game) behind No. 1 Tulane (311.9).

Among the stalwarts are league sack leader, end C.J. Wilson, linebackers Pierre Bell and Nick Johnson, and safety Van Eskridge, the team's tackle leader with 59 hits.

DID YOU REALIZE? The 5-3 start is the best in the four-season Holtz era, which includes 7-6 and 8-5 records the past two years.

NAME GAME: Marshall's top pass receiver is aptly named Darius Passmore, who has 46 catches and ranks ninth nationally in yards per game (99.38).

And, obviously, the Thundering Herd's game plan for Saturday will include passing more to Passmore.