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East Carolina Football: Preview, predictions for Pirates’ 2019 season

By John Scimeca

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 10: Holton Ahlers #12 of the East Carolina Pirates celebrates a touchdown during the first half against the Tulane Green Wave at Yulman Stadium on November 10, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 10: Holton Ahlers #12 of the East Carolina Pirates celebrates a touchdown during the first half against the Tulane Green Wave at Yulman Stadium on November 10, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Previewing the defense

East Carolina’s defense gave up 37.3 points per game, second-worst in the American Athletic Conference to UConn. Bob Trott, the new defensive coordinator, brings a successful résumé from James Madison and from a coaching career that includes stints at Air Force and the NFL’s New England Patriots under Bill Parcells.

Trott will implement a 4-2-5 scheme and will try to inject confidence in a unit that gave up 56 and 58 points in its last two games of the season, bottom-up losses to Cincinnati and NC State.

Trott’s defensive philosophy centers around forcing turnovers — the Dukes forced 22 turnovers last year — and this could have a direct impact with the Pirates. Last year, ECU had the fourth-worst turnover margin in the nation with a total of -14.

Returning linebackers Bruce Bivens and Aaron Ramseur combined for 127 tackles in 2018. They’ll be the focal points around which Trott builds the defense, in addition to athletic junior Warren Saba, who will play the ‘Bandit’ position.

The Pirates bring back all-conference kicker Jake Verity, who hit 19-of-21 field goals last year.

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