The Appalachian Factor

WVU's defense finally showed up in force against Marshall. Reed Williams return has energized the defense, which totally shut down the Herd. Williams led the Mountaineers in tackles for the game, and it was his pressure that forced the bad throw that Morty Ivy intercepted. When Doug Slavonic took the ball out of Marshall QB Mark Cann's hand, Reed Williams was the man Cann was looking at when Slavonic came up on his back side.

 

Reed Williams was in the middle of everything, and proved that the true key to the 3-3-5 defense is THE MAN in the middle of it all. Reed Williams is THE MAN, he's always in the middle of it all, and the homegrown (Moorefield, WV) MLB for the WVU Mountaineers is perhaps the biggest key to WVU's success this season.

 

As long as the defense performs as it did against Marshall, and against Colorado after the Buff's marched for TDs on the first 2 series. Those first 2 drives that Colorado had were Reed Williams first action since having surgery on both shoulders, and he was still getting a feel for how his shoulders would hold up after getting back into action. Once he gained confidence in himself again, the West Virginia defense that shut down the Oklahoma offense last year in the Fiesta Bowl, the very same offense everyone is raving about this season, arrived to almost save the day.

 

Jeff Casteel has justified his selection last year as Defensive Coordinator of the Year again this season. I doubt any defensive coordinator has done more to rebuild a defense than WVU. And nobody has done it with fewer returning starters. The only part of the defense that was settled at the start of the season was linebacker. But the D-Line and the secondary only one starter each returning. There were many holes to fill everywhere in the Mountaineer defense, except at linebacker. The only question about the linebackers was when would Williams return to play. Now we know, and the doiminant WVU defense is back.

 

Bringing Jarrett Brown onto the field with Pat White is another move that paid off big. Having 2 QBs in the backfield, both good runners and passers, gives a defense another headache to deal with. Some point to the numbers and say Pat White is a much better passer, but Brown has a shotgun arm, and he almost hit a bomb that might have been a looong TD if only the receiver had caught the ball.

 

I actually think the WVU offense moved better under Brown than it did with White at QB. WVU didn't score a TD with Brown at QB. He threw and interception in the end zone, and missed the bomb, but he needs game experience at QB, since his arm is stronger, and he's the better downfield QB. White is more of a great runner who's a good QB, and Brown is good runner who's a great QB. Each has his advantages, but Brown is the future. Brown is also more suited to Jeff Mullen's offensive strategy than White. I think adding Brown to the mix is a great move.

 

If Pat White, Noel Devine, and Jarrett Brown avoid the injury bug rolling around The BEast, and the offense quits making stupid mistakes, WVU should be in the hunt for The BEast crown. UC, UConn, and UofL all had significant injuries last weekend, and Pat White's banged up thumb gave him some problems late in the game against Marshall, precipitating in his early exit from the game. Coach Stew says his thumb is fine, and he'll be fine for the Rutgers game next week. I hope the rest of the players who were injured have speedy recoveries.

 

The offense is still sputtering, and shooting itself in the foot. But the Mountaineer offense's worst enemy has always been themselves. They have a history of shooting themselves in the foot at the strangest times. One day WVU will put it all together and get that elusive national championship.

 

I still feel the 1988 team was probably WVU's best team. But that was only one season. No Mountaineer QB has ever enjoyed the kind of success we've seen with Pat White behind center. If WVU wins out, another 11 win season is possible. That would give WVU 44 wins in the last 4 years. Very few NCAA teams have won more in that period...

 

Next week vs. Rutgers will gve us a better feel for the progress of the Mountaineer offense and defense. Rutgers is a good team, but they've been just a hair off all season. They're better than their record. But their record is about to take some more abuse...

West Virginia traveled to Colorado for a road game against a rebuilding Big XII team, and came up short in overtime. This game was a game of too many missed chances. WVU should have won this game, but the Mountaineers hadn't shot themselves in the foot all game long. WVU has Colorado in 3rd and long on their first scoring drive and a personal foul penalty gives them a first down. 2 plays later they scored. On their 2nd scoring drive, another Mountaineer personal foul penalty on 3rd down gives Colorado a first down in WVU territory. Jock Sanders drops a 3rd down pass in the red zone that hit him in the hands, and instead of first down the Mountaineers punt. Reed Williams interception and return deep into Colorado territory is wasted as the Mountaineers commit another personal foul and end up losing 35 yards of field position. WVU goes for it on 4th and inches, and fails to gain 6 inches on a dive up the middle.

 

It seems like WVU has totally abandoned the passing game since the loss to ECU, in favor of the run. That's fine, if they can run like WVU has in years past. But they aren't. The Mountaineers failure on 3rd downs is killing them. Fortunately, the defense seems to have figured out 3rd downs. After scores on Colorado's first 2 possessions, the Mountaineer defense shut down the Buffs offense. I'm extremely encouraged by that. If that kind of defensive performance continues, WVU will be in every game they play. Now, if only the offense will come around.

 

I'll give Stew the benefit of the doubt for now. He's trying to install a totally new offense, and replacing just about all of the defense. I'm going to wait and see how WVU plays out the rest of the season before I jump on him. But his decisions had better show the same improvement we all expect from the West Virginia offense. If not, he may not have his dream job long.

 

Right now, the Mountaineers biggest problem is themselves. They've shot themselves in the foot in every game, and it is those mistakes that have led to both losses. The new pieces are taking time to fit into the jigsaw puzzle that is WVU football. Until they stop committing stupid mistakes, they aren't going to win many games. But they improved considerably over the ECU game. If they continue to show that kind of improvement, WVU can still have a very good season. Win out, including defeating Auburn, and this will all be washed under the bridge...

Tropical Storm Hanna moved through Greeneville early Saturday, but was long gone by gametime. West Virginia should have moved on with it. The East Carollina Pirates dominated the line of scrimmage, and totally outplayed WVU. ECU QB Patrick Pinkney looked like the Heisman candidate in this game, and looked like a polished field general, even on those rare plays when the Mountaineer defense actually had somebody applying some pressure.

 

There were 2 key plays early in the game that had a huge impact on the momentum in the game. The first came when WVU tried to keep pace with ECU after their first score, and started driving down the field. WVU QB Pat White tried to stretch for a first down as he went out of bounds, and left the ball in bounds. East Carolina recovered what was ruled a fumble. But the replays indicate White's hand down out of bounds before he released the ball. This play was not reviewed, and WVU didn't challenge the call. Normally, the WVU coaches in the sky box make the call after watching the ESPN replay. But ECU didn't have a TV to watch replay in the visiting coaches box. WVU coaches said it "very unusual" not to have TV replay monitors available in the visiting coaches box. ECU scored their field goal after this 'turnover' for a 10-0 lead.

 

If WVU had been able to 'see' the replay, they would have challenged. As it was, all the Mountaineer coaches saw was a sea of purple uniforms surrounding the officials, and didn't have a clear view of the play from the eye in the sky, or on the field. Bill Stewart didn't get the call from upstairs, so he didn't throw the flag to challenge and the play wasn't reviewed by the officiating crew. Instead, ECU quickly ran a play, rendering the entire issue moot.

 

Stewart should have challenged. I would have. If this play had been overturned, while the Mountaineer offense was clicking, a score would have tied it at 7. Instead, WVU ended up down 10. Big momentum shift there. The Mountaineers scored a field goal on their next series to make it 10-3. But a good bit of damage was already done.

 

The 2nd key play came just before halftime. WVU stopped ECU 3 and out after a long kickoff return on their next series, and forced a punt. After the Mountaineers got the ball, WR Jock Sanders caught a short 3rd down pass when he fumbled fighting for extra yards.  East Carolina recovered at the West Virginia 35, and scored a TD 3 plays later for a 17-3 lead. The Mountaineers were never in the game after those 2 plays.

 

However, the Pirates deserved the win. They were the better team on the field that day. If those 2 plays hadn't turned out as they had, who knows? But that belongs with the would o' been, could o' beens...

Week 1 went pretty much as I predicted. Coach Casteel had his work cut out for him this week. The defense is still a work in progress. But coach Kirlavich was tweaking the defensive line the entire Villanova game, and I think he found the lineup he wants. Julian Miller really stood out in the 2nd half against Villanova, and may have earned himself a start against East Carolina. Larry Ford turned in a good performance too. Both should see significant playing time this season. We'll find out more on Miller's position status shortly.

 

Coach Lockwood has some work to do in the secondary. But it's mostly missed assignments from new players. I just wonder how long it will be before Robert Sands takes the Free Safety spot. His size, 6' 4 1/2", with his speed is too big an asset to have as a special situation guy.

 

The offense looked awesome. While the first team offense was in, with the exception of the first series, they scored every time they touched the ball. You know you're going good when you're lining up for a 47-yard FG, get a 5-yard penalty, and have the kicker sail the ball through the center of the uprights, with the ball level with the top of the posts. That kick would have been good from 65 yards. Pat McAfee is a dangerous weapon, and so far every punt has been downed inside the 20. That's one.

 

The play of the game came from Linebacker Morty Ivy, who picked up a fumble and rumbled 30 yards downfield with Villanova's QB riding on his back. After the game Ivy said he really didn't notice him on his back, other than the fact that the added weight was slowing him down.

 

Now comes a tougher test. East Carolina is coming off a big win over Virginia Tech in Charlotte. They'll be riding an emotional high. It's time for the Mountaineers to bring 'em back to Earth...

I've been very impressed with everything I've seen and heard about new West Virginia University head football coach, Bill Stewart, and his new staff of assistant coaches. I realize this doesn't neccessarily mean that West Virginia will play like they did in the Fiesta Bowl this season. But I think they will.

Mountaineer QB, Pat White is a winner, and I'm sure coming up short on a shot at the national championship really hurt. He will do everything in his power this season to make up for that shortcoming. He'll get the entire team behind him too, like the true leader he has become, and the nation's best offensive line will make sure he has an opportunity for redemption. After all, they share his disappointment from last season's bitter defeat at the hands of the hated Pitt Panthers.

The Mountaineers have a tough schedule this season. One of the toughest in the nation. But the toughest games for WVU are at home. I discount the Pitt game, since home field has historically had very little to do with the outcome of the Backyard Brawl. Going to UConn could present a problem, but due to timing only. They don't yet have the speed to keep up with the Mountaineers over the long haul. The only possible speed bump is Cincinnati, who I think will take 2nd in The BEast this year, and not USF.

Don't expect Villanova to pull an Appalachian on WVU. Even though 'nova has a good 1-AA team, they aren't in the Mountaineers class, and it will show.

ECU will be a good game for West Virginia to open the meat of their schedule with. This is exactly the preparation needed prior to the trip to Colorado. I figure the Pirates play WVU tough (as always), and come up short against White's, and the rest of the Mountaineers' assault.

Ditto for Colorado. After ECU, the Buffs present no real problem. ECU is the better team of the 2.

Marshall, Rutgers, and Syracuse in Morgantown should be no real trouble, and then comes Auburn...

The Auburn game should propel WVU as national championship front-runner in any discussions. Auburn is a good bet for winning the SEC Championship, but is just starting to run the spread offense. Even though this game is later in the season, and Auburn should have the system down pretty well, they are coming into Morgantown, where the playbook they are learning to run was written. And they don't have Pat White. WVU will win this game, and it will be by more than a touchdown. Pat White will want to make a statement, after listening to ESPN, and all the other sports announcers pick Auburn all week, explaining why they'll win, and the Mountaineers won't.

The Mountaineers would be ripe for an upset going to UConn after playing Auburn, but the extra time to prepare, and Pat White's determination keep them on the straight and narrow. UConn doesn't have the speed to keep up with WVU, and it will show.

The Cincinnati game is really the one that worries me the most. WVU should win this game, but it'll be close. If the Mountaineers do lose, I figure this is the game. But it ain't going to happen. Pat White won't let it.

On a side note, the Bearcats may have the best defense in The BEast (as I call the Big East... I like it, and I think it fits... after all, the rest of the nation thinks we play beastly... they must, since they always pick us last), and Kelly did wonders with Mauk last year. Who will he mold this season? I actually think UC has a very good chance to go into Norman and pull off as big an upset as Don Nehlen did early in his career at WVU.

The game at Louisville may be close. But I don't think so. The Cards are down a bit, and the Mountaineers want to send a message you can hear all the way up the river in Pittsburgh...

Revenge will factor into the Backyard Brawl, and home field isn't much of an advantage when Pitt and WVU bump heads. Home field has historically had very little to do with the outcome of the Backyard Brawl, and recent history isn't any different. The last time the home team won was in 2005, when WVU prevailed 45-13. This year the Mountaineers show the Wannstedt fans in the broadcast booths that he really is a mediocre coach, and that's all he'll ever be.

South Florida comes into Morgantown in December. That may not matter, the way the weather has been the last few years. But then again, you never know. Also, they've beaten WVU the last 2 years, so White's only victory against the Bulls came in his freshman year, and I'm sure he won't have a losing record against any team in The BEast when he graduates.

That adds up to 12 wins. I just hope WVU gets a chance to embarrass Ohio State in the BCS Championship game. You know the national media will, and Vegas, will promote the Buckeyes as prohibitive favorites. We'll serve 'em some Stew...

If losing 2 straight BCS Championship games in blowouts doesn't keep the Buckeyes out, getting blown out by WVU in the BCS Championship would probably do the trick.

L8r