Post by WVUfanPHILLY on Aug 13, 2007 12:02:00 GMT -5
By MICKEY FURFARI, For The Inter-Mountain
(The Inter-Mountain/Joey Kittle)
MORGANTOWN — Coach Rich Rodriguez said Monday night he thinks West Virginia’s passing game will be better this football fall. But he hedged when asked whether the highly rated Mountaineers will throw the ball more than they have either of the past two seasons when they posted the first back-to-back 11-2 records in WVU history. “We might pass more; we might pass less,” Rodriguez replied. “Stay tuned. “I didn’t promise them when we recruited (quarterbacks and receivers) and I ain’t promising them now. I tell them that in this offense the way it’s built, the passing game is easier to implement and to evolve than the running game. “We’ve done it with guys before, and if we have to (pass more) our guys can do it. Obviously, it depends on the protection and the quarterbacks, which I think will be OK. Also, it’s going to depend on development of the receivers.”
Another consideration would be whether the coaches have enough confidence that the receivers can win one-on-one battles and make some big plays. Rodriguez did say there’s more competition among the pass-catches than there was last year.
“The positions are wide open,” he stressed.
However, Rodriguez reminded that the quarterbacks run well with the ball and fullback Owen Schmitt also is productive as a runner, giving strong support to WVU and Big East record-shattering All-America tailback Steve Slaton.
“Some people say we are one-dimensional,” he noted. “I think we are at least three-dimensional and (wideout) Darius Reynaud is one of the most explosive players in the Big East.
“But it really comes down to execution.”
n n n
Dent is confident as new center: Mike Dent doesn’t find it difficult taking over the center spot on West Virginia University’s 2007 football team from Rimington Award winner Dan Mozes.
The 6-4, 285-pound junior from Jeannette, Pa., was the backup the last two years and he’s confident that he can handle the job.
So is Coach Rich Rodriguez. “Mike is a fourth-year player and he knows what he’s doing,” he said. “He didn’t make a bad snap on the first day of camp.”
Dent is an excellent technician who can play any position on the offensive line. He came to WVU as a defensive end, but made the transition smoothly.
“I still have some stuff to work on,” he admitted. “Snapping the ball and calling defenses. I learned a lot from Dan. He’s always told me, ‘Be confident in what you’re doing.’”
Mozes, a consensus All-America selection, now is a rookie with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings.
“Everybody knows he’s a great player,” Dent said. “But I can’t be Dan Mozes. I’ve just got to be Mike Dent. I’m working on being a leader like he was here, though.
“That’s in the back of my mind. I think I’m getting better at that every day. I’m sure I can be a good leader. Center is a very important position.”
Indeed, being the middle man up front carries considerable responsibility. And he’s happily assuming that.
“I’ve got a lot more confidence out there now,” he said. “I make a call, stick with it, and not worry about it. I’m got to stay confident in myself and in my teammates.
“Dan Mozes was a tough player while here, and I’m trying to take that toughness onto the field every day. I want to get one percent better each day.”
Tackles Ryan Stanchek and Jake Figner and left guard Greg Isdaner are returning starters from last year’s team that posted an 11-2 record and attained No. 10 final national ranking. Eric Rodemoyer, a redshirt freshman, is expected to be the starter at right guard.
Dent was a standout at Jeannette High, which won three consecutive conference titles and advanced to the WPIAL finals. He played both ways and received all-state first-team honors.
Mozes apparently will be on injured reserve for what would have been his first season in the NFL.
He tore the articular cruciate ligament in his right knee making a block against the Kansas City Chiefs in a preseason scrimmage last Friday night.
Tom Mozes, his father, said Dan is going to have surgery in three weeks and probably will be out for the year.
(The Inter-Mountain/Joey Kittle)
MORGANTOWN — Coach Rich Rodriguez said Monday night he thinks West Virginia’s passing game will be better this football fall. But he hedged when asked whether the highly rated Mountaineers will throw the ball more than they have either of the past two seasons when they posted the first back-to-back 11-2 records in WVU history. “We might pass more; we might pass less,” Rodriguez replied. “Stay tuned. “I didn’t promise them when we recruited (quarterbacks and receivers) and I ain’t promising them now. I tell them that in this offense the way it’s built, the passing game is easier to implement and to evolve than the running game. “We’ve done it with guys before, and if we have to (pass more) our guys can do it. Obviously, it depends on the protection and the quarterbacks, which I think will be OK. Also, it’s going to depend on development of the receivers.”
Another consideration would be whether the coaches have enough confidence that the receivers can win one-on-one battles and make some big plays. Rodriguez did say there’s more competition among the pass-catches than there was last year.
“The positions are wide open,” he stressed.
However, Rodriguez reminded that the quarterbacks run well with the ball and fullback Owen Schmitt also is productive as a runner, giving strong support to WVU and Big East record-shattering All-America tailback Steve Slaton.
“Some people say we are one-dimensional,” he noted. “I think we are at least three-dimensional and (wideout) Darius Reynaud is one of the most explosive players in the Big East.
“But it really comes down to execution.”
n n n
Dent is confident as new center: Mike Dent doesn’t find it difficult taking over the center spot on West Virginia University’s 2007 football team from Rimington Award winner Dan Mozes.
The 6-4, 285-pound junior from Jeannette, Pa., was the backup the last two years and he’s confident that he can handle the job.
So is Coach Rich Rodriguez. “Mike is a fourth-year player and he knows what he’s doing,” he said. “He didn’t make a bad snap on the first day of camp.”
Dent is an excellent technician who can play any position on the offensive line. He came to WVU as a defensive end, but made the transition smoothly.
“I still have some stuff to work on,” he admitted. “Snapping the ball and calling defenses. I learned a lot from Dan. He’s always told me, ‘Be confident in what you’re doing.’”
Mozes, a consensus All-America selection, now is a rookie with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings.
“Everybody knows he’s a great player,” Dent said. “But I can’t be Dan Mozes. I’ve just got to be Mike Dent. I’m working on being a leader like he was here, though.
“That’s in the back of my mind. I think I’m getting better at that every day. I’m sure I can be a good leader. Center is a very important position.”
Indeed, being the middle man up front carries considerable responsibility. And he’s happily assuming that.
“I’ve got a lot more confidence out there now,” he said. “I make a call, stick with it, and not worry about it. I’m got to stay confident in myself and in my teammates.
“Dan Mozes was a tough player while here, and I’m trying to take that toughness onto the field every day. I want to get one percent better each day.”
Tackles Ryan Stanchek and Jake Figner and left guard Greg Isdaner are returning starters from last year’s team that posted an 11-2 record and attained No. 10 final national ranking. Eric Rodemoyer, a redshirt freshman, is expected to be the starter at right guard.
Dent was a standout at Jeannette High, which won three consecutive conference titles and advanced to the WPIAL finals. He played both ways and received all-state first-team honors.
Mozes apparently will be on injured reserve for what would have been his first season in the NFL.
He tore the articular cruciate ligament in his right knee making a block against the Kansas City Chiefs in a preseason scrimmage last Friday night.
Tom Mozes, his father, said Dan is going to have surgery in three weeks and probably will be out for the year.
