Post by elp525 on Oct 29, 2009 8:51:32 GMT -5
Wednesday October 28, 2009
by Mike Casazza
Daily Mail sports writer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Given the way South Florida has defended the West Virginia offense, Coach Bill Stewart could have done without two things preceding Friday's 8 p.m. ESPN2 game at Raymond James Stadium.
One was the decision by defensive end George Selvie to delay his NFL career and return to USF for his senior season.
"I wish George Selvie had left early, that rascal," Stewart said. "He's been an absolute thorn in our side since he's been there. He's the greatest rush guy in the game today."
The numbers back that boast.
Selvie, the 6-foot-4, 250-pound senior from Pensacola, Fla., is the NCAA's active leader with 66.5 tackles for a loss - eight shy of the NCAA career record - and ranks No. 2 with 28.5 career sacks (a half-sack behind the leader).
In his career against WVU, Selvie has 20 tackles, six tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
If the return of Selvie was one thing Stewart didn't need to see, the emergence of another rush end at South Florida was another.
That's junior college transfer Jason Pierre-Paul, a 6-6, 260-pound junior who can do standing back flips in full pads.
In two years at two junior colleges, Pierre-Paul - once an unknown Central Florida signee - became one of the best junior college prospects in totaling 119 tackles and 24.5 sacks. In his first seven games with the Bulls (5-2, 0-2 Big East), Pierre-Paul has 23 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks.
"He's making plays. Look at his stats," Stewart said. "Think of the great NFL or even the great college teams that had a certain guy, a certain star, like Selvie in this case.
"People leave a tight end in to chip him. They take a running back on a passing play to block him. They double-team him. But you can only give him so much attention. Pierre-Paul has helped him."
Pierre-Paul's play has freed Selvie, who has been double-teamed only 117 of 263 snaps. He has 27 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks.
However, they have been victims of schemes the past two games, both losses for USF. Selvie has five solo tackles and one sack, Pierre-Paul six solo tackles and no sacks against Cincinnati and Pitt.
Both opponents used a combination of quick throws, short drop-backs, draws and screens to take advantage of the duo's speed up the field.
"Cincinnati runs a lot of empty backfield, no-back stuff and gets the ball out quickly before they can get to you," Stewart said. "Pitt does a nice job running play-action pass, misdirection, bootlegs, draws, screens. We are a combination of both of those two teams that have beaten (USF). I don't know if we're as good as those two teams, but we'll see.
"We're going to give them our gamut and do what we do. We need to drop some balls here and some balls there and have a draw play or two, but we have to run at them. We cannot play on our heels. That's the thing. That's why people have had success against them. They came at them and got after them."
* * *
STEWART SAID WVU receiver Brad Starks, who suffered a "jammed" back making a block against UConn, is fine and will play against the Bulls.
The prospects for middle linebacker Reed Williams don't look as good, although Stewart is optimistic the senior will play through shoulder pain. Williams took a medical redshirt last season after offseason shoulder surgery to repair torn labrums in both shoulders.
"Reed is a game-time thing," Stewart said. "Sometimes he gets nicked, sometimes he doesn't. It depends on when he hits it and how he hits it. He is good to go. For how long, I don't know, but we need both Reed Williams and Bradley Starks in the lineup come Friday night."
Stewart offered no update on the health of defensive tackle Scooter Berry, who is on an indefinite suspension after an arrest last week. Berry was hurt against Marshall when an errant leg whip affected his ankle.
"He's in my dog house and he's going to be in my dog house," Stewart said. "He's not even on the leash. When he is on the leash, I'll let you know more."
* * *
STEWART WAS named to the watch list for the Bryant College Coach of the Year Award on Monday.
"They must be talking about some other Stewart coaching out west," he said.
The award, named after Paul "Bear" Bryant, is the only coaching award given after the bowl schedule. Finalists will be announced in December and a winner will be chosen by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association on Jan. 14 in Houston.
"It's a real tribute to this staff," said Stewart, who won the Fiesta Bowl in an interim capacity and is 15-5 as the full-time coach. "I think we have the best sideline adjustment people - in fact, I know it.
"It's nothing but a testimony to the best staff I've ever been around and the young men, who do it out in the arena."
by Mike Casazza
Daily Mail sports writer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Given the way South Florida has defended the West Virginia offense, Coach Bill Stewart could have done without two things preceding Friday's 8 p.m. ESPN2 game at Raymond James Stadium.
One was the decision by defensive end George Selvie to delay his NFL career and return to USF for his senior season.
"I wish George Selvie had left early, that rascal," Stewart said. "He's been an absolute thorn in our side since he's been there. He's the greatest rush guy in the game today."
The numbers back that boast.
Selvie, the 6-foot-4, 250-pound senior from Pensacola, Fla., is the NCAA's active leader with 66.5 tackles for a loss - eight shy of the NCAA career record - and ranks No. 2 with 28.5 career sacks (a half-sack behind the leader).
In his career against WVU, Selvie has 20 tackles, six tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
If the return of Selvie was one thing Stewart didn't need to see, the emergence of another rush end at South Florida was another.
That's junior college transfer Jason Pierre-Paul, a 6-6, 260-pound junior who can do standing back flips in full pads.
In two years at two junior colleges, Pierre-Paul - once an unknown Central Florida signee - became one of the best junior college prospects in totaling 119 tackles and 24.5 sacks. In his first seven games with the Bulls (5-2, 0-2 Big East), Pierre-Paul has 23 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks.
"He's making plays. Look at his stats," Stewart said. "Think of the great NFL or even the great college teams that had a certain guy, a certain star, like Selvie in this case.
"People leave a tight end in to chip him. They take a running back on a passing play to block him. They double-team him. But you can only give him so much attention. Pierre-Paul has helped him."
Pierre-Paul's play has freed Selvie, who has been double-teamed only 117 of 263 snaps. He has 27 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks.
However, they have been victims of schemes the past two games, both losses for USF. Selvie has five solo tackles and one sack, Pierre-Paul six solo tackles and no sacks against Cincinnati and Pitt.
Both opponents used a combination of quick throws, short drop-backs, draws and screens to take advantage of the duo's speed up the field.
"Cincinnati runs a lot of empty backfield, no-back stuff and gets the ball out quickly before they can get to you," Stewart said. "Pitt does a nice job running play-action pass, misdirection, bootlegs, draws, screens. We are a combination of both of those two teams that have beaten (USF). I don't know if we're as good as those two teams, but we'll see.
"We're going to give them our gamut and do what we do. We need to drop some balls here and some balls there and have a draw play or two, but we have to run at them. We cannot play on our heels. That's the thing. That's why people have had success against them. They came at them and got after them."
* * *
STEWART SAID WVU receiver Brad Starks, who suffered a "jammed" back making a block against UConn, is fine and will play against the Bulls.
The prospects for middle linebacker Reed Williams don't look as good, although Stewart is optimistic the senior will play through shoulder pain. Williams took a medical redshirt last season after offseason shoulder surgery to repair torn labrums in both shoulders.
"Reed is a game-time thing," Stewart said. "Sometimes he gets nicked, sometimes he doesn't. It depends on when he hits it and how he hits it. He is good to go. For how long, I don't know, but we need both Reed Williams and Bradley Starks in the lineup come Friday night."
Stewart offered no update on the health of defensive tackle Scooter Berry, who is on an indefinite suspension after an arrest last week. Berry was hurt against Marshall when an errant leg whip affected his ankle.
"He's in my dog house and he's going to be in my dog house," Stewart said. "He's not even on the leash. When he is on the leash, I'll let you know more."
* * *
STEWART WAS named to the watch list for the Bryant College Coach of the Year Award on Monday.
"They must be talking about some other Stewart coaching out west," he said.
The award, named after Paul "Bear" Bryant, is the only coaching award given after the bowl schedule. Finalists will be announced in December and a winner will be chosen by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association on Jan. 14 in Houston.
"It's a real tribute to this staff," said Stewart, who won the Fiesta Bowl in an interim capacity and is 15-5 as the full-time coach. "I think we have the best sideline adjustment people - in fact, I know it.
"It's nothing but a testimony to the best staff I've ever been around and the young men, who do it out in the arena."
