Post by elp525 on Oct 8, 2011 8:48:04 GMT -5
Saturday, October 08, 2011
By Jenn Menendez
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The game was just about a year ago, when West Virginia fumbled the ball seven times on its way to losing in overtime at Connecticut.
That loss ultimately cost the Mountaineers the outright Big East Conference and a Bowl Championship Series game.
Don't think that memory hasn't flashed through many players' minds this week as the Mountaineers (4-1) open conference play at noon today against Connecticut (2-3). A heavy favorite (20 points), No. 16 West Virginia hasn't forgotten.
"You turn the ball over like that? No way you can win," defensive end Bruce Irvin said. "Revenge game. You can call it that. We've got to play smart football and come out fast."
The memory is so vivid for some that it serves as a constant reminder of how turnovers can wreck a season.
The final turnover came when the Mountaineers fumbled on the 1 in overtime and Connecticut kicked a field goal for the win.
"Turnovers, man. Turnovers killed us," quarterback Geno Smith said. "I remember us moving the ball up and down the field and just turning it over. It killed us, and is something we've got to stay away from in this game."
The game today poses significant issues for Connecticut's pass defense that gave up 479 yards through the air to Western Michigan a week ago.
Smith ranks fifth in Division I-A in passing average at 341 yards per game, and has a slew of talented receivers who have put up big numbers.
"He's got a heck of a crew of receivers with vertical speed and real athleticism," Huskies coach Paul Pasqualoni said. "We're going to have to vary the coverages we play and change some looks and hope we're able to get some pressure."
But Connecticut brings an aggressive front that has amassed 16 sacks this season.
The Huskies rank eighth in Division I-A against the run yielding just 75.2 yards per game, 24th in points allowed (18.4 ppg.) and 30th in total defense (315.6 ypg.).
That defense could slow the West Virginia running game that broke out a week ago against Bowling Green.
"Their defensive front is big, and they try to outnumber and suffocate you," West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen said. "They're good against the run because they're physical and they try to outnumber you. Basically, what they try to do is outnumber you in the box and make it hard to run the ball, which means you have to throw the ball."
In other words, Smith likely will be attempting a lot of passes today, challenging the Connecticut secondary.
"It will be another challenge for our offensive line. It will be another challenge for [Geno Smith] and the coaches to come up with things schematically that will put ourselves in proper situations," Holgorsen said. "If they're trying to suffocate you on the line of scrimmage, then you don't need to be stubborn and do things to allow them to be successful."
On offense, the Huskies have a classic power offense behind quarterback Johnny McEntee, who threw for a career-high 300 yards and three touchdowns last week. Their standout is freshman running back Lyle McCombs, who has rushed for at least 100 yards three times this season.
Connecticut lost 6-foot-9 tackle Jimmy Bennett, a key offensive lineman, to a knee injury this week.
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NOTE -- Punter Corey Smith is likely to be replaced in the lineup today by redshirt freshman Mike Molinari.
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Scouting report
?Matchup: No. 16 West Virginia (4-1) vs. Connecticut (2-3), noon today, Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, W.Va. Mountaineers are favored by 20 points.
?TV, radio: WTAE, Mountaineer Sports Network, Sirius XM 92.
?West Virginia: Leads the series, 6-1. ... RB Dustin Garrison rushed for 291 yards last week. ... QB Geno Smith ranks fifth in the nation in passing average (341 ypg.) ... MLB Jewone Snow had a team high nine tackles last week in first start.
?Connecticut: Coached by former Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni. ... RB Lyle McCombs has rushed for 100 or more yards in three games. ... Defense gave up 479 passing yards against Western Michigan last week. ... Eighth ranked nationally in rushing defense (75.2 ypg), 30th ranked total defense (315.6 ypg) and 10th ranked in tackles for loss (8.2).
?Hidden stat: WR Tavon Austin is No. 4 nationally in all-purpose yards with 1,010.
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By Jenn Menendez
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The game was just about a year ago, when West Virginia fumbled the ball seven times on its way to losing in overtime at Connecticut.
That loss ultimately cost the Mountaineers the outright Big East Conference and a Bowl Championship Series game.
Don't think that memory hasn't flashed through many players' minds this week as the Mountaineers (4-1) open conference play at noon today against Connecticut (2-3). A heavy favorite (20 points), No. 16 West Virginia hasn't forgotten.
"You turn the ball over like that? No way you can win," defensive end Bruce Irvin said. "Revenge game. You can call it that. We've got to play smart football and come out fast."
The memory is so vivid for some that it serves as a constant reminder of how turnovers can wreck a season.
The final turnover came when the Mountaineers fumbled on the 1 in overtime and Connecticut kicked a field goal for the win.
"Turnovers, man. Turnovers killed us," quarterback Geno Smith said. "I remember us moving the ball up and down the field and just turning it over. It killed us, and is something we've got to stay away from in this game."
The game today poses significant issues for Connecticut's pass defense that gave up 479 yards through the air to Western Michigan a week ago.
Smith ranks fifth in Division I-A in passing average at 341 yards per game, and has a slew of talented receivers who have put up big numbers.
"He's got a heck of a crew of receivers with vertical speed and real athleticism," Huskies coach Paul Pasqualoni said. "We're going to have to vary the coverages we play and change some looks and hope we're able to get some pressure."
But Connecticut brings an aggressive front that has amassed 16 sacks this season.
The Huskies rank eighth in Division I-A against the run yielding just 75.2 yards per game, 24th in points allowed (18.4 ppg.) and 30th in total defense (315.6 ypg.).
That defense could slow the West Virginia running game that broke out a week ago against Bowling Green.
"Their defensive front is big, and they try to outnumber and suffocate you," West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen said. "They're good against the run because they're physical and they try to outnumber you. Basically, what they try to do is outnumber you in the box and make it hard to run the ball, which means you have to throw the ball."
In other words, Smith likely will be attempting a lot of passes today, challenging the Connecticut secondary.
"It will be another challenge for our offensive line. It will be another challenge for [Geno Smith] and the coaches to come up with things schematically that will put ourselves in proper situations," Holgorsen said. "If they're trying to suffocate you on the line of scrimmage, then you don't need to be stubborn and do things to allow them to be successful."
On offense, the Huskies have a classic power offense behind quarterback Johnny McEntee, who threw for a career-high 300 yards and three touchdowns last week. Their standout is freshman running back Lyle McCombs, who has rushed for at least 100 yards three times this season.
Connecticut lost 6-foot-9 tackle Jimmy Bennett, a key offensive lineman, to a knee injury this week.
?
NOTE -- Punter Corey Smith is likely to be replaced in the lineup today by redshirt freshman Mike Molinari.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scouting report
?Matchup: No. 16 West Virginia (4-1) vs. Connecticut (2-3), noon today, Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, W.Va. Mountaineers are favored by 20 points.
?TV, radio: WTAE, Mountaineer Sports Network, Sirius XM 92.
?West Virginia: Leads the series, 6-1. ... RB Dustin Garrison rushed for 291 yards last week. ... QB Geno Smith ranks fifth in the nation in passing average (341 ypg.) ... MLB Jewone Snow had a team high nine tackles last week in first start.
?Connecticut: Coached by former Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni. ... RB Lyle McCombs has rushed for 100 or more yards in three games. ... Defense gave up 479 passing yards against Western Michigan last week. ... Eighth ranked nationally in rushing defense (75.2 ypg), 30th ranked total defense (315.6 ypg) and 10th ranked in tackles for loss (8.2).
?Hidden stat: WR Tavon Austin is No. 4 nationally in all-purpose yards with 1,010.
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