Post by rainman on Aug 29, 2007 6:12:59 GMT -5
Rod talks at length about offense
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— Rich Rodriguez talked at length Tuesday afternoon about both the old and new in No. 3-ranked West Virginia University’s high-powered, explosive offense.
While he doesn’t feel qualified to compare it to other significantly productive ball-moving brigades, the veteran coach said All-America tailback Steve Slaton, quarterback Patrick White & Co. have performed very well in preseason practice.
Besides the two Heisman Trophy candidates, he mentioned fullback Owen Schmitt and wide receivers Darius Reynaud and Dorrell Jalloh as key cogs in an offense that averaged 38.8 points and 461.4 yards per game last year.
The Mountaineers hope to pick up where they left off last Jan. 1 when they kick off the season against Western Michigan here at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. No tickets remain for the contest.
“I think the last couple days execution has been really good,” Rodriguez said at his first weekly press conference of the season. “I think we’re deeper. And we’re still young over there.”
Schmitt, Reynaud and tight end Michael Villagrana are the only senior starters on offense. But Adam Bednarik, who can play either quarterback or receiver, also is a senior.
Reynaud and Jalloh are the only receivers who have established themselves, according to the head coach.
“Darius has had a really good three weeks of practice, and he’s in the best shape of his career,” he said. “Dorrell has come along well, and we’ve got a lot of confidence in him.”
Tito Gonzales also appears a fixture for the third spot in the receiving corps. Sophomore Wes Lyons, at 6-foot-8 the tallest among the pass-catchers, practiced Monday for the first time in nearly a month.
“Our receivers are starting to develop a little bit,” Rodriguez said.
While he’s pleased with the development of true freshmen Jock Sanders and Noel Devine, neither has emerged as the No. 2 backup behind Slaton. But both are scheduled to see action this season.
“We need a guy when Steve needs a rest, and I still think Owen (Schmitt) is probably the No. 1 (backup) at tailback,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve been pleased with how quickly they’ve learned.
“You hate for them to have to go into a game in a critical situation. But, at the same time, we can’t be afraid to play them.
“They know enough that we can put them in there and be confident that they will be able to execute, whether it’s pass protection, running at route or to take a handoff. They’re taking all the reps on the same plays that Steve is.”
Rodriguez noted that Devine and Sanders still make a mistake or two at times.
But he recalled that Slaton also miscued at this stage of his career in 2005.
“So we have just about all the guys we had last year,” he said. “The key is can we execute (the offense) and can we spread the reps, so to speak, when they defend everyone in the box against Steve and Pat?”
Rodriguez revealed that the coaches were really protective of Slaton at times last season because of his injured wrist.
“We’d take him out and put Owen in simply because we didn’t want Steve to injure that wrist further by blocking,” he explained.
“But he probably could play more this year because he’s healthy. We’ve moved him around some. He’s going to play enough, but he’s going to need some rest.
“Whether we put Jock, Noel or Owen in there, it will probably depend on the situation and sometimes the play.”
Rodriguez admittedly finds it always a little nervous going into a season’s opening game.
He said, “We’ve worked hard in trying to figure out every scenario you might face. But you don’t know until you play, especially against somebody different.”
The biggest concern is trying to determine how Western Michigan will play against WVU defensively.
As a result, he thinks it could be ugly at times in a first game, just trying to figure out what the opposing attack is.
“I wouldn’t be shocked if someone did something really very unconventional and we’d have to find an answer for it,” he said.
“We have to keep our poise and just try to execute what’s called,” he said.
NOTES: Linebackers Bobby Hathaway has a broken hand and is questionable …, Another linebacker, Reed Williams, has a sore elbow but should be fine by Saturday. … Senior Keilein Dykes is the most dominant player and leader on the defensive line. He’s in the best shape of his career. …
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— Rich Rodriguez talked at length Tuesday afternoon about both the old and new in No. 3-ranked West Virginia University’s high-powered, explosive offense.
While he doesn’t feel qualified to compare it to other significantly productive ball-moving brigades, the veteran coach said All-America tailback Steve Slaton, quarterback Patrick White & Co. have performed very well in preseason practice.
Besides the two Heisman Trophy candidates, he mentioned fullback Owen Schmitt and wide receivers Darius Reynaud and Dorrell Jalloh as key cogs in an offense that averaged 38.8 points and 461.4 yards per game last year.
The Mountaineers hope to pick up where they left off last Jan. 1 when they kick off the season against Western Michigan here at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. No tickets remain for the contest.
“I think the last couple days execution has been really good,” Rodriguez said at his first weekly press conference of the season. “I think we’re deeper. And we’re still young over there.”
Schmitt, Reynaud and tight end Michael Villagrana are the only senior starters on offense. But Adam Bednarik, who can play either quarterback or receiver, also is a senior.
Reynaud and Jalloh are the only receivers who have established themselves, according to the head coach.
“Darius has had a really good three weeks of practice, and he’s in the best shape of his career,” he said. “Dorrell has come along well, and we’ve got a lot of confidence in him.”
Tito Gonzales also appears a fixture for the third spot in the receiving corps. Sophomore Wes Lyons, at 6-foot-8 the tallest among the pass-catchers, practiced Monday for the first time in nearly a month.
“Our receivers are starting to develop a little bit,” Rodriguez said.
While he’s pleased with the development of true freshmen Jock Sanders and Noel Devine, neither has emerged as the No. 2 backup behind Slaton. But both are scheduled to see action this season.
“We need a guy when Steve needs a rest, and I still think Owen (Schmitt) is probably the No. 1 (backup) at tailback,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve been pleased with how quickly they’ve learned.
“You hate for them to have to go into a game in a critical situation. But, at the same time, we can’t be afraid to play them.
“They know enough that we can put them in there and be confident that they will be able to execute, whether it’s pass protection, running at route or to take a handoff. They’re taking all the reps on the same plays that Steve is.”
Rodriguez noted that Devine and Sanders still make a mistake or two at times.
But he recalled that Slaton also miscued at this stage of his career in 2005.
“So we have just about all the guys we had last year,” he said. “The key is can we execute (the offense) and can we spread the reps, so to speak, when they defend everyone in the box against Steve and Pat?”
Rodriguez revealed that the coaches were really protective of Slaton at times last season because of his injured wrist.
“We’d take him out and put Owen in simply because we didn’t want Steve to injure that wrist further by blocking,” he explained.
“But he probably could play more this year because he’s healthy. We’ve moved him around some. He’s going to play enough, but he’s going to need some rest.
“Whether we put Jock, Noel or Owen in there, it will probably depend on the situation and sometimes the play.”
Rodriguez admittedly finds it always a little nervous going into a season’s opening game.
He said, “We’ve worked hard in trying to figure out every scenario you might face. But you don’t know until you play, especially against somebody different.”
The biggest concern is trying to determine how Western Michigan will play against WVU defensively.
As a result, he thinks it could be ugly at times in a first game, just trying to figure out what the opposing attack is.
“I wouldn’t be shocked if someone did something really very unconventional and we’d have to find an answer for it,” he said.
“We have to keep our poise and just try to execute what’s called,” he said.
NOTES: Linebackers Bobby Hathaway has a broken hand and is questionable …, Another linebacker, Reed Williams, has a sore elbow but should be fine by Saturday. … Senior Keilein Dykes is the most dominant player and leader on the defensive line. He’s in the best shape of his career. …
