Post by WVUfanPHILLY on Aug 31, 2007 13:38:34 GMT -5
"I think we can average 50 this season"
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
By Chuck Finder, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- The Big East offensive-player-of-the-year quarterback and the consensus All-America tailback, in particular, plus the West Virginia offense that ranked second nationally in rushing and third in scoring, in general, consider themselves new and improved products.
Which creates the quandary: How can you improve on that kind of achievement?
"I think we can average 50 this season," tailback Steve Slaton was saying this week, referring to an upgrade in the 38.85 points per game the Mountaineers scored a year ago. As for the gaudy 7 yards per rush he and quarterback chum Patrick White averaged, Slaton added, "Hopefully, it's 10 this time."
West Virginia plans to rest Slaton at times after he had his right wrist repaired surgically, is polishing White as a passing and defense-reading quarterback, is adding some facets to a complex spread offense, and is speeding up its no-huddle tempo.
Such alterations may well enhance the No. 3 Mountaineers' offense, which makes its season debut at 3:30 p.m. Saturday against a Western Michigan defense that just so happened to rank sixth nationally last year by allowing but 76 yards rushing per game, 2.6 yards per rush. Or, as Slaton put it: "They play a lot of man [-to-man]; they're good open-field tacklers. We'll just have to expose them. I think the whole team's speed can make up for that."
Start at quarterback, where White returns with a 15-2 record as a starter and the conference's offensive honors from a year ago. He has a new quarterbacks coach, Rod Smith, a former South Florida offensive coordinator and one-time Glenville State quarterback.
"He does me a lot of justice. Helps me with my reads. Helps me on all my little things. Being prepared -- he talks about that a lot," White said.
White has gained almost 10 pounds, to a shade more than 190, and increased his speed, to the point where he beat roommate and sprint nemesis Slaton in their most recent race.
"I definitely feel a lot more confident reading defenses, both post-snap and pre-snap," White said. A year later, if I'm not , ... why do they have me running the offense?"
With Jarrett Brown expected to spell White on occasion this season, coach Rich Rodriguez's spread offense remains geared for a fleet quarterback. Only now, they're shifting into a higher gear. The Mountaineers spent considerable time this month practicing their speediest no-huddle set, called Jet. That's why fullback Owen Schmitt doubles as a tight end. That's why Slaton, himself 10 pounds heavier and hale after January wrist surgery, dabbles at slotback. This enables them to keep the same offensive stars on the field and force such a hasty tempo where defenses will be unable to substitute.
In addition to Brown at quarterback, the Mountaineers are prepared to rotate in freshman backup tailbacks Noel Devine and Jock Sanders, both of whom, like Slaton, also can play slotback.
NOTES -- WEAE-AM (1250) is the local affiliate among 67 radio stations nationally carrying a Big East game of the week, starting Friday with Washington-Syracuse. The West Virginia-South Florida and Louisville-West Virginia games are among those scheduled to be broadcast, though local blackout rules likely would prevent this affiliate from carrying the scheduled Navy-Pitt and Pitt-West Virginia games. ... Backup middle linebacker Bobby Hathaway of Carmichaels is questionable with a broken left hand, but the starter ahead of him, Reed Williams, is expected to play despite an elbow injury from last Friday. Guard Eric Rodemoyer of Kennedy Catholic said he plans to start against Western Michigan after missing the previous week and a half with an ankle injury.
