Post by rainman on Sept 11, 2007 6:02:12 GMT -5
Playing keep away
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— Maryland’s ball-control success in its first two games will be a challenge to West Virginia’s high-powered football offense on Thursday night at College Park, Md.
The Terps lead the nation in time of possession, averaging 36:01 to 24:00, and also have averaged 71.5 plays per game while limiting opponents to 50.
“That and the fact their defense has played very well is a concern,” WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez readily admitted Monday afternoon. “What they’re doing is controlling the game, possessing the ball, and limiting opponents to (slightly more than) 50 total plays.
“So they’re getting a lot of three-and-outs. Their offense is staying on the field, and it’s hard to score when you don’t have the ball.”
In victories over Western Michigan and Marshall, the No. 4-ranked Mountaineers averaged 55.0 points to 23.5 and 526.5 yards to 332.0 per game. But they averaged only 68 plays to 69.5 and 29:44 in possession time to 30:16.
“Your defense has got to create something and also your special teams,” Rodriguez reasoned. “But we’ve countered that in the past — including a little bit this year — and kept ball-control from taking the game over.
“We’ve got to do a good job of 1) the offense getting some first downs and 2) the defense trying to get some stops.”
Maryland opened the season with a 31-14 win over Villanova at home, then traveled to Miami last Saturday night for a 26-10 victory over Florida International.
Rodriguez said Jordan Steffy, the Terps’ 6-1, 210-pound junior quarterback, is very athletic and can run as well as pass. “He does some things we do in our offense,” he noted.
They also have two fine tailbacks, Leon Lattimore and Lance Ball, as well as one of the nation’s best receivers in Darrius Heyward-Bey. Two tight ends also are impressive.
“Maryland causes match-up problems for a lot of people,” the Mountaineer mentor observed. “They’ve always had very talented specialists. They’re very good on special teams. They cover well and they’ve got good schemes.”
West Virginia is seeking a fourth straight win in the tight series — something it never has put together in a rivalry it leads by 22-21-2.
Rodriguez expressed hope that Keilen Dykes, WVU’s biggest defensive lineman, will be able to see some action. He was injured in last Saturday’s 48-23 victory at Marshall.
However, linebacker Archie Sims and wide receiver Nate Sowers are not expected to play this week. Both have hamstring pulls. Linebacker Bobby Hathaway likely will see some action, though.
Because of Maryland’s tremendous size, Rodriguez said the Mountaineers must play with great leverage. “We’re not very big up front, and we’ve got to use good techniques and try to get off blocks,” he continued.
“We’re going to slowly ease the freshmen into action more and more. Those include Noel Devine, Jock Sanders, Brandon Hogan and Will Johnson. We’re getting more and more confident in the freshmen to put them in at key times.”
Rodriguez revealed that Owen Schmitt, who played three different positions, logged 60 plays against Marshall. But the big fullback said he wasn’t tired and obviously is in great physical condition.
Tight end Mike Villagrana got 44 snaps and did an outstanding job blocking.
Because of the short week, WVU will cut back on physical preparation in an effort to get the players feeling better by Thursday night.
Rodriguez doesn’t think playing at 11 a.m. last Saturday will give WVU an edge against Maryland, which played at night. Both squads had Sunday as a recovery day.
While WVU currently is ranked in the Top 5 nationally, he thinks his program must recruit a lot more depth and a lot more high-quality players at certain positions to be a dominant Top 5 program.
He reminded that WVU had just one player selected in the NFL draft in 2006 and none picked this year. He said, “I’d like it when we’ve got about five, six or seven every year.”
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— Maryland’s ball-control success in its first two games will be a challenge to West Virginia’s high-powered football offense on Thursday night at College Park, Md.
The Terps lead the nation in time of possession, averaging 36:01 to 24:00, and also have averaged 71.5 plays per game while limiting opponents to 50.
“That and the fact their defense has played very well is a concern,” WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez readily admitted Monday afternoon. “What they’re doing is controlling the game, possessing the ball, and limiting opponents to (slightly more than) 50 total plays.
“So they’re getting a lot of three-and-outs. Their offense is staying on the field, and it’s hard to score when you don’t have the ball.”
In victories over Western Michigan and Marshall, the No. 4-ranked Mountaineers averaged 55.0 points to 23.5 and 526.5 yards to 332.0 per game. But they averaged only 68 plays to 69.5 and 29:44 in possession time to 30:16.
“Your defense has got to create something and also your special teams,” Rodriguez reasoned. “But we’ve countered that in the past — including a little bit this year — and kept ball-control from taking the game over.
“We’ve got to do a good job of 1) the offense getting some first downs and 2) the defense trying to get some stops.”
Maryland opened the season with a 31-14 win over Villanova at home, then traveled to Miami last Saturday night for a 26-10 victory over Florida International.
Rodriguez said Jordan Steffy, the Terps’ 6-1, 210-pound junior quarterback, is very athletic and can run as well as pass. “He does some things we do in our offense,” he noted.
They also have two fine tailbacks, Leon Lattimore and Lance Ball, as well as one of the nation’s best receivers in Darrius Heyward-Bey. Two tight ends also are impressive.
“Maryland causes match-up problems for a lot of people,” the Mountaineer mentor observed. “They’ve always had very talented specialists. They’re very good on special teams. They cover well and they’ve got good schemes.”
West Virginia is seeking a fourth straight win in the tight series — something it never has put together in a rivalry it leads by 22-21-2.
Rodriguez expressed hope that Keilen Dykes, WVU’s biggest defensive lineman, will be able to see some action. He was injured in last Saturday’s 48-23 victory at Marshall.
However, linebacker Archie Sims and wide receiver Nate Sowers are not expected to play this week. Both have hamstring pulls. Linebacker Bobby Hathaway likely will see some action, though.
Because of Maryland’s tremendous size, Rodriguez said the Mountaineers must play with great leverage. “We’re not very big up front, and we’ve got to use good techniques and try to get off blocks,” he continued.
“We’re going to slowly ease the freshmen into action more and more. Those include Noel Devine, Jock Sanders, Brandon Hogan and Will Johnson. We’re getting more and more confident in the freshmen to put them in at key times.”
Rodriguez revealed that Owen Schmitt, who played three different positions, logged 60 plays against Marshall. But the big fullback said he wasn’t tired and obviously is in great physical condition.
Tight end Mike Villagrana got 44 snaps and did an outstanding job blocking.
Because of the short week, WVU will cut back on physical preparation in an effort to get the players feeling better by Thursday night.
Rodriguez doesn’t think playing at 11 a.m. last Saturday will give WVU an edge against Maryland, which played at night. Both squads had Sunday as a recovery day.
While WVU currently is ranked in the Top 5 nationally, he thinks his program must recruit a lot more depth and a lot more high-quality players at certain positions to be a dominant Top 5 program.
He reminded that WVU had just one player selected in the NFL draft in 2006 and none picked this year. He said, “I’d like it when we’ve got about five, six or seven every year.”
