Post by rainman on Sept 4, 2007 6:22:09 GMT -5
‘Zero Cover’ defense works right into WVU’s rush game
By Bob Hertzel
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— A year ago if West Virginia University football coach Rich Rodriguez was talking about “Zero Cover” defense you could rest assured he was talking about his own team’s pass defense — a lot of receivers, zero coverage.
But as the sun was sinking fast in the western sky behind Milan Puskar Stadium at Mountaineer Field on Saturday, the term “Zero Coverage” was being used as it was meant to be used, as a football term describing a defense which turns its D-backs loose one-on-one with receivers while sending everyone else to the line of scrimmage, using blitz packages that have at least five men crossing the line of scrimmage.
While a year ago opponents certainly were putting eight in the box against WVU’s mercurial running game, they weren’t often going to “Zero Coverage” because Rodriguez was always spreading too many receivers across the field.
Western Michigan had spent its winter trying to devise a way to stop the Mountaineer running game, one that WVU might not expect. It decided that it had to gamble and it would be best to gamble against the passing game rather than the running game.
“Zero Cover” it would be.
Sixty-two points later that theory had been put to bed.
“I don’t expect to see it too much more this year,” said WVU quarterback Patrick White, in something of an understatement.
Asked if he felt that way because the Mountaineers had shredded it for nine touchdowns, White thought for a moment, then answered:
“I guess, a little bit. But we should have put up more points. We made some mistakes, both offensively and defensively.”
Indeed they had. Steve Slaton may have started the year with a four-touchdown game, which is something of an eye opener, but it could have been six or more. White missing him with one sure touchdown pass when he was open while Slaton dropped another, to say nothing of those moments when he was within an eyelash of breaking into the secondary — which was quite barren considering how many defenders were attacking the line of scrimmage — for other long touchdowns runs.
“Cover Zero?” Forget it, especially since White showed he could pass, too, with 192 of WVU’s passing yards.
“I like ‘Cover Zero‚’” Slaton said. “I think we have better athletes than them, so I think we can take advantage of it. I take it as a big challenge.”
The secret to beating “Cover Zero” defenses is only in part having breakaway runners like Slaton and White and Noel Devine and Jock Sanders. It is in the offensive line, as well, and there were numerous questions about the offensive line as the Mountaineers opened the season.
Not only gone were the two best linemen — Rimington Award winning center Dan Mozes and all-Big East guard Jeremy Sheffey — but the abrasive, yet effective, offensive line coach Rick Trickett.
It was a difficult first assignment dealing with so many blitzing linebackers and safeties, yet after viewing the film Rodriguez felt the O-line all had handled it quite well.
As if 542 total yards weren’t enough of a hint.
“They played OK,” Rodriguez said. “There’s a lot we have to do to better. Our fundamental techniques need to get cleaned up this week.”
Center Mike Dent is the key to the offensive line. He has to fill the large shoulder pads Mozes left behind at the position.
“I thought he had a pretty solid first start,” Rodriguez said. “He probably graded out as high as anyone up front.”
Dent was just glad that it was over following the game.
“I was nervous the first couple of snaps,” he admitted. “Now I have a game under my belt and that will help. There’s still a lot of work to do.”
The nicest part about being a WVU offensive lineman is that you are blocking for Slaton and White.
“They helped us out a lot,” Dent admitted. “There were a couple of blocks missed and they bailed us out.”
By Bob Hertzel
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— A year ago if West Virginia University football coach Rich Rodriguez was talking about “Zero Cover” defense you could rest assured he was talking about his own team’s pass defense — a lot of receivers, zero coverage.
But as the sun was sinking fast in the western sky behind Milan Puskar Stadium at Mountaineer Field on Saturday, the term “Zero Coverage” was being used as it was meant to be used, as a football term describing a defense which turns its D-backs loose one-on-one with receivers while sending everyone else to the line of scrimmage, using blitz packages that have at least five men crossing the line of scrimmage.
While a year ago opponents certainly were putting eight in the box against WVU’s mercurial running game, they weren’t often going to “Zero Coverage” because Rodriguez was always spreading too many receivers across the field.
Western Michigan had spent its winter trying to devise a way to stop the Mountaineer running game, one that WVU might not expect. It decided that it had to gamble and it would be best to gamble against the passing game rather than the running game.
“Zero Cover” it would be.
Sixty-two points later that theory had been put to bed.
“I don’t expect to see it too much more this year,” said WVU quarterback Patrick White, in something of an understatement.
Asked if he felt that way because the Mountaineers had shredded it for nine touchdowns, White thought for a moment, then answered:
“I guess, a little bit. But we should have put up more points. We made some mistakes, both offensively and defensively.”
Indeed they had. Steve Slaton may have started the year with a four-touchdown game, which is something of an eye opener, but it could have been six or more. White missing him with one sure touchdown pass when he was open while Slaton dropped another, to say nothing of those moments when he was within an eyelash of breaking into the secondary — which was quite barren considering how many defenders were attacking the line of scrimmage — for other long touchdowns runs.
“Cover Zero?” Forget it, especially since White showed he could pass, too, with 192 of WVU’s passing yards.
“I like ‘Cover Zero‚’” Slaton said. “I think we have better athletes than them, so I think we can take advantage of it. I take it as a big challenge.”
The secret to beating “Cover Zero” defenses is only in part having breakaway runners like Slaton and White and Noel Devine and Jock Sanders. It is in the offensive line, as well, and there were numerous questions about the offensive line as the Mountaineers opened the season.
Not only gone were the two best linemen — Rimington Award winning center Dan Mozes and all-Big East guard Jeremy Sheffey — but the abrasive, yet effective, offensive line coach Rick Trickett.
It was a difficult first assignment dealing with so many blitzing linebackers and safeties, yet after viewing the film Rodriguez felt the O-line all had handled it quite well.
As if 542 total yards weren’t enough of a hint.
“They played OK,” Rodriguez said. “There’s a lot we have to do to better. Our fundamental techniques need to get cleaned up this week.”
Center Mike Dent is the key to the offensive line. He has to fill the large shoulder pads Mozes left behind at the position.
“I thought he had a pretty solid first start,” Rodriguez said. “He probably graded out as high as anyone up front.”
Dent was just glad that it was over following the game.
“I was nervous the first couple of snaps,” he admitted. “Now I have a game under my belt and that will help. There’s still a lot of work to do.”
The nicest part about being a WVU offensive lineman is that you are blocking for Slaton and White.
“They helped us out a lot,” Dent admitted. “There were a couple of blocks missed and they bailed us out.”
