Post by cviller on Sept 28, 2007 7:29:28 GMT -5
By Dave Hickman
Staff writer
TAMPA, Fla. — So far, the virtual absence of Keilen Dykes from West Virginia’s defense hasn’t been much of a factor.
The Mountaineers’ biggest and best defensive lineman has been slowed almost to a crawl by a foot injury the past two games and certainly isn’t 100 percent heading into tonight’s 8 o’clock game with South Florida. Although he started against both Maryland and East Carolina, he played very few snaps. Last week against the Pirates, the number was just eight.
Yet, in those two games, WVU’s defense has played perhaps as well as it has at any time in the past two seasons, with youngsters Thor Merrow and Chris Neild primarily manning Dykes’ nose tackle spot.
“I said, ‘Keilen, you only played five or six snaps and we almost got a shutout,’ ’’ West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez said, joking with his senior defensive leader. “Am I noticing a trend there?’ ’
The bottom line, though, is that with limited playing time, Dykes has been able to rest, Merrow and Neild have gotten more valuable experience and, when Dykes returns to the defense, should be even better.
That, of course, begs the question of when Dykes might be at full strength. Rodriguez said he doesn’t think the injury is anything chronic.
“No, it’s something we think will get better each week,’’ Rodriguez said. “It’s kind of a stress thing that’s not a stress fracture, and we don’t want it to become that. So we’ve been resting him.’’
Tonight might be a good time for Dykes to begin playing more. South Florida is expected to get starting center Nick Capogna back after missing two games with a knee injury.
There is an argument to be made that South Florida is better prepared for this game than West Virginia, at least from a competition standpoint.
The Bulls have played one less game, and one of those was against Division I-AA Elon. USF also beat North Carolina at home last weekend and, between those two, had an overtime win on the road at Auburn.
West Virginia, meanwhile, has largely won in routs over Western Michigan, Marshall, Maryland and East Carolina.
“We’ve gotten tested at times. Every time we play somebody, particularly if you’re highly ranked, you’re going to take their best shot,’’ Rodriguez said. “We played at a very talented Maryland team on the road and that was a hostile environment.’’
In truth, the two schedules are remarkably similar. Yes, West Virginia’s opponents have just two wins over Division I-A opponents. But so, too, do USF’s opponents. Elon has none, Auburn has beaten only Kansas State and New Mexico State, and North Carolina has beaten only I-AA James Madison.
USF coach Jim Leavitt is a great quote during the offseason, but when play begins he says almost nothing.
These are actually a few of his more expansive quotes on different subjects this week:
• On WVU freshman Noel Devine. “He’s awfully good. We knew that out of high school. We knew he was one of the better players out there,’’ Leavitt said. “It just gives them another running back that’s awfully talented.’’
• On the Mountaineers’ defense: “I think they’re playing awfully well. They get the football back to the offense and that’s what you want a defense to do.’’
• On his own star linebacker, Ben Moffitt: “You don’t have to coach Ben Moffitt much. He coaches himself.’’
• And on any similarities he sees between WVU quarterback Pat White and his own QB, Matt Grothe: “[White] can run, throw and he’s smart. It’s a good system that fits his abilities. I think he and Matt are different though.’’
Briefly
• Rodriguez’s next victory will be No. 100 for him as a college head coach. He is 99-60-2 at Salem, Glenville and West Virginia.
• Tonight’s game matches the two highest-ranked college teams — No. 5 WVU and No. 18 USF — ever to play in Tampa. Naturally South Florida, which had never been ranked until a week ago, has never played host to a matchup of ranked teams, but the Outback Bowl is also played at Raymond James Stadium. The 2005 version of that bowl matched No. 8 Georgia and No. 16 Wisconsin. And in 1984 at Tampa Stadium, No. 10 Miami beat No. 17 Florida in the season opener.
That No. 8 Georgia team was also the highest-ranked team ever to play in Tampa before now.
• In 165 combined attempts this season, neither White nor Grothe have thrown an interception. But they each threw two in last year’s game in Morgantown.
• West Virginia hasn’t lost on grass in its last nine games on the surface, dating back to the Gator Bowl against Florida State. That includes a 3-0 mark in 2005, 5-0 in 2006 and 1-0 this season.
• West Virginia leads the nation in yards per rush this season, by far. The Mountaineers are averaging 7.2 yards and Arkansas is second at 6.4. The only team in the country with more rushing yards than West Virginia is Navy (1,440-1,428), but the Midshipmen have rushed 46 more times and are averaging 5.9 yards, seventh in the country.
To contact staff writer Dave Hickman, use e-mail or call 348-1734.