Post by dehayes35 on Sept 6, 2007 16:36:19 GMT -5
Stole this from a Huntington paper...I think it's very interesting to read articles from our opponents local papers...
Herd must avoid mistakes
By Anthony Hanshew
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- So many things have to turn right for Marshall University to produce a Friends of Coal Bowl shocker.
The Thundering Herd football team, entering Saturday as a 23-point underdog to No. 3 West Virginia University, simply can't commit turnovers. Penalties must be minimized and reining in quarterback Pat White and tailback Steve Slaton is a concern.
Big picture, field position will help decide Saturday's Mountain State collision. Marshall (0-1, 0-0 Conference USA) and WVU (1-0, 0-0 Big East) kick off at 11 a.m. at Joan C. Edwards Stadium and ESPN2 will televise the game.
Marshall offensive coordinator Larry Kueck couldn't fully open his playbook during last week's 31-3 loss at Miami (Fla.). Five of 13 Thundering Herd drives began inside its own 20-yard line and its average opening field position was the 24.
Kueck's play calling was hamstrung and Miami's disruptive front seven felt free to blitz at will.
"When you're back in the shadows of your own end zone and it's second and 13, I don't want to make that call," Marshall head coach Mark Snyder said.
"That's what we've challenged (the offensive line) with and the whole offensive unit."
Special teams also can help set a more favorable table. A first quarter possession began at the Marshall 10 after a kickoff return miscue. Running backs Chubb Small and Darius Marshall will return kicks against the Mountaineers.
Bernard Morris threw for 162 yards against the Hurricanes, but was sacked five times and suffered three interceptions. He realizes that Kueck, himself and all involved will benefit from shorter fields.
"Field position is a big role," the senior quarterback said. "I don't know if a lot of people pay attention, but those special teams scrimmages we have, you get a good feel for how important special teams are.
"With a shorter field, it gives everyone a chance. When you're backed up, the defense already is hyped up, and now you've got to make that first play just to get a first down.
"A short field, it gives you a ton of options as far as how you can attack the other team. The playbook really opens up because you're in an area where they don't know what you're going to do."
Miami's average starting field position was its own 47, leading to five scoring drives averaging just 1:46 off the clock. Five Hurricanes' possessions opened in Thundering Herd territory.
West Virginia features a quick-strike offense coming off a 62-point season-opening performance, making field position less of an issue. Still, Snyder and the Herd certainly would prefer to force WVU to drive the length of the field.
"It's crucial -- very, very crucial," Snyder said. "This week's a little different because they're so explosive. They can go 90 on you in a heartbeat. This is a big-play offense.
"But last week yeah, it really, really hurt us. ... This week, there's no position on the field that's safe."
Herd must avoid mistakes
By Anthony Hanshew
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- So many things have to turn right for Marshall University to produce a Friends of Coal Bowl shocker.
The Thundering Herd football team, entering Saturday as a 23-point underdog to No. 3 West Virginia University, simply can't commit turnovers. Penalties must be minimized and reining in quarterback Pat White and tailback Steve Slaton is a concern.
Big picture, field position will help decide Saturday's Mountain State collision. Marshall (0-1, 0-0 Conference USA) and WVU (1-0, 0-0 Big East) kick off at 11 a.m. at Joan C. Edwards Stadium and ESPN2 will televise the game.
Marshall offensive coordinator Larry Kueck couldn't fully open his playbook during last week's 31-3 loss at Miami (Fla.). Five of 13 Thundering Herd drives began inside its own 20-yard line and its average opening field position was the 24.
Kueck's play calling was hamstrung and Miami's disruptive front seven felt free to blitz at will.
"When you're back in the shadows of your own end zone and it's second and 13, I don't want to make that call," Marshall head coach Mark Snyder said.
"That's what we've challenged (the offensive line) with and the whole offensive unit."
Special teams also can help set a more favorable table. A first quarter possession began at the Marshall 10 after a kickoff return miscue. Running backs Chubb Small and Darius Marshall will return kicks against the Mountaineers.
Bernard Morris threw for 162 yards against the Hurricanes, but was sacked five times and suffered three interceptions. He realizes that Kueck, himself and all involved will benefit from shorter fields.
"Field position is a big role," the senior quarterback said. "I don't know if a lot of people pay attention, but those special teams scrimmages we have, you get a good feel for how important special teams are.
"With a shorter field, it gives everyone a chance. When you're backed up, the defense already is hyped up, and now you've got to make that first play just to get a first down.
"A short field, it gives you a ton of options as far as how you can attack the other team. The playbook really opens up because you're in an area where they don't know what you're going to do."
Miami's average starting field position was its own 47, leading to five scoring drives averaging just 1:46 off the clock. Five Hurricanes' possessions opened in Thundering Herd territory.
West Virginia features a quick-strike offense coming off a 62-point season-opening performance, making field position less of an issue. Still, Snyder and the Herd certainly would prefer to force WVU to drive the length of the field.
"It's crucial -- very, very crucial," Snyder said. "This week's a little different because they're so explosive. They can go 90 on you in a heartbeat. This is a big-play offense.
"But last week yeah, it really, really hurt us. ... This week, there's no position on the field that's safe."
