Post by rainman on Oct 3, 2007 5:48:08 GMT -5
No decision on White until Saturday
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— A decision on Patrick White’s availability to play won’t be made until Saturday.
That’s what Rich Rodriguez said Tuesday in providing an update on the health status of West Virginia’s starting quarterback.
“He was in at 6:30 a.m. for a treatment,” the head coach reported. “He’s probably better today than he was yesterday.
“Pat is still kinda day-to-day. We’ll see how he is each of the next few days. Won’t decide until noon Saturday.”
That’s when the 13th-ranked Mountaineers (4-1, 0-1) will clash with the Syracuse Orange (1-4, 1-0) in the Carrier Dome.
It is the Big East Game of the Week and will be televised by ESPN Regional.
Rodriguez reiterated that he will have both sophomore Jarrett Brown and senior Adam Bednarik ready. Brown played the entire second half of last week’s 21-13 loss at USF after White hurt injured his thigh.
Bednarik, like Brown, has starting experience.
Rodriguez said it wasn’t enjoyable for a lot of players and coaches during practice last Sunday or in meetings before that day’s workout.
But he expects the normal routine to return for the remainder of this week’s practice sessions.
Despite its poor record, Syracuse shocked the nation at Louisville on Sept. 22 with a stunning 38-35 win over the then-ranked Cardinals.
“You could see that they had a little extra bounce in their step,” Rodriguez said after studying the game tapes. “It was a good game plan and (the Orange) got after them for all four quarters.
“They played well in all three phases. They really looked good. It was a Big East game, so we assume that’s (the challenge) we’re in for up there Saturday.”
Rodriguez thinks the Carrier Dome probably is the most unique or different away game site as any other in which a visiting team plays.
“The crowd noise is louder than the Georgia Dome or other closed arenas because it’s a smaller confinement,” he said.
The Mountaineers will go inside the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility one day to try to simulate what they’re facing.
Rodriguez is impressed by Syracuse’s four-man defensive line.
“They’ve got big, physical guys, and they play six or seven up front,” he said. “Nobody really moves them off the ball. They load up the box and force you to run.”
He said WVU will work hard on getting more movement on offense and doing a better job than it did against USF.
The veteran coach said Mike Dent, first-year starting center, had played pretty well before having a couple of bad snaps last week.
“Mike was not getting a lot of help at times from the guards,” he noted.
WVU is preparing for the possibility of seeing two different types of defense. Syracuse has gone from an even front to an odd stack similar to what the Mountaineers play.
“But we need to be ready for both,” Rodriguez said.
“We’ll probably see a lot of deep balls downfield. They have thrown a lot of deep passes. I’m impressed with their quarterback, a first-year starter.”
He thinks the Orangemen are executing better than they did against WVU either of the past two seasons.
Rodriguez praised the play of WVU linebacker Reed Williams, the leading tackler, and nose guard Keilen Dykes. Both seniors have performed very well.
He thinks a big key Saturday will be to pressure the quarterback, Andrew Robinson.
NOTES: Nate Sowers, quarterback turned wide receiver, has recovered from an injury and will rejoin the starting rotation. ... Although listed as a senior in the media guide, defensive lineman Johnny Dingle is a junior in eligibility.
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN— A decision on Patrick White’s availability to play won’t be made until Saturday.
That’s what Rich Rodriguez said Tuesday in providing an update on the health status of West Virginia’s starting quarterback.
“He was in at 6:30 a.m. for a treatment,” the head coach reported. “He’s probably better today than he was yesterday.
“Pat is still kinda day-to-day. We’ll see how he is each of the next few days. Won’t decide until noon Saturday.”
That’s when the 13th-ranked Mountaineers (4-1, 0-1) will clash with the Syracuse Orange (1-4, 1-0) in the Carrier Dome.
It is the Big East Game of the Week and will be televised by ESPN Regional.
Rodriguez reiterated that he will have both sophomore Jarrett Brown and senior Adam Bednarik ready. Brown played the entire second half of last week’s 21-13 loss at USF after White hurt injured his thigh.
Bednarik, like Brown, has starting experience.
Rodriguez said it wasn’t enjoyable for a lot of players and coaches during practice last Sunday or in meetings before that day’s workout.
But he expects the normal routine to return for the remainder of this week’s practice sessions.
Despite its poor record, Syracuse shocked the nation at Louisville on Sept. 22 with a stunning 38-35 win over the then-ranked Cardinals.
“You could see that they had a little extra bounce in their step,” Rodriguez said after studying the game tapes. “It was a good game plan and (the Orange) got after them for all four quarters.
“They played well in all three phases. They really looked good. It was a Big East game, so we assume that’s (the challenge) we’re in for up there Saturday.”
Rodriguez thinks the Carrier Dome probably is the most unique or different away game site as any other in which a visiting team plays.
“The crowd noise is louder than the Georgia Dome or other closed arenas because it’s a smaller confinement,” he said.
The Mountaineers will go inside the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility one day to try to simulate what they’re facing.
Rodriguez is impressed by Syracuse’s four-man defensive line.
“They’ve got big, physical guys, and they play six or seven up front,” he said. “Nobody really moves them off the ball. They load up the box and force you to run.”
He said WVU will work hard on getting more movement on offense and doing a better job than it did against USF.
The veteran coach said Mike Dent, first-year starting center, had played pretty well before having a couple of bad snaps last week.
“Mike was not getting a lot of help at times from the guards,” he noted.
WVU is preparing for the possibility of seeing two different types of defense. Syracuse has gone from an even front to an odd stack similar to what the Mountaineers play.
“But we need to be ready for both,” Rodriguez said.
“We’ll probably see a lot of deep balls downfield. They have thrown a lot of deep passes. I’m impressed with their quarterback, a first-year starter.”
He thinks the Orangemen are executing better than they did against WVU either of the past two seasons.
Rodriguez praised the play of WVU linebacker Reed Williams, the leading tackler, and nose guard Keilen Dykes. Both seniors have performed very well.
He thinks a big key Saturday will be to pressure the quarterback, Andrew Robinson.
NOTES: Nate Sowers, quarterback turned wide receiver, has recovered from an injury and will rejoin the starting rotation. ... Although listed as a senior in the media guide, defensive lineman Johnny Dingle is a junior in eligibility.
