Tough Task
October 14, 2003 03:45 PM | General
October 14, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – According to West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, there isn’t much not to like about this year’s No. 3-rated Virginia Tech team coming to Morgantown to face West Virginia on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
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| Coach Rich Rodriguez singled out the play of sophomore safety Mike Lorello during his Tuesday afternoon press conference. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
The well-balanced Hokies rank first in the Big East in scoring offense (45.5 ppg.), scoring defense (14.8 ppg.), rushing offense (249.3 ypg.), rushing defense (88.8 ypg.), total offense (439.2 ypg.), total defense (279.3 ypg.), punt returns (17.2 ypr.), have produced the most first downs (145) and have converted a conference-best 52.7 percent of their third-down plays.
For good measure, the Hokies have even been penalized the fewest yards of any team in the conference averaging 49.3 yards per game.
Those figures prove Virginia Tech has an experienced and well-coached team. Rodriguez hinted Tuesday that this year’s Hokie squad might be Coach Frank Beamer’s most talented in Blacksburg.
“Two years ago when we played them here they were really good and when they had Corey Moore back in 1998 or 1999 when I was at Clemson and we played them over at Tech they were really good,” said Rodriguez. “I know this, they don’t have any weaknesses. All three phases are about as good as you can see so it will be a good challenge for us.”
Hokie running back Kevin Jones ranks third in the conference with an average of 113.7 yards per game. The junior has rushed 121 times for 682 yards and nine touchdowns. He is averaging an impressive 5.6 yards per carry.
“The reason he scares you is because he takes four yard gains and bounces it out or cuts it back and he runs 60 or 70 yards and that’s what makes him so explosive,” said Rodriguez. “You have him hemmed in there, take a right angle and have all of the gaps covered and then all of the sudden he jump cuts, cuts back or cuts out and, boom, no one can catch him.”
Rodriguez says Jones is just one of the many offensive weapons Virginia Tech has. Backup Cedric Humes has rushed for 324 yards as Jones’ backup and wide receiver Ernest Wilford leads the Hokies with 24 catches for 317 yards and a touchdown. But, according to Rodriguez, the player that makes Tech’s offense go is junior Bryan Randall.
“He’s one of the best in the country,” said Rodriguez. “He does everything for them: runs the option, throws the ball, has taken care of the football and he’s the leader of them on offense. The single guy that we’ve got to be able to control and contain is Bryan Randall.”
So far this year Randall has a ridiculously high passer rating of 154.02. He’s completed 64.9 percent of his passes for 896 yards and nine touchdowns. In six games Randall has thrown only three interceptions in 111 pass attempts.
He has also rushed 34 times for 296 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 8.7 yards per carry.
“He ran well on us last year, he made some passes and we just hung around long enough to get a turnover at the end,” said Rodriguez of Randall’s performance in last year’s West Virginia win in Blacksburg. “They ran some different schemes in their options last year, changed who they were going to pitch to, and mixed it up a little bit.”
Virginia Tech is giving up just 88.8 yards per game rushing and have allowed only 89 first downs in six games. Teams have managed four rushing touchdowns against the Hokies and Tech’s defense has caused 13 turnovers.
If Virginia Tech’s offense and defense aren’t enough to be concerned about, West Virginia coaches have to be extra conscious of Hokie punt returner DeAngelo Hall, who took two punts back for touchdowns last week against Syracuse and is averaging 16.6 yards per return.
“I hope we don’t kick to him ... that’s the best way to defend him,” said Rodriguez. “If the ball’s not in his hands (he can’t score). They’ve done a smart thing with him. Not only are they putting him on offense but they’re handing him the ball on reverses, putting him at receiver. He’s one of those rare players who can score every time he touches the football.”
Wednesday’s game will be televised nationally on ESPN and plenty of good tickets still remain. Fans can contact the Mountaineer Ticket Office by calling 1-800-WVU GAME to order your tickets by phone, or you can log onto the Internet and order by punching in www.WVUGAME.com.
Game time is 7:30 pm.
Briefly ...
The coach also likes the way Mozes has been taking charge of the offensive line despite being a freshman, “He’s been getting after people and almost taking charge out there. He has almost assumed a type of leadership role.”
