Spring Observations
April 27, 2004 05:08 PM | General
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
After watching the Gold-Blue spring game and after making periodic visits to Mountaineer Field this spring, the thing that really hit me is how fortunate West Virginia has been at the running back position over the last eight to 10 years.
Ever since Amos Zereoue came to West Virginia in 1996 … and you can make a case that even before that with Adrian Murrell and Robert Walker … the Mountaineers went into each season with a strong, durable, proven running back. Even in 1999 when Avon Cobourne was a freshman he had accomplished enough during his redshirt season to make people feel reasonably comfortable that he could get the job done.
Today, you can make the case that there is a big question mark going into this season as to whether or not West Virginia has a proven and durable running back.
Kay-Jay Harris remains a question mark. Yes, he has the physical tools and the physique of a Brahma Bull, but until he displays a willingness to consistently run the ball between the tackles the jury remains out. West Virginia football under Rich Rodriguez has been defined by its relentless, in-your-face running attack. Toss sweep plays are pretty, but the key to success has been hammering an opposing defense into physical and mental submission. The WVU offensive line will be up to the challenge, the question remains in the backfield.
If you don’t have that hard-nosed, durable, get-it-up-the-middle running back this year then that’s going to put more pressure on the passing game; and when you put more pressure on the passing game that increases the risk of turnovers. WVU has ranked among the top five teams in the nation in turnover margin in each of the last two years by running a low-risk offense.
I think a lot of people just shrug their shoulders and say, “Well West Virginia is always going to have a good running back.” Let’s see how it plays out this year. Some guys still have to prove themselves in my eyes. Now the wild card in all of this is sophomore Erick Phillips, who sat out this spring while recovering from knee surgery last fall. Phillips played in six games last year and carried 18 times for 65 yards before going down. He could be the type of running back we’ve enjoyed in the past … that squatty, powerful, built low-to-the-ground type runner … but he’s coming off a major knee surgery and his health is still a question mark though I’m told his rehabilitation has gone well.
Because Harris, Jason Colson and Bryan Wright had such a difficult time staying on the football field this spring, it causes one to wonder if they’re going to be able to stay healthy during the course of a long football season. Consequently, the tailback position is a concern in my mind.
From a leadership standpoint there are also some question marks at wide receiver. While Chris Henry could be one of WVU’s best-ever receivers, he is not comfortable in a leadership role. Senior Miquelle Henderson has battled injuries the last couple of years and couldn’t go in the spring game. The receivers lack that Mike Baker-type leadership that keyed the 1993 team to an undefeated regular season.
On paper it appears that this year’s offensive line is going to be the best one Assistant Head Coach Rick Trickett has put together at West Virginia. Having a very solid offensive line can make up for not having a dominant running back. During Avon’s first year playing for Rich in 2001 he was working behind a questionable line that wasn’t nearly as talented or deep as the one West Virginia is going to field this year. And he still managed to rush for almost 1,300 yards. This year the offensive line could turn it around and become the vital reason West Virginia has a productive ground game. I also believe the real leadership on this year’s offense could come from the offensive line.
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| Rasheed Marshall is the only WVU quarterback to beat Pitt, Syracuse and Virginia Tech in back-to-back seasons. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
WVU quarterbacks coach Bill Stewart thinks senior Rasheed Marshall is ready to have his best season as a Mountaineer. Stewart says Marshall had a very productive spring, and despite a broken thumb suffered in the Gold-Blue scrimmage he’ll be ready in August. The senior from Pittsburgh was given a standing ovation from a sellout crowd at Tuesday’s Mountaineer Scholarship dinner in Charleston. The crowd rose to its feet when head coach Rich Rodriguez informed the group that Rasheed was the only quarterback in school history to beat Pitt, Virginia Tech, and Syracuse in consecutive years.
Keeping in mind some of the questions marks I have posed above, I firmly believe this football team has a chance to be very good. Coach Rod has been able to successfully put his system in place and for the first time since he’s been here he’s kept his entire coaching staff intact heading into the following season.
But anyone who believes it’s just a done deal and rubber stamps the Mountaineers into a BCS bowl game better think twice. There are just so many variables that can come into play. For instance, having the same turnover ratio for a third straight season is going to be very, very tough to do and that has been one of the primary reasons West Virginia has gone 12-2 in its last 14 Big East games. Stay tuned.
The defense looks like it is going to be improved despite the loss of some outstanding players in Grant Wiley, Brian King and Lance Frazier. As far as the defense is concerned I think we’re seeing the result of Rich’s recruiting classes taking shape. What we’re seeing is the depth that wasn’t quite there when he took over and now there is some size and depth along the defensive line after doing it with smoke and mirrors the last couple of seasons. The same thing goes with corners and safeties. They’re young but there are some good possibilities back there when you’re talking about a Vince Beamer, a Ridwan Malik, a Larry Williams, a Antoine Lewis … you’ve got some depth back there.
You’re not going to replace a consensus All-American player like Wiley, but I think there are enough guys back there at linebacker that can get the job done. Adam Lehnortt had a very solid season last year in the middle and he’s a proven player once he recovers from off season shoulder surgery. You’ve got the emergence of a Marc Magro … a player who flew under the radar as far as recruiting experts go … who has a chance of growing into a dominant player. Boo McLee becomes the edge pass rusher that West Virginia really hasn’t had in a while and Scott Gyorko is just as tough as they come.
Up front Ben Lynch is a very valuable player because he can play both the nose and defensive end. The defensive coaching staff believes he’s probably a better nose tackle but with the emergence of sophomore Craig Wilson at nose that gives West Virginia the flexibility to do more things up front.
One final point about the defense: because West Virginia’s 3-3 stack alignment is so unorthodox and unusual it has taken a good number of players some time to get comfortable playing in it. Remember, they all came from tradition 4-3 and 3-4 defenses in high school.
Across town in the WVU Coliseum, I know the Mountaineer basketball coaching staff is working hard. I was in the Pittsburgh airport recently and I ran into Coach John Beilein who was out recruiting. He was headed north on that occasion and was coming back and then heading out to the west coast. The big guy is out busting it looking for the right player.
I think the one thing Beilein is doing is being extremely selective in who he recruits. When he first came here he needed numbers and now that the pieces are being put in, he wants the right mix of personality to really enhance the program. When you’re out there selecting as opposed to begging that’s huge in my mind.
This staff has had great success over the years with transfers. They’ve hit two home runs with the addition of D’or Fischer and Mike Gansey. What Beilein is doing is he’s building a program that can sustain itself on fourth and fifth-year players. That is the key to being successful here.
With coaches like John Beilein, Mike Brey and now John Thompson III at Georgetown who is going to implement Princeton’s motion offense, the Big East is beginning to see more varied styles coming from the mid-major ranks. You can try and get a Charlie Villanueva every year or you can build a program that does a little something different and you win your games that way. The key to success is having a strategy and sticking with it. John Beilein has a system and the fruits of the seeds he’s planted are starting to grow.
