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October 18, 2006 09:14 AM | General
October 18, 2006
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.- The No. 4 West Virginia Mountaineers have cruised through the first half of the season but to remain perfect into January -- and to defend their three consecutive Big East Conference titles -- sixth-year coach Rich Rodriguez believes his team must show steady improvement for the remainder of the season.
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| Sophomores Steve Slaton and Patrick White have accounted for 1,448 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns through six games so far this season.
AP photo |
The Mountaineer offense has enjoyed an incredible rhythm so far this fall by outscoring opponents, 249-78. To keep his offense rolling, Rodriguez would like to have the ball more. Getting more possessions is contingent on the continued improvement of the Mountaineers’ third down defense. Rodriguez saw a lot to build on in the second half against the Orange.
“Our guys did a great job in the second half against Syracuse getting three and outs. We didn’t get the turnovers but we played pretty well in the second half. I think the defense is getting a little bit of bounce back in their step right now. Our third down defensive will definitely be a big factor as we move along,” Rodriguez said.
The defensive coaching staff has mixed and matched approaches on third down, opting to use the traditional third down SWAT package in some instances while also leaving the regular unit on the field in other situations. Rodriguez explains their thinking defensively on third down.
“We have not always brought our third down or SWAT defense in there,” Rodriguez said. “The difference is that most teams are going to do something completely different offensively on third down. I really like what we have planned in the third down package, it is just more a matter of execution than anything else.”
Rodriguez continues to tell his defense to be more assertive and aggressive. The unit has been too cautious for his liking so far.
“We want our guys to play more aggressively. We have sometimes been afraid to go make a play, knowing that someone else will cover behind us. We got more aggressive in the second half last Saturday. It is just a matter of gaining confidence,” Rodriguez said.
The Grant Town, W.Va., native believes some of the timid play stems from the inexperience in his defensive backfield, but after six games Rodriguez says immaturity is no longer an excuse.
“I think youth has a tendency to make you think a little bit too much instead of just going out and playing,” he said. “Most of these guys are starting in the back for the first time this year but we have played enough games now that they have six games experience and that youth factor shouldn’t be an issue anymore.”
Rodriguez has been disappointed with his team’s tackling recently, and expects a better effort when the Mountaineers travel to Connecticut on Friday. “We haven’t tackled well in the last couple games and that was a disappointing part. I thought we were in a position to get some of those third down stops in the last game; we just didn’t get the guy on the ground,” Rodriguez said.
Despite the need for improvement, Rodriguez sees the defense getting closer to becoming the stingy unit he covets.
“We have had a pretty good defense all year but what people don’t see is, we have been pretty close to being an outstanding defense and hopefully we will be ready to do that this week,” Rodriguez said.
One area where the Mountaineer defense has drastically picked up its production is in the sack category. After not registering a single sack in the first four games, West Virginia has recorded an impressive 11 sacks in the last two contests. Rodriguez knows a part of that is a result of the play calling by both Mississippi State and Syracuse.
“The teams have been throwing more when they are behind,” he said. “The last two teams have almost thrown exclusively because they haven’t had much success running the football. When they throw it more you ought to get more sacks.”
West Virginia has outscored its last two opponents in the second half by a combined 52-10. Rodriguez has downplayed the significance of his second half adjustments in those contests.
“I’d like to tell you it was this Knute Rockne ‘rah rah’ speech but it really wasn’t,” he said. “It’s a 20-minute halftime but you only really have about 10 minutes. You have about five minutes with the coaches and seven or eight minutes with the players and then you have to start walking out again. The key is to make a few corrections and a little adjustment here and there.”
Because of the abnormalities in the Mountaineers’ schemes both offensively and defensively, the team is not always sure what strategy to expect from their opponent. Rodriguez uses intermission to simply get all his charges on the same page.
“Because of our uniqueness on offense and defense there are a lot of games when you’re not exactly sure how they are going to attack you on either side of the ball. Halftime is the time for everybody to get settled down and understand what they are trying to do against us,” Rodriguez said.
The coach has noticed significant improvement in his team’s conditioning the last few weeks.
“I was a little bit disappointed in our conditioning in the second half of a hot game at East Carolina but I was pleased with it in pretty warm weather down at Mississippi State,” he said. “I know since the East Carolina game we have practiced at a little higher pace and done a little extra after practice so I think our guys are working themselves into shape.”
Rodriguez continues to downplay the rankings, offering little comment on West Virginia’s placement at No.5 in this season’s first BCS poll.
“I don’t care and won’t care until the end of the year,” Rodriguez said. “It is only an issue in the BCS standings if you happen to finish the year undefeated and you are one or two. Heck we’re only halfway through so I’m not worried about it.”
Under the direction of veteran coach Rick Trickett, it seems three things are certain in a Mountaineer fan’s life: death, taxes, and a dominating West Virginia offensive line. Rodriguez has been impressed so far this season with the big men in the trenches.
“Our guys up front have played pretty consistent. Greg Isdaner is a new starter up front and he has played pretty well. Jake Figner is a new starter that has played pretty well and Ryan Stanchek looks very comfortable out there at left tackle,” Rodriguez said. “With Moses and Sheffey leading the way, they are able to make a lot of adjustments on the fly to teach those young guys.”
Rodriguez would prefer not to play Friday night games, but realizes in the current climate of college football where TV controls when you play scheduling these games can’t be avoided.
“I love to have college football on Saturday afternoons and once in a while on Saturday night. Maybe once a year you play a Thursday night game, but maybe those days are done,” Rodriguez said.
In scouting the Huskies, Rodriguez sees the consistent play of senior quarterback Matt Bonislawski as one of the reasons for Connecticut’s improved play last week against Army.
“He is a big strong guy. We remember him from a couple years ago. I think he really understands their offense and he is mobile enough to get out of trouble,” Rodriguez said. “He really played well in the last game. I think they were searching for that early, and now they are settled in with him.”
One man the Mountaineers will need to account for at all times on Friday night is dangerous Huskie punt returner Larry Taylor, who has returned 13 punts for 188 yards and one touchdown so far this season.
“We don’t want to punt it to him. We have to try to punt the ball away from him He is a very dangerous and fast guy,” Rodriguez said. “He makes people miss. He is one of the better ones in the country -- not just the league so our guys will have to do a good job with coverage.”
Connecticut has lost only three conference games at Rentschler Field. Rodriguez is preparing his team to face a raucous atmosphere in East Hartford on Friday night.
“It was probably the loudest road atmosphere we have had in any game (in 2004). It isn’t a big stadium at 40,000 but they are very loud and their students are into it. They play that loud music and it can be very distracting. Our players that were there two years ago remember that,” Rodriguez said.
Despite the ease with which the Mountaineers have begun the season 6-0, Rodriguez continues to remind his charges that a stern test lurks just around the corner.
“We are going to face a lot more adversity over the second half of the season than we have had in the first half,” he said. “We have had a couple close halves but we haven’t had a close game all the way down to the last couple of minutes and we know that’s coming.”
