Searching for Answers

By John Antonik for MSNsportsNET.com
August 3, 2006

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – With most of the frontline players pretty much set, West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez’s primary objective when fall camp starts on Saturday is to develop dependable performers behind them. The sixth-year coach says there are many areas that need to be addressed. They include:


	Patrick White

Quarterback. Patrick White is clearly the No. 1 quarterback heading into fall camp after a breakout freshman campaign in 2005. But the race for the backup job is wide open with Adam Bednarik sidelined for the season after undergoing his second shoulder surgery last spring. The top two contenders are redshirt freshmen Nate Sowers of Martinsburg and Jarrett Brown of West Palm Beach, Fla. Both have talent but could be making their first college throws this fall.

“We have to have a backup quarterback that we can count on whether it’s Nate or Jarrett,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve been really pleased with the way they’re working. But the biggest part for them is mental.

“If you run your quarterback the way we do you hope he stays healthy but there may be a time here or there that he needs a break or two.”

Defensive secondary. Veteran defensive backfield coach Tony Gibson went from having the team’s most experienced unit last year to having the greenest group this fall. Gone from last year were stalwarts Mike Lorello and Jahmile Addae at safety as well as a pair of starting corners Dee McCann and Anthony Mims. Antonio Lewis and Larry Williams head into the fall as the two to beat at corner, while the three starting safeties will be made up of Eric Wicks and either Ridwan Malik, Abraham Jones, Quinton Andrews or Akeem Jackson. Gibson will also take a long look at a couple of talented newcomers in Franchot "Boogie" Allen and Greg Davis.

“In the game situations you have to be conscious not to overload them,” said Rodriguez of his young secondary. “If Quinton is out there you say, oh, we can’t do too much coverage wise until he gets his feet wet.

“You never really know what you got until a guy gets into a game in a tight situation,” Rodriguez said. “Some guys play a whole lot better and others don’t play as well.”


	Owen Schmitt

Running Back. Like White at quarterback, Steve Slaton gives West Virginia a premier performer at the top of the depth chart. Bruising 250-pound fullback Owen Schmitt is another first-rate option running the ball. Jason Colson has experience as a starter in 2004, but after those three it’s anyone’s guess. The coaching staff is high on former Penn Hills standout Ed Collington but he must shake off the rust after sitting out last year to concentrate on academics. Jetavious Best got a jump on things by enrolling last semester and participating in spring practice, but he missed the latter part of the spring with a broke wrist. True freshman Eddie Davis could also get a look.

Wide Receiver. It may be a new year but there are once again the same old depth concerns at wide receiver. The team’s top two pass catchers are proven performers in Brandon Myles and Darius Reynaud, but after that the logjam begins with a list of contenders that include Dorrell Jalloh, Rayshawn Bolden, Jeremy Bruce, Dwayne Thompson, Tito Gonzales and Darren Brownlee. Wide receivers coach Butch Jones will also keep his eye on a pair of talented freshmen in Wes Lyons and John Maddox. Sowers and Colson will take a few reps at wide receiver as well.

“You go to some places and they only play two receivers and we play four and sometimes five,” Rodriguez said. “If they’re good enough and the situation calls for it we’ve got to have our wide receivers make plays.”


	Jeremy Sheffey

Offensive Line. Rick Trickett has a reputation of getting more out of less and he may have to use his ingenuity once again this year. The Mountaineers are set in the middle with starters Dan Mozes, Jeremy Sheffey and Ryan Stancheck all returning, but the veteran coach must find two new starting tackles. One-time walk-on Damien Crissey and redshirt freshman Jake Figner are the favorites at tackle heading into the fall. After that, Trickett is looking to develop more dependable players from a group that includes John Bradshaw, Jon Walko, Greg Isdaner, Mike Dent and Frank Carduff.

“(Tackle) was an area of concern for us in the spring, not only because we lost both Garin Justice and Travis Garrett but because they were multi-year starters,” Rodriguez said. “That experience factor … you’re going to lose that. Now Damien Crissey had a good spring and we think Jake Figner has got a tremendous career in front of him. Athletically those two can fit the role.

“Damien is a great story … not only was he a walk-on but he came from a tryout,” Rodriguez said. “It was kind of an open student body tryout and now he’s our starting left tackle.”

Tight end. Mike Villagrana caught a touchdown pass against Virginia Tech and has experience while Adam Serena and Brad Palmer have also been on the field. Selvish Capers, who sat out last year to concentrate on academics, has a very high ceiling according to the coaching staff. At the very least, he is the team’s most impressive physical specimen.

Tight ends typically don't catch a lot of passes in West Virginia's system but they figure prominently in the run game. Having a dependable tight end is important.

Rodriguez likes what he has returning at defensive line and linebacker. Those two spots on paper appear to be the deepest on the team.

Seven lettermen return up front headlined by proven performers Keilen Dykes, Craig Wilson, Pat Liebig, Warren Young and Johnny Dingle. Six-eight Doug Slavonic is another guy that could work his way into the mix.


	Jay Henry

An emphasis has been made on recruiting more athletic linebackers into the program and this year it appears to have paid off. Kevin “Boo” McLee has the ability to be an impact performer and teams up with one of college football’s smartest players in Jay Henry.

“He has not even been close to getting a B,” Rodriguez said.

Bobby Hathaway, Marc Magro and Reed Williams are experienced and talented and should be solid complimentary performers this season. Sophomore Mortty Ivy has made a rapid recovery from a knee injury sustained last spring and could be in the mix, as well as talented youngster Ovid Goulbourne, who caught the coaching staff’s eye last spring.


	Scott Kozlowski

The kicking game will again feature Pat McAfee, a strong-legged sophomore who had a reasonably solid freshman campaign with his placements. Redshirt freshman Scott Kozlowski is the leading contender for the starting punting job vacated by West Virginia cult hero Phil Brady. Unlike many college programs, West Virginia requires its punter to be athletic enough to execute the team’s roll-out punts and also be able to run the ball on fakes as Brady did to seal the win over Georgia in the Nokia Sugar Bowl.

Antonio Lewis is a proven deep-man having taken a punt the distance against East Carolina last year. Vaughn Rivers also has experience returning punts and kickoffs.

“How lucky are we going to be this year?” Rodriguez asked. “If we get the wrong guys hurt at certain positions it could affect our season. There is no team in America that can win a championship without luck.

“Do we have enough depth to sustain us for 12 games this year, playing all those midweek games and having short turnarounds?” Rodriguez remarked. “I’m not sure we have the depth of a top 5 or a top 10 team.”

Rodriguez will start searching for some answers on Saturday.

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