Lay it on the Line
November 05, 2007 10:52 AM | General
November 5, 2007
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Mountaineer fans have grown accustomed to dominant offensive lines opening gaping holes and pushing opponents all over the field. While that is still happening this season there is a growing perception that this year’s offensive line is not as strong as some of those lines of the past.
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| Jake Figner has moved from right tackle to right guard as Coach Greg Frey makes adjustments to his starting five.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
It’s now time to examine the changes that have been made and the differences between the 2006 offensive line and this season’s group.
With the departure of Rimington award winner Dan Mozes, all-BIG EAST performer Jeremy Sheffey, and long-time offensive line coach Rick Trickett following last season, most people expected the offensive line to be an area of concern for West Virginia as the team began the 2007 season.
Of course there have been adjustments. The players have had to adapt to the effective but different teaching methods of new offensive line coach Grey Frey. The line has featured Eric Rodemoyer and Jake Figner playing right guard, as well as Figner and now Selvish Capers playing the right tackle position.
Mike Dent has made the adjustment at center, although it’s nearly impossible to replace a Rimington Award winner in Dan Mozes. Dent has had some high snaps in games this year much like Mozes did his first year as a regular shot-gun snapper.
Then there is the issue of Steve Slaton’s rushing numbers which are slightly down this year, despite the fact that the explosive junior running back is still averaging more than 100 yards rushing per game.
To the casual football outsider looking to find weaknesses in a football team that has so few weaknesses, the offensive line is now the place to start.
However, the line is getting along just fine.
A look at the statistics shows that the West Virginia offense is in fact scoring more points and gaining more yards on average than at any point last season. Through eight games in 2006, the Mountaineers were averaging 40 points, 469.4 total yards, 318.9 rushing yards and 150.5 passing yards per game.
So far in 2007 West Virginia is averaging 40.8 points, 470.9 total yards, 297.9 rushing yards, (just 21 yards less than last year) and 173 passing yards per game (23 more than last year). Slaton has carried the ball 18 fewer times this season than he did through eight games last year (151-169 through eight games last year) while playing against defenses designed specifically to stop him.
In reality the Mountaineer offense hasn’t fallen off a bit. It has simply traded roughly 20 rushing yards per game for 20 passing yards per game. With equal production why have so many harped on an offensive line that they claim has been less effective than last year’s unit?
This criticism is not lost on Head Coach Rich Rodriguez.
“If you look back we’re averaging more yards and more points than we did all of last year. If that’s the case, where’s the problem? In total yardage, we’re averaging more too,” Rodriguez said. “We’re averaging more points and yards than at any time last year. And that’s with a couple of new starters on the O-line and a couple returners. Steve hasn’t gotten as many opportunities. I think he’ll be better in two weeks than he is today.”
Line play is difficult for the common fan to understand junior Ryan Stanchek says that may be the root of some of the criticism.
“People are always going to talk when you screw something up as an offensive lineman,” junior tackle Ryan Stanchek said. “A lot of people don’t realize who screws up. A mistake might be made on one side but nobody really knows what angle each guys was supposed to take.”
Consider also that tinkering with an offensive line and switching player positions does not necessarily represent a weakness in the unit. A good coach will constantly adjust personnel to put the best five players on the field. A starter one week might not be starting the next. That is precisely the approach Frey is taking as he develops a young line that will return all of its starters next season.
One of the most recent moves came when Capers came in at right tackle in the Mississippi State game. That move created a domino effect where former right tackle Figner switched to Rodemoyer’s right guard spot. Rodriguez believes Figner has found a home at the guard position. Figner agrees, and he says he is adjusting nicely.
“I feel pretty comfortable in there. It’s just a matter of getting the finer details down,” Figner said. “Playing tackle, you know what the guard is doing but you don’t know the finer details as far as the angles you take on certain plays. I feel like I have been improving that over the past couple weeks.”
As the players continue to develop cohesion in their new roles, Figner believes the production of the offense will also improve.
“I think we are communicating a little bit better and getting used to playing next to one another. Selvish (Capers) is a tremendous athlete and I think he can really help us out on the edge,” Figner said. “With me getting settled in at guard and Dent improving his play week in and week out I think we will have a solid top five.”
They will have a solid top five that should be mentioned in the same breath as the many solid offensive lines of the past.
