Fiesta Bowl Offensive Notes
December 14, 2007 10:57 AM | General
December 12, 2007
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| Calvin Magee |
30 IS ENOUGH
Dating back to 1980, the Mountaineers hold a 134-7-1 record when scoring 30 or more points in a game. During the 1990s, the Mountaineers were 42-4 when scoring 30 or more points in a contest and were 40-2-1 in the ‘80s when reaching that mark.
WVU is 52-1 since 2000 when scoring 30 points or more in a contest.
RED ZONE REPORT
West Virginia has scored 53-of-61 times (86.9 percent) when inside its opponent’s red zone, scoring 342 points: 34 against Western Michigan, 35 at Marshall, 24 at Maryland, a season-high 48 points against East Carolina, 13 points at USF, 45 at Syracuse, 21 against Mississippi State and at Rutgers, 24 against Louisville, 28 at Cincinnati, 42 against UConn and a season-low seven against Pitt.
The scoring consists of 35 rushing touchdowns, 11 passing touchdowns and seven field goals made for a total of 46 touchdowns. The eight failed attempts were a missed 22-yard field goal attempt at Maryland, an interception thrown at USF, loss of downs against Mississippi State, an interception and loss of downs at Cincinnati, an interception against UConn and two missed field goals against Pitt.
WVU’s opponents have scored 25-of-29 times (86.2 percent) they have reached the red zone, for a total of 149 points, 24 by Western Michigan, nine by Marshall, seven by Maryland, East Carolina, USF and Syracuse, 13 by Mississippi State, a season-high 31 by Louisville, 13 by Cincinnati, 21 by UConn and 10 by Pitt.
Their scoring consists of 12 rushing touchdowns, seven passing touchdowns and six field goals made. Their four missed attempts consisted of a missed 41-yard field goal and an interception by Rutgers, a fumble by Cincinnati and a 35-yard missed field goal by Pitt.
TIME OF POSSESSION
West Virginia is averaging 30:34 in time of possession this season, fourth in the BIG EAST Conference and No. 38 in the nation. The Mountaineers held the ball for 30 or more minutes in seven games this season, including a season-high 36:21 against Connecticut.
The other times the Mountaineers have held the ball for 30 or more minutes have been Marshall (31:59), East Carolina (34:04), USF (34:38), Syracuse (33:03), Rutgers (31:17) and Louisville (31:27).
For the season, WVU and its opponents have about the same first-half time, with WVU holding the ball 15:15 and its opponents keeping it for 14:45. WVU’s opponents hold a first-quarter time of 7:57 - 7:02, and the Mountaineers having an 8:13 - 6:46 edge in the second quarter.
In the second half, the Mountaineers hold the advantage, 15:17 - 14:33, including their opponents holding the third quarter possession time of 7:33 - 7:26 in the third quarter and WVU has the edge in the fourth quarter, 7:51 - 7:04.
SCORING OFFENSE
West Virginia has scored 467 points in its 12 games, an average of 38.9 points per game. The Mountaineers are ranked No. 1 in the BIG EAST and No. 11 in the nation.
The Mountaineers have outscored their opponents in every quarter this season, 121-44 in the first quarter, 109-62 in the second stanza, 121-51 in the third period and 116-50 in the fourth quarter.
In the first half, West Virginia is outscoring its opponents, 230-106, an average of 19.2-8.8. In the second half, the Mountaineers own a 237-101 margin, an average of 19.8-8.4.
When the Mountaineers have scored 25 points or more, they posted a 10-0 record.
THIRD AND FOURTH DOWNS
West Virginia is converting 49.1 percent (79/161) of its third-down attempts, ranking No. 6 in the nation. The Mountaineers are converting 38-of-86 attempts in the first half (44.2) while, posting 54.7 percent (41/75) in the second half. WVU is registering 45.0 percent of its first quarter attempts (18/40), 43.5 percent (20/46) in the second quarter, 22-of-34 (64.7) in the third stanza and 19-of-41 (46.3) in the fourth period.
The Mountaineer defense is holding their opponents to 37.0 percent on third-down attempts (67/181), No. 44 in the nation. WVU’s opponents have completed 37.0 percent (17/46) in the first quarter, 32.6 percent (14/43) in the second period, 43.5 percent (20/46) in the third quarter and 34.8 (16/46) in the fourth stanza. Opponents have posted 34.8 percent (31/89) of its third-down conversions in the first half and 39.1 percent (36/92) in the second half.
The Mountaineers have converted 6-of-15 attempts on fourth-downs this season for 40.0 percent and their opponents have been successful on 7-of-15 attempts (46.7). WVU is tied for No. 92 nationally in fourth-down conversions, and tied for No. 52 in defensive fourth-down efficiency.
OFFENSIVE ANALYSIS
Breaking down the West Virginia offensive numbers for the season, the Mountaineers have run a total of 835 plays, 589 coming on the ground and 246 through the air. The rushing game has totaled 3,515 yards, for an average of 6.0 yards per play and scored 45 touchdowns. The passing attack has totaled 1,891 yards, 14 touchdowns and an average of 11.4 yards per completion.
Combine the two and the Mountaineers have turned in 5,406 yards of total offense and 59 offensive touchdowns for an average of 6.5 yards per play, and an average of 38.9 points per game.
Deeper analysis shows that the Mountaineer offense has gained 164 first downs by the run, 81 via the pass and 17 by penalty. On average, West Virginia is totaling 292.9 yards per game on the ground, 157.6 per game passing and 450.5 yards of total offense.
AVERAGE PER DOWN
Here’s a breakdown of how the 2007 West Virginia offense is operating on first, second, third and fourth down.
On first down, the Mountaineers have run a total of 368 plays and gained 2,340 yards for a 6.4 average. On second down, the Mountaineers have run 286 plays for 1,614 yards and a 5.6 average. On third down, the Mountaineers have run 166 plays for 1,370 yards and a 8.3 average gain on third down. So far in 2007, West Virginia has tried 15 fourth down plays, gaining 82 yards for a 5.5 average.
WVU’s touchdowns have come 21 times on first down (16 rushing and five passing), 25 times on second down (22 rushing and three passing), 13 times on third down (seven rushing and six passing), and one time on fourth time (1 rushing).
THE RUNNING GAME
As one of the nation’s most-potent ground offenses since 2002, the WVU juggernaut rolled through the 2006 and the 2007 seasons.
Its offensive prowess in recent memory has been staggering:
SLASHING, DASHING AND BASHING
In 2007, the rushing trifecta of Steve Slaton, Patrick White and Owen Schmitt accounts for 73.8% percent of WVU’s ground attack or 2,446 of the Mountaineer’s 3,515 total rushing yards. Individually, Slaton has ran for 29.9% percent and White for 33.7% percent.
In 2006, the trio accounted for 84.1% of WVU’s ground attack or 3,314 of WVU’s 3,939 total rushing yards. Individually, Slaton rushed for 44.3% of WVU’s ground attack, White rushed for 30.9% and Schmitt 8.9%
Dating back to the 2005 season, the trifecta has rushed for a combined 8,220 yards of WVU’s 10,723 yards or 76.6%.
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| Steve Slaton |
SUPER STEVE
Junior Steve Slaton was fourth among NCAA rushers at 134.2 yards per game and second in NCAA all-purpose yardage (161.8/gm) last year.
He became the first player in WVU history and one of the few in NCAA history to have 200 yards rushing and 100 receiving yards in the same game at Pitt when he ran for 215 and added 130 receiving. In fact, it marked the second-best single game all-purpose outing by a Mountaineer in school history.
Slaton set a new WVU single-season rushing record of 1,744 yards in 2006, breaking the previous mark of 1,710 set by Avon Cobourne in 2002.
SLATON'S CONSECUTIVE GAMES
Steve Slaton’s six consecutive 100-yard games prior to last year’s USF game (Mississippi State to Pitt) tied the Mountaineer school record, held by Robert Walker (1993), Amos Zereoue (1998) and Avon Cobourne (2002).
In the 2006 season opener against Marshall, Slaton went over 200 yards rushing (203) for the second time in his career which also marked the first time a Mountaineer had posted consecutive 200-yard rushing games in school history. Slaton had rushed for a career-best 204 yards in the 2006 Nokia Sugar Bowl season finale win over Georgia.
Those back-to-back performances ranked him third on WVU’s all-time list for two-game rushing totals.
Slaton ranks eighth all-time in school history in rushing yards for three consecutive games with 512 (Georgia, Marshall, E. Washington).
ONE OF THE NATION'S FINEST
Junior running back Steve Slaton is one of the nation’s best. As proof, Slaton is the nation’s active leader in career TDs (55) and active points per game (9.4). He also is fifth in all-purpose ypg (136.4), seventh in rushing ypg (112.1) and in yards per carry (5.92) by a running back.
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| Patrick White |
TOTAL PACKAGE
Patrick White ran for 220 yards and passed for 204 yards in the win at Pitt in 2006 to become the first quarterback to rush and pass for 200 yards in school history. His 424 yards of total offense tied a school record previously held my Marc Bulger (1996-99).
At Louisville in 2006, White rushed for 125 yards and added a career-best 222 yards passing to account for 347 yards total offense, the ninth-best outing in WVU history.
White set a BIG EAST and WVU quarterback rushing record with 247 yards on the ground against Syracuse last year. Averaging 16.5 yards on his 15 carries, White’s 247-yard game was the fourth-best single game rushing output in WVU history.
White also posted his first career 300+ total offense game, with 346 overall yards against the Orange.
WHITE QUICK HITTERS
THREE CAN LEAD
With arguably the best quarterback depth of any Division I team in the NCAA this season, WVU has three proven signalcallers the Mountaineers can rely on to win with.
Start with junior Patrick White and his 25-4 record as a starter followed by senior Adam Bednarik who is 6-1. Sophomore Jarrett Brown is 1-0 after guiding WVU to a three overtime home victory against Rutgers last season. All have won at least one BIG EAST contest.
In the last three seasons, those three quarterbacks are a combined 32-5.
WHITE LIGHTNING
No quarterback in the country has rushed for more yards since the start of the 2005 season than WVU’s Patrick White. With 3,356 career rushing yards in just 29 starts, White is also the WVU and BIG EAST career quarterback rushing leader.
FORTY IS BETTER
The Mountaineers have scored 40 or more points in 12 of its last 16 home games. WVU scored at least 40 points in eight of 13 games in 2006.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
The 2007 season has seen several Mountaineers serving multiple roles on offense.
Senior Owen Schmitt has been utilized at running back and tight end this year, taking advantage of the stalwart’s excellent blocking skills and his versatile running capabilities.
Senior Adam Bednarik has played some wide receiver this year while also serving as the team’s third quarterback.
True freshmen Jock Sanders and Noel Devine have played as both running backs and slot receivers.
Junior Pat McAfee has handled both the kicking and punting duties this season.
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| Darius Reynaud |
CATCHING THE CENTURY MARK
In WVU’s 48-23 win at Marshall senior wideout Darius Reynaud had a career day in every receiving category.
He caught a career-best nine passes for 134 yards (his second career 100 yard receiving day) which also marked a career-best. He also caught two touchdowns (45, 23) marking the first time in his career he notched multiple receiving touchdowns.
His first career 100-yard receiving game came at ECU (110) last year. That marked the first time a Mountaineer had a 100-yard receiving day since 2004.
REYNAUD'S REPERTOIRE
Senior wide receiver Darius Reynaud leads the Mountaineer receiving corp with team-bests of 59 catches for 691 yards and 11 touchdowns through the 2007 season.
In the UConn game, Reynaud had five grabs for 76 yards and a touchdown. Against Louisville, Reynaud had six catches for 79 yards an two touchdowns. At Syracuse, Reynaud had six catches for 48 yards and a touchdown to give him over 100 career receptions.
Against East Carolina, playing with a bruised shoulder, Reynaud tallied 112 all-purpose yards (58 rush and 54 receiving) and caught two touchdowns.
At Marshall, Reynaud posted career-bests in receptions (9), receiving yards (134) and TD receptions (2). He also posted three kickoff returns for 70 yards averaging 23.3 against the Herd. He broke the 1,000 career receiving yard mark with his totals at Marshall.
He finished with 92 yards on five catches against Western Michigan in the season opener, averaging 18.4 yards per catch and had a long grab of 58 yards.
He brought a lot to the table last season as a receiver, rusher and kick returner. The Luling, La., native averaged 119.5 all-purpose yards per game, good for third in the conference.
Reynaud led the Mountaineers with 39 catches for 520 yards and two scores and his 813 kickoff return yards in 2006 ranked him fourth at WVU in single season kickoff return yardage, tying Nate Terry (1997). Reynaud averaged 27.1 yards per return and returned one kick for a touchdown against Maryland (96 yards)
Opponents have come to respect his ability to carry the pigskin, too, since he ripped off 221 yards rushing on 14 carries (15.8 ypc).
FANTASTIC FIRST QUARTERS
Patrick White’s 151 passing yards in the first quarter against Western Michigan were the most yards he’s ever passed for in one quarter and the fourth time he has crossed the century mark in one quarter. His backfield partner, Steve Slaton, has run for over 100 yards in a quarter three times in his career, twice in the first quarter. The most yards Slaton has ever rushed for in one quarter was in the first against Maryland (2006), when he carried the football eight times for 149 yards and an 18.6 yards-per-carry average with two TDs.
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| Ryan Stanchek |
BEHIND THE LINE
The Mountaineers don’t have any seniors up front along the offensive line this season and had to replace two starters from last year’s squad. The three remaining starters have a combined 81 starts (Ryan Stanchek/33; Jake Figner/24; Greg Isdaner/24).
The “O” line is helping the offense average 450.5 yards of total offense a game, ranking No. 19 in the nation, including 292.9 yards on the ground, ranking No. 4 nationally. The offense is averaging 38.9 points a game, ranking No. 11 in the nation and tops in the BIG EAST.
In 2006, the offensive line paved the way for the Mountaineers to average 6.7 yards per rush (nation’s best) and 303.0 yards per game, ranking WVU second in the nation and first in the BIG EAST.
The big uglies helped WVU score 48 rushing touchdowns and gain 168 first downs on the ground. The O-line did their job in pass protection, too, allowing just 15 sacks in 13 games last season.
West Virginia was 10-1 in 2006 when at least one Mountaineer rushed for 100 or more yards, thanks to the prowess of the offense line.
REACHING 50
Since 2001 the Mountaineers have scored 50 or more points in a game eight times with seven of those eight coming at home. Three of those scoring outbursts also came in season openers. WVU is 8-0 in those contests when scoring 50 or more points in a game.
SCORING 20 OR MORE IN A QUARTER
West Virginia’s 21 points in the fourth quarter against UConn marked the sixth time that WVU has scored 20 or more points in a quarter this season. WVU has scored 20 or more points in a quarter 27 times since 2001 and done it in two quarters of a game six different times since then.
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| Noel Devine |
DEVINE INTERVENTION
True freshman running back Noel Devine has been as good as advertised in the 2007 campaign.
At Maryland, the North Fort Myers, Fla., native was electric, averaging an astounding 27.2 yards per carry after racking up 136 yards on just five carries. Devine had 107 yards after just two carries against the Terps including a school record 76-yard rush which tied Jim Moss’ school record for the longest-non touchdown run (vs. William & Mary/1962).
Devine saw significant action versus UConn and didn’t disappoint. He racked up 118 yards on 11 carries to average 10.7 ypc and had one score.
This season, Devine is third on the team in rushing, showing 519 yards on just 60 carries (8.65 yards-per-rush avg.) with four touchdowns. He is third on the team in all-purpose yardage per game, showing 89.5 yards per game.
