Monday Spring Recap
April 07, 2008 08:48 PM | General
April 7, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia football team completed 18 periods in shells during its ninth practice of the spring on Monday afternoon at a sun-drenched Mountaineer Field.
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| Quarterback Patrick White throws a pass during practice earlier this spring.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
The Mountaineer coaching staff has put a lot of focus on the passing game this spring in hopes of adding more balance to an offense that has been predominantly run dominant for the last seven years.
That priority was evident on Monday as offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen spent time in the early part of practice working with the quarterbacks on muscle memory techniques and then had them focus on attacking holes in the defense - behind the linebacker and in front of the safeties.
West Virginia Coach Bill Stewart was largely pleased with what he saw.
“I thought Patrick White threw some shots. How about over the middle in that hole? We’ve been trying to hit that thing and we have a few times,” Stewart said. “Jarrett (Brown) hit it a couple times and Pat hit it a couple times today as well in the two-minute drill.”
Attacking the middle of the field is something the Mountaineer offense hasn’t done much of recently but Stewart says that is about to change. He explains that a defense is too vulnerable in that area not to take advantage of it.
“You can’t defend it because the safeties have to get deep and the linebackers can only get so deep because if they drop really far, with our quarterbacks, you can run it,” Stewart said.
The running backs and slots continued to catch the ball well out of the backfield and Bradley Starks, who is taking reps at receiver this spring in addition to his duties as the team’s third quarterback, made a nice catch for a touchdown during a two-minute drill situation.
“Jock Sanders and Noel Devine made some nice catches and boy Bradley Starks made a big catch on a third and 10 in the two-minute drill,” Stewart said. “That was a big, big catch for us. I’m tickled to see that Bradley is progressing at receiver.”
With some veteran lineman missing time with injuries this spring, Stewart continues to be encouraged by some of the younger linemen making the most of there opportunities.
“I’m been really pleased with the play of Eric Jobe and Matt Timmerman. Jake Figner has just been steady as can be for us,” Stewart said. “Selvish Capers and Stephen Maw are having a real battle at right tackle and that is good to see.”
On the other side of the ball, junior college transfer Larry Ford has caught Stewart’s eye recently and the New Martinsville native says all that separates him from being a dominant player is his consistency level.
“Did you see 92 on those pass rushes? He burst and blew by people and then he would take a play or two off and bang, here he would come again,” Stewart said. “He cranked it up but he needs to work hard every snap and he will. He’s just never worked this hard at this level before.”
The team also worked on third and four situations from the 20 yard line, a scenario that Stewart admits puts a great deal of pressure on the defense.
“With Patrick White and Noel (Devine) that is pretty tough to stop,” Stewart said. “As a defense you’re just trying to bend and maybe get them out of rhythm and not give up a big play.”
That didn’t happen as the highlight of the day came when White hit Brandon Hogan down the sideline for an 80-yard touchdown.
“That’s a bad mental lapse. That will get corrected. It was a great play by the offense and a bad mistake by the defense,” Stewart said.
Stewart expressed his excitement to work on both kickoff and punt return in the coming days as the staff prepares to try out a bevy of players in those roles late this week and into next. He offered Sanders, Devine, Hogan and Guesly Dervil as well as some incoming freshmen as potential kickoff return guys while naming a different cast of characters to return punts.
“I think Quinton Andrews can catch the ball pretty well and Ellis Lankster is exciting on punt return. He led the nation as a juco. They just haven’t done it because we’ve had Antonio (Lewis) and Vaughn (Rivers) back there,” Stewart said. “We’ll start with seven or eight guys doing both kickoff and punt returns and then get it down to four or five.”
Stewart continues to marvel at Will Johnson’s progression in his recent move to tight end. He displayed his athleticism, speed and catching ability in Saturday’s scrimmage and today he showed anyone still doubting his toughness that he isn’t afraid to mix it up as a blocker.
“He blocked well today. He hit one of those linebackers right in the chin and we haven’t seen that since Owen (Schmitt). We stopped him right in his tracks and that’s the way a tight end should hit,” Stewart said. “He hit him right on the button and then stayed on him and wouldn’t let him go. He’s a big athlete coming at you and he may have found a home there.”
Briefly:
West Virginia will practice in full gear on Wednesday leading up to Saturday’s scrimmage.
