On to League Play
September 29, 2008 02:25 PM | General
September 29, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – With the Friends of Coal Bowl in its rearview mirror, it’s now time for West Virginia to focus on the conference portion of its schedule. The Mountaineers face a pair of league foes at home before interrupting conference play one final time to face Auburn on Oct. 23 at Milan Puskar Stadium.
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| Jarrett Brown rushed for 78 yards and accounted for 122 yards of offense last Saturday against Marshall.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
“We’ve played a good schedule and it’s been an attractive schedule for our fans,” Coach Bill Stewart said Sunday. “We found out a lot about ourselves on the road in games two and three.”
West Virginia found out in game two at East Carolina that the players just can’t put the Mountaineer uniform on and show up at somebody else’s place and expect to win. In game three at Colorado the Mountaineers learned that playing hard and competing is only one part of the equation. Execution and poise are also required.
“I’m glad we had those and it put us in some pressure,” Stewart explained. “Now we are going to get down into our routine and play our schedule. That’s what it’s all about and the goal in our program is and always will be the Big East championship – that’s what we strive for and that’s what we live for.”
One quick peak back at the Marshall game showed moderate to considerable improvement in many areas. West Virginia came into last Saturday’s game as one of the worst teams in college football possessing the football. The Mountaineers had a clear 34:56-to-25:04 advantage in time of possession on Saturday.
Heading into last Saturday’s game, West Virginia was averaging 59 plays per game. The Mountaineers ran 70 plays against Marshall, resulting in 493 yards of offense and 27 points.
The West Virginia defense was permitting an average of 383.7 yards per game including an alarming 154.3 yards per game on the ground. On Saturday, West Virginia held a Marshall team that scored 34 points in a win at Southern Mississippi to just 158 total yards and only 39 net yards rushing.
“We created some turnovers and we gave up 158 yards which was pleasing to see,” Stewart said. “We kept Marshall from getting a big play and that was so big for us.”
West Virginia coaches said they were going to come up with creative ways of converting third downs. Their solution was to insert 220-pound backup quarterback Jarrett Brown into the game and run him out of the shot gun. The Mountaineers were 8 of 13 on third down against Marshall, a considerable improvement over their 35 percent success rate on third down heading into the Marshall game.
“We wanted Marshall to maybe scramble a little bit on their sideline (when Brown came into the game). It worked out well with Jarrett,” Stewart mentioned. “He came on and had a heck of a good game for us. He had some nice runs when we needed it in crucial situations, particularly on those third downs. He came in and passed the ball very well too.”
Having Brown on the field in key situations will pay big dividends down the road.
“I’m the biggest conservative in the world but yet I have enough river boat gambler in be to go for it,” Stewart explained. “I gave him my word and I told the team that we were going to put that rascal back there and let him run. Before the game I told him to play loose and have fun. I told Jarrett that his legs were too long and I just told him to keep running.”
Stewart was also pleased with the play of his corners Ellis Lankster and Brandon Hogan.
“Brandon Hogan and Ellis Lankster played lights out,” Stewart said. “I just hope they get better and they will. I’m sure people wanted me to throw (Lankster) under the bus when he dropped that punt but let’s not forget what he did at Boulder.”
Stewart detected more of a bounce in his team on Sunday following the victory. Sometimes, however, Stewart said that can by way over rated.
“I saw one of Marshall’s guys bouncing in pre-game and he was doing the hokey pokey or something like that and when I saw Jarrett Brown run flat over him, the hokey pokey stopped,” Stewart said. “Always remember that that bounce in your step has a lot to do with who is hitting and who is getting hit. In game two we got hit. In game three we were the hitters. In game four we were the hitters.
“I just hope and pray that the Mountaineers continue to have bounce in their step, or whatever this generation calls it,” Stewart said.
Briefly:
“Injury wise we’re good,” Stewart said.
Jarrett Brown played most of the second half after entering the game in the third quarter. Brown led West Virginia to a pair of field goals and finished the afternoon 5 of 7 passing for 44 yards with an interception. He also ran eight times for 78 yards.
Director of Athletics Ed Pastilong presented Shaffer with a certificate in appreciation of his many years of service to West Virginia University.
