A Kicking Discovery
September 06, 2009 07:44 AM | General
September 6, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – It’s hard to draw a lot of firm conclusions from Saturday’s 33-20 victory over Liberty. Can the defense become a shutdown unit? It’s still too early to tell. Can the offense get the tough yards needed to put teams away? The verdict is still out.
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| Tyler Bitancurt was four for four on field goals Saturday against Liberty.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
But it looks like the Mountaineers have found themselves a field goal kicker in redshirt freshman Tyler Bitancurt.
Bitancurt was four for four on field goal attempts against the Flames, including three first-half field goals when West Virginia’s offense stalled in the red zone. His most impressive kick was a 45 yarder with 20 seconds remaining in the half to give the Mountaineers a 23-10 lead.
Bitancurt got his feet wet quickly on West Virginia’s opening possession of the game when Jarrett Brown’s third and 10 pass to Noel Devine netted just two yards to the Liberty 23. In trotted Bitancurt, who coolly nailed a 38 yarder.
“It felt good,” said Bitancurt. “I was happy to get that first one out of the way. It was very exciting.”
Bitancurt said he was more excited than nervous when he was sent out for his first college field goal try.
“I was pumped up, which is not what I expected a few weeks ago,” Bitancurt said.
Bitancurt’s second field goal came with 1:58 remaining in the half from the Liberty 27.
The final one at the end of the third quarter answered a Liberty score to make the score 26-13, West Virginia.
Bitancurt admitted it was easier for him to concentrate on just field goal kicking on Saturday with Western Washington transfer Josh Lider handling the kickoffs. But Bitancurt said he wants to be an all-around kicker, too.
“I want to earn my other spots, too,” he said.
Bitancurt’s four field goals are believed to be the most ever by a WVU player making his college debut.
“I’m lucky to have Cody Nutter and Jeremy Kash snapping and holding for me,” said Bitancurt. “It’s just a great team I’ve got. That helps me. That’s the only reason why I made four field goals.
Bitancurt believes his performance on Saturday is something he can build on as a player.
“It was stressful but I had to go through it because I wanted to show the team that I was ready and that I can contribute to the team because I wanted to be a part of it,” Bitancurt said. “It also helped that I’ve been here, and I showed the coaches how hard I can work.”
Everyone prefers touchdowns to field goals, including Bitancurt, but it’s nice to know West Virginia can get points when it gets on the opponents’ side of the field.
“I want the team to score as many points as we possibly can, but when they don’t I try my hardest to do my part,” Bitancurt said.
Despite having different kicking styles, Bitancurt learned by watching record-setting kicker Pat McAfee last year. Bitancurt said McAfee’s attitude, his maturity and his businesslike approach were attributes he has tried to copy.
Now, Bitancurt says it’s his turn to pick up where McAfee left off in 2008.
“You can’t have people forever,” he said. “That’s natural that I have to show them that I can do it, too.”
He’s off to a great start.
Stew's Review:
“They were in two-deep shell and they were going to roll into one and pressure us with man free, five under and two deep,” Stewart said. “They brought one more guy than we can block. When the guy came from the outside it left the middle wide open. It was a heady play by Jarrett Brown. As soon as he saw that coverage he went. That was a big-time play for a kid that hasn’t played a whole, whole lot.”
Stewart said a couple of times Brown threw off his back foot when pressured that caused him to miss a couple of passes that could have been completed.
“But he did a nice job of finding his second and third reads and that was really good,” Stewart said.
“Our defensive staff does not teach anyone to hit people in the head,” Stewart said. “The sliding quarterback … and here comes Robert Sands. It’s very difficult. If you don’t hit that guy he slides and gets the first down. If you hit him, make sure you don’t get anywhere near his head.
“Their guy got inside our guy. I knew who was going to get it and I think all of you knew who was going to get it (Mike Brown). It was a crossing route and we’ve just got to get inside leverage,” Stewart said.
“The most frustrating thing of the day is we had them backed up after a tremendous punt. They ran an isolation against the 3-3 stack and they got out. It’s unbelievable how that can happen,” Stewart said.
Stewart said Noel Devine’s touchdown run late in the game was a well blocked zone play. “It was just an absolute thing of beauty,” he said. “It couldn’t have been better.”
