Stew should have sat JB, he was a liability against UConn. I don't know if he was rushed back or if it would have made any difference, but I would liked to have seen Smith get the start after a full week of prep. A win is a win, but the 'eers were very fortunate to come away with that one. 4 turnovers from UConn and 3 big plays (2 Devine runs and Austin kickoff return) made the difference. The offense couldn't put together a sustained drive all day. It was better in the second half, but the Mountaineers looked unprepared to handle all of the blitzing UConn did in the first half. That fact makes me question the game plan, I know little about the technical aspects of football but if you are replacing your starting corner with a new guy chances are you are going to blitz more to take some of the pressure off of him. Maybe I am over-simplifying but it seems obvious in hind-sight.
I think this Friday at USF is now a must-win. Cinncy and Pitt seem to be hitting their stride and WVU needs to jump on a slumping USF team if they want to stay in the race. I don't think WVU wins that race, but it would be nice to stay in it for a while longer.
It was said that WVU was in fact caught off guard by the UCONN game plan (both offensively and defensively), especially the fact they came out guns blazing with the pass when they are and have been a run heavy team for years. I think the WVU coaching staff made some very good half time adjustments, and with the exception of the long pass play in the 4th quarter, played pretty good on both sides of the ball. The game was closer than it should have been, but UCONN was playing their tails off. This was basically a bowl game for them in honor of their teammate, and it was a must win if they wanted to have the slightest chance of winning the Big East since they already lost to sPitt.
ReplyDeleteI would have to disagree on JB being a liability. I think all in all he had a good game. He kept several drives alive with his escapabilty, running and throwing the ball on the run. I don't think Smith could have made some of those same plays (yet.) He is just too small and I don't think he is as fast. That said I think he will be money as our future QB.
In response to Jason's comment about Stew and the special teams. For once we are in total agreement, they are horrible and the blame for that lies solely on Stewart. However, I am a firm believer that the Head Coach of any program should do just that, Head Coach. I really don't think that any coach should also be a Co-Ordinator or even a position coach when they assume the Head Coaching job. There are just way too many other obligations when you take the lead coaching job at any D-I or NFL team. How many tiomes has a great co-ordinator fallen on thier face when they try to do both? Spurrier in Washington, Cam Cameron in Miami, Robinson at Syracuse, Norv Turner anywhere... I know there will be numerous exceptions to this rule, but most if not all head coachs who start out calling the offensive or defensive plays eventually get a co-ordinator even Rich Fraud has Calvin Magee (nevermind that he basically ignores him on game day and runs the same 5 plays over and over and over and over again, see Pitt 07, that game still gives me nightmares.) Special teams may not be as intricate as the D or the O, but Stew should fire himself as the Special Teams co-ordinator and hire somebody to fulfill that role. He is no Frank Beamer (I just threw-up on myself for complementing the Hokies.)