I thought I'd start this topic for Andy. His post on the type of DE's that you have to have to beat WVa was interesting to me. I'm not sure I agree with him, and I don't think the Georgia game was a good example. I think in that game Georgia came out very flat and hum hum another Big Least team. Before they knew it WVA was up on them by 28 points. After that Georgia outscored WVa by quite a lot (35-10) but that 28 pt margin was too much. So I'd be curious to hear his analysis of RU vs W.Va. Terry
The thing about this game is that while it's not likely to change much about the BCS bowl parings, I think those are pretty much set. But if W.Va. wins then Louisville gets the BCS bid, if RU wins then RU gets the BCS bid and Louisville despite it's 12-1 record and BCS standing will likely not get a BCS bid. The will lose out to UM, Boise State, LSU/ARK/Fla, and Notre Dame.
I can't speak to the Georgia game but I played on a true option team in HS that went 37-2-1 over my four years and coached the option at the Jr HS level for another five. I know the option well. AJ is right... the QB keys the DE. If the QB runs it correctly he runs flat behind the O-line.... if the DE closes down on him he pitches at the last possible moment. If the DE takes a contain to the pitch man the QB cuts it up inside. We ran a triple option that included a dive back we is harder to execute and more deadly if run properly. Given all these factors, small quick DEs should be better to defend against it. Why don't more schools use it if its so good? Two reasons: you need an extremely smart QB and that QB can't mind getting hit almost every play.
I have no idea which way this game will go! It is indeed nice to be sitting on the sidelines and waiting to see who my Buckeyes ill play for the title. Don
Thanks George You ever miss coaching? WVU is a little different . They are not true option but a spread offense that uses the same keys as a true option. It's an interesting offense to watch. They do a little option here and there but not as often.
I think your perception of the GA game at least from a defensive standpoint is tainted. Don't forget WVU capitalized on 2 GA TO to jump to a 28-0 lead. It wasn't the Georgia defense which got them back in the game but their offense. WVU still dominated the TOP , greatly outnumbered the # of plays and held the ball 2 to 1 in the 2nd half when the game was much closer. After GA closed to within 3 points there was still over 5 minutes left in the game. All GA had to do was stop them and they had a chance to pull it out. They weren’t flat, they were whipped and couldn’t do it as WVU kept getting new series of downs eating up the remaining 5 minutes and Georgia never saw the ball again. GA’s 2005 defense was 7th in the country before WVU 500+ yards knocked them back to 18th. They were 5th best scoring defense before WVU 38 points knocked them to 8th. It is not a disrespect to GA’s defense but a credit to Rich Rodriguez and how tough it is to stop his unique no huddle spread running offense. It’s different from what Navy runs, not a true option, and their lineman are not the 255-260 variety but big guys who can move. They line up with 3 wr’s spread out, no TE and what makes it go are simple quick reads on the DE. What makes it so tough to defend is that the QB is a 4.3 guy. He’s not built like a typical option QB and is more like a RB than a true option QB. He doesn’t get hit as often either as you don’t see as much of the pitchback as you do with a normal true option team. Even a great defensive team will struggle against this type of offense. You need a fast defense, more so than a strong D, and the whole key is matchups and familiarity. RR has carved himself a unique niche and his system is highly respected by the coaches if not by the fans. When you have offensive staffs from Florida, Texas A&M, California, Ohio State, Alabama coming to Morgantown, you know this is more than just a gimmick offense as almost all teams will run a spread during some points of a game. Rutgers D has the speed & quickness, but their style is more of an attacking one. Against WVU they are going to have to be more disciplined and hold their zones. For Rutgers to win, they must capitalize on WVU’s weak defense and that’s not easy to do in a loud Morgantown. On paper they should lose this game, and the pressure will be squarely on their shoulders because of BCS ramifications, unless UCONN turns in a huge upset creating a potential 3 way tie in which case WVU is BCS bound. It’s a huge game for Rutgers, the biggest in their history. If they pull it off, they will have earned their way to a BCS bowl.
Thanks AJNJ, that was a good read. I do have to admit that when the WVa offense is rolling that it is a lot of fun to watch. I used to think that of the Nebraska offense with guys like Scott Frost, Tommie Frazer and Eric Crouch running it. I liked the Air Force offense when Dee Dowis and the Morgan boys were the QB's. I was less enthralled with the Texas version (Texas coaches also went to Morgantown) because it was mainly the Vince Young offense, but it worked!! just not to thrilling to watch as the WVU version with White and Slaton.
White is the one who makes it so powerful. They are good but not nearly as good with backup QB Bednarik who was the starter before White took over last year. White gives them that Vick dimension.
That was an enjoyable read AJ. I love that West Virginia offense and I was stunned when they lost to South Florida.
Yeah that was suprising. Did So. Fla have those fast DE's? Also It really came at a good time for the So. Fla coach who I have read is a pretty good coach waiting for somebody to discover him and move him up to a better program. Now with some of these openings maybe he'll get some play.
AJ, I always miss coaching. I coached football because I loved the game, I didn't have any kids on the team. Then I moved to NJ and got out of coaching until my oldest sonjoined t-ball. His team had no coach and was about to disband when I volunteered. I coachedc baseball for the next 11 years. The #1 lesson I learned? Most coaches underestimate the learning capacity of their players.
S. Fla has a fast & athletic defense. Don't know their size, but they are pretty decent. I wouldn't say they are great, maybe top 25. They gave Penn State a tough time last year and that was when PSU had a decent offense. PSU wouldn't have won that game without the aid of 2 defensive TDs. I only saw part of the game. Like many spread offenses, WVU is not real strong in the red zone offense and got bogged down with 2 field goals early, but S FLa held that offense in check and no doubt Schiano is looking over the blueprints. Leavitt is an excellent coach. I'm sure he's on someones radar and I wouldn't be surprised if Miami makes a pitch.
George , I miss it too. I used to coach LL & BR for 7 years. You have to like kids and enjoy watching them succeed. Getting them to believe in themselves is very rewarding. It was a lot of fun! We always did fun stuff, went to the batting cages when it rained, pizza, ice cream.
I know that is true of spread offenses where they throw the ball 50 times a game. The field gets short in the redzone and the defense has less space to cover, and they usually don't have the running game since they throw it so much. But a team like WVA runs the ball far more than it passes it so theoretically they should be gonzo in the redzone.
You are right Terry, WVU just wasn't strong against USF. They were in the RZ 4 times against USF with -0- TD's.
Schiano comments on S Florida's defensive approach. All or nothing defense ? Zero coverage ? http://www.nj.com/rutgers/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1164866023256050.xml&coll=1
Good article on the So.Fla defense. I wish I had watched that game to see it in action. More impressive is that they did it in Morgantown.