West Virginia Sports
Young QBs have picked apart W.Va.’s defense
AP
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Young quarterbacks have thrived lately against West Virginia and the Mountaineers need some fast fixes if they hope to stay in contention in the Big East.
West Virginia (6-2, 2-1 Big East) will face another first-year starter Saturday against Louisville (3-5, 0-3).
Due to injuries, Cardinals coach Steve Kragthorpe plans to make a game-time decision on one of three quarterbacks. But it may not matter, the way West Virginia’s defense has made youngsters look like veterans lately.
‘‘We’re not as good as we need to be,’’ said West Virginia coach Bill Stewart.
Two weeks ago, Connecticut sophomore Cody Endres threw for a career-high 378 yards and two scores in a 28-24 loss at West Virginia.
And a week after Pittsburgh limited South Florida’s B.J. Daniels to 54 yards passing and forced two interceptions, the redshirt freshman threw for 232 yards and three scores in a 30-19 win over West Virginia. Daniels’ 104 yards on the ground marked only the second time this season that the WVU defense had allowed a 100-yard rusher.
‘‘He will probably be a thorn in our side for the next three years,’’ Stewart said.
Daniels outgained West Virginia’s entire offense, and Endres nearly did, too.
Their play highlights the need for improvements on West Virginia’s pass defense, although Stewart has steadfastly defended his philosophy of stopping the run first. The run defense is allowing just 99 yards per game while the pass defense ranks next-to-last in the Big East at 236 yards.
Stewart also found himself this week coming to the aid of much-criticized Keith Tandy, who was burned for two long receptions by South Florida’s Carlton Mitchell, including a 49-yard scoring pass in the first quarter.
‘‘No. 8 is still my cornerback,’’ Stewart said. ‘‘I’m not finger pointing at anybody.’’
Criticism also is growing about the Mountaineers’ offense, particularly when Stewart chose to punt from the South Florida 33 trailing by a touchdown late in the third quarter.
South Florida held running back Noel Devine to a season low of 42 yards and Devine had his streak of at least one rushing touchdown in eight straight games snapped.
‘‘One game a season doesn’t make,’’ Stewart said. ‘‘That’s all I need to say.’’
Slot receiver Jock Sanders, who was among the nation’s leaders in receptions per game, had just two catches for 21 yards. And quarterback Jarrett Brown, who earlier this season was one of the Big East’s best in total offense, managed just 244 yards.
All that prompted Stewart to leave his weekly offensive champion award blank. But he doesn’t plan to change much.
‘‘You just keep calling what you are calling,’’ Stewart said. ‘‘Our offense is a thing of beauty at times and at times it is not. When we are clicking, it is pretty.’’
Another meltdown on either side of the ball against a Louisville team that is 0-4 on the road this season will eliminate the Mountaineers from the league’s title chase. No. 4 Cincinnati and No. 14 Pittsburgh, both at 4-0, share first place and West Virginia is alone in second with all three teams yet to play one another.
‘‘It’s stretch time. This is when you find out how tough a football team you have,’’ Stewart said. ‘‘We can roll over like all the experts say, or we can jut our jaw, bow our back and play Mountaineer football. I’m of the latter.’’
West Virginia (6-2, 2-1 Big East) will face another first-year starter Saturday against Louisville (3-5, 0-3).
Due to injuries, Cardinals coach Steve Kragthorpe plans to make a game-time decision on one of three quarterbacks. But it may not matter, the way West Virginia’s defense has made youngsters look like veterans lately.
‘‘We’re not as good as we need to be,’’ said West Virginia coach Bill Stewart.
Two weeks ago, Connecticut sophomore Cody Endres threw for a career-high 378 yards and two scores in a 28-24 loss at West Virginia.
And a week after Pittsburgh limited South Florida’s B.J. Daniels to 54 yards passing and forced two interceptions, the redshirt freshman threw for 232 yards and three scores in a 30-19 win over West Virginia. Daniels’ 104 yards on the ground marked only the second time this season that the WVU defense had allowed a 100-yard rusher.
‘‘He will probably be a thorn in our side for the next three years,’’ Stewart said.
Daniels outgained West Virginia’s entire offense, and Endres nearly did, too.
Their play highlights the need for improvements on West Virginia’s pass defense, although Stewart has steadfastly defended his philosophy of stopping the run first. The run defense is allowing just 99 yards per game while the pass defense ranks next-to-last in the Big East at 236 yards.
Stewart also found himself this week coming to the aid of much-criticized Keith Tandy, who was burned for two long receptions by South Florida’s Carlton Mitchell, including a 49-yard scoring pass in the first quarter.
‘‘No. 8 is still my cornerback,’’ Stewart said. ‘‘I’m not finger pointing at anybody.’’
Criticism also is growing about the Mountaineers’ offense, particularly when Stewart chose to punt from the South Florida 33 trailing by a touchdown late in the third quarter.
South Florida held running back Noel Devine to a season low of 42 yards and Devine had his streak of at least one rushing touchdown in eight straight games snapped.
‘‘One game a season doesn’t make,’’ Stewart said. ‘‘That’s all I need to say.’’
Slot receiver Jock Sanders, who was among the nation’s leaders in receptions per game, had just two catches for 21 yards. And quarterback Jarrett Brown, who earlier this season was one of the Big East’s best in total offense, managed just 244 yards.
All that prompted Stewart to leave his weekly offensive champion award blank. But he doesn’t plan to change much.
‘‘You just keep calling what you are calling,’’ Stewart said. ‘‘Our offense is a thing of beauty at times and at times it is not. When we are clicking, it is pretty.’’
Another meltdown on either side of the ball against a Louisville team that is 0-4 on the road this season will eliminate the Mountaineers from the league’s title chase. No. 4 Cincinnati and No. 14 Pittsburgh, both at 4-0, share first place and West Virginia is alone in second with all three teams yet to play one another.
‘‘It’s stretch time. This is when you find out how tough a football team you have,’’ Stewart said. ‘‘We can roll over like all the experts say, or we can jut our jaw, bow our back and play Mountaineer football. I’m of the latter.’’
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