West Virginia vs. ECU Recap: The Most Decisive 15 Point Victory In History
by Dr. Charley West on Sep 13, 2009 4:35 PM EDT
in Mountaineer Football
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That was an extremely dominating performance, yet we only won by fifteen. I really don't think I have been more impressed by a team, especially the team that came out after halftime, that won by so few points over an unranked opponent at home. We took it to ECU, and minus some mental mistakes, played a very complete football game. Outgaining any team by the margin we did (272 yards) is impressive, and cleaning up those mistakes will help us win this type of game by three or four touchdowns going forward. All-in-all, a good win, and one that should provide a nice springboard into next weekend in Auburn.
My thoughts after the jump:
- Jeff Mullen has really endeared himself to Mountaineer fans, a huge turnaround from the perceptions of him as a football coach just a short year ago. The amount of variety and a potent downfield attack has really livened up this Mountaineer offense. The playcalling is much more reminiscent of the Car Care Bowl as opposed to the ECU, Colorado, Cincinnati, and Pitt losses of last year.
- ECU dared us to throw the ball, and that's exactly what we did. As the season progresses, you'll see teams drop further and further into coverage, and then Noel Devine's show will begin. Right now, it looks like he's just biding his time while Brown and the passing attack pick apart defenses. This passing game is shock and awe right now, but we should see more balance as the defenses relax and take a man or two out of the box.
- Jock Sanders, besides Jarrett Brown, is the likely MVP of this offense. He is as versatile player that we have, and being able to distract and confuse defenses with his play is a huge plus for us this season. If he were no longer on the team, as looked like a possibility earlier this summer, this would be a much more vanilla offense.
- Sanders might be the present, but Tavon Austin is the future, and we got a glimpse of that future with his beautiful TD catch on Saturday. Austin ran a great route, making a fantastic juke before cutting to the post and beating three different ECU defenders. Brown played a big part by dropping that ball in perfectly, but Austin got open, made the catch, then broke a tackle and took it for a touchdown. Look for Austin to continue to get more looks as the season progresses, and it shows how much faith this staff has in him as he's already on our #1 kickoff return team. He's just, quite simply, the real deal.
- Losing starters Reed Williams and Scooter Berry to injury in the first half could have been disastrous, but the defense stepped up, playing remarkably well in the second half in shutting out ECU. This is a deep unit, and that showed clearly on Saturday. Even with Keith Tandy, Julian Miller, and Robert Sands coming down with short injuries, the defense was able to adapt and keep playing strong. Without the short fields that were provided by Brown's fumble and the two muffed punts, we might have seen a much smaller score line from ECU.
- Kudos to the crowd. Everyone was in their seats by kickoff, both first and second half. The crowd was loud, made sure the officials knew how everyone felt, and supported this team consistently well. One quick note, though...to the guy who was sitting in Section 128, Row 2, seat 126: you're a douchebag. You booed Stewart until things started going right, then sat there like an idiot and eventually left early. Nice work. You deserve to get a pineapple up the ass.
- I truly, firmly believe we beat Auburn. If you're skeptical, tell me why.
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Amen brother
The only thing I can add is that the Mountaineers win shows how asinine the polls are, as the Mountaineers dropped from 32 votes to 30 votes following this win in the AP poll
by rumplestiltskin on Sep 13, 2009 5:51 PM EDT reply actions
Auburn....
I’ll give the coaching staff a lot of credit. The offense was explosive and the defense shut ECU down.
Special teams remain special. They need to improve and mightily. Stew might have to fire himself as Special Teams Coach.
Penalties: Hopefully, we improve here, too. The first quarter was tough to watch.
Auburn will be a tough test vs. WVU. They have beaten LA Tech 37-13 and MS State 49-24, so they have shown life on offense under HC Chizik and OC Malzahn. Though those two teams are certainly not world-beaters, WVU cannot have 11 penalties and 4 turnovers and win at Auburn.
So, I think it is clear that this game is a crossroads for both teams. I’m not saying I don’t believe yet. I am saying that this game could be another 31-30 game either way.
I pretty much agree.
I think East Carolina is significantly better than Mississippi State (and certainly better than La. Tech). Because of that, I think Auburn’s chances this season are being inflated. Still, they have put points on the board.
You’re right about avoiding penalties and turnovers next week. Most were mental errors that began to work themselves out as the game wore on. Hopefully, that type of mental effort will continue next week.
by Dr. Charley West on Sep 13, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Just As It Was Last Year....
….a tough game. I pin my hopes on our defense being able to shut them down, and our offense hitting its average. I just hope we aren’t dinged up.
And I would rather have Stew than Chizik. (I hope I am not calling down the Thunder with that statement!) Although, I do agree that Stew might need to delegate those special team duties. Nothing wrong with delegating. It is actually the sign of a great leader! Not that he doesn’t know what he’s doing, but maybe these guys need a different voice talking to them.
Stew vs. Chizik
Chizik was a proven loser as a head coach and a proven winner as a D coordinator.
Stew was a proven loser as a head coach (at VMI – no one wins at Iowa St. either) and no experience as a coordinator.
Neither is considered a home run hire at all. Both were hired because of their previous ties to the school.
Given the choice between the two at the time Stewart was hired, I would have taken Stewart. Given the choice now, I would probably take Stewart because he had been here on staff under the old regime.
I’m guessing that if Auburn had a decision between Iowa St. head coach Chizik and WVU tight ends coach Stewart, they would probably have preferred Chizik.
Both still have the opportunity to prove their doubters wrong, and have done a decent job through two games.
As for leadership by delegation vs. leadership by micromanaging…
Both styles have been ‘tremendous’ failures and ‘tremendous’ successes. It just depends on how good the leader is. Of course those being managed prefer delegation…
HCBS v. HCGC
I think one could probably give both of them a pass, as far as the proven-winner as coordinator, proven-loser as a head coach thing. As you aptly said, no one wins at VMI, or Iowa St. (sort of makes me think that Dan McCarney might be one of the best coaches out there…five bowl games in 12 years…). And Stew’s 8 wins at VMI actually put him in a pretty elite class at that school! Also, one might say that Stew was a proven winner as a QB coach and recruiter. He did bring Pat White into the fold….
Auburn’s (recent) offense worries me. But I am hoping that we have a much higher caliber of player on defense than they have seen the first. two.
Nice win
Just a short time ago I was chatting with 25314 and I told him I was surprised about the W. I had a bad feeling going into the game. I’ve always been a fan of Holtz and with the vet quarterback, I sensed trouble. Kudos to Stew and the staff. Of course, it helps having a QB like Brown. I’m just glad he was finally able to earn that starting job in some people’s eyes.
Auburn has some top talent, so next week is not going to be easy. WVU can’t afford the mistakes they made against ECU. Obvious comment I know, but it rings especially true on the road.
One thing is for sure, if they win that game, things get mighty interesting. But right now, I’m not sure.
Also, kudos go to WVUIE97. Fine job on the morning links.
DITTO...
Thanks to WVUIE97. My favorite thing to do when I should be working every morning is catching up on the Eers via the Shotgun Throwdown. I carefully read each article and don’t scroll to the bottom until everything has been read. It’s my own way of rewarding myself for being such a loyal fan each day.
BTW… I’d like to recommend Dead Guy Ale for the sponsor one morning. No Big East connection (Brewed in Oregon), just a great beer that gets many Mountaineers hammered every Saturday in the Brown Lot…
Anthony Leonard
Is he injured? Is he behind Golbourne and Goode on depth chart? Am I on crazy pills, cause I could have sworn he was very solid last year and hasn’t played yet.
the missing Leonard
If you find anything out about this let us know.
by phucoffaholic on Sep 13, 2009 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow, I didn't realized this
One quick note, though…to the guy who was sitting in Section 128, Row 2, seat 126: you’re a douchebag. You booed Stewart until things started going right, then sat there like an idiot and eventually left early. Nice work. You deserve to get a pineapple up the ass.
So WVUColumbus was at the game?
by BurghMountaineer on Sep 13, 2009 9:22 PM EDT reply actions
I Had a Similar Experience
With a fan in Section 216, Row 33. The guy really let Jeff Mullen hear it when he called a screen (maybe a draw?) to Devine on 3rd and 23 in the first quarter that got stuffed, then cheered like crazy and praised the play call when Devine ripped off a 28 yarder on a similar running play on 3rd down in the second quarter. That’s fine, we can debate about the merits of a conservative play on 3rd and 20-something later, but you can’t bash Mullen in the first quarter then cheer him when he does the same thing in the second quarter. At least be consistent.
by Country Roads on Sep 13, 2009 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Alcohol?
In his defense he probably did not remember the first play call.
by 5th Year Senior on Sep 13, 2009 10:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
maybe someone
shoved a pineapple up his ass…that’d adjust my attitude pretty damn quickly.
by phucoffaholic on Sep 13, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Like you were happy with the first series...
It’s wrong the way you and Country Roads are calling out people who were aggravated early in the game. As I recall, there weren’t many fans singing the praises of the staff in the first five minutes…
I too have been a skeptic since HCBS was hired, but will happily admit that Saturday’s team looked as dominant as any Mountaineer team of my fanhood (10 years-give or take). I think we go into Jordan-Hare and take one from a traditional SEC power on Saturday night. It’s going to be a good weekend!
Ehh
I didn’t say I was happy with the first series, but I honestly don’t know what you call on 3rd and 20-whatever down 3 in the first quarter. But like I said, we can debate whether it was a good call all day. My issue is with him criticizing the coaching staff in the first quarter and then praising the staff in the second quarter for the EXACT SAME PLAY.
by Country Roads on Sep 14, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions
You don't have to be singing anyone's praises
but it just makes you look stupid to boo on the first drive of the game.
by Dr. Charley West on Sep 14, 2009 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions
LMAO @ Columbus was at the game.
i was absolutely wrong about the offensive production this week. i really like Tavon Austin’s speed. that was nice to see that we have freshman with that type of talent. JB looked pretty good scrambling on busted plays, we’ll get some big plays out of him doing that this year. Although he looked a little hesitant to let the ball go early, i couldn’t tell if he was gun shy or the receivers weren’t getting open.
i hope berry and williams are ok to go on saturday night.
all in all, other than the turnovers and penalties, not bad, not good.
i give them a “C”.
by cabincreekzeke on Sep 14, 2009 11:17 AM EDT reply actions
Unfortunately,
I was not at the game…so no pineapples up the ass, thank you.
Many posters seem to be discounting the turnovers and penalties that were committed Saturday afternoon. We all thought ECU was a good team, and we were wrong. While there were certainly positive signs, Jarrett Brown, understand that none of it matters if we go into Auburn and play like we did at ECU last season.
“You play to win the games, and here at West Virginia University you play to WIN THEM ALL, because it’s the only way to reach the pinnacle of the sport” — WVUColumbus
Obvi
If we play like we did against ECU last year, almost any team in the nation would beat us. However, our two performances this year make me think that those performances were so last year. As Heidi Klum would say, “You’re either in, or you’re out.” The team that sucked at times last year, seems to be “out.”
I also love how you set yourself up with another way to say “I told you so,” with your all cap statement above.
by 5th Year Senior on Sep 14, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Debbie Downer
Always brings us back to earth. Way to ruin the mood.
“They are who we thought they were. We thought they were a good team, but that we’re a better team. We definitely are.” – burghmountaineer
I too can take an NFL coaches press conference comment that is used repeatedly in Coors Light commercials and spin it into something of my own.
by BurghMountaineer on Sep 14, 2009 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions
PLAYOFFS?!?!?!?! PLAYOFFS?…….PLAY?
THIS IS D1 COLLEGE FOOTBALL, THIS AINT INTERMURALS! INTERMURALS IS AGAINST CUSE OR UCONN!
" Lord Stanley, etch thier names on your fabled cup" Mike Lange june 12, 2009
by oldtimehockey09 on Sep 14, 2009 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice Touch
“Look, I ain’t here to cause no trouble, I am just here to do the BCS Shuffle.” —JP Fanshawe.
I just thought it would be cool to quote myself in a post I am writing…
Hooray for West Virginia
The most impressive performance since the Fiesta Bowl.
agree sorta,
would have been the most impressive if they didnt have the mistakes on punt coverage. but that being said, sanders more then made up for it on a couple of returns in the second half. hopefully those bugs have been worked out of the system
" Lord Stanley, etch thier names on your fabled cup" Mike Lange june 12, 2009
by oldtimehockey09 on Sep 14, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions
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