Maryland Observations

by WVUColumbus on Sep 19, 2010 8:08 AM EDT

WVU played a near perfect 1st quarter, excluding Austin's fumble. Then, things changed.

Geno Smith and Steadman Bailey will become the most prolific passing duo in Mountaineer history, and it won't even be close. Geno Smith is the real deal. As a true Sophomore, sure it's nice to see him deliver perfect touch passes on corner routes while directing the troops down the field. However, it's his pocket awareness, Roethlisberger-esque ability to move around in the pocket to extend the play, that really colors me impressed. He just looks comfortable in the pocket, despite impending doom lurking around the corner. That play to Sanders (where Sanders made an unbelievable spin move while catching the ball (or was it Austin)) was a great play by the QB and WR. When WVU was up 21-0, I thought for sure we'd finally score 50 (a feat that teams like WVU in disrespected conferences need to do in order to receive bonus points in the polls and move them up in BCS rankings). Man, was I wrong.

First, many of you think that my disdain for Stewart is because he acts like a redneck, sounds uneducated, etc. And you're partly right. But that truly isn't the primary reason for my distaste of him as head coach. It's because of the following scenario that happened at the end of the 1st half:

--WVU, holding a 21-0 lead and with all the momentum, holds the Terps on 3rd down in their own territory w/ 1:40 to go. WVU has 2 timeouts remaining. Bill Stewart fails to call a timeout. What is he doing? There's no strategy where you don't call a timeout. It's automatic that you do. He was doing something else and not managing the game, period. You call the timeout and let Geno go to work, gaining critical experience in the 2:00 offense, w/ 1:40 to go.

--WVU then comes out essentially on the right hash, nothing on first down (clock ticking).....at this point you assume that they must be content to close out the first half (which is completely inappropriate given the momentum of the offense). You would be wrong. 2nd down and they call a Devine run to the short side of the field.....Inevitably this produces a Devine run out of bounds....Maryland has 2 timeouts remaining. If you run the ball up middle or to the long side of the field, you force Maryland to use their final 2 TO's and then you go into the locker room after 3rd down.

All of you are football fans. You understand this sequence very clearly. Why doesn't the head coach? It is his job to manage the game and he was nowhere to be found. He is often very confused while on the sideline. It is clear from his demeanor, actions on the sideline. Bill Stewart is a mouth-breather (mouth always open in look of "What's going on?")

These types of sequences have already/will cost us games in the future. Think Stewart not challenging Pat White's fumble at ECU, his game management at end of Colorado game, etc.

--The defense, other than that #6, looked awesome in this game. Maryland's offense is deplorable but that doesn't take away from how well they played. It was great to see their defensive line/linebackers finally realize that when you put pressure on the QB you take immense pressure off the secondary (exactly what Dick Lebeau does). The energy at the beginning of the game was electric and great to see. I only wish that WVU was able to finish a game. We just don't seem to have that ability w/ this current coaching staff. It's obvious that the talent is there, and it's obvious that the potential to finish games is there, but I think the coaching staff will hold us back in doing so.

--Excited for the 6 game season to start next week. As I've said before, I think it's going to take minimum 4-2 for Stewart to save his job, with this soft schedule, and I think he has his work cut out for him leading the squad into Baton Rouge.

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My observation is

if it aint broke don’t try and fix it. If your offense isn’t working, then change it up, but if your offense is dominating don’t change it up. You can become a LITTLE bit more conservative,but only run powers and screens. Geno was 10 for 10 throwing it down field. Then they started making him dink and dunk and went 9 of his last 19 for like 90 to 95 yards (as opposed to 170 in his first 10).

by hilltoppeer on Sep 19, 2010 10:21 AM EDT reply actions

Exactly.

It just didn’t make sense to change. It’s not like we were blowing this team out.

It’ll be interesting to hear Stewart’s response to his mismanagement at the end of the first half. The only problem is that there are no major media markets that are able to challenge him w/o potential of losing privileges, etc. That’s what happens with WVU.

by WVUColumbus on Sep 19, 2010 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Geno bruised his wrist...

When Devine missed his block on blitz pick-up. That is why we didnt continue to throw the ball down field.

You know what else keeps the clock running? A running back that thinks and goes down when he realizes he is going to be forced out. Just look at the end of the Cowboys v. Redskins game last week as an example of what happens when you force the issue at the end of the half.

Stop your constant bashing and be happy about a great game minus two plays.

Leave no doubt tonight! Leave no doubt tonight! No doubt! They shouldn't of played the Old Gold'n Blue.

by 5th Year Senior on Sep 19, 2010 11:24 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Uhhhhh

you’re clueless. And I won’t stop my bashing….Thanks though.

In no way, shape or form was that even remotely close to what happened in the Skins/Cowboys game. That was the worst call by easily the worst coach in the NFL.

We still had over a minute and a half to drive down the field. So you don’t think that Geno would’ve craved even more experience in the 2:00 minute offense?

You’re an unashamed homer that wants to control this message board to promote your pro-“keep the Mountaineers at the same expectations, because I’m scared of going to National Championships” campaign.

by WVUColumbus on Sep 19, 2010 11:50 AM EDT reply actions

We did what a lot of teams do in that situation

We ran the ball on first down in hopes of getting some yardage and confidence to drive the ball down the field. When that didn’t happen, on first down, we run again in hopes Devine breaks a run. From what I saw, If the receiver seals his block, Devine gets the corner and has a decent run. He runs out of bounds and stops the clock. Not a big deal, shit happens. It did not cost us anything.

We played it conservatively at the half, just like we did at the end of the game. From my football knowledge, when you are up 21-0, there is no reason whatsoever to force the issue and risk a turnover at the end of the half, just like what happened in the Cowboys/Redskins game.

Finally, if I wanted to control the message board, I would simply delete every comment you make. I engage you in discussion, which is not control, it is a discussion. You’re right I don’t want to succeed, I want to fail so we hire a new coach. Oh wait…

Leave no doubt tonight! Leave no doubt tonight! No doubt! They shouldn't of played the Old Gold'n Blue.

by 5th Year Senior on Sep 19, 2010 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Question:

Have you ever admitted, or even considered, the idea that you might be wrong about something or might not know the answer? I’m not passing judgment on anything you said here, but it’s a valid question for general purposes.

by Country Roads on Sep 19, 2010 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions

you can't claim the "superior analysis" mantle

while finishing up with slamming someone who disagrees with you.

by phucoffaholic on Sep 19, 2010 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Columbus....

I’m not normally one for name calling (otherthen the tubby ass who looked like a ralph freigan/charlie weiss love child that showed up on tv yesterday) and i dont think im going to start now. but good lord man we are 3-0.

HCBS has never been one to run up the score and quite frankly he didnt need to do it yesterday either. two big plays and one bone headed offensive playcall yesterday were the only detractors from a solid overall performance.

fact:

eers 3-0, 1-0 vs bcs teams, 2-0 against d1 teams.

thats a whole hellofalot better then most teams can say right now. other then a pp performance against a fired up marshall team i for the most part have been pleased. the o-line has been improving and by all rights will need to continue that if they are going to have a chance agains lsu next week. this was the prep portion of our schedule, making in through 3-0 is pretty darn good. now if we go 4-0 we are well on our way. if we go 3-1 we are still looking at a bcs game should we run the conferance which at this point seems a distinct posibility.

Fact:

the d has lived up to the hype.

the defense as advertised has been the strength of this team. when you hold a team to 63 total yards in one half thats saying something. mayrland came out in the second half and found the weak spot but our staff responded. with out the two big plays they gave up a whopping 77 yards…total. on the flip side the eers have been burned by big plays in the last two games thats cause for concern, if the front 6 or 7 cant get pressure out secondary is in deep trouble. the staff needs to teach the boys how to cover the man and stop going for a pic if the oppertunity isnt there.

Fact:

WVU finished the game like pro’s in the fourth quarter.

the d shut down the passing attack with rediculous pressue, the o took pressure off the d with that absurd 9 minute drive. nuff said. If finish the game means we ring up 60 points, i dont want that type of finishing here. we won by 14 points, anything over 17 to 21 points is in my mind running it up. yes there is the thought that you need to win big to have a shot to play in the NC, fact is you need to start the season in the top 5 and hope for someone to loose in the current system… untill a different system is in place just accept the fact that given what little national attention we have recieved (except for a 4 year stretch) we need to run the table for at least two conescutive years. If not that our only losses need to come at the hands of HIGH ranked oppents (top 10ish)

" Lord Stanley, scratch thier names on your fabled cup" Mike Lange june 12, 2009

by oldtimehockey09 on Sep 19, 2010 3:21 PM EDT reply actions

I'm just throwing this out there for discussion:

Does running up the score put your starters/stars at greater risk of injury? I really don’t know because I’ve never thought it through before. But it seems like if you try to slow down the pace, grind it out, and shorten the game you might save some wear and tear on the guys. Although, I could be way off. Thoughts?

by Country Roads on Sep 19, 2010 9:11 PM EDT reply actions

I'd agree somewhat on the clock management

as that was HCBS worst attribute his first year. I’ve seen improvement on his sideline management.

He did make the statement that we “didn’t close the door”. I think that’s a result of the leadership as well as the players.

Back to the Devine run out – was he really directed to run straight out of bounds? I thought he was running the clock out, so that completely confused me. didn’t see the Redskin game, so that didn’t help me with your illustration.

by phucoffaholic on Sep 19, 2010 9:41 PM EDT reply actions