Published: September 14, 2008 11:12 pm         

Ball security top priority for Mountaineers, Mullen says

MORGANTOWN — Offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen does not think West Virginia’s inconsistent offense needs to improve on anything other than just taking better care of the football.

“We’ve got to catch the ball when we throw it to them, and we’ve got to hold on to it when we hand it off to them,” he said as the 21st-ranked Mountaineers (1-1) pushed preparations for Thursday night’s nationally televised contest at Colorado (2-0).

To Mullen’s thinking, two lost fumbles and an interception were the biggest disappointments (offensively) in the 24-3 defeat at upstart East Carolina Sept. 6. That followed a season-opening 48-21 victory over Villanova.

West Virginia is averaging only 25.5 points to 22.5, 55 offensive plays to 79 and 302.5 yards to 392.5 per game.

Asked what the team needs to do to improve on those numbers, Mullen replied: “It’s two-fold. We’ve got to get the defense off the field (sooner) and get the offense to take over (sooner). Every possession we’ve had we really haven’t punted too many times.

“We had a couple three-and-outs, and a couple big turnovers last weekend hurt a little bit and got us off the field. But we’ve got to take care of ourselves (on offense), not turn the ball over and stay on the field longer.”

Mullen readily admits WVU would like to regain a highly productive rushing attack, but that it was forced to throw early and often against both Villanova and East Carolina, which now is ranked No. 15 in The Associated Press poll.

Both of those teams loaded up the box with nine defenders. But Mullen served notice that WVU will continue to try to establish the run.

“Our practices have been really good,” the former Wake Forest assistant said. “And the practices before we met East Carolina were good as well.

“So we’ll continue to work on what we’ve been doing and (taking care of the ball) will certainly improve.”

Mullen noted the Mountaineers tried to go for more option plays against East Carolina, but when down by three scores they did not feel that running was the team’s best chance to win. It would have been a different situation were the score closer.

“We had to throw the ball for the most part of the game because we had to,” he stressed. “We tried to establish the run and will continue to do that.”

A reporter asked whether any thought was given to changing quarterbacks?

“Heavens, no!” Mullen replied. “With (removing) Pat White, you eliminate one of the best in college football, and you don’t want to do that.

“There are times certainly in short-yardage situations that we can and will do that. But we haven’t had any fourth-and-one or third-and-two situations to try that.

“You can set the tempo with your play-calling. And we’re snapping the ball within 10 or 11 seconds. We’re trying to help our defense by running the ball and keeping them off the field.

“But this could cost us turnovers and load the points real quick. That’s what got us in trouble in the East Carolina game.”

Mullen said dealing with perception and reality doesn’t frustrate him at all.

“That’s football. That’s the way it is. It’s not frustrating. It is what it is, and we’ll continue to establish who we are.

“We’ve just got to make calls based on what we need, where we are in the game and by how many points we are ahead or behind. We’ll continue to do that.”