The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Sports

September 14, 2008

Ball security top priority for Mountaineers, Mullen says

By Mickey Furfari

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.”

Text Only
Sports
  • Woodrow holds off Huntington

     It took Woodrow Wilson’s boys basketball team nearly three quarters to figure out that the backside lob was open in Huntington High’s zone.

    January 10, 2012

  • MSU hosts Rio Grande

    For the first time since 1995, Mountain State stands a little past the half-way point at the season with five losses.

    January 10, 2012

  • OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - WVU to join Big 12 Conference

    The Big 12 Conference Board of Directors have voted unanimously to accept West Virginia University as a full conference member effective July 1, 2012.  The Mountaineers will begin competing in the Big 12 beginning with the 2012-13 athletic season.

    October 28, 2011

  • Friday update: Big East notified WVU leaving for Big 12

    The Big East says it has been notified that West Virginia is leaving the conference and joining the Big 12.

    October 28, 2011

  • Cardinals force Game 7 in World Series

    After one of the greatest games in baseball history, a 10-9, 11-inning victory over Texas in Game 6 in which the Cardinals were twice within one strike of elimination.

    October 28, 2011

  • Schiano sings WVU’s praises

    It hasn’t been the year that Rutgers coach Greg Schiano envisioned.
    Not close.

    December 1, 2010

  • BNI will usher in mat season

    This time around, the Beckley Newspapers Invitational will have a decidedly more local flavor.

    December 1, 2010

  • Huggs likes looks of young Noreen

    Perhaps it was the season. Whatever it was, West Virginia coach Bob Huggins went straight to the pie.
    Well, the figurative pie.
    Huggins had just watched his team beat Virginia Military Institute 82-66 in front of 12,367 fans at the Charleston Civic Center Saturday.

    December 1, 2010

  • Oak Hill places 3 on AA

    Whether it was opposing defenses or illness, nothing stopped Charleston Catholic’s Tom Trupo for long.

    December 1, 2010

  • Spartans open with victory

    Turnovers produce points and the Greenbrier East girls basketball team collected plenty of each en route to an 81-43 season-opening victory against Bluefield on Tuesday night.

    December 1, 2010