The only time of the year that is worse than right after spring ball in the college football world is the time summer camps open up. And really, that's just because we know we are going to be seeing the real thing in a little less than a month. So we put up with all the vanilla responses we get from coaches. And the coaches put up with all us fans drooling over five star recruits that haven't played a down yet. And apparently Rich Rodriguez has been getting quite a few letters from fans asking him to bring back the wishbone offense. Presumably so that Pat White, Steve Slaton, Owen Schmitt, and Noel Devine could share the backfield at the same time. Rodriguez responded jokingly:
"I don't know how many people sent me letters about going to the wishbone," Rodriguez said Saturday, shortly after his team's season-opening practice at Mountaineer Field. "So I said, 'The hell with it, I'm gonna do it.'"
So at least Rodriguez is having a little bit of fun to start this camp off. If you've watched him through his first six years as the Mountaineer coach, you know as well as I do that the coach has a bit of a temper problem. And that might be the last joke we hear from him until the post game press conference of the bowl game.
Absolutely it would be nice to get all those players out on the field at the same time. But at the same time, I think it's a little premature to look for it. At least not right away. It's going to take Devine time to learn Rodriguez's offense. Most likely, his big role could be as a slot receiver this year rather than running back. Running reverses and wide receiver screens opposite Darius Reynauld would make life rough on opposing defensive coordinators. Not enough to forget who's in the backfield, but you know what I'm saying.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. This is gonna give us fits...
Posted at 8:21PM on Aug 6th 2007 by tele64
2. Well Darryl I'm a WVU fan, so I hope Rod never leaves. But yeah, I would think he would be in line for that job when it comes open. As far as the wishbone goes, I think players today with an eye for going to the NFL would shy away from playing in that offense. And while WVU's offense isn't exactly a pro style offense, he's getting wide receivers and backs into the NFL. And I think the more he does, the more kids are going to look at WVU as a way to get into the NFL.
Posted at 9:03PM on Aug 6th 2007 by John Radcliff
3. i can't wait to see the mountaineers this year, their running attack wil be something to watch no matter what formation they are in
Posted at 9:36PM on Aug 6th 2007 by coydogwvu
4. Look at the "recruiting" rankings the previous 5 years and the so called big boys. Rich Rod does more with less and should have been coach of the year the previous 3 years. Go Mounties
Posted at 10:51PM on Aug 6th 2007 by haaswvu
5. yeah have fun with that!
Posted at 5:33AM on Aug 7th 2007 by John Gawthrop
6. Haaswvu's comment on "recruit talent" is telling. There is enough WVU team talent to go undefeated in the BE but not enough team speed, depth, or "talent" to match up with any BCS team that an undefeated WVU team would have to go up against. Daryl, that offensive line is average, at best, with a hole at center and OT. The best defenses would stop that offense cold. Sorry guys, this is the same team that lost to South Florida.
Posted at 6:15AM on Aug 7th 2007 by Ouch!
7. It's about damn time ... But seriously, if you've got 2 QBs who can run it and a monster FB, you can keep even the best defense guessing all day. I never knew why it went "out of style". Rodriguez has my vote for best offensive mind in Div. 1 and would certainly be a logical successor to Joepa in a few years, wouldn't you say?
Posted at 2:26PM on Aug 7th 2007 by Darryl Royal
8. as an ou fan im for the wishbone. its a great offense that has the potential for big plays because it gets speed to the outside. w. virginia has a very strong rushing attack and very well could do well with a wishbone offense. the wishbone is a high risk offense because the ball is almost in the air every play (laterals) except on a qb keeper. ou always struggled with fumbles in the wishbone but when its ran to perfection i doubt there is a better offense. the wishbone allows a team to run to either side with equal number of blockers. you can have unbalanced lines as well if a team wishes. the wishbone also provides 1 on 1 coverage for wrs because teams have to stack the line to stop the run. the wishbone is a very complex offense that takes times to learn. alot of ou losses were usually early in the seasons when players were trying to learn the system but the huge advantage with the wishbone is the fact no other teams run it so it really stresses defensive cordinators who have to prepare their team to stop an offense they dont normally see. for fans who think the wishbone is out of date and wouldnt work today i have this to say. 2001 ou was drilling k st at the half. to start the 2nd half k st went to the veer offense and almost came back to win. i think it ended 38-37. old offenses that people think wont work usually do even today because they were great offenses. it will be interesting to see how w. virginia does in the wishbone.
Posted at 3:43PM on Aug 7th 2007 by cfb expert
9. 'Ouch', you should be in pain after those misinformed comments. WVU has team speed every where you look and made Georgia look like they were going backwards 2 years ago. They humiliated one of the best teams in the ACC last year (MD- 28-0 in 1st quarter) and rang up huge numbers against GTech without Steve Stlaton. WVU had injuries turnovers, etc. against S. Florida and it was just one of those days. In 2 years (other than S. Fl.) nobody they've faced has held them to respectable yardage. A very lame troll at best.
Posted at 6:58AM on Aug 8th 2007 by WVU=Speed
10. WVU=Speed, you just made all of my points. 1) Schedule, Maryland ranked #28, GT# 31. 2) Depth, an injured Slayton is "game over". 3)Team Speed, DB's that run a 4.6, OL's 5.4, LB's 4.9, playing against the kind of speed they are going to face in the BCS championship game is not going to get it. 4) Losing to So.FL. other coaches have been fired for less. I am not saying they are not a nice team, maybe even a top 15 team
Posted at 8:00AM on Aug 8th 2007 by Ouch!
11. Hopefully they will go undefeated and have a chance to play someone other than Houston, Kansas State, Wake Forest or Georgia Tech. Then we can talk again.
Posted at 8:07AM on Aug 8th 2007 by Ouch!
12. Man, it sure is easy to talk smack after you've won it all. I knew there had to be some SEC connection.
I can understand your bias, but it's a little misplaced. I don't know why you have to rain on someone else's parade. I don't have anything against FL. What's up with all that 40 yard dash stuff? Were you pulling my leg?
Good luck? Thanks. I'd wish you good luck, but I don't think you need it.
Posted at 7:24PM on Aug 8th 2007 by wvu=speed
13. Excuse me for saying so, but the BE "bowl alliance" is as good as anyone's. They are in the BCS like the SEC, ACC, PAC 10, Big Ten, etc. You don't understand the process. Had WVU ran the table last year, they would most likely have played OSU for the NC.
Posted at 8:13PM on Aug 8th 2007 by wvu=speed
14. You had a point? Slaton out = victory. Pat White out = Victory. How about running through those numbers with your team.
The SEC champs don't count, Ouch? You posts are hurting pretty bad, so your screen name is spot on.
Posted at 6:34AM on Aug 9th 2007 by WVU=Speed
15. Just read your other posting and realized I had not responded properly. The forty times are kinda important. A couple of years ago WVU had the 52nd best recruiting class in the country. It wasn't that they did not know how to play football, it was because they were a step slow. HaasWVU is right. You have a real good coach and it is amazing what he has done with the talent. I am a UF and WVU fan. Florida goes to LSU this year and will probably take an old fashion butt kicking but...wait for 2008. We are going to be awesome. Did not mean to rain on anyones parade. I know how important that team is to everyone who lives in that state but I am not, a BE fan. I probably should have kept my commments to my brother and cousin and not posted them here. My brother flies from Orlando to all the Mountaineer games.
Posted at 6:37AM on Aug 9th 2007 by Ouch!
16. True, if they had run the table they MAY have played OS. Instead the BE teams played Kansas State, Wake Forest, Houston and Georgia Tech. The SEC teams played Ohio State, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Nebraska, Notre Dame, and if my memory serves me OSU. I see a difference. Watch out for LSU. They may have been the best team in the country last year and they have a fifth year senior at quarterback to replace the big guy they lost to graduation. Enjoyed it, now I am out of here...
Posted at 6:37AM on Aug 9th 2007 by Ouch!
17. WVU=Speed, if you say the S.FL game was just one game gone real bad then, considering WV's bowl history, someone may say the win over Georgia was just one game gone real good. That was a good win even if Georgia was beaten three other times that season. Unfortunately for the BE their bowl alliances do not give them a chance to prove themselves. My team? Man, my family has been in the Kanawha Valley since the 1700's. I am just calling it the way I see it. I saw what Florida, LSU, and Southern Cal did to supposedly top notch competition last year and if WV wins out that is the type of team they are going to have to face and they do not, in my opinion, match up. (I gotta 'fess up. My whole family, kids and all are Gator grads.) The Gators may lose three this year. Enough for now, keep in touch during the season and best of luck.
Posted at 6:44AM on Aug 9th 2007 by Ouch!
18. You mentioned Virginia Tech, Penn State & Nebraska like they are somehow better opponents than the one's the BE played. Both Wake Forest and Georgia Tech (teams the BE beat) beat out V Tech in the ACC. Penn State? Louisville or WV would have beaten Nebraska or Penn State.
The Big East would have had it's hands full with LSU or FL, but it's just the way the BCS worked it out and says nothing about how good the BE is or isn't. They try to maximize profits and create the best matchups - it's not all about putting the best teams together, except the title game. Case in point - Notre Dame vs LSU. Louisville or WV would have kicked Irish butt also.
You might not realize it, but you have a touch of SEC snobbery.
Posted at 7:49AM on Aug 9th 2007 by WVU=Speed
19. You mean well, but you're still have a problem with the facts. Cincinnati played Western Michigan and an ACC team played Houston.
Louisville played the ACC champion, which just happened to be Wake Forest, but is usually a big deal. Any other time it would be Florida State, Miami or Virginia Tech.
In 2005, WV got paired with the SEC champs through the BCS. It doesn't get much more competitive than that.
Sorry, but you don't have much of a point in that regard.
Last year WV had a top 20 recruiting class and they may improve on that this year, but you DO have a point in that Rodriquez has gotten a lot out of less, anyway.
Posted at 7:49AM on Aug 9th 2007 by WVU=Speed
20. WVU has made itself a top ten team for the past couple of years. Next year, if ALL stay, they will return their entire offense...scary! When you talk about the top 2 or 3 teams, it will not be whether WVU is fast enough on offense..it will be whether WVU is fast enough on defense. We have made great strides there but we still need to be faster. Even in the Sugar Bowl, Georgia threw over us on a couple of occasions (against a zone!). That should never happen. When we get that speed factor, along with our offensive scheme, then we will be ready for a national championship. USC, right now, has three first round draft picks at LB...that is what separates them from the pack.
Posted at 8:36PM on Aug 9th 2007 by MickeyWVU