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O-Line getting enough credit?
WVU football Q&A with Colin Dunlap
Thursday, October 15, 2009
By Colin Dunlap, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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Q: As I look around and read different stories about the mighty Mounties, I am not seeing a lot of props for the "too young" o-line or OC Jeff Mullen. The team has scored 30+ points in every game this season (5) for the first in school history and may be the most dangerous team we have ever had (thinking back to Bulger, Zereoue, Saunders, Foreman, Ivy and Becht). Do you think that the overlooking of the above mentioned parts has to do with a lack of big time press, in general, or the amount of weapons on the field at any given time? Secondly; it seems to me, as someone who is pretty familiar with football, that the ongoing problem of giving up late scores has more to do with conservatism than lack of effort. While many BCS darling programs run up the score against overmatched opponents, we seem to throttle back on both offense and defense. Do you see this "prevent" mentality in play calling or am I losing it?

Robert Fisher, Pittsburgh

DUNLAP: To your first point: The offensive line was a tremendous question mark coming into the season and, of all the units on the field, they have performed the most surprising -- as in pleasantly surprising. I think they kind of knew what they were going to get from Selvish Capers (who, in my estimation, will play in the NFL) but after that it was a crapshoot. For my money, Madsen and Jobe have performed very well and Jenkins has done OK, but it has been Barclay at LT who has been, far and above the most consistent part of that line in protecting Jarrett Brown's blindside.

As per Mullen, he is a tremendous coach who was still learning how to be a coordinator last year and is still in that process this year. The guy is a true offensive mastermind???give him time.

In terms of not scoring late, I don't see a "prevent" mentality, as much as I see some personnel changes. Did you notice against Syracuse that Geno Smith played some series' at the end? Did you also see there was some liberal substituting on defense in the second half? As the season now steers into Big East play full-time, look for WVU to stay on the gas pedal, if they get the opportunity, from here on out.




Q: The first BCS rankings don't come out till this weekend, but currently there are three one-loss teams in front of Cincinnati (VT, USC, OSU), plus LSU and Miami just behind. It's early, but assuming either Florida or Alabama wins out, and every one else has at least one loss (including Boise), do you see the Bearcats being able to leapfrog all three of these teams if they don't lose again? They don't have a signature game remaining on their schedule outside of the Big East slate.

Jason Griffith, Keyser, W.Va.

DUNLAP: First, Florida and Alabama both cannot win out -- one would have to lose in the SEC title game, as they would play each other. Also, to your direct point, I think that if Cincinnati is unbeaten, they will play for a national championship, yes. This isn't a Utah team and I think the BCS people understand as much -- this Cincinnati team is much stronger than those Utes were.




Q: It does not appear that WVU is actively recruiting a punter. Since Scott Kozlowski is a senior, shouldn't we be recruiting his replacement?

Joe Gansor, Franklin, Va.

DUNLAP: For now, Greg Pugnetti, who is a redshirt junior, would look to be the punter next season. He was locked in a battle with Kozlowski during spring ball for the starting job that Kozlowski eventually won. As far as saying "it does not appear that WVU is actively recruiting a punter." Trust me, college football programs are actively recruiting high school kids, at all times, for all positions.

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First published on October 15, 2009 at 1:23 pm