Where will depth help more?

[DCWV4life]

With so much talk about the lack of depth the last two seasons we finally look like a Div 1 team with our numbers built up. So the question is where will this depth help us most...easy answer is offense or defense, but most of the top teams that have kept up with the normal amount of 85 scholly players on roster see this help in their special teams. While OToole and Lambert IMO opinion are two of the best out there our return teams have been horrible. We ranked near the bottom in the entire country in both punt and kickoff returns.

Punt coverage improved last year, but kickoff coverage needs to improve after giving up 23 yards per return, some good teams where around the same average but they had defenses to help the bad coverages. While most fans(myself included) hope to see an improvement on the two main sides of the ball, I really hope to see that third side make another big stride like it did last year....Deforrest ended up over his head at DC,but the guy is known as one of the best in the business at special teams. He has brought in some great legs for the kicking game and hopefully with more bodies in camp he can fix the other areas of concern.

Needless to say if we return a ball 7 yards deep out of the end zone first kickoff I am going to have a aneurism. knee it take the 25 yards and start your day. Teams want to average in the 32-36 range(winning percentage is 66%). 24 yards and below and the teams winning percentage is 33%. It seemed time and time again we were starting inside our 20.

 

[bbwvfan]

Bill Stewart went 9-4 without depth.

 

[Slaton10]

I would answer the question in differently...it helps long term sustainability of the program...less JUCO's a solid Red Shirt Program, no need to reach on borderline recruits.. and hopefully leads to more consistency in winning seasons year over year...

 

[WVUDAD]

Needless to say if we return a ball 7 yards deep out of the end zone first kickoff I am going to have a aneurism. knee it take the 25 yards and start your day. Teams want to average in the 32-36 range(winning percentage is 66%). 24 yards and below and the teams winning percentage is 33%. It seemed time and time again we were starting inside our 20.

Needless to say, they are being coached to take the knee, but because Bill Stewart was once the coach........ When will you guys wake up about the quality of coaching our team is receiving NOW?

 

[bbwvfan]

Remember when Bill Stewart was the special teams coach? How many KO returns for TD's did we suffer through?

 

[WVUDAD]

Remember when Bill Stewart was the special teams coach? How many KO returns for TD's did we suffer through?

NOW: the present

 

[Slaton10]

Needless to say, they are being coached to take the knee, but because Bill Stewart was once the coach........ When will you guys wake up about the quality of coaching our team is receiving NOW?

Hmm..let me think...let me think....Holgorsen..or Jeff Mullen???...I say Holgorsen!...BTW wasn't Mullen a Bill Stewart guy?

 

[CoolBeans]

Easy, Depth shows up most in Conference play and on Special Teams.


Third String defenders, if better, usually equate to great Kick Coverage, Punt Coverage Teams. Great Third String Offensive players usually show up in Punt Return and Kick Return Situations.


Not having 2nd and 1st teamers in those situations usually results in fresher players in the fourth quarter all the way around.


I'm starting to warm up to the idea this team could be sneaky good... I never thought I'd say that.

 

[DCWV4life]

Tell me there is no difference from the last couple of years, depth has already helped us at key positions in big situations.

Isiah Bruce filling in for Wes Tonkery 2 games

Garrison and Buie stepping up late in the Maryland game for us.

Next test can Myers or Banks step up for Worley with no major drop off?

 

[DBAR4WVU]

Depth on the D line and secondary. Late in games, the teams that can rotate them in and out with little or no drop in talent/skill levels and keep them fresh late in the game have a clear advantage.
'Bama comes to mind. That's why Saban hates the hurry up O.

2nd - offensive line.

 

[bbwvfan]

DC,

Now you are simply looking like a Dana lover. You know Bill Stewart went 9-4 without depth.

 

[WVUDAD]

Remember when Bill Stewart was the special teams coach? How many KO returns for TD's did we suffer through?

2007- 0
2006- 0

 

[DCWV4life]

DC,

Now you are simply looking like a Dana lover. You know Bill Stewart went 9-4 without depth.

I guess...just stating what we are seeing, not going off emotion or personal vendettas.

 

[WVUDAD]

2005- 0
2004- 0
2003- 0

 

[WVUDAD]

I guess...just stating what we are seeing, not going off emotion or personal vendettas.

REALLY??????

2002- 0
2001- 0

 

[bbwvfan]

Does anyone remember this game?

NCAA College Football Recap - Boston College Eagles at West Virginia Mountaineers - Nov 13, 2004 - CBSSports.com

"Special teams were embarrassing," Rodriguez said. "Every time they started with the ball on offense, they had the ball past midfield. Every time we started the ball on offense, it seemed like we had to go 90 (yards)."

 

[DCWV4life]

Does anyone remember this game?

NCAA College Football Recap - Boston College Eagles at West Virginia Mountaineers - Nov 13, 2004 - CBSSports.com

"Special teams were embarrassing," Rodriguez said. "Every time they started with the ball on offense, they had the ball past midfield. Every time we started the ball on offense, it seemed like we had to go 90 (yards)."

Don't start using fact on here, just post with gut feelings and try to gauge emotions from your TV

 

[bbwvfan]

Don't start using fact on here, just post with gut feelings and try to gauge emotions from your TV

Some don't even watch the game on TV. Just post emotional crap from what they've read.

For example... anyone who argues with me about poor clock management on WVU's last possession leading to the winning FG... and states Dana was bailed out because Maryland called a TO with 4 sec's left.

What a joke...

 

[Anotherwvufan]

Back to the thread: WHERE WILL DEPTH HELP MORE

Depth is being able to have a backup come in and play as good as the starter at every position. Depth is really determined by who gets injured during a season. This week, with with Worley out, we will be testing our depth at CB, and also LB where Bruce has done well replacing Tonkery.

In general STs benefit with more depth as many backups play ST. So generally, that is my answer.

 

[bbwvfan]

One of the writers for BGN wrote an article about the affect 108 offensive plays may have had on the offensive linemen.

In the article Dawson was quoted as saying the offense was having more difficulty getting lined up and ready for the next play in the 4th qtr of the game. He and some other coaches challenged the players to fight through the fatigue.

WVU scored on their last possession.

But, the affect of stopping Maryland as much as they did... 13 out of 16 Maryland possessions netted only 37 plays... 13 possessions with 4 plays or fewer.

The article stressed that there was not much substitution along the offensive front. Maybe the gap in talent is too large to trust the back-up?