WVU defense prepares for different pace with Penguins
One thing that the West Virginia defense shouldn’t have to worry about against Youngstown State this weekend is being asked to defend 100-plays for the second consecutive week.
“If we do I don’t know what’s wrong,” defensive coordinator Tony Gibson said.
That’s because unlike the up-tempo spread offense used by the Tigers that churned out plays at a lighting fast pace, the Penguins will take a much more conventional approach to shorten the game. A night and day contrast but one that will test the discipline of the Mountaineers defense.
Youngstown State will rely on running the football, while going into tight end sets to keep the chains moving and limit the possessions coming back to the West Virginia offense. It’s a natural approach by FCS teams and one that West Virginia has seen in the past.
Aiding in the efforts is the fact that the Penguins have an offensive line that averages over 300-pounds.
“They’ll go three-yards, four-yards and bang us out a little bit and keep the chains moving,” Gibson said. “They’re going to try to get us to bite up and throw over us.”
But that’s not to say that the Penguins don’t feature some weapons as well. Senior running back Jody Webb is coming off a 96-yard performance before being injured, while sophomore Tevin McCaster rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown and senior Martin Ruiz piled up 89 yards and a score.
While Webb did leave the game, it’s reported that he should play against the Mountaineers and represents one of the fastest backs that West Virginia will encounter all-season according to Gibson.
“Their best players, I feel, are on offense are their running backs,” Gibson said.
Junior quarterback Ricky Davis is the trigger man for the Penguins offense and completed 12-16 passes for 187 yards with three touchdowns, while rushing for 74 more in the season opener.
“No. 12 is a really good player. He’s been in the program a couple years now and is a big kid that does a lot of good things,” head coach Dana Holgorsen said.
The key for the West Virginia defense will be to remain disciplined at all levels which will be key with film work throughout the course of the week. Redshirt senior linebacker Justin Arndt likens the offensive attack to what the Mountaineers saw in the opener against Georgia Southern last year.
“They do a lot of read option and that’s all about assignment football. Just knowing your assignment, who you have on that play and getting to your guy,” he said.
The Mountaineers also will have to battle the perceived let down that comes with playing an SEC opponent in the opener and then following it up with a matchup with an FCS team.
However, that shouldn’t be an issue for the unit as Gibson has made it clear that the Penguins will present a number of challenges for the Mountaineers after preparing for an up-tempo attack for several weeks.
“There shouldn’t be a letdown. We still have guys competing for jobs and a lot of new guys that need a lot of reps. We’re going to coach them hard and if they don’t play hard they’re not going to play,” he said.