Loss at USF: The complete rehash

By Colin Dunlap | 11:20 a.m. Sunday

TAMPA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, GATE C34 --  Just finally had a chance to go back through the play-by-play from last night's 30-19 loss.

This punt from the 33 yard line is something that jumps out at me as something curious, very curious. At the time, West Virginia was within a score -- down just 8 points -- and, I don't know, it is something that I might have to ask about this week.

There were, though, bigger issues.

The most glaring: Keith Tandy. The guy had a rough night. There are a lot of people screaming for Pat Miller or maybe even Kent Richardson. I guess the way the coaches are looking at it is this: If they bench Tandy, and Miller and/or Richardson come in and does poorly, they might have lost Tandy forever, and might not be able to go back to him. In benching him, they might demoralize him so much, he could be useless.

Who knows. All I know is the kid had a rough night and at some level -- whether it is with the player, head coach or assistant -- there needs to be accountability.

   Overall grade I give WVU against South Florida --- D

   >  BOX SCORE

Some audio:

Robert Sands speaks about USF QB BJ Daniels:

Jim Leavitt and BJ Daniels press conferences here: USF PRESS CONFERENCES

Some quick facts about the USF loss:

  • WVU's safety on the last play of the first quarter marked the first time WVU recorded a safety since Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike took a knee in the end zone last season on Nov. 8 in Morgantown.

  • Tyler Bitancurt's 33-yard field goal in the second quarter was his seventh of the season.

  • Julian Miller's sack of B.J. Daniels in the fourth quarter was his team leading fifth-and-a-half sack this season.

  • Jarrett Brown's 244 yards of total offense against the Bulls marked his seventh career game of 200 yards of total offense and fifth this season. It was his fifth-best career output.

 

Posted Oct 31 2009, 11:20 AM by Colin Dunlap
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Comments

southernBURGH wrote re: Loss at USF: The complete rehash
on Sat, Oct 31 2009 1:46 PM

one of the things that as a fan, scares me the most, is this: 8th game of the season, & Stu, Mullen, Casteel, show no ability to adjust there game plans thru out a game. especially mullen, you have 2 game breakers in Devine & Jock, and you can't get them enough touches, bubble screens, plays with them in space, you have to put your players in the best opportunities to succeed, and THEY aren't doing that...& Brown continues to make freshman mistakes, yet he's a 5 yr SR.

WVU1984 wrote re: Loss at USF: The complete rehash
on Sat, Oct 31 2009 3:30 PM

I agree that Brown is making first time starter mistakes, not surprising probably.  I actually think the offensive coaching staff has proven (Marshall and UConn games) that they're able to adjust on the fly during the game.  The defense however, is a concern.  One of the principles of the 3-3-5 stack is that you don't give up big plays, and we've been giving up plenty of them.  Is it personnel or coaching?

And, Colin, PLEASE ask about punting from the USF 33. That was horrible.  Although I can predict the answer you'll get:  "Out of our field goal kickers range, our punter downed one inside the 5 earlier, pin them back, confidence in our defense, blah, blah, blah."  I firmly hold that when you get that deep in their territory at that stage of the game, you have to go for it.  As it was, USF moved the ball beyond the 33 in what, 2 plays?

Keyser Couchburner wrote re: Loss at USF: The complete rehash
on Sat, Oct 31 2009 4:24 PM

That punt was weak, although it was 4th and 8, we should have at least tried for a field goal.  We punted from Liberty territory in the first game on 4th and short, so this wasn't the first time we have done this.