Young QBs have picked apart WVU’s defense
Coach Bill Stewart and West Virginia face Big East Conference foe Louisville this week.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Young quarterbacks have thrived lately against West Virginia and the Mountaineers need some fast fixes if they hope to stay in contention in the Big East.
West Virginia (6-2, 2-1 Big East) will face another first-year starter Saturday against Louisville (3-5, 0-3).
Due to injuries, Cardinals coach Steve Kragthorpe plans to make a game-time decision on one of three quarterbacks. But it may not matter, the way West Virginia’s defense has made youngsters look like veterans lately.
“We’re not as good as we need to be,” said West Virginia coach Bill Stewart.
Two weeks ago, Connecticut sophomore Cody Endres threw for a career-high 378 yards and two scores in a 28-24 loss at West Virginia.
And a week after Pitt limited South Florida’s B.J. Daniels to 54 yards passing and forced two interceptions, the redshirt freshman threw for 232 yards and three scores in a 30-19 win over West Virginia. Daniels’ 104 yards on the ground marked only the second time this season that the WVU defense had allowed a 100-yard rusher.
“He will probably be a thorn in our side for the next three years,” Stewart said.
Daniels outgained West Virginia’s entire offense, and Endres nearly did, too.
Their play highlights the need for improvements on West Virginia’s pass defense, although Stewart has steadfastly defended his philosophy of stopping the run first. The run defense is allowing just 99 yards per game while the pass defense ranks next-to-last in the Big East at 236 yards.
Stewart also found himself this week coming to the aid of much-criticized Keith Tandy, who was burned for two long receptions by South Florida’s Carlton Mitchell, including a 49-yard scoring pass in the first quarter.
“No. 8 is still my cornerback,” Stewart said. “I’m not finger pointing at anybody.”
Criticism also is growing about the Mountaineers’ offense, particularly when Stewart chose to punt from the South Florida 33 trailing by a touchdown late in the third quarter.
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