Yes folks it is that time of the year again. The time of the year that we must do battle with that team down in Huntington. ESPN is going to be in town for a nationally televised game. Marshall looks to showcase its program. Quoting coach Holiday, "This is great exposure, no question. It is going to sell our program. It will show the nation the passion of our fans and how important football is to Huntington and Marshall University." WVU is its instate nemesis and thus the table is set for an upset? This game has developed into one with more rhetoric than on the field flash.
Truth be told the outcome of this game has been the same each time it is played. Why then is this year different? Doc Holiday has come to Huntington with an agenda to turn this team into a winner. He as a former Mountaineer and Mountaineer coach has some understanding of what it is that WVU is trying to do. Is this "advantage" insurmountable? Maybe it would be if all things were equal going into the game. In this author's opinion all things aren't equal.
Doc has decided to change the offensive philosophy to that of the spread. Marshall opened up with Ohio State and received a pounding at the hands of the Buckeyes 45-7. The only score came as a result of special teams play. Not only is that game the measure of the Marshall team for the season, it doesn't serve as a very good scout of the team for West Virginia either. We really don't know what their offensive identity is. We know that Eddie Sullivan will start at QB and that Doc is high on him, “He should have been seven-for-seven. He had some drops and some guys run the wrong route. You know what? I don’t think that bothers Eddie. I think he cares if its out here or there, he just likes to play. He is ok and he will be alright." We don't know who the "go to" players are beyond Lee Smith, the tight end. He is NFL good, but should be keyed on by the defense. Defensively, this Marshall squad is not that good. Tough kids yes, but frankly they had more holes than Swiss-cheese last week. I don't think it was just that OSU was talented I think that there are some real problems with the Herd on that side of the ball.
The truth is, with new coaching, new scheme, and talent that was recruited by the other guy, we don't know a whole lot about this opponent. Last years team is not this years team. So with a real lack of knowledge as to what Marshall is all about this year, it is more about WVU being WVU and talent for talent the Eers have a lead on Herd. Noel Devine, Jock Sanders, and Tavon Auston are as fast as anybody they faced last week. If the ball is distributed to them, and turnovers are not a problem then I would guess that this game will be as it has been the last few times we played. The outcome shall be a WVU win. The 3 3 5 stack and the new 40 look on third down will be hard for any team to prepare for especially on a short week. While I think Ohio State's defense is really talented, I believe our defense and our scheme will also provide many problems for the new Herd offense to contend with on Friday night. Should this series continue and what is its value to both schools? "This is an important game for both of us. I have great respect for West Virginia. We come from playing the best team in the Big Ten Conference to now playing the best team in the Big East Conference. They are the most talented Big East team out there. Noel Devine, Jock Sanders and Tavon Austin are probably the most exciting players in the Big East. Defensively, (Chris) Neild, (Robert) Sands, and J.T. Thomas are the best three defensive players in that league. They (WVU) have the best talent in that league and they will be a good football team."-Doc Holiday. Coach Stews remarks on the topic have been closer to the vest. He has dodged questions about the series. He has been decidedly mum when it comes to his relationship with Doc. He did say that he hired him and that he was a trusted confidant. I am not sure that he wished to say much else on the matter.
Whether the series ends or not, Friday is about Friday. The Eers need to come to play Mountaineer football. The o-line needs to learn from last week and come prepared to play much better this week. Geno Smith needs to lead the team in much the same way he did in the second half of last years contest. The superstars Noel, Jock and Tavon need to get the lions-share of the touches and this game needs to be placed into doubt early. Start to finish the Eers need to play this game like it matters. In the end it does matter.
Go Eers!!!
Da Geek
Truth be told the outcome of this game has been the same each time it is played. Why then is this year different? Doc Holiday has come to Huntington with an agenda to turn this team into a winner. He as a former Mountaineer and Mountaineer coach has some understanding of what it is that WVU is trying to do. Is this "advantage" insurmountable? Maybe it would be if all things were equal going into the game. In this author's opinion all things aren't equal.
Doc has decided to change the offensive philosophy to that of the spread. Marshall opened up with Ohio State and received a pounding at the hands of the Buckeyes 45-7. The only score came as a result of special teams play. Not only is that game the measure of the Marshall team for the season, it doesn't serve as a very good scout of the team for West Virginia either. We really don't know what their offensive identity is. We know that Eddie Sullivan will start at QB and that Doc is high on him, “He should have been seven-for-seven. He had some drops and some guys run the wrong route. You know what? I don’t think that bothers Eddie. I think he cares if its out here or there, he just likes to play. He is ok and he will be alright." We don't know who the "go to" players are beyond Lee Smith, the tight end. He is NFL good, but should be keyed on by the defense. Defensively, this Marshall squad is not that good. Tough kids yes, but frankly they had more holes than Swiss-cheese last week. I don't think it was just that OSU was talented I think that there are some real problems with the Herd on that side of the ball.
The truth is, with new coaching, new scheme, and talent that was recruited by the other guy, we don't know a whole lot about this opponent. Last years team is not this years team. So with a real lack of knowledge as to what Marshall is all about this year, it is more about WVU being WVU and talent for talent the Eers have a lead on Herd. Noel Devine, Jock Sanders, and Tavon Auston are as fast as anybody they faced last week. If the ball is distributed to them, and turnovers are not a problem then I would guess that this game will be as it has been the last few times we played. The outcome shall be a WVU win. The 3 3 5 stack and the new 40 look on third down will be hard for any team to prepare for especially on a short week. While I think Ohio State's defense is really talented, I believe our defense and our scheme will also provide many problems for the new Herd offense to contend with on Friday night. Should this series continue and what is its value to both schools? "This is an important game for both of us. I have great respect for West Virginia. We come from playing the best team in the Big Ten Conference to now playing the best team in the Big East Conference. They are the most talented Big East team out there. Noel Devine, Jock Sanders and Tavon Austin are probably the most exciting players in the Big East. Defensively, (Chris) Neild, (Robert) Sands, and J.T. Thomas are the best three defensive players in that league. They (WVU) have the best talent in that league and they will be a good football team."-Doc Holiday. Coach Stews remarks on the topic have been closer to the vest. He has dodged questions about the series. He has been decidedly mum when it comes to his relationship with Doc. He did say that he hired him and that he was a trusted confidant. I am not sure that he wished to say much else on the matter.
Whether the series ends or not, Friday is about Friday. The Eers need to come to play Mountaineer football. The o-line needs to learn from last week and come prepared to play much better this week. Geno Smith needs to lead the team in much the same way he did in the second half of last years contest. The superstars Noel, Jock and Tavon need to get the lions-share of the touches and this game needs to be placed into doubt early. Start to finish the Eers need to play this game like it matters. In the end it does matter.
Go Eers!!!
Da Geek
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