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KLMNO COLLEGE FOOTBALL Mountaineers uncover a leader in Smith Confident first-year starter settles in at quarterback for West Virginia after comeback victory at Marshall BY TARIK EL-BASHIR
morgantown,
w.va. — Geno Smith slammed down his blue and gold helmet late in the fourth quarter Friday night, then delivered a fiery pep talk to his teammates. “He said, ‘We are going to do
this,’ ” West Virginia Coach Bill Stewart recalled of the moment when the soft-spoken sopho- more quarterback became the unquestioned leader of the Mountaineers’ offense. “Geno looked at everybody, and looked dead at me and he said, ‘We are going to do this.’ I looked at the linemen, I looked at the backs and said, ‘Let’s follow him.’ ” Follow they did as Smith, in
his first career start on the road, coolly directed fourth-quarter touchdown drives of 96 and 98 yards, and completed a two- point conversion pass, to rally West Virginia from a 21-6 deficit against Marshall, an opponent theMountaineers were expected to thump but only squeaked past in overtime, 24-21. “It humbled us, but at the
same time it gave us a bit of extra confidence because of the cir- cumstances we were in, how we’re down and had to go 98 yards,” Smith said this week. “We came together as a team.” And Smith, a precise pocket
passer with a powerful arm, be- came the latest Mountaineers player to arrive on the national stage. The Miramar, Fla., native completed 14 of 17 pass attempts for 151 yards and a touchdown in the final 8 minutes 28 seconds to stun the Thundering Herd and its fans. “Actually,” Smith added, “I don’t seewhat the big deal is.Not
HOKIESNOTEBOOK
Will being ‘nasty’ solve offensive shortcomings?
Virginia Tech unsure why trips inside 20 aren’t producing TDs
BY MARK GIANNOTTO
blacksburg, va. — When he met with reporters this week, senior tight end Andre Smith had no doubt that the solutions to Virginia Tech’s offensive struggles are simple; theHokies just need to develop a “nasty attitude” and communicate bet- ter in the red zone. But 20 minutes after Smith
left the news conference, senior center Beau Warren was curi- ous what the word “nasty” even means when he was asked about the red zone. “If by nasty, you mean throw-
ing punches after the play?” Warren wondered. “Maybe we need to be a little more aggres- sive, but nasty, I don’t know if that’s the right word.” Regardless, perhaps the only
thing more surprising than Vir- ginia Tech’s 0-2 start to the season has been the Hokies’ struggles close to the goal line. With a veteran offense that brought back all of its playmak- ers at the skill positions and an offensive line featuring three veteran starters, the problems in the red zone are perplexing. In their upset loss to James
Madison on Saturday, the Hok- ies had the ball inside the 25- yard line six times but only cameaway with onetouchdown and three field goals. In the fourth quarter, quarterback Ty- rod Taylor drove Virginia Tech inside the 20-yard line twice with a chance to retake the lead, but the Hokies ended up with a turnover on downs and a fum- ble by running back Darren Evans. “The bottom line is we left 22
points on the field in the red zone,” offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring said. Added offensive line coach
CurtNewsome, “I’ve never been involved in a football game where you didn’t punt and you scored 16 points.” Through two losses, Virginia
Tech has been inside the red zone 10 times, but only has four touchdowns to show for it. Three times the Hokies have ended up without even a field goal.They did that just six times during the entire 2009 season, and scored touchdowns at a 60 percent clip. What’s worse is that theHok-
ies’ trademark on offense, a punishing running game, has been rendered toothless in the red zone. So far, Virginia Tech is averaging just 0.79 of a yard per
carry inside the 20-yard line, according
CFBStats.com. “We were moving the ball
fairly well, but when it came downto those last fewyards,we were struggling,” Smith said. “I feel like to just go and punch them in the mouth [with the running game] has always been our way. We definitely need to start off with that.”
Future schedules in flux Virginia Tech may not have
been involved in any of this summer’s conference expan- sion talks, but late last week the Hokies football programfelt the first effects of other schools’ decisions. In a blog post to alumni,
Kansas State Athletic Director John Currie announced the school had come to a mutual agreement with Virginia Tech to cancel a home-and-home se- ries scheduled for 2014 and 2016. The decision was a result of
the nine-game conference schedule that the Big 12 will institute beginning in 2011, when Nebraska and Colorado leave for the BigTenandPacific- 10, respectively. John Ballein, the associate
athletics director for football operations, said Virginia Tech has already begun contacting several schools about filling those twoopendates, butwould not comment specifically on what teams the Hokies may play.
Virginia Tech also has future
home-and-home series with Ohio State and Wisconsin, but those should not be affected as the BigTen will continue to play eight conference games even after the addition ofNebraska.
Linemen to get relief After not playing in Virginia
Tech’s first two games because of a turf toe injury he suffered during preseason practices, sophomore left tackle Nick Bec- ton will see his first action of the year when theHokies host East Carolina on Saturday. In Saturday’s loss to James
Madison, theHokies’ five offen- sive linemen played the entire game, and this week Coach Frank Beamer said they looked “gassed” on film as a result. Newsome said Becton, who was slated to be the starter before his injury, would see action within the first “two or three series” in relief of junior An- drewLanier. Tackle Michael Via, guard
Andrew Miller and guard Vin- ston Painter could also see ac- tion in reserve roles against the Pirates. “We’ve got to getsomepeople
out of the game and get ’em some rest,”Newsome said.
giannottom@washpost.com
never know what they are going to get. They may get a run, they may get a draw, may get a screen or they may get a deep pass to Jock.” OffensivelinemanJoeMadsen
said of Smith’s impassioned pep talk: “It was awesome. It shows a lot of leadership on his part. I liked to see it. He needed to step in and get us in line.” Smith completed 32 of 45
passes for 316 yards againstMar- shall, one week after ripping overmatched Coastal Carolina for 216 yards on 20-of-27 passing in a 31-0season-opening rout.He leads the Big East in passing efficiency (145.2), total passing yards (532), completions per game (26) and total offense per game (275.5). The impressive stats, Smith
JEFF GENTNER/ASSOCIATED PRESS QuarterbackGeno Smith threwfor two late touchdowns to rallyWest Virginia pastMarshall last week.
to be cocky or anything, but I have extreme faith inmyself and confidence.” Smith’s emergence could
prove to be key Saturday for the No. 21 Mountaineers, who will make a significant step up in competition when they host Maryland in a game Stewart re- gards as an important early-sea- sonbarometer of histeam’s prog- ress. The rivals did not face each other the past two seasons, end- ing a stretch in which they played each fall from 1980 to 2007. West Virginia leads the all-time series 23-21-2 and has won each of the past four meet- ings, includinga31-14triumphin College Park in 2007. “This is a great border rivalry,”
said Stewart, who has 10 Mary- land natives on his roster. Asked about the advantage the Moun- taineers will possess at notori- ously raucousMilan Puskar Sta- dium,Stewart joked: “We’ve real- ly cleaned up.We’re the neatest, tidiest, most courteous fans out there. Our fans will not get ram- bunctious, will not rock [Mary- land’s] bus like the old days. . . . It’s a great place to play when you’re from here and a tough place to play when you’re not.” And now they’ve got another
edge Maryland won’t have: a game-breaker at quarterback to complement standout running back Noel Devine and pass- catching threats Jock Sanders and Tavon Austin on the Big
East’s second-ranked offense (434.5 yards per game). Devine was named the confer-
ence’s offensive player of the weekafter rackingup174all-pur- pose yards against Marshall — his 17th game with at least 100 rushing yards—and scoring one of the two fourth-quarter touch- downs. But what Devine enjoyed just as much, he said, was watch- ing Smith take control on the sideline against Marshall and then author a breakthrough per- formance. “I always knew Geno was
something special, but for him to put it together like that shows he’s growing and maturing,” Devine said. “He’s getting better week by week. Now [opponents]
said, are mostly the result of adding about 20 pounds to his 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame and the experience from a second offseason of preparation. As a result, he’s more sturdy on his feet.Panicnolonger sets in at the first sign of pressure. And when his first option is covered, he calmly scans his second and third reads before making a deci- sion. In short, Smith said, the game
is slowing down. “Sometime over the summer, I
started to see things in a better light,” he said. “Iworkhard in the film room, and that hard work is showing itself out there on the field.” But what makes Smith a po-
tential star, Stewart said, is that he also possesses something hours of film study can’t teach. “The kid’s got a lot of ‘it,’ ” the
coach said. “That ‘it’ factor.”
elbashirt@washpost.com
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010 PRO FOOTBALL
NFLNOTEBOOK
Williams: Lockout
unlikely Dolphins’ player representative is optimistic about 2011
ASSOCIATED PRESS The running back who once
staged a walkout predicts there will be no lockout. Ricky Williams has been
known to miss a season, but he expects to be playing in 2011. The Dolphins’ running back is also their new player representative, and he’s optimistic the NFL Play- ers Association and the league will reach a collective bargaining agreement without a labor stop- page. “Personally, I have a positive
outlook,” Williams said Wednes- day. “I think that we’re going to come to an agreement. At least I hope that there’s not going to be a lockout. I believe that we’re being reasonable, and there are certain things that are important to us and we’re going to fight for. But I think when it comes down to it, there’s going to be an agreement reached.” l COWBOYS: Offensive coor-
dinator Jason Garrett is taking the blame for trying an ill-fated play at the end of the first half against Washington instead of having Tony Romo take a knee. “I called the play,” Garrett said.
“It’smy fault.” Garrett called for a Hail Mary
when Dallas was at its own 46- yard line with four seconds left and trailing, 3-0. Before the snap, a penalty pushed the Cowboys back 10 yards. Romo ended up shoveling the ball torunningback Tashard Choice. He fumbled and the Redskins returned it for their only touchdown in a 13-7 victory. l JETS-PATRIOTS: Darrelle
Revis is ready for RandyMoss. The New York Jets cornerback
andtheNewEnglandwidereceiv- er will be able to take their trash talking to the field when their teams meet Sunday. Revis called Moss a “slouch”
while playing a word-association gameon theNFLNetwork during the offseason.Moss playfully fired back during an interview with ESPN, saying, “We’re coming to the Meadowlands on Sunday, man,so you got60minutes of this ‘slouch.’ ” Revis says he still has lots of
respect forMoss and can’t wait to face him. l GIANTS: Tight end Kevin
JONATHAN NEWTON/THE WASHINGTON POST Ricky Dobbs andNavy have just three touchdowns and a field goal in 10 red zone trips this season.
Fruitless trips into the red zone have Midshipmen singing the blues
BY GENEWANG When Navy’s triple option
was operating at its peak last season, scoring touchdowns from close range became so rou- tine that the coaching staff called the same play over and again, indifferent as to whether the defense was aligned to stop it. Ricky Dobbs would take the snap, tuck the ball away and burrow into the end zone, com- pletely disregarding size mis- matches ordogged pursuit in his direction. The results were record-set-
ting. Dobbs ran for 27 touch- downs, the most in a single season by a quarterback in NCAA history, and theMidship- men amassed double-figure wins for the third time in pro- gram history largely because of their brute efficiency at the goal line. So with Dobbs and both starting tackles back for their senior seasons, Navy had every reason to assume red zone scor- ing would be all but automatic again. That’s hardly been the case
over the first two games this season. The Midshipmen in- stead have regressed consider- ably in their production from near the goal line, and with injuries on offense starting to mount, there’s no telling how soon Navy will be able to extri- cate itself from this predica- ment. What coaches and players can confirm is that they’ve been devoting a good deal of practice time to goal-line packages as they prepare to play Louisiana Tech on Saturday in the first of three consecutive road games. “We’ve got to get it done,” offensive coordinator Ivin Jas-
per said ofNavy’s recent scoring slump. “Don’t getmewrong. I’m not saying it’s not an issue. It’s a big issue, our red zone.We’ve got to get it done. That’s the bottom line.We’ve got to getdownthere, and we’ve got to score.” Ithasn’tbeenhappeningat all
like Navy envisioned. The Mid- shipmen have made 10 trips inside the20this season, scoring just three touchdowns and a field goal. Their other six at- tempts yielded two lost fumbles, a missed field goal, surrendering the ball on downs and twice having the first-half clock ex- pire, although one of those was a kneel-down. Navy’s aversion to the end
zone began early in the second quarter of a 17-14 loss to Mary- land in the season opener. The Midshipmen had reached the 1-yard line, but Dobbs fumbled, and the Terrapins recovered. That type of miscue then started becoming contagious, when Dobbs fumbled at the 2 on Navy’s next possession. Dobbs recovered, but the halftime clock expired before the Mid- shipmen could attempt a field goal. In all, Navy failed on 5 of 7 red zone attempts againstMary- land after converting 46 of 56 from that distance last season. The following week against
Georgia Southern, Navy scored one touchdown in three at- tempts inside the 20 in a 13-7 victory that was far from a thing of beauty. Now theMidshipmen must try to correct those flawsin a game that has the makings of a high-scoring affair. That’s be- cause Louisiana Tech (1-1) uses a spread offense under first-year Coach SonnyDykes, a disciple of former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, and has averaged 36
passes per game this season. “I’ve got to try to stay posi-
tive,” said Dobbs, who after sev- en 100-yard rushing games last year, including the final five in a row, has none this season. “If anything, just look at it like where is there room to improve and what I have to do and just encourage all the guys around me because a lot of people may say I had a nose for the end zone, but it was the guys around that kind of made that happen. They were blocking the right guys and executing.” Despite compiling 412 rush-
ing yards against Maryland, Navy blocked poorly on several occasions near the goal line. The one time the Midshipmen did block a goal-line play correctly, they scored. Injuries also are partly to
blame for Navy’s red zone woes. Dobbs hurt his ankle in the opener, and his burst wasn’t the same against Georgia Southern. He is practicing this week but not at full speed while wearing a brace around his right ankle. Also ailing is starting senior
right tackle Matt Molloy, a fix- ture at the position since mid- way though his sophomore sea- son. Molloy, according to Coach Ken Niumatalolo, probably will not play for a second straight game after he left the opener with a concussion. “When you’re in the red zone,
it’s all about pride,” said starting left tackle Jeff Battipaglia, a se- nior. “Pride and attitude and getting the ball in there, so that’s where we’ve really got to dig deep as an offensive line and as a unit offensively and just pound the ball in there and move peo- ple so we can get the ball in.”
wangg@washpost.com
Boss is going to miss Sunday night’s game against the India- napolis Colts with a concussion. While he would not comment
on the severity of the concussion, Coach Tom Coughlin ruled Boss out. “I think they are just trying to
be conservative about it,” said Boss, who has had three concus- sions since December 2008. “They don’t want to have one of those things where I get con- cussed in back to back weeks and then I am stuck missing a big chunk of time.” l EAGLES: Coach Andy Reid
says quarterback Kevin Kolb and linebacker Stewart Bradley are making progress, though neither has passed the next phase of his concussion testing. Reid wouldn’t rule either play-
er out for the game in Detroit on Sunday, but it seems unlikely they could play. The NFL has strict return-to-play guidelines for players who show concussion symptoms. Neither player prac- ticed Wednesday and they won’t be allowed to attend meetings until they pass the next test. l LIONS: Quarterback Shaun
Hill (Maryland) will start the home opener against Philadel- phia as Matthew Stafford recov- ers from a shoulder injury. Coach Jim Schwartz said “we’ll
see what happens,” in regards to when Stafford might play again. l BROWNS:Wearing a protec-
tive boot on his injured right ankle as his teammates dressed for practice, Jake Delhomme felt out of place. “It’s embarrassing,” the quar-
terback said. Injured during the first half of
his debut with the Browns, Del- homme did not practice and his playing status for Sunday’s home opener against Kansas City will depend on how quickly he recov- ers from the first ankle injury of his 12-year NFL career. l COLTS:Lastweek,safetyBob
Sanders said he was as healthy as he’s ever been. Now, he’s going to be out of action indefinitely. The 2007 NFL defensive player
of the year had surgery to repair a torn biceps muscle in his right arm.
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