Here's today's WVU football fix for y'all...

The Charleston Gazette Wrote:Williams responds to contact, likely to start
By Dave Hickman
Staff writer
August 26, 2008

MORGANTOWN - A week ago it seemed unlikely he would play at all. Now it seems that Reed Williams will not only play, but perhaps start West Virginia's season opener against Villanova Saturday.

West Virginia's senior middle linebacker and leading returning tackler went through three hard days of contact last week - his first since undergoing surgery on both shoulders during the offseason - and seems to have been pronounced fit to play.

And on Monday coach Bill Stewart said he would.

"Last Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday he hit, we hit, we hit hard. Reed Williams has done everything,'' Stewart said. "He's laughing, he's the Reed of old. The doctors feel good, Reed feels good and he seems to be very strong."

"He's come a long, long way in a fast period of time this last month. It's been good for him mentally. He's ready to go. He's very much ready to go.''

So the plan is to start Williams against the Wildcats?

"Yes, unless something would happen between now and Saturday, if he got dinged up or nicked up,'' Stewart said.

The defensive player of the game in January's Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior from Moorefield missed all of spring practice after having one shoulder surgically repaired in January and the other in March. The doctors' timetable for his full recovery was six months after the second surgery, which would take Williams right to Saturday's opener.

He spent the 21/2 weeks of fall practice in a non-contact jersey, which allowed him to do most drills with the exception of live contact. That was added for the first time last week, but it was his first contact since that Fiesta Bowl win.

In the team's pre-opener depth chart, Williams and sophomore Pat Lazear are listed as co-starters at the position, a nod toward Williams' uncertain health. He had even mulled taking a redshirt this season if his recovery lasted much beyond the opening weeks of the season.

Now, though, if Stewart wants to use Williams in the opener, apparently he has been given the green light.

"He's very much able,'' Stewart said. "The way I saw him hitting last week in practice I think he's wanting to play real, real bad. The trainers, the doctors, everyone is very impressed with how rapidly he's come back. He's right on schedule.''

Reach Dave Hickman at (304) 348-1734 or dphickman1@aol.com.

No rest for the weary. WVU's defensive anchor is going to weigh heavy on Mountaineer opposition...

I'm looking forward to seeing how the rebuilt defense plays this season. It's going to be an interesting year. So many questions are about to be answered...

The Charleston Gazette Wrote:At corner, Stew sees big plays
By Dave Hickman
Staff writer
August 26, 2008



MORGANTOWN - It is perhaps the most pressing concern for West Virginia's football team heading into Saturday's season opener, but Bill Stewart on Monday sounded like a coach who was pretty much satisfied with what he has seen.

West Virginia's secondary - at least the cornerbacks - will be just fine. The safeties? Now that's another matter.

"Our talent there is equally as good or maybe even better than we've had in the past at the corners,'' Stewart said. "We're really pleased about how our corners have come on. But our safeties are going to be a big question mark, a big concern.''

As Saturday's 3:30 p.m. opener against Villanova approaches, however, having confidence in the corners is significant. With the exception of some spot duty by Ellis Lankster, none of the corners who will be counted on this season have ever played significant downs.

In fact, two of them - Brandon Hogan and Eddie Davis - were moved from offense and have never even lined up at the position.

But between Lankster, Kent Richardson, Hogan and Davis, Stewart has seen enough to have some degree of confidence, or as much as any coach has in his corners, who live one misstep away from surrendering a touchdown on any play.

Three cornerbacks got virtually all of the relevant action last season and all are gone now - Larry Williams, Antonio Lewis and Vaughn Rivers.

"This is not a slam on them, but Ellis Lankster and Brandon Hogan are probably better athletes,'' Stewart said. "But they're not gamers, so to speak, and don't have it under their belts like those guys did. We're replacing three guys that played a lot of football. But the four guys we have replacing them are as good or better than the guys we played with. They just haven't been in the arena yet. I hope when the lights come on, they don't circuit out, but on athleticism I feel very, very good.''

Hogan is the wild card. He is listed as a backup to Richardson, but could easily win the starting job this week or prove that he deserves equal playing time. If Hogan doesn't start he'll be the nickel back and play a lot, Stewart said.

"I'm excited to see what he can do,'' Stewart said of the sophomore, who was moved from slot receiver just as camp began this month. "He doesn't care who it is, whether it's Wes Lyons at 6-foot-8 or if it's Jock Sanders or whomever we put against him. He's feisty and he just has that tenacity about him that he jumps right in there and he makes good open-field tackles. He's probably the best open-field tackler we have in the secondary.''

The biggest question mark is experience and whether the new corners have the forget-about-it mentality to shake off the inevitable receptions they will surrender and get on with the next play.

"It's big,'' Stewart said. "When you get burned on a pass or you bite on an out-and-up, it just kills you. But like every coach I've ever been around says, they must have short memories. You just can't play on pins and needles back there.''

And count on a few of those misses this season, simply because of a change in philosophy. In the past, West Virginia's corners were expected not so much to make plays as to not give up plays. That's changing a bit.

"David Lockwood is a tremendous, tenacious football teacher and we are going after balls,'' Stewart said. "We're not going to let guys catch the ball and tackle them. I can't stand that. If it's in the air, go get the ball. The ball's every bit as much ours as it is theirs. That's how we feel and that's how we're coaching them."

"We're probably going to miss some and we're probably going to get burned for some. But you know what? Don't play crazy. Don't just shoot from the hip. But if you play aggressive and break on the ball, hey, go get it. And if you get beat you get beat. You can't get beat a lot, but we just have to let them get the game experience under their belt.''

As for the safeties, well, that's a work in progress, too. Eain Smith, Boogie Allen, Quinton Andrews, Sidney Glover and true freshman Robert Sands all are expected to play the three safety positions and it could be almost any of the three at once. That's because all are learning each of the spots and the ones who play best will play.

"We just felt like, just learn the whole defense,'' Stewart said. "Learn the defense, learn the coverages and become a better, more complete football player. We just felt he spur, the bandit and the free safety should all be interchangeable and should all know what each other is doing. That way, when you pull the rope you know what's going on at both ends, if that makes sense."

"They don't seem to be confused. They seem to be playing well. And it also helps in our nickel and dime packages, as well, when one of those safeties has to drop down and play linebacker.''

Reach Dave Hickman at (304) 348-1734 or dphickman1@aol.com.

The Charleston Daily Mail Wrote:There's no escaping Hogan's switch to WVU defense
By Jack Bogaczyk
Daily Mail Sports Editor
August 26, 2008

MORGANTOWN -- One day in the not-too-distant future, if the West Virginia secondary develops as expected, the quintet at the back of the 3-3-5 could be labeled "Hogan's Heroes."

There won't be a LeBeau, Kinchloe, Newkirk or Carter in the unit, but as opposing offenses likely will discover sooner than later, there may be no escaping the talents of Brandon Hogan.

Right now, however, the Mountaineer sophomore is only about three weeks removed from living Sgt. Schultz's familiar refrain -- "I know nothing" -- about playing in the odd stack scheme.

You can call him a somewhat reluctant cornerback, but you can't call him "starter" -- quite yet. Just give Hogan time. He expected to be a slot receiver for the Mountaineers this season, but the secondary needed help, so ...

"When Brandon really didn't want to move, I told him he could be an NFL player at cornerback," WVU Coach Bill Stewart said. "You have to find ways to get guys like him on the field. If he works at it, he can be a big star over there (defense). On offense, I told him he's among a cast of many."

Sounds like the attitude didn't need a complete adjustment.

"He may not be comfortable yet, but everybody on defense loves Hogan at corner," weakside linebacker J.T. Thomas said. "He's a big hitter for a little guy. He loves to throw that little body in there."

The 6-foot, 170-pound sophomore figures to open the season Saturday against Villanova as a backup to starters Ellis Lankster and Kent Richardson. If Hogan's athleticism takes over, he'll overtake one of those starters before long, too.

"I don't know if (Hogan) will start on Saturday," Stewart said Monday on the Big East teleconference. "If he doesn't, he'll be our nickel guy and he will play a whole bunch ... We hate to move him from offense because he's such a playmaker and such a skilled athlete."

"He's feisty and he has that tenacity about him. He jumps right up in there and he's probably the best open field tackler we have in our secondary. The players have rallied around him and they have liked him. He has just made play after play and we're excited about him."

Stewart pointed to the loss of 2007 senior corners Larry Williams, Antonio Lewis and Vaughn Rivers, but said Hogan and Co. "are as good as or better than the previous guys, but they just haven't done it in a game setting yet. I hope when the lights go on they don't circuit-out, but with their athleticism, I feel very good."

Hogan was a star quarterback for Virginia Division 6 (largest classification) state champion Osbourn High in Manassas, compiling almost 4,300 yards total offense as a 2006 senior.

He figured (with Bradley Starks) to be an heir apparent at the position behind Pat White and Jarrett Brown, then was one of only three WVU true freshmen (with Noel Devine and Jock Sanders) to see extensive playing time last season, at receiver.

"If they think I'm capable of doing it, then I'll try it," Hogan said of his position switch after a recent practice. "I always try to listen to people who have been around longer than me. I've watched and learned a lot."

"The coaches tell me I'm a natural. It felt awkward and weird at first. I never played much corner before. I'm not afraid to hit people. I won't say it's better than offense, though. I like offense, too. I like scoring touchdowns."

"I do know how to tackle; I was a safety in high school."

Hogan, who caught 12 passes for 67 yards in 10 games last season, said he might like to try playing on offense still, too. That doesn't figure to happen soon. The WVU staff wants Hogan to concentrate on his new position.

"The bottom line is he is a football player, and you can't teach that," WVU cornerbacks coach David Lockwood said. "He needs to understand what leverage he needs to play. Getting him to see the whole formation is something he's learning."

"Getting him to pick up the little things ... when to drop, when to come up. He's about a five (on a scale of 1-10 at knowing the position). A lot of it boils down to technique, not how fast you are. But you can make up for a lot with speed, and Brandon has that."

Hogan said playing receiver last season has been an aid in the transition.

"When you're a receiver, you don't like to get touched when you're running your routes," Hogan said. "That's helped me. On defense, you want to get your hands on the receiver and re-route him and mess him up."

"That was one thing I hated when I was playing receiver, so I just try to use that."

Hogan and Lankster will make up WVU's punt return duo, so a hankering to get hands on the ball might be satisfied then. Or there might be a quarterback who tries to test a rookie corner's coverage early and gets picked.

Hogan isn't going to play the hero's part yet.

"Whatever they want," he said. "Whatever's the best for the team."

How about some love for the offense?...

The Charleston Daily Mail Wrote:WVU's Rodgers wants to play in more than the sand
By Mike Casazza
Daily Mail sports writer
August 26, 2008

MORGANTOWN -- Back in Lawndale, Calif., Mark Rodgers' home far away from his current home on West Virginia's Evansdale campus, is a sand dune. Stand at the base and stare up at the peak and you not only see a lot of sand between you and the finish, but your life passing before your eyes.

"It's ridiculous," Rodgers said.

It became his worst enemy, but also his best friend.

Rodgers was headed to Division I-AA Portland State last summer to play football when a family problem popped up. It was his decision to stay home and help his mother and all he cares to add to the situation is that "I had to be there to help my mom out and take care of the household."

Rodgers understood he probably wasn't going to get another shot at Portland State, understood it was up to him to convince coaches he deserved a shot.

The secret was the sand dune.

It was a cruel and curious foe he'd met years before through Derrick Knight, who was a track star at UCLA before becoming an assistant track and football coach at Rodgers' Leuzinger High.

Rodgers made his first trip up the dune in ninth grade and he noticed he was a faster and stronger runner almost right away.

"As you're stepping, you're sliding back down, so it's really tiring," he said. "I mean, it's no joke."

Ask Tony Gonzalez, the All-Pro tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. He uses the very same dune in his conditioning.

By the end of his high school days, Rodgers was recognized as one of the fastest kids in the state and also one of the best running backs. In his final two years, he ran for 4,819 yards and 50 touchdowns in California's second-highest level. He was the Los Angeles County player of the year as a senior, but had very little interest from major colleges.

"I guess it was because I'm a little running back and schools didn't want a little running back," said the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Rodgers. "I was a sleeper. They were sleeping on me, but that was fine with me."

Rodgers instead accepted a full scholarship offer from Portland State, which isn't all too common at that level, where schools use 63 scholarships and frequently break them up. Division I-A schools get 85 full scholarships.

During Rodgers' year at home, there was a coaching change at Portland State and Rodgers was released from his letter-of-intent in the spring. He was back on the recruiting radar, but not getting much more interest than before. He kept running up that dune, hoping something would happen.

If not, he'd accept Washington State's offer and player where his brother did as a defensive end.

"I noticed progress," Rodgers said. "I felt like I was faster and running better."

WVU took notice, too. The coaching staff was letting everyone know they needed running backs and Rodgers' high school quickly put a highlight tape in the mail. Rodgers was immediately intrigued.

"Noel Devine pretty much showed (last season at WVU) that little guys can do it," Rodgers said. "I was going to have to try to do that wherever I committed, but he was already doing it."

WVU's director of recruiting, Doc Holliday, got involved, offered a scholarship and asked Rodgers to travel across the country to visit. Almost 2,500 miles from home, he felt at ease.

"It was fun," he said. "It's no different than home as far as the people and how they treat you."

There was one other similarity -- the WVU Law School hill. When offseason conditioning comes around every summer and the players are pushed to reach the top again and again, they grow to hate it like they hate to lose. Rodgers was instead excited to give it a shot.

"The sand dune was harder," he said.

Perhaps it is no surprise that Rodgers is suddenly the top tailback behind Devine. Rodgers played slot receiver early in preseason camp, but was moved back to the backfield during the final week and took control of the backup responsibility.

"I wanted to play running back, but I liked slot," he said. "Both of them are good for me. I'm a big fan of Reggie Bush and I saw him play slot and running back all the time at USC. I think it's made me a better player."

That would be ideal for WVU, which not only needs someone to spell Devine from time to time, but welcomes game-breaking ability. Rodgers has that if he has the ball in his hands. All those trips up the sand dune developed speed. He ran the 100-meter dash in 10.5 seconds in high school and was timed at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash this summer.

The measure he prefers says a lot about his potential.

"The 100," he said, "because the football field is 100 yards long."

Contact sportswriter Mike Casazza at mikec@dailymail.com or (304) 319-1142. His blog can be found at blogs.dailymail.com/wvu.

An opposing coach coming into Mountaineer Field worries about the crowd's noise?

That's the least of his worries...

And he better stay off the couch too...

The Charleston Daily Mail Wrote:Mountaineer Field noise worries Villanova coach
By Mickey Furfari
For the Daily Mail
August 26, 2008

MORGANTOWN -- Villanova has played football in some tough places such as the Air Force Academy and Maryland, but Coach Andy Talley has heard that the atmosphere at West Virginia on Saturday might be the toughest the Wildcats have had to endure.

"We do have some concerns about it," Talley said Monday on the Colonial Athletic Association coaches' teleconference. "We're going to have noise in our stadium during practice on Tuesday and Wednesday."

"I think it's a lot to ask a team to come into that kind of atmosphere and not have some concerns. But I don't think we can simulate what's going to go on down there.

"So we're just going to have to get in there and play hard. We have a no-huddle offense. We signal a lot of stuff in. So we're going to have to try to handle it quickly in the first quarter and get up into the speed and pace of the game."

While the veteran coach doesn't cherish the tremendous challenge, he said he has mature players who really understand that they are in harm's way for the 3:30 p.m. opener at Mountaineer Field.

"It's a David-Goliath kind of thing," Talley said. "We know we're a big underdog. We're going to go out and play well. Try to give a good account of ourselves. Be as competitive as we possibly can.

"We have some guys that were recruited by 1-A schools that are here and have a lot of pride. I think this game will help us prepare for the season in I-AA competition."

Talley said the biggest difference in this match-up is "the Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback (Patrick White) and some awfully fine talent." He also cited the all-veteran offensive line that's rated highly.

He doesn't think it's so much the schemes as the talent level of West Virginia talent that is the chief concern for Villanova.

Talley said having all of WVU game tapes from last season helped the Wildcats prepare for the tremendous task that they face. He also is pleased with his players' summer workouts and the preseason practice sessions so far.

"We were able to evaluate what the Mountaineers did in 2007," he said. "You like to think they will stick pretty much with a winning formula."

Talley said there are some similarities between the two teams on offense. His staff had visited Wake Forest and is aware of what Jeff Mullen, who came to WVU from that ACC school and now is the offensive coordinator here.

"We run quite similar offenses to what West Virginia and Wake do," he said. "In terms of West Virginia, I doubt if they'd come out and do anything other than try to ram the ball down our throat.

"I think that's probably going to be their M.O. They will probably mix in some passing, but I don't think we're to see anything that's outlandish."