Published: March 14, 2008 12:48 am      

WVU to install a few new grid wrinkles

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia University is going to install a few new wrinkles on both offense and defense during spring football practice which gets under way on Friday afternoon.

“We’re not going to go crazy,” new head coach Bill Stewart said reassuringly Thursday morning. “But we’d like to develop the passing game just a little bit more … and on defense we’re going to add a couple wrinkles.”

Jeff Mullen is the new offensive coordinator, with Jeff Casteel remaining as veteran defensive coordinator. Steve Dunlap and Dave Lockwood have come back as coaches in the secondary, both having played as well as served as assistants here previously.

Stewart, who had been assistant head coach in 2007 and was interim head man for the Mountaineers’ 48-28 upset of third-ranked Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2, emphasized that he’s not planning any major changes to what has been successful for WVU in the past.

But he wants to take advantage of input which Doc Holliday, his associate head coach and recruiting director, and the other newly hired assistant coaches brought with them from other highly regarded football programs.

“We are going to spend a little more time in the passing game, particularly in these first four days of practice before the Easter and spring breaks,” Stewart explained. “We’re going to throw at them as much as they can handle and push the ball down the field vertically.

“We’re going to work on some flood routes, underneath routes and things like that to help complement this running game we have.”

Make no mistake, he said, WVU still is going to run the ball and use four or five basic plays. “But off those we’re going to have not just play-action passes but in the passing game deep balls and flood routes and crossing routes.”

He thinks that will kind of complement what the Mountaineers have done previously.

“So we’re not going to add a lot, but we’re going to add motion and movement to get some misdirection in this offense,” he explained.

Rebuilding the defense still looms as the major task this spring because of wholesale personnel losses. Only linebacker Reed Williams, strong safety Quinton Andrews and defensive lineman Scooter Berry have significant starting experience on that side of the ball.

“Defensively, we can develop the young talent we have over there,” Stewart said. “The schemes are going to stay the same. But we’re going to add some wrinkles that Steve Dunlap and Dave Lockwood have seen and used – just a coverage or two.”

WVU also is going to look at twists the Pittsburgh Steelers have done in the past with successful results.

Stewart, whose previous head-coaching experience was a three-year stint at VMI in the 1990s, said he plans to be an overseer in his new role at WVU. While assuming greater responsibilities, he doesn’t intend to be a micro-manager.

“I will not stand over these guys (and run things). But I’m still going to be working with the special teams,” he said eagerly. “That’s my baby. I want our special teams to be as good as any in the country.

“Friday we’ll do some punting and kick some field goals. But once we come back from spring break, we’re going to be doing kickoffs, kickoff returns, punts and a lot in the kicking game, just like we did preparing for the Fiesta Bowl game.”

That certainly paid off, and Oklahoma had ranked as the nation’s No. 1 team in the kicking game.

“And we beat them in every phase,” Stewart reminded. “So we’re going to be very diligent and very hard on special teams.”

A total of 13 players on offense have started games, but only seven on defense. Center Mike Dent, guard Greg Isdaner, tackle Jon Walko and guard Derek Hayes will miss spring drills with injuries.

The annual Gold/Blue Game will be played at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 19.