Published: September 23, 2008 12:11 am      

WVU working on third-down problem

MORGANTOWN — Coach Bill Stewart said Monday that West Virginia University’s football team is working on its inability to move the chains in third-down, short-yardage situations before Saturday’s home game with Marshall.

“How to fix the problem is get Owen Schmitt to leave the Seattle Seahawks and Steve Slaton to come back from the Houston team,” he at first answered in jest when asked about that in the Big East weekly teleconference.

“We didn’t get into the line of scrimmage (on failed attempts in the 17-14 overtime loss at Colorado) and just didn’t finish the job on third-and-short. That’s what we’re working on. That’s what we’re going to correct.”

Stewart recalled that on a quarterback sneak, a senior guard didn’t get his head across the line and on another third-and-short a tight end didn’t create thrust as well. WVU also was 0-for-2 in fourth-down tries.

In reply to another question, he said he’s currently coaching the same way that he did as head man at VMI during games but not as much hands-on as he used to be. “We’ve got a tremendous staff here,” he said. “I’ve learned you can’t do it all by yourself.

“(With headphones) I listen to the offensive plan while also running special teams. I let Jeff (Casteel) take care of the defense, VMI made me a better coach and a better man. We have more talent here than we did at VMI.

“We just need to get us a win and get back on the winning road. Maybe this will be the week. We sure hope so.”

Stewart, whose team is off to a deeply disappointing 1-2 start, reiterated that he hopes Marshall Coach Mark Snyder wins his remaining games except for Saturday’s Coal Bowl contest.

The Thundering Herd is 0-7 in the intrastate rivalry.

“This is the most important game on our schedule because it’s the next one,” Stewart said. “It’s Game No. 4. But I love playing Marshall. It’s good for the state, it’s good for the teams, and it’s good for college football.”

He calls this “a big challenge” because Marshall is clicking on all cylinders and poses a lot of problems for the Mountaineers, although the defense finally showed signs of gaining strength in last Thursday’s tough road loss.

“They have fast, big players that are really talented,” Stewart continued. “I like their quarterback, running backs and wide receivers, their defense and three dangerous kick returners.

“And Marshall has a tight end that’s as good as there is.”

WVU coaches were breaking down film on Monday, while the players had a day off, and they were putting together a game plan for Saturday. The kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and the action will be televised by ESPN regional.