Holtz thinks WVU is stronger than it was in 2005

Holtz thinks WVU is stronger than it was in 2005

By Mickey Furfari
For The Register-Herald

MORGANTOWN — Coach Skip Holtz was pleased with the way East Carolina’s defense held Memphis scoreless in the second half of Saturday’s 35-20 come-from-behind win at Greenville, N.C.

But he said Monday that he wouldn’t compare that to the Pirates’ similar second-half shutout of West Virginia in their narrow 20-15 loss here a year ago.

“I thought our defense really played great (after giving up 20 points to WVU in the first half),” Holtz said on the Conference USA coaches’ weekly teleconference.

“But I also think that West Virginia has developed significantly from where they were at that time.

“They were playing two quarterbacks. They weren’t really the ‘Patrick White Show’ that they are now.

“They’ve really settled in to what they’re going to do. And they’ve built their offense around a great quarterback and a great tailback in Steve Slaton.”

The No. 4-ranked Mountaineers go on the road Saturday for the first time to play at ECU in a game ESPN2 will televise at 4:30 p.m.

“I’ve looked at so much talent that West Virginia has that I don’t know that I’d compare this one Saturday to the one a year ago,” Holtz said.

“I’m sure they’re watching that film today and talking about that game from a year ago. And they’re definitely not going to come in here overlooking East Carolina.”

He said he’s expecting the Mountaineers to be prepared to show just how good they really are.

WVU, which leads the nation in rushing with 348.7 yards per game, has been installed as a three-touchdown favorite to post its fourth victory of the season.

“We had an opportunity to play Navy which was leading (rushing) then,” Holtz recalled of that 28-23 loss. “This is a great opportunity for us to go against the No. 4-ranked team.

“They’re very explosive. They’re fast on offense. I think the thing that makes their engine work is their offensive line.”

He called WVU’s front five one of the better lines he has seen in a long time. He rates All-America Dan Mozes as one of the top three centers he has ever seen.

Holtz also thinks the linebackers are the key to the Mountaineer defense. “They’re very athletic, they’re very fast and they can run,” he said. “And I think they’re very athletic in the secondary.

“It’s definitely going to be more of a run-oriented game. But you can’t be lulled to sleep because they’re good enough to throw the ball.”

ECU is averaging only 116.3 yards rushing and 266.3 yards passing per game.

Holtz believes the Pirates are going to have to get some of his defensive backs involved versus the run game. “But when you do that, we become very vulnerable on the corners,” he said. “And you have to make some plays.”

He thinks WVU is capable of passing, but hasn’t done so very much because it doesn’t need to put the ball into the air.

“If I were coach (Rich) Rodriguez, I wouldn’t pass either,” he said.