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Craig Meyer: Slow starts are sinking West Virginia

43rd Parallel

Heisman Winner
Gold Member
May 29, 2001
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AN EXCERPT:

“Coming out and starting slow, it’s going to cost us,” Smallwood said. “And in this game, it cost us, coming out slow and being sloppy. We need to be us all the time instead of waiting for something to go wrong and then trying to face it. If we come out early, move fast, run our tempo and run our offense, then we’re going to be pretty good.”

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
 
The play calling (that comes from the sidelines) sets the tone for how a team come out early. Move fast, run fast tempo and an offense that is geared to take the ball downfield is what Wendell is talking about. All this starts with the coaching staff's game plan. Mr. Holgs has the bull by the horns.
 
A jittery QB will derail a fast start every time. Throwing the ball nowhere near an open receiver or into way too tight coverage a few times will derail an offense every time. Toss in a couple of fumbles and it's suddenly too late to make a real difference. By that time play calling, which really wasn't issue when the offense was self-destructing, becomes glaring with every less than wonderful play.

The players need to execute. And they need to execute right from the start straight through to the end. That's what Baylor does and if you are going to hang with them, and possibly beat them, you need to do the same thing.
 
A jittery QB will derail a fast start every time. Throwing the ball nowhere near an open receiver or into way too tight coverage a few times will derail an offense every time. Toss in a couple of fumbles and it's suddenly too late to make a real difference. By that time play calling, which really wasn't issue when the offense was self-destructing, becomes glaring with every less than wonderful play.

The players need to execute. And they need to execute right from the start straight through to the end. That's what Baylor does and if you are going to hang with them, and possibly beat them, you need to do the same thing.

Seems to describe Mr. Howard to a tee... I have not seen much improvement since the Liberty bowl.
 
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