MORGANTOWN - West Virginia's defense can be found in the top 20of several statistical categories after five weeks of the season.Much of the success can be attributed to how the Mountaineers havehandled themselves on third down.
WVU is No. 2 in third down conversion percentage, allowing only12 of 54 chances (22.2 percent) to go for a first down. Only PennState (12-for-57) is better. WVU also has allowed only 46 firstdowns, the lowest total in the country.
"I guess it's pretty simple," WVU safety Robert Sands said. "Wewant it more. It's all about wanting it more on third down. We wantto get off the field more than they want to continue their drive."
UNLV, which visits Mountaineer Field for the first time Saturday,is No. 103 on third down and has converted 23 of 69 chances. TheRebels are No. 92 in time of possession (28:32) while WVU's defensehas helped the team rank No. 19 (32:16).
The Mountaineers (3-1) have actually been short-handed on thirddown the past two games with defensive ends Julian Miller and WillClarke slowed by injury.
Clarke hasn't played the past two games while Miller didn't startagainst LSU. Both play on pass and pass-rush packages theMountaineers like to use on third down.
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MANY WVU assistant coaches spent the days after the LSU lossrecruiting. Saturday's 3:30 p.m. kickoff - the second such starttime of the season - gives the team a recruiting opportunity itmight not enjoy with other start times.
"I like, because of recruiting, for me, personally, the 3:30ishstart because we can get youngsters a chance to drive here," WVUCoach Bill Stewart said. "Now I'm selfish, (but) they get a chanceto drive here from the 250-mile radius.
"Then we can keep them after the game a little bit and enjoythem. A noon game, they can't get here. A night game, they all wantto get back because you've got to get over the mountain."
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UNLV IS in its first season with Coach Bobby Hauck. The Rebelsare beginning to figure things out on offense with 71 points thepast two games after managing just 38 the first three - losses toranked Wisconsin and Utah, but also Idaho.
Hauck was a very successful coach in the Football ChampionshipSubdivision at Montana, where in seven seasons he led the Grizzliesto seven conference titles, seven national playoff appearances andthree championship games.
Hauck was 80-17 at Montana, where he never lost more than fourgames in a season and won 47 of 53 conference games.
In addition to Wisconsin and Utah, the Rebels have also playedranked Nevada. WVU is just outside the top 25 nationally.
"When someone has won 80 percent of their football games, thatsurely gets my attention," Stewart said. "They are in what someonemay call a rebuilding mode - and that's OK if that's what they say -but I can tell you this: Bobby Hauck is such a great football coach.He did a great job at Montana where he'd just win, win, win, win.
"I see Bobby as being a lot like a Chris Peterson at Boise State,a Dan Hawkins at Boise State before him or a Houston Nutt at BoiseState before them. He's in that same mold. He's going to be a greatcoach - he is a great coach. That being said, he's got a lot ofyoung players - a lot of freshmen and redshirt freshmen - in his two-deep. But he's got players. "
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STEWART SOUNDED optimistic about the collective health of histeam after the open week and moving forward. Running back NoelDevine has practiced as he tries to recover from the bone bruise onthe big toe on his right foot.
WVU worked in full pads last week and was off Monday. The teambegins UNLV practice today.
"He bounced around a little bit in practice and he didn't do asmuch as he wanted to do or as much as we wanted him to do, buthopefully (today) and Wednesday he gets back on track," Stewartsaid.
Devine should play and WVU hasn't given much thought to theinjury keeping Devine out or to lightening Devine's workload.Stewart said fullback Ryan Clarke is next in line and freshman TreyJohnson and sophomore Shawne Alston practiced well last week.Stewart said fullback Matt Lindamood may fill Clarke's role ifClarke needs to fill Devine's.
"I think we have more than enough to get through," Stewart said.
Stewart said defensive end Julian Miller (back) and tight endTyler Urban (knee) are better and should play. Middle linebacker PatLazear (knee/tibia) played against LSU and should play against theRebels.
Stewart expects left guard Josh Jenkins (knee) to be cleared toplay, but isn't sure if Jenkins will. He missed the LSU game and wasreplaced by starting right guard Eric Jobe, whose spot has beenfilled by Cole Bowers.
"My problem is this: We have our first conference game five daysafter Saturday," Stewart said of the Oct. 14 ESPN game against SouthFlorida and how the quick turnaround affects the status of injuredplayers Saturday. "I just don't know what's right, right now."
West Virginia Mountaineers 2010 football schedule: Sept. 4 Coastal Carolina W, 31-0 Sept. 10 at Marshall W, 24-21 OTSept. 18 Maryland W, 31-17 Sept. 25 at LSU L, 20-14 Oct. 9UNLV (BETV) 3:30 p.m. Oct. 14 USF (ESPN) 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 Syracuse* TBA Oct. 29 at Connecticut (ESPN2) 8 p.m. Nov. 13 Cincinnati TBA Nov. 20 at Louisville TBA Nov. 26 atPittsburgh TBA Dec. 4 Rutgers TBA *Homecoming
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