4 months ago
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- West Virginia coach Bill Stewart wants something done about the Mountaineers' leaky offense.
West Virginia (3-1) has turned the ball over 14 times in four games. That's tied for 107th in the country with seven other teams, including Syracuse (2-3), the Mountaineers' opponent next Saturday.
West Virginia fumbled the ball away four times in the first half of a 35-24 win over Colorado on Thursday night.
"We're very pleased to be 3-1 at this time," Stewart said Sunday. "I always wish it were better but not pleased at how we're getting it done. We're playing very, very hard. We're straining. We're playing physical. And I know we're playing tough. I'm just not very excited with the miscues we're having.
"I cannot fault young men for giving effort, reaching for extra yardage and losing the ball, maybe trying to a catch the ball over the middle and cutback (for) a couple of yards to get a big play when they should just get the first down."
Stewart talked at length on his weekly conference call about turnovers. He said his players will work each day in practice this week not only on ball security, but forcing turnovers on defense. West Virginia ranks 118th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in turnover margin.
Two of West Virginia's fumbles against Colorado occurred inside the Buffaloes' 20-yard line. West Virginia linebacker J.T. Thomas intercepted Cody Hawkins near midfield but promptly coughed up the ball late in the second quarter, leading to a Colorado field goal.
"Sometimes you have to play more conservative, more aware and more responsible," Stewart said. "I guess responsibility is the biggest word I'm going to hit on this week. All those ability words ... responsibility, accountability, dependability. We've got great ability on this football team, but it seems we're forgetting some of those key buzz words."
Stewart spent the weekend seeking advice from several other coaches about what they did when they were faced with the same issue.
He said he doesn't want his players to be "walking on eggshells" over their mistakes. One thing he won't do is yell at players who cough up the ball. He said screaming isn't part of good coaching.
"What you do is pull him aside and tell him to strain himself a bit more mentally and that he is letting himself, his team and the school down. You tell him to play tougher," Stewart said. "They are giving us 90-95 percent effort, but they aren't closing the deal. Just hold the ball high and tight."
Syracuse committed seven turnovers -- including a school-record tying five interceptions by Greg Paulus -- in a 34-20 home loss to South Florida on Saturday.
The outcome of next weekend's game with the Orange could hinge on which team best protects the ball, but Stewart is concerned right now with answers to his own problems.
"I just hope that we can finally play a polished game, or we're going to get beat, because they're good," he said.
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