There certainly wasn't much to write home about if you like tough defensive play in this one. It was basically a shootout at the OK Corral featuring the Cardinals passing attack vs. the Mountaineers running attack. In a shootout, passing will beat running, and that is what happened tonight, especially when sensational soph RB Steve Slaton of WVU missed the whole third quarter with a bruised right arm. He fumbled twice at the beginning of the quarter to give Louisville the momentum, and said it was because he couldn't feel his arm. Slaton came back carrying the ball in his left for the fourth quarter and lining up as a wide receiver, but it just wasn't enough to overcome the Louisville mo. WVU QB Pat White needs to throw the ball to WR Brandon Myles more!! He didn't get his first catch until the 4th quarter. QB Brian Brohm complete 19 of 26 for 354 yards and a TD, and all-world soph WR Mario Urrutia was the difference maker in this game.
SCOUTING SUMMARY:
College: West Virginia Conference: Big East Columnist: Steve Martin
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes
Jay Henry 42 6' 1.5" 225 4.73 LB 2007: Best game I have seen from Jay this year. He was very effective in the run game, especially at the goal line where he really showed a nose for splitting the tackle and TE and finding the ball carrier. He wasn't so effective in pass D though. He crowded the line too often, allowing a bunch of balls to be caught over the middle in his vacated area. Jay calls the defensive signals, so you got to place both the credit and the blame where it belongs. He can play for a 3-4 team that has a large, big-league hitter LB next to him inside. GRADE: Slightly positive
Dan Mozes 76 6' 3.0" 295 5.10 C 2007: Dan did everything he could, but it just wasn't WVU's night. He matched up well 1-on-1 with Okoye a couple of times, and it was pretty much a draw. He is the best pure center in the country. So technically solid and smart. Always is where he is supposed to be doing what he is supposed to do. GRADE: Positive
Kevin McLee 43 6' 0.5" 255 4.60 LB 2007: Boo wasn't in on as many plays tonight as I was expecting him to be. They didn't throw or run his direction very much, so it was a quiet night for him. WVU needed at least one turnover from Kevin, and they didn't get it. Louisville seemed to gameplan away from him, and that is definitely to his credit. GRADE: neutral
Eric Wicks 41 6' 0.5" 210 0.00 S 2007: Eric looks better each time I see him. He gets the WVU defensive game ball from me. Had a PBU, a TFL, a couple of QBHs, and I had him in on 8 tackles. Showed me plenty in the run game, but wasn't able to do much in pass D, because Brohm threw more to the outside. Wicks showed me he can cover pretty well though too, but he is not going to beat Urrutia. GRADE: Positive
Jeremy Sheffey 65 6' 2.1" 290 0.00 OG 2007: Constantly high marks from this analyst. Just makes holes in the run game, and stands firm as a rock in pass pro. I keep looking for weaknesses, and haven't found any yet. GRADE: Slightly positive
Brandon Myles 7 6' 2.0" 190 4.37 WR 2007: Man...GET THE GUY THE BALL!!! When they throw it to him he catches it (WITH HIS HANDS!). They didn't give him a chance until panic time in the 4th quarter and he had three catches. You put Miles with a passing QB and he would be a first day draft pick. Mired in this system he will be in a camp, but may not even get drafted. GRADE: Positive
Owen Schmitt 35 6' 1.0" 250 4.60 FB 2008: Did his thing as always. Good for five yards and a cloud of dust each time he gets it. Solid in blocking. Wanted to see him get the ball on a flat pass or bubble screen, but didn't happen. GRADE: Neutral
College: Louisville Conference: Big East Columnist: Steve Martin
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes
Michael Bush 19 6' 2.7" 250 4.54 HB 2007: Out for season (broken ankle)
Brian Brohm 12 6' 3.5" 224 4.90 QB 2008: He is very close to being the #1 QB in this draft. So intelligent and sharp with his passes. Makes all good decisions. Hits the man in stride. Accuracy is amazing. Very poised in the pocket. Surgical tonight. If Louisville wins out and plays in the national championship, Brohm will be the first QB off the board if they win that game and he comes out. GRADE: Very positive
Amobi Okoye 91 6' 0.5" 317 5.20 DT 2007: AS good as CDS has been saying all year. Sheffy and Mozes double-teamed him quite a bit. When they didn't, he was knifing to White. The guy is a load, and we've all talked about the incredible upside. Showed moves, and a very good motor thonight. Forced a fumble and was in on 7 tackles. GRADE: Positive
Brandon Sharp 35 5' 11.0" 190 0.00 S 2007: Steady game. Made the tackles he was supposed to make. Not much more you can say than that. Was not thrown at. GRADEL Neutral
Abe Brown 43 6' 3.0" 240 4.69 LB 2007: Didn't start and I really didn't notice him until the second half. Had a sack and a couple of tackles late. Too bad he doesn't have another year, because he needs it. GRADE: Neutral
William Gay 21 5' 10.6" 184 4.50 CB 2007: Added him to the database after this game. Best game I have ever seen him play. Was very solid in run support. Did a nice job bringing down Slaton a couple of times. Had a PD and a TFL. He has been very inconsistent in terms of production until this year, but I am truly beginning to think it is more because opposing coaches gameplan away from him, rather than any lack of talent. GRADE: Positive
Other notes: Slaton is the most explosive back in the country when healthy. Very Reggie Bush like. If we can believe the two fumbles in the third quarter were due to loss of feeling in his arm, then it is true to say that WVU probably is no longer undefeated because of that. Louisville had absolutely no answer for Slaton tonight...and I doubt any team will the rest of his college career. Pat White will need to get reps as a receiver or RB sometime before the 2009 draft. IF WVU can get a big time passing QB, I'd move him NEXT YEAR.
If Urrutia could declare he would be a top 10 pick.
CAN RUTGERS DO IT NEXT THURSDAY, JEFF???