Syracuse linebackers coach Steve Russ described the need to be physical, fast and disciplined to combat West Virginia’s spread offense.

It will be a challenge for SU when it travels to Morgantown, W.Va, for a noon kickoff Saturday.

West Virginia averages 41.6 points behind Heisman Trophy-candidate running back Steve Slaton and the Mountaineers’ spread offense that takes advantage of its running game, its quarterback’s mobility and bubble passes.

Stopping a spread offense requires each player to master his assignment, given teams can distribute anywhere on the field. But middle linebacker Kelvin Smith and free safety Joe Fields play the two positions most important in limiting WVU’s production.

Kelvin Smith

This is the fourth time Smith will battle the Mountaineers. But even he admits he’s not fully prepared.

Smith sees a quicker no-huddle offense this year that requires endurance and discipline. So quick and efficient that Smith joked West Virginia will run a million plays in 20 seconds.

Syracuse lacked those qualities when Pittsburgh running back LaRod Stephens-Howling made a 70-yard touchdown run and 40- and 34-yard runs last week.

‘Guys were trying to do too much,’ Smith said. ‘Guys were playing out of their ordinary job. It’s like you’re doing commentating and this guy is holding the camera but the cameraman wants to commentate, too. You just have to do your job.’

Syracuse head coach Greg Robinson quickly pointed out that if you take away those three big runs, Pittsburgh’s statistics read 32 carries for 135 yards, which averages to 4.2 yards a carry.

Smith, who averages 10.3 tackles a game, also thought he tried to multi-task last week. He acknowledged there is extra pressure on him when he alluded to the possibility that NFL scouts will be in Morgantown this weekend.

‘You can’t let them have big runs,’ Russ said. ‘You can’t let a team rip you like that. When you give up three big plays in the running game, it’s not good. Any good defense will not allow that to happen. We continue to work on that all the time so it doesn’t again.’

Joe Fields

For a player who just started at free safety, Fields knows the nuances of what makes a good one. He’s recorded 12 tackles, a sack and an interception in six games.

He constantly stresses the need to uphold the minimal assignment. It’s more important to contain than it is to worry about making big plays.

‘We’re working on staying to the fundamentals, tackling them and being in the right spots,’ Fields said. ‘You can’t just stop one thing in the spread offense. It leaves you open for another thing. So you just try to minimize everything.’

Senior cornerback Terrell Lemon thought from game film he watched that West Virginia will more likely rely on quick passes. SU safeties coach Scott Spencer said that doesn’t mean that the safeties will solely play up front because it would just leave them vulnerable on the deep end.

Fields approach seems to work especially given that the Mountaineers can employ

the quarterback draw with Pat White, a handoff to Slaton or an option at the flip of a switch. Quickly confronting the offense rather than containing will cause them to change course.

That still doesn’t explain Syracuse’s poor tackling last week. It’s not poor technique, Fields argues, but instead he thinks the safeties need to position their bodies at better angles.

‘When you approach ball you can run real fast and get it,’ SU safeties coach Scott Spencer said. ‘But when it comes down to it, you need to control yourself when you get there. Otherwise you’re going to miss.’

Published on October 12, 2006 at 12:00 pm