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27 May 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - For really the first time since he became West Virginia's offensive coordinator in 2008, Jeff Mullen has finally got several players well-versed in his way of doing things.
Of those expected to be on the offensive two-deep this fall, 15 players have at least a year of playing experience in Mullen's system including 10 with two year's worth of experience (that does not include Geno Smith, who took about 200 snaps last year as Jarrett Brown's backup QB). One of those two-year veterans is junior wide receiver Brad Starks, who admits the learning curve for Mullen's offense can be pretty steep for some players.
"It's been three years since Coach Mullen has been here and I think each year everybody is getting more comfortable," Starks said. "The players that have been here, it's becoming a routine for them - not just knowing the offense - but knowing where to be when he calls certain plays."
Mullen wants his players to understand the complete picture so they can think for themselves on the field. Sometimes that has worked well, other times not so well.
"We have a system in place with every normal down and distance call that we have the opportunity to attack every part of the field," Mullen said earlier this spring. "Some of the balls that should have been handed to Noel (Devine) were thrown to the bubble or pulled by the quarterback.
"We're basically a triple option football team in theory, and so a lot of Noel's lack of touches or bubble screens … those are based upon the defense and what they are doing to us," Mullen said.
