Coach Bill Stewart said that West Virginia, 4-2 at the 2008 season's halfway mark, faces an even tougher row of foes just ahead.
With most teams banged up physically at this point, Stewart thinks the second half of the schedule shapes up as more difficult than the previous six contests. He thinks the bye week now couldn't have come at a better time for the Mountaineers.
They have until Oct. 23 for their bumps and bruises to heal.
That's the night WVU winds up a four-game homestand in a non-conference clash with Auburn (4-3).
Then, in order, West Virginia will play at Connecticut, host Cincinnati, visit Louisville and Pitt and end the regular season at home against South Florida.
"That will be a tough stretch,"
Stewart said. "Numbers 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 usually are tough games, then the stretch run."
Stewart said Tuesday that No. 2 quarterback Jarrett Brown couldn't raise his arm Sunday, after struggling as the starter in last week's 17-6 victory over Syracuse. But Brown was "much better Monday and definitely is on the mend."
Pat White, the Heisman Trophy hopeful, is doing well and was scheduled to practice Tuesday night. He is expected to be able to take over his starting signal-calling role again in the televised game against Auburn.
Stewart said freshman offensive tackle Josh Jenkins is "very close to being ready"
for a return to action. He suffered a kneecap injury against Rutgers on Oct. 4.
There was no update on veteran defensive lineman Pat Liebig, who has missed the last three games with a leg injury.
"The offensive line is getting better,"
Stewart said. "Two starters missed all of spring practice. But all five are just starting to jell now."
Stewart continues to praise the defense, which is limiting opponents to an average of 14.7 points and 320.8 yards per game. He remains pleased that defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel has consistently turned out impressive defenses year after year.
"The defense still must carry the offense,"
Stewart said.
But he hopes the backfield can start being more productive on a consistent basis to increase the number of plays.
WVU has averaged only 61.3 offensive plays per game compared to 72.3 by opponents. It also trails in time of possession, 28:29 to 31:31.
"I am very pleased with our special teams, except for kickoffs,"
Stewart said. "We're not scoring a whole lot of points (22.2 per game), but I hope that will come. We'd like to pitch and catch more."
"We need to get more tempo. I am very concerned (about that). It's hard to get into any kind of rhythm when we have penalties. It's a faster game now and we're losing plays (number-wise)."
Stewart thinks one reason for fewer points in football today is that everybody has seen the spread formation and the defense is catching up with it. That's why West Virginia is operating out of the 'I' more this year.
"When you're not clicking in the spread, you get into the 'I' and help the quarterback get into some rhythm,"
he said.
