West Virginia's triple-option offense poses major test for OU

By Jake Trotter

Published: December 31, 2007

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — On paper, it seems so simple.

Stay at home.

Follow the assignment.

Make the tackle.

But stopping fullback Owen Schmitt, quarterback Pat White and running back Steve Slaton in West Virginia's triple-option attack is hardly a simple endeavor.

The Mountaineers are fourth in the nation in rushing, averaging 293 yards a game. White and Slaton alone have 31 rushing touchdowns and are threats to go the distance at any moment.

"This team can expose you when one guy is out of position,” Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. "You say that every week, but this team is just different because of the run game and skill.

"This game will require a great deal of discipline from everyone on our defense.”

In the West Virginia offense's most basic form, White reads the defensive front to decide whether to hand the ball to Schmitt or keep it.

If he keeps the ball, White dashes to the corner with Slaton trailing, waiting for the pitch.

If White sees an opening, he cuts upfield. If not, he pitches to Slaton.

"If the fullback has any success whatsoever, everybody else is going to follow suit,” Venables said. "You have to eliminate the fullback, to the quarterback, to the pitch man.”

OU's defensive game plan will revolve around assignment football.

Specific players will be responsible for stopping the dive, the quarterback and the option pitch.

The most common combination likely will be defensive end on fullback, linebacker on quarterback and cornerback or safety on pitch back.

"You have to play your assignment,” said Sooner defensive end Auston English, who especially will be counted upon to play smart. "With a team where the ball changes hands, where they disguise it, pull it, give it, you have to have a man for a man.”

In some cases, Venables will use two men on White, who likely when his career is done will be the NCAA all-time leader for rushing yards by a quarterback.

"The test of time has shown he's better than most guys most of the time,” Venables said. "That will be the challenge, trying to contain him, not letting him getting into a great rhythm.”

The Mountaineers — as well as the Sooners under Barry Switzer and the wishbone — have thrived on defenses missing assignments.

"You have to have a great awareness all night,” Venables said. "You can't take a play off all night.

"If you do, it's 60 yards.”

OU, however, features one of the few defenses that has comparable speed to West Virginia's offense.

The Mountaineers won't be outrunning the Sooners to the corner.

OU also boasts the most physical defense West Virginia will have seen all year.

The Mountaineer blockers won't be knocking the Sooners to the ground, which is critical in developing running lanes for the option.

And OU has proven to be stifling against other descendents of the wishbone option from the likes of Texas A&M to Oklahoma State, even if Stephen McGee and Zac Robinson don't have the same running ability as White.

For those reasons the Sooner defense should give West Virginia fits.

But only if they play to their assignments.

"It's a very unique offense, and they can score at a snap of the finger,” linebacker Curtis Lofton said. "We'll have to be

very disciplined.”

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