Moving Mountaineers Means Avoiding Grinder Vandals Defense Will Have Tough Time With West Virginia

So, who’s kidding whom?

Idaho football coach Tom Cable makes it sound as if West Virginia’s smash-mouth offense is the reincarnation of the Washington Redskins from the days of John Riggins.

West Virginia counterpart Don Nehlen sounds as if Idaho’s offense should be used in how-to instructional videos.

Neither, of course, can be as potent as advertised by the opposing coaches. Still, each offense has to like the matchup.

West Virginia (3-1) has a bruising offensive line that averages 317 pounds, a 289-pound fullback in Wes Ours, a 255-pound tight end/blocker named Sean Berton, and swift running backs Avon Cobourne and Cooper Rego.

In four games, the Mountaineers have attempted 178 runs, compared to 109 passes.

“They’ve got 320-pound monsters who put their hand in the dirt and come off the ball,” Cable said. “They don’t ask their quarterback (Brad Lewis) to do a lot. They just put you in a meat grinder.”

Idaho’s defense has two goals. One, avoid the grinder. Two, force Lewis to make plays.

To do so, the Vandals’ run defense must be stout. One concern is defensive tackle Mike Jones, who has what Cable termed a “rib cage strain” to go along with a balky knee he’s played on the last month.

Lewis was booed by the home crowd two weeks ago when two of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns by Miami. He bounced back with a solid effort against Temple last week.

Take away about five throws forced into traffic and Idaho quarterback John Welsh’s work has been exemplary this season.

West Virginia’s defense is built around speed, but Nehlen admits Idaho is a different challenge.

“If we go three-and-out three times, that new scoreboard … we may find out if it works good because it’ll be ringing and ringing,” Nehlen said. “They’ve rung it on everybody else.

“This team doesn’t do anything crazy, they’re just well schemed. They spread you all over the field.”

Welsh, No. 8 on Idaho’s all-time passing list, needs 79 yards to pass No. 7 Eric Hisaw’s 3,470 yards.

“We’ve seen speed like this,” said Cable, comparing West Virginia’s speed to Oregon’s. “But I don’t know if we’ve seen the physicalness and speed combined.”

Notes

If Jones is limited or unable to play, freshman tackle Brian Howard has returned from an ankle injury after missing a couple of games… . Idaho will make about $260,000 for its journey to Morgantown… . The weather report is gloomy - temperatures in the upper 40s with a 40-percent chance of showers and possibly an afternoon thunderstorm… . The Mountaineers are favored by 12 points.