Even though West Virginia’s spread offense garners most of the attention when the Mountaineers are discussed, WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez also utilizes a unique 3-3-5 defense different than most of the four-man fronts Syracuse is used to facing.

The 3-3-5 defense includes three down linemen, anchored by a nose tackle lining up over the center. There are three linebackers, with the outside linebackers often coming around the edges as pass rushers. The different part is the secondary, where they have the standard two cornerbacks and two safeties, but they have one safety who acts as a rover – Eric Wicks – sometimes coming into the box to defend the run or blitz and other times dropping into coverage.

‘He can do a lot of different things on the field,’ SU quarterback Andrew Robinson said. ‘We obviously have to account for things whatever he does.’

For SU head coach Greg Robinson, the main difference is the defensive line – where the three down linemen is a change of pace in college. It’s a popular system in the NFL, which has seen an influx of 3-4 defenses, but it’s obscure in college. Besides West Virginia, Syracuse hasn’t faced a true three-man front since Virginia in 2005.

‘It’s just a good ol’ (Oklahoma) defense, and it depends on how they set it up,’ Greg Robinson said. ‘Sometimes we treat it like it’s a three-headed monster, when in fact, ‘No, not really.”

Despite being unorthodox, the West Virginia defense has been the source of criticism during its ascension to prominence under Rodriguez. Part of the reason can be attributed to a high-scoring offense that leaves the defense on the field. Despite a perception that the Mountaineers’ defense has improved this season, the statistics are not an indication.

Through five games this season, they are allowing 273.4 yards per game and 17.8 points. Through five games last season, they allowed 292.6 yards and 12.2 points.

But the statistics are somewhat misleading because the Mountaineers’ schedule this season has been more difficult than last season – and notably devoid of a Football Subdivision (Division I-AA) team.

‘Last year, the defense didn’t really support the offense too well, but this year, they’re a much-improved defense,’ Andrew Robinson said. ‘They got a lot of athletic players. It’s a different structure with a 3-3-5, and they put a lot of different looks out there. It’s totally different in how we prepare for it and how we match up our protections and run game targets for it.’

Will Hogue play?

When Greg Robinson met with the media on Sunday, he was bombarded with Doug Hogue questions. Perhaps Syracuse’s most heralded freshman, Hogue, a running back, has only three carries for 13 yards this season and has seen no action in the past two games despite a sputtering rushing attack from the rest of the team.

Robinson said he planned on getting the running backs involved in last Saturday’s loss, but the situation did not present itself. He refused to specify exactly what the right situation for Hogue was, but Robinson acknowledged that Hogue might be a different from SU’s top two ball carriers, Curtis Brinkley and Jeremy Sellers, and is capable of contributing.

However, Robinson said Hogue still has work to do, mentioning the pass protecting and running routes.

‘He’s ready to play some,’ Robinson said. ‘He’s not ready to be a workload guy right now.’

When asked if he’s ready to play a significant role, Hogue answered the way most confident running backs would.

‘I do think I’ll be able to do something out on the field,’ Hogue said. ‘I’m not going to downplay myself. … There’s an adjustment, but practicing here, our defense isn’t as bad as people think. I’m practicing against D-I defense. That helps me out. So I’m most definitely ready.’

A Devine clip

Steve Slaton and Pat White are the two highlights of West Virginia’s offense, but it’s freshman running back Noel Devine’s highlight reel that has already made him a household name.

Devine became an Internet sensation during high school after clips of him spread on YouTube. In five games with WVU this season, Devine already has 303 yards and three touchdowns with an eye-popping 10.8 yards per carry.

Some of SU’s Florida natives have seen the Fort Myers, Fla., native live. Some of the others have seen him on the computer and are left with similar reactions.

‘I checked him out,’ SU defensive tackle Arthur Jones said. ‘He’s a speed demon.’

‘I was ranked out of high school, and I always looked at clips of the top guys,’ Hogue said. ‘I think he’s a good back.’

When free safety Joe Fields was asked if he saw it, he laughed and shrugged his shoulders.

‘I don’t even want to,’ Fields joked.

Published on October 2, 2007 at 12:00 pm