WVU News: Will Jeff Mullen Turbocharge Offense?

WVU head coach Bill Stewart announced today that he has hired Wake Forest quarterbacks coach Jeff Mullen as WVU's new offensive coordinator.  Mullen replaces Calvin Magee, who left for Michigan with Rich Rodriguez after WVU somehow failed to ask him to fill the void.

Magee said he was merely “exploring his options” by getting on a plane with Rodriguez, flying to Ann Arbor, and allowing himself to be introduced as part of Rodriguez's staff.  WVU should have anticipated the move and asked him to interview for the head WVU job.  Since it didn't, WVU is obviously racist.

Married guys, here's a tip: The next time your wife catches you cheating, simply tell her you are "exploring your options."  Then, flip the script on them: accuse your wife of being a monogamist and failing to ask you if you want a three-way with your neighbor's wife.

But I digress.

Here's what Coach Stew said about Mullen:

"He will install motion and movement within the framework of our spread offense, which will make our offense even more efficient."

Under head coach Jim Grobe, Wake Forest runs a pass-centric version of the run that is so motion-heavy that it looks chaotic at times.

The basic set features a wideout or slot who usually goes in motion behind the quarterback as if to run a reverse.  The Dunkin' Donut Deacons rarely run the reverse but in theory, if you fake the reverse every time, I suppose, the defense has to play for it every time.  If they don't, and the quarterback sees that, he has the option to execute the reverse once the ball is snapped.

Also, after the reverse is faked, that wideout can run unattended downfield, as he is no longer of concern to the defense.  But that often leaves him open for a pass.

I think this could be a good move for WVU.

I wrote last season that—whether it was Rodriguez's or Magee's fault—WVU's offense was beginning to look stale and predictable. In the Fiesta Bowl after Rodriguez left (even though Magee was still calling plays), WVU did not call one bubble screen (a Rodriguez hallmark) and instituted a couple of new plays, such as the running back drag across the middle in front of the linebackers.

It's clear from Coach Stew's statement that WVU will continue to run the spread and, with Pat White and Noel Devine, it will be run-first. Which, given the returning offensive line, is a good thing.

But if this Mullen can toss in some more passing and different sets, that can only be good.

And who knows, maybe, just maybe, WVU will actually throw to a tight end next season.

Naw, that's just crazy talk.

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