January 23, 2010
WVU's Smith breaks foot again
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MORGANTOWN - Last summer, when Geno Smith arrived for his first summer at West Virginia, he promptly broke his foot and was limited during his first fall football camp.

Now, heading into his first spring - and as WVU's apparent starter at quarterback - Smith has done it again.

The sophomore-to-be broke a bone in left foot during a conditioning session last week and is expected to miss at least six weeks and perhaps more. That could keep him out of parts of the Mountaineers' spring practice, which begins in early April.

Smith broke a metatarsal bone on the outside edge of his left foot and was to have surgery this weekend to insert a screw into the foot. He broke a different bone in the same foot last June while riding an all-terrain vehicle.

After that accident, Smith was limited for the rest of the summer and was somewhat restricted in what he was allowed to do when WVU began fall practice in early August. Still, Smith earned the backup quarterback job behind Jarrett Brown and saw extensive action in two games - playing most of the way in a win over Marshall and the second half of this month's Gator Bowl loss to Florida State.

Thanks to a later-than-usual spring practice schedule, Smith might not miss any time because of the injury. The Mountaineers aren't scheduled to begin practice until after spring break in early April and will finish at the end of the month. Normally the team begins workouts in late March and concludes in mid-April.

Reach Dave Hickman at 304-348-1734 or dphickm...@aol.com.

 

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Posted By: umwaeer (5:03pm 01-26-2010)
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B.Brunetti 5'11"; C.White 6'; J.Johnson 6'2"; E.Smith 6'3". The next QB will have at least 3 years under center. The QB situation is a position of productivity and leadership. One that instills his support group around him with energy and a will to win. Who amoung this group will exhibit these traits? First, two of them have to make it into school to be considered. Secondly, they have to be quick learners or its a contest between Eugene & Coley. Smith appears injury prone so Coley is the default #2 going into spring & most likely coming out. The summer is where the job will be won. Coley will have to add weight, strength, and improve dramatically in the passing game to have a shot. I hope he succeeds, as he is lightening in a bottle & what sort of thrills that would present? I can see our run game taking off like a rocket with him inserted into the lineup. Imagine Pat White with 2 years of pass oriented training and just getting the job, now think Coley in that scenario.

Posted By: wcb (12:31am 01-25-2010)
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Just makes me wonder how much the program has changed because in the last 4-5 years, if someone got hurt there was enough depth and talent to insert another player and we didnt see any drop off in talent.

Now one player goes down with a small broken bone and its front page news?

Not sure it makes any difference because Mullen still hasnt proved to me he can be a big time/big game OC. WVU could take the best players they have had in the last 20 years and put on the field and Mullen couldnt do much with them.

Geno is a young kid and there will be growing pains with him for sure because thats the way things are with young players, but toss in the growing pains of an inept OC like Mullen and things go from bad to worse. And once again people are worried about a small broken bone that will heal up? WVU has much bigger issues to worry about that a broken bone in a qb's foot.

Posted By: shelldawv (8:58am 01-25-2010)
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"Don't want to lose him without giving a look."

They have given Coley a "look" evry since he came to WVU. Did anyone see him in last years Gold/ Blue game? He doesn't have the arm to be a quality QB. He continually throws the ball into the ground...even on swing routes and screen passes. He doesn't have any type of 'touch' on the ball.
The only way that I see him playing, is in a "Mountain-Cat" or "Mountain-Lion" formation (yes those are my ideas) or as a return man or WR/CB position. He does have talent and speed....but he needs to get on the field.
Johnson will be our best bet at having a PW type at QB....too bad that he couldn't have signed early and be here for spring practice. Especially with Geno hurt...it would have given JJ a good beginning (since Brunetti seems to be looking elsewhere).

Posted By: MU4WVU2 (3:07pm 01-24-2010)
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Yes, give Coley a shot. If he cannot contribute at QB, he will have had his shot. Then, maybe he will consider looking at any slot where he can contribute. Maybe he is the answer.

Don't want to lose him without giving a look.

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