MORGANTOWN - Bill Stewart served seven years as West Virginia's quarterbacks coach, the last two of which were 2005 and 2006, Pat White's redshirt freshman and sophomore seasons.

Back then, some of his best advice to the future Heisman Trophy candidate was the simplest: Look for the primary receiver, and if he's not there, tuck it and run.

"I thought that was great coaching,'' Stewart said.

Indeed, as White's numbers over the past three seasons attest, it was pretty sound advice. At some point this season, likely in October or November, White should become the most prolific running quarterback in NCAA Division I-A history.

There was only one flaw in the theory. Despite a 33-5 record and three straight January bowl victories, there were occasions during that time when it might have helped had WVU's passing offense been more than one-read-and-run.

Part of the problem was with White and that coaching philosophy. He was never asked to become too sophisticated in checking down to second and third receivers, a flaw that first-year offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jeff Mullen is working hard to correct. All indications are that it's working.

But there was another more sublime - yet perhaps just as significant - reason White and the Mountaineers have had here-and-there problems throwing the ball when everyone in the stadium knew it had to be done. That one is being addressed, too.

"Pass blocking was never our forte because we spent 75 or 80 percent of our time run blocking,'' Stewart said. "That's what got us into trouble in games when we had to pass the football. Pat had to run a lot. He had to dodge a lot of people.''

Back then, some of his best advice to the future Heisman Trophy candidate was the simplest: Look for the primary receiver, and if he's not there, tuck it and run.

"I thought that was great coaching,'' Stewart said.

Indeed, as White's numbers over the past three seasons attest, it was pretty sound advice. At some point this season, likely in October or November, White should become the most prolific running quarterback in NCAA Division I-A history.

There was only one flaw in the theory. Despite a 33-5 record and three straight January bowl victories, there were occasions during that time when it might have helped had WVU's passing offense been more than one-read-and-run.

Part of the problem was with White and that coaching philosophy. He was never asked to become too sophisticated in checking down to second and third receivers, a flaw that first-year offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jeff Mullen is working hard to correct. All indications are that it's working.

But there was another more sublime - yet perhaps just as significant - reason White and the Mountaineers have had here-and-there problems throwing the ball when everyone in the stadium knew it had to be done. That one is being addressed, too.

"Pass blocking was never our forte because we spent 75 or 80 percent of our time run blocking,'' Stewart said. "That's what got us into trouble in games when we had to pass the football. Pat had to run a lot. He had to dodge a lot of people.''

Enter new offensive line coach Dave Johnson, whose job it is to incorporate more pass blocking fundamentals into what the line does. It's not a matter of changing the mentality of the linemen to make them back-pedaling pocket protectors because, as Stewart pointed out, the majority of West Virginia's passing will remain play action.

Still, when everyone knows White has to throw the ball and the defense decides to bring extra bodies in the pass rush, the linemen have to be able to shift gears and go into a protection mode, which is what Johnson is teaching.

"We're just trying to make sure we have a hat for a hat and then if they bring more than we can block we have to adjust at quarterback,'' Johnson said. "And Pat's wonderful at that. He's as big a threat as there is in the country when they bring pressure.''

There is more to pass blocking, of course, than having enough offensive bodies to block the number of defensive players coming. It's a matter of recognition on the part of the offensive linemen, which is where technique and, especially, recognition come into play.

"All we're trying to do is put them in the right position, train their eyes to be in the right spot so that they can see things and then go from there,'' Johnson said. "They've had a pretty good background. I didn't come in here and say, 'Whoa, these guys are way out of it.' We're just tweaking some things, coaching some things and probably training their eyes a little bit different than in the past.''

So far, so good. Johnson admits his linemen have a ways to go, but he has a terrific group with which to work and - with the exception of All-America tackle Ryan Stanchek, who has been sick - the group is healthy and learning quickly.

"Ryan not being able to participate fully kind of hurts just from the chemistry part of it,'' Johnson said. "But I'm happy with where we are. It's not where we want to be yet, but we're working in that direction and we're staying healthy.''

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