September 12, 2011
WVU’s go-to guy still MIA ... and might not even be necessary
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MORGANTOWN - Oddly enough, Geno Smith is like most everyone else. After two games, he's still trying to figure out things about this West Virginia offense.

Oh, sure, he knows it can be productive. Even stumbling out of the gate against both Marshall and Norfolk State, West Virginia's junior quarterback has still thrown for 620 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions.

And he's done it without yet finding that one clutch receiver.

"We haven't found our go-to guy,'' Smith said. "We're still looking for someone to step up and just be that guy. It's still wide open right now.''

Smith has completed 46 passes through those first two games. Nine each have gone to Tavon Austin and Ivan McCartney, eight to Devon Brown, seven to Stedman Bailey and four each to tailbacks Andrew Buie and Dustin Garrison. Tyler Urban has caught two of Smith's passes and Brad Starks, Willie Millhouse and Vernard Roberts one each. McCartney has two of the touchdowns and no one else has more than one.

(Just to further prove the point about the variety, backup Paul Millard has completed five passes to four different receivers).

"Everyone's had their moments where they've made good plays, but they've all had moments where they didn't make the plays,'' Smith said. "We just have to work on getting better and that'll come along as the season goes on.''

Here's the thing, though: Is a go-to receiver necessary? Or even wanted?

That's where Smith is still trying to figure things out. On the one hand he notes the fact that no one has emerged as the No. 1 threat, but he also likes the idea of not having one.

 "Our offense is a spread offense and it's not like there's one key guy that we're designing plays around,'' Smith said. "It's worked for 10 years, so obviously it's made players rather than the players making the offense. And that's what's good about the offense, that we're not keying on one guy and neither can the defense.''

But does he expect to find a go-to guy?

"I don't know,'' Smith said. "It could happen, or it could be a case where we spread the ball out and everyone makes plays.''

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