O. Schmitt v. P. McAfee

The week nine game Eagles vs. Colts featured two former WVU players: Owen Schmitt and Pat McAfee.

It was McAfee's first time punting after his one game suspension for his arrest. He had five for an average of 36.8 yards and one inside the 20 yard line.

Schmitt had just one catch on the day, for 12 yards. The catch is in the first play of the video below and shows how much he loves that leaping move.

The second play in the video, a quick squib kick at the end of the second quarter, is usually a throw away play of no interest. But this one was a little unique to a WVU fan since it was kicked by McAfee and, after being muffed by another Eagles player, recovered by Schmitt.

More for the Highlight Reel

Owen Schmitt only had 2 catches for 19 yards this weekend against the San Fransisco 49ers but made a nasty block on Shawntae Spencer (a Pitt product).

Update on Schmitt and the Rest of the Trio

Is a blog still a blog without new content? Well, here we go...

Owen "Beer Truck" Schmitt is overwhelmingly the most impressive of the big three that also includes Patrick White and Steve Slaton.

Schmitt was picked up by the Eagles from the Seattle Seahawks at the beginning of the season and has since accumulated more receiving yards than in his previous two seasons. So far he has 70 yards on 7 receptions. The most in one game was 3 receptions for 43 years against the Washington Redskins, which included yet another impressive leap reminiscent of the good old days. That catch and one other can be seen in the video below.

Patrick White and Steve Slaton have, in comparison, have had less than ideal years.

Slaton, after an impressive outing during his rookie season with the Houston Texans, has floundered since the beginning of last season. In the previous season, he suffered through fumble troubles, dropping the ball 7 times, while competing for snaps with other tailbacks. This year, still not at the starting job, Slaton has only had 17 touches but has a 5.5 yards per carry average and no fumbles.

As if you didn't know, White was cut from the Miami Dolphins before the start of the season. Luckily, he's a talented guy and took a contract from the Kansas City Royals. Probably for the best, considering the looming NFL lockout and the fact that he has the potential for a significantly higher paycheck in the MLB than the NFL. Must be nice to have those kind of options.

Back in Buisness? Pat White is.

I've been out of the loop for a while but I think I'm going to get back into it now that football season has returned.

For my transgressions, please accept the following videos:

This is a quick clip of Pat White converting on third down at the end of the week 5 five Jets versus the Dolphins game.



And if you haven't seen this, I don't know where you've been.

Every dog has his day

Seahawks fullback Leonard Weaver will likely be lost to free agency (though they will attempt to keep him). Did he go to WVU? No. Should you care? Yes. Guess who his backup is?

UPDATE (3/21/09): If you haven't figured it out already, that dog is Owen Schmitt. And it appears he will indeed have his day.

Schmitt Looks Ahead, Behind

WCHS, Radio 58

Former West Virginia University fullback Owen Schmitt returned to the Mountain State on Thursday to mingle with fans.
. . .
"He (Schmidt) said if I could get paid, I swear to you he said I'd play the rest of my career at West Virginia University if they paid college players," Tony said.

The moment that captured Owen's love for the school and the state is captured forever on YouTube where he gave an emotional account of what it meant to play for WVU at the end of the Fiesta Bowl his senior. He says his current teammates on the Seattle Seahawks still ride him a little about that.

"It was a special moment. It came from the heart after the game. I still get a lot of slack for it in the locker room," Owen says.
. . .
The 6'2” Schmitt has seen action on the Seattle's offense and special teams playing in every game except the opener. He's hoping this next season will be his year to start.

"The GM (of Seattle) I was talking to him. Tim Ruskell, he told me just come in shape and fight for that starting job. Come in knowing that you're fighting for the starting," Schmitt said.

In next few weeks, Owen Schmitt will begin intensive training before he returns to Seattle for spring training camp.
. . .
http://www.58wchs.com/includes/news_items/3/news_items_more.php?id=5029§ion_id=3

Owen Schmitt - Rookie Season

Owen Schmitt, everyone's favorite Mountaineer at one point or another, was drafted late in the fifth round (163rd overall) by the Seattle Seahawks. He was used sparsely by Seattle as a backup fullback. He only carried the ball five times but had a respectable 4.2 yards a carry. Hopefully he'll see more playing time next year. Much of that will hinge what the Seahawk's offense looks like after the coaching change.

Below is a nice little highlight from a pre-season game. Look familiar?