2010 NCAA Football Preview: West Virginia
For much of the 2000's the West Virginia Mountaineers have been one of the better teams in the Big East. With Rich Rodriguez at the helm they either won outright or shared the conference title in four of five years from 2003-2007.
However, West Virginia has not won since he left for what he thought were greener (or maybe bluer pastures) in Michigan. That has had as much to do with the emergence of Cincinnati as a power than the inability of new head coach Bill Stewart to lead the team. Stewart was an assistant coach from 2000 until getting promoted for the 2008 season.
The 2010 season may be the best chance that Stewart has to take back the Big East crown. With eight returners on offence and another nine coming back, neither unit should take a step back, but should become even better than they were before. However, there are holes on both sides of the ball which Stewart and his staff will need to figure out how to fill if the Mountaineers are going to challenge Cincinnati for supremacy.
Offence
West Virginia fans breathed a lot easier when they found out that running back Noel Devine was coming back for his senior season. As a junior he finally began to show the promise that fans and coaches had been hoping to see. Devine increased his yardage production from 1289 in 2008 to 1465 in 2009, but where the difference came was his ability to find the end zone (four touchdowns in 2008 to 13 in 2009). The team would also like to see the running backs of the future, Mark Rodgers and Tavon Austin, get some time in as well.
While Devine will be the focus of the offence, the team will try to develop a better passing game in order to take some of the focus off of him. At wide receiver, Brad Starks returns after making 29 catches for 405 yards last season. The team would also love to see red shirt freshman Ivan McCartney to develop into the number one receiver they think he could become.
However, no matter how good the receivers are it will not matter if there is no one that can throw them the ball. Over the last few seasons they have had to break in a new quarterback and will do so again in 2010. If Geno Smith or Coley White can measure up, than the offence will be in good shape.
Defence
West Virginia is a little unorthodox on defence with the 3-3-5 scheme that they run. Where it can be soft against the run, it makes it rather easy to disguise blitz packages.
All three starters return on the front line. All-conference nose tackle Chris Neild is back for his senior season. If he continues to stop the run like he has so far during his college career, he will likely be playing on Sundays in 2011. His partners on the line, Julian Miller and Scooter Berry, could also very well be all-conference players this season.
Two seniors return in the middle to play linebacker. Reed Williams will be missed, but all-conference player J.T. Thomas is capable of making up some of the slack. Pat Lazear and Anthony Leonard will be called upon to make up what he cannot. Junior college transfer Bruce Irvin could be looked upon to step in as well.
The strength of the defence will be in the secondary where two all-conference players in Brandon Hogan and Robert Sands return. Sands is one of the most athletic players on the defence and standing 6 foot 5 and 215 pounds, he is capable of landing a punch when he wants to. Keith Tandy and Sidney Glover will be back to cover two of the positions with sophomore Eain Smith looking to pick up more time as well.
Defensively, the team will be fine in 2010, but if the Mountaineers can’t find an adequate replacement at quarterback than Noel Devine may find himself regretting coming back for his senior season.
Tags: