WVU Football: Midseason Report Card for the Mountaineers

The Mountaineers entered the 2010 season with the return of high expectations within the Big East and on the national scene. For the past several seasons, WVU has been out of the National Championship picture while the program has been transitioning from the Rich Rodriguez era in Morgantown.

With WVU back on the track to prominence, let’s see how the Mountaineers have performed in their first five games of 2010…

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Quarterbacks

After the departure of senior Jarrett Brown, sophomore Geno Smith has taken the reins of an offense that has shifted to a more balanced attack, comprising a larger vertical passing game than in many years in Touchdown City.

Smith has shown that he has the raw talent to lead the offense to wins. In early September, he engineered two 90-plus-yard touchdown drives against Marshall to escape being upset by WVU's instate rival in Huntington.

After the heroics that were shown in that game, the pressure got to the young quarterback in Death Valley: Smith couldn’t get the offense rolling and the Mountaineers suffered their only loss to date in 2010 to an experienced LSU team in late September.

After an impressive first half of the season with 12 touchdowns, along with 1,100 yards, the rest of the year should look bright for the young Smith and the Mountaineers.

QB Grade: A-

Running Backs

The home-run threat of Noel Devine has been just as dangerous as in years past as he has logged almost 500 yards on the ground this season, hitting the end zone four times.

Along with Devine, the versatile Ryan Clarke has continued his bruising style of running, carrying the rock more than 30 times. Geno Smith has also run the ball when plays have broken down this season.

RB Grade: A-

Wide Receivers & Tight Ends

After numerous seasons of WVU being known for their running game, their playbook has been expanded with more passing plays, and the receiving corps is certainly making the most of their opportunities this season.

The sophomore Tavon Austin has been the biggest playmaker this season so far, as he’s just under 30 catches to go with almost 400 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

The veteran senior Jock Sanders has been right on the young receiver's heels as he’s caught 26 balls for just fewer than 300 yards this season, along with two touchdowns of his own in his final season for the Mountaineers.

Besides the two stars, the offense also consists of supplementary receivers who have been dependable this season as Brad Starks, Stedman Bailey and Will Johnson all have been part of the action this season.

Position Grade: A-

Offensive Line

The play of the offensive line had a tough stretch against Maryland and Marshall. WVU's opponents' pass rush got into the backfield and disturbed the offensive game plan during the early part of the season.

After those two rough starts, line coach Dave Johnson has his unit playing lights out, allowing only one sack to LSU and UNLV after giving up five sacks combined to Marshall and Maryland during Weeks 2 and 3 in September.

O-Line Grade: B+

Defensive Line

The defensive line is anchored by a trio who have made the opposition’s pass blocking quite difficult during the action this season.

The play of senior defensive tackles Chris Neild and Scooter Berry, along with junior defensive end Bruce Irvin, have accounted for six sacks combined out of the 13 sacks that have been registered by the stingy play of the Mountaineers defense as a whole in 2010.

D-Line Grade: A-

Linebackers

The senior tandem of Anthony Leonard and JT Thomas has been the mainstay in the middle of the Mountaineers defense in 2010.

The combo has recorded at least 28 tackles this season, with Leonard having three-and-a-half tackles for a loss while Thomas has two-and-a-half of his own this season.

LB Grade: B

Defensive Backs

The defensive backfield has been interception-happy during the first five games this season. The unit has collected five through the Mountaineers out-of-conference schedule in September.

Among the defensive backs, junior cornerback Keith Tandy has already collected three interceptions in WVU’s attacking defense, while Eain Smith and Brandon Hogan have one interception apiece in 2010.

DB Grade: B

Special Teams

In the kicking game, sophomore Tyler Bitancurt has been effective this year, making five of eight field goals through the first five games of the season.

Bitancurt, on the other hand, has been automatic on extra point attempts by converting all 18 PATs, including all seven during the UNLV game this past Saturday.

Kicking Grade: A-

Coaching

Head coach Bill Stewart has the Mountaineers on track to win their sixth Big East Championship this season, in addition to being the first title during the Stewart era in Morgantown.

For a look at the offensive side of the ball this season, the balanced play-calling of Jeff Mullen has been effective but has been under fire by the Mountaineer Maniacs for being too conservative after the injury that left Noel Devine hobbled during the LSU game in September.

On the other side of the ball, Jeff Casteel has the West Virginia defense at seventh in the nation while only allowing close to 14 points a game this season.

Coaching Grade: B+

Schedule

October 14, 2010: vs. South Florida

October 23, 2010: vs. Syracuse

October 29, 2010: at Connecticut

November 13, 2010: vs. Cincinnati

November 20, 2010: at Louisville

November 26, 2010: at Pittsburgh

December 4, 2010: vs. Rutgers

The biggest remaining game of the season for the Mountaineers is a trip to their northern rivals in the Steel City on Black Friday. That game could be a preview of this season's Big East Championship game.

Schedule Grade: B+

Overall

QB Grade: A-

RB Grade: A-

Receiving Grade: A-

O-Line Grade: B+

D-Line Grade: A-

LB Grade: B

DB Grade: B

Kicking Grade: A-

Coaching Grade: B+

Schedule Grade: B+

Projected Record at Season's End: 11-1, Big East Champions