West Virginia Football 2011 Spring Preview

It’s with a bit of tempered optimism that the 2011 edition of the West Virginia football team begins their spring camp on Wednesday, March 30th.

The Mountaineers, one of college football’s perennial underachievers over the last few seasons, are once again loaded with intriguing talent across the board, but there will be major overhauls on both sides of the ball this season.

It still remains to be seen how quickly the offense can pick up a new system and how well the defense will fare trying to replace so many key departed pieces from last year’s fantastic group.

What we do know is that 2011 will mark the final season of the Bill Stewart era, as the fourth-year coach will hand the reigns over to new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen after this season.

The power dynamic between Stewart and Holgorsen should be fascinating to watch, and the strength of their relationship and how well they’re able to coexist will most likely have a major effect on the success of the team this season.

Holgorsen’s presence is much needed for an offense that never could fully utilize the available explosive weapons under former coordinator Jeff Mullen. Judging from Holgorsen’s past stops, he has the type of high-flying system that could carry the Mountaineers back to the top of the Big East mountain.

There are so many interesting story lines to delve into over the next few weeks, but let’s first have a quick look at some of the basics for the upcoming season.

2011 Schedule

Sept. 3: Marshall (5-7)

Sept. 10: Norfolk State (6-5)

Sept. 17: @Maryland (9-4)

Sept 24: LSU (11-2)

Oct. 1: Bowling Green (2-10)

Oct. 8: Connecticut (8-5)

Oct. 22: @Syracuse (8-5)

Oct 29: @Rutgers (4-8)

Nov. 5: Louisville (7-6)

Nov. 12: @Cincinnati (4-8) (Paul Brown Stadium)

Nov. 25: Pittsburgh (8-5)

Dec. 1: @South Florida (8-5)

Opponent’s Combined 2010 Record: 80-70

Offense

Returning Starters: 8

Projected Lineup:

QB: Geno Smith (Junior, 6’3’’ 210)

RB: Shawne Alston (Junior, 5’11’’ 222)

WR: Tavon Austin (Junior, 5’9’’ 164)

WR: Stedman Bailey (Sophomore, 5’10’’ 195)

WR: J.D. Woods (Junior, 6’0’’ 192)

WR: Ivan McCartney (Sophomore, 6’3’’ 185)

LT: Don Barclay (Senior, 6’4’’ 291)

LG: Josh Jenkins (Senior, 6’3’’ 300)

C: Joe Madsen (Junior, 6’4’’ 291)

RG: Cole Bowers (Sophomore, 6’5’’ 289)

RT: Jeff Braun (Junior, 6’4’’ 308)

Key Reserves:

RB Ryan Clarke (Junior, 6’0’’230)

WR Bradley Starks (Senior, 6’3’’ 190)

OT Quinton Spain (Freshman, 6’5’’ 345)

2010 Game Averages

Points: 25.2
(National Rank: 78; Conference Rank: 5)

Total Yards: 372
(National Rank: 67; Conference Rank: 2)

Passing Yards: 213
(National Rank: 67; Conference Rank: 2)

Rushing Yards: 159
(National Rank: 50; Conference Rank: 4)

First Downs: 20
Turnovers: 2.1
Time of Possession: 30:43
3rd Down Conversions: 44 percent
Yards Per Play: 5.3

Summary: All eyes will be on QB Geno Smith in 2011, as the second-year starter tries to make the transition to gunslinger in Dana Holgorsen’s pass-heavy system.

Smith has the arm strength and the pure talent to flourish in Holgorsen’s offense, but it’s likely going to take him the entire offseason to grasp all the various nuances of the scheme.

Departed RB Noel Devine, one of the most exciting players to ever put on the blue and gold, will no doubt be missed by every Mountaineer fan in America. However, the offense could have a new budding explosive weapon in RB/WR tweener Tavon Austin, who could be up to the task of filling Devine’s cleats.

Austin, who made the switch to wide receiver when he arrived in Morgantown, has the speed and playmaking ability to be a true game changer wherever he lines up this year.

Holgorsen has made one thing perfectly clear since taking control of the offense: the receiver rotation is going to run deep this year, which means guys like Austin, Stedman Bailey, Ivan McCartney, J.D. Woods and Bradley Starks will all have the opportunity to make plays in the passing game in 2011.

The offensive line returns four starters from a group that had its share of ups and downs in 2010. The line will be led by OT Don Barclay and OG Josh Jenkins, two senior All-Big East caliber players.

Finding a running back will be a priority this spring, but the Mountaineers already have a few nice candidates in Shawne Alston and Ryan Clarke, who look like they have what it takes to collectively carry the load.

Mountaineer fans have been dying for more big plays during Stewart’s tenure, and that should be just what they get in 2011. Holgorsen knows how to get an offense moving up and down the field, and the offensive show should definitely be fun to watch this year.

Defense

Returning Starters: 4

Projected Lineup:

NT: Jorge Wright (Junior, 6’3’’ 260)

DT: Julian Miller (Senior, 6’4’’ 260)

DE: Bruce Irvin (Senior, 6’3’’ 235)

SLB: Doug Rigg (Sophomore, 6’1’’ 215)

MLB: Branko Busick (Sophomore, 6’1’’ 231)

WLB: Najee Goode (Senior, 6’1’’ 238)

CB: Keith Tandy (Senior, 5’10’’ 198)

CB: Pat Miller (Junior, 5’10’’ 183)

Bandit: Darwin Cook (Sophomore, 5’11’’ 205)

Spur: Terrence Garvin (Junior, 6’3’’ 212)

FS: Eain Smith (Senior, 5’11’’ 204)

Key Reserves:

CB Broderick Jenkins (Sophomore, 5’10’’ 182)

NT Josh Taylor (Senior, 6’1’’ 278)

LB Casey Vance (Senior, 5’9’’ 227)

2010 Game Averages

Points Allowed: 13.5
(National Rank: 3; Conference Rank: 1)

Total Yards: 261
(National Rank: 3; Conference Rank: 1)

Passing Yards: 175
(National Rank: 11; Conference Rank: 3)

Rushing Yards: 86
(National Rank: 2; Conference Rank: 1)

First Downs: 13.6
Turnovers: 1.7
3rd Down Conversions: 26 percent

Yards Per Play: 4.2

Summary: It’s strange to say it, but Dana Holgorsen’s arrival will be just as big of a boost to the defensive unit as it will be to the offense.

No one is expecting this year’s group to be as stout as last year’s brick wall, which allowed only 13 points per game. Especially considering that coordinator Jeff Casteel will somehow have to find a way to replace seven starters, three of whom (S Robert Sands, CB Brandon Hogan and DT Chris Neild) will be playing on Sundays next season.

Luckily, if the offense can put up the points expected, the defense won’t have to be perfect.

Casteel does have some bright up-and-coming talent to work with, as well as a few holdovers from last year’s crew, who proved to be some of the Big East’s top performers.

DE Bruce Irvin, who finished second in the country with 14 sacks in 2010, is a star and should only continue to shine with an expanded role this year.

Irvin will be joined up front by Julian Miller, who is set to make the switch from defensive end to defensive tackle to ensure that the best possible three-man front is on the field at once.

Jorge Wright and Josh Taylor look like they’ll battle it out for the chance to start at nose tackle, but junior college transfer Shaq Rowell could give both a run for their money.

The linebacker corps is the real mystery of the defense.

Najee Goode is the lone returning starter, and it’s still up in the air as to whether he’ll stay on the strong side or make the move to the weak-side spot.

Goode should be solid but J.T. Thomas and Anthony Leonard will both have to be replaced.

Sophomore stud Doug Rigg has the talent to step in and be a gem opposite Goode, but the middle spot is still a question mark. It could be sophomore Branko Busick’s job to lose, but Busick has to show he can handle all that comes with the role.

The secondary took some key hits with the losses of Sands and Hogan, but CB Keith Tandy, who led the Big East with six interceptions in 2010, and S Terrence Garvin should provide solid leadership.

The safety position is a concern, and it’s a position that will need to be watched closely in the spring.

When all is said and done, this group won’t be as intimidating as the one we saw in 2010, but they could turn into a serviceable unit capable of holding opponents at bay just enough to get the job done.

Special Teams

Kicker: Tyler Bitancurt (10-17 FGs, 41-41 extra points in 2010)

Punter: Corey Smith

Kick Returner: Tavon Austin (19.1 yard average in 2010)

Punt Returner: Broderick Jenkins

Key 2011 Recruits 

RB Andrew Buie, Trinity Christian (Jacksonville, Florida)

CB Vance Roberts, Dunbar (Washington D.C.)

DT Shaq Rowell, Iowa Western (Council Bluffs, Iowa)

S Terrell Chestnut, Pottsgrove (Pottstown, Pennsylvania)

LB Josh Francis, Lackawanna (Scranton, Pennsylvania)