West Virginia Mountaineers Season Preview

Dana Holgorsen was going to just coach offense, but Bill Stewart was forced to resign. There were many rumors that during bowl preparations Stewart was trying to dig up dirt on the heading coach in waiting, offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen (OKST). The Mountaineers were then smoked 23-7 by NCST in the Champs Sports Bowl and the 2010 ended on a sour note despite the 9-4 record.

Holgorsen is widely regarded as one the best offensive minds in the game. He is looking to do wonders for Geno Smith, who has a ton of hype going into the 2011 season.

Just a junior quarterback, but he has a ton of upside already with a full season under his belt. His 24 TD’s and 2,763 yards passing make him a great candidate at becoming Big East Player of the Year, on top of being named to the 1^st Team All-Big East team.

No More Noel

Noel Devine is gone, but Ryan Clarke returns as a big bruiser (291 yards 8 TD’s). Incoming freshman Andrew Buie has the makings of being the next Devine at 5’9, 191 with blazing speed! There is a boatload of talent behind these two guys. Vernard Roberts and Trey Johnson are two youngsters that could see some playing time against Marshall and Norfolk State in the first two games.  

Plus, this OL as usual is the best in the Big East and is among the top twenty in America. Four of the five return which includes three experienced linemen. LT Don Barclay and C Joe Madsen are the best linemen in the Big East and winning football means you can control the clock and run the ball at will.

Ground & Pound

The Mountaineers struggled to run the ball though they were 50^th in the nation while averaging 159 YPG. Those numbers should only improve with Holgorsen calling all the shots.

WV has a few good receivers as well in Tavon Austin and Brad Starks. Austin can run the rock and play in the slot as well as line up on the far outside as a WR.

He is the total package and should just feast in Big East play. He may lead the league in yards per game and total offense as he truly is the total package.

Return of the Sack

This defense ranked 3^rd in yards allowed at only 261 YPG! They have two bookends who are monsters coming off the edge in Julian Miller and sack master Bruce Irvin. Irvin had 14 sacks a season ago and is a threat to notch double figures once again.

The LB core may be the weakest unit on the team, yet they are led by Najee Goode who had 47 tackles, 3 sacks, 5.5 TFL’s, and 4 PBU’s!  They were 2^nd against the run allowing only 86 YPG and even in Big East that is somewhat amazing.  

The pass defense returns Terrence Gavin who actually led the team in tackles with 76. He had no interceptions which is something the team needs to improve upon. They only picked off 12 passes the entire season, which was middle of the pack in the nation.

Keith Tandy was 1^st Team All- Big East a season ago and should be named once again to the team. Incoming freshmen Terrell Chestnut is expected to start right off the bat where Tandy will show him the way.   

Drama's Forecast

The Mountaineer's 2011 schedule has brutal consecutive games, first against the Terps (in College Park) before a showdown with LSU in Morgantown. 

West Virginia's talent should be enough to earn a split in those games.

LSU at home will be an interesting match up. West Virginia has a the kind of speed on offense to put the Tigers defense under pressure.

The Mountaineers should be favored in three of their four conference road games, which include a Friday-night match up against Syracuse, and trips to Rutgers and Cincinnati, before the season finale at USF.

The road tilt in against South Florida in Tampa may well determine who wins the Big East and earns the conference's automatic BCS bid.

If West Virginia reach a third BCS bowl, you can expect the city of Morgantown to go crazy.

A couple couches might just get burned in the process!

Predicted Finish: 9-4, 6-1

Predicted Bowl: BCS Orange Bowl 

Predicted order of finish in Big East:  First