West Virginia Mountaineers Team Preview 2009
July 22nd, 2009 by Vince Mullins
The story arc of the Big East continues on its erratic path – just as the Big East is in offensive roster turmoil, so are the Mountaineers now that one of history’s finest college football quarterbacks in Patrick White graduates to Sundays.
Noel Devine gets six in just another big game loss for Oklahoma in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl.
How will the Mountaineers cope? More running? Not likely with Coach Bill Stewart flinging it around more.
But, did the extra flinging add to the offense? Not really as they fell from Top Ten to #56 in 2008. Some blame the lack of big plays from Noel Devine, but I put the blame on the new attention paid to the pass.
The SWOT Analysis follows on the new look Mountaineers as they look to change this pattern of nationwide offensive ratings – 2nd, 6th, and 57th last season (15th overall for the past three seasons).
STRENGTHS
Running back talent (but untested) – let me just say that I still expect more from Noel Devine and will not blame his supposedly subversive personality. While I recognize that most of you readers score as many TDs in one local flag football rec league game than he did last season (4), but dude did smack around defenses for almost 1500 yards from scrimmage.
If Devine doesn’t make it work with new QB Jarrett Brown, Devine will be pushed by freshman Tavon Austin and another smaller soph speed back named Mark Rodgers (see below). Speaking of freshmen…
Stellar offensive 2009 recruiting class -Austin at RB is just the beginning. While QB Jarrett Brown has game experience, he was getting pushed by freshman Eugene Smith until he was lost for a couple months to a broken foot. To wrap it up, Logan Heastie could get significant snaps . All universally listed as Top 20 nationwide rated recruits,
WEAKNESSES
Offensive line untested – they lose two 3x All Big East linemen Mike Dent and Ryan Stancheck and a couple other three-year starters. While they have some depth, there we be lots of big uglies getting their first extended time against Liberty and ECU.
Super-deep WR – good for Coach Stewart, tough for fantasy players. Everyone knows Jock Sanders but Coach Stewart suspended him indefinitely after a DUI arrest.
So that will open up reps for guys like big Alric Arnett, super-big (6-8 230) Wes Lyons operating from the slot (he knows how to block) and freshman Heastie who has already impressed in the spring early enrollee period. With QB Brown a much more polished passer than Patrick White I am pretty sure at least two of these gentlemen will go over 500 yards and 8+ TD. You know, since NO ONE did in 2008. Stay tuned to this depth chart talk.
OPPORTUNITIES
Doable early schedule – while doable is usually an adjective used in opposite-sex scouting reports, I think it is appropriate here. Those linemen and the new full-time QB get to smack around Liberty then get to avenge last seasons loss to East Carolina in Morgantown. Expect many flammable couches. They then head to Auburn, a bye week then a short week hosting Colorado before traveling to Syracuse and hosting Marshall. Imagine the confidence if this offense achieves early success.
Big East in flux - same as every other Big East team. Up for grabs.
THREATS
Skill position depth – What happens if Brown and/or Devine get hurt? With the injury to Smith there is little to back up the QB position that were fought over by many schools. Behind Devine (only a junior) is freshman Tavon Austin and Mark Rodgers, neither is worth a draft pick in even the deepest of leagues unless Austin is your keeper.
Tough late schedule – as you approach fantasy playoffs, WV has road games against the toughest defenses in the conference at USF and Rutgers. Add to that a short-week roadie at Cincinnati and you have a tough gauntlet. Maybe unload early success through a trade before Halloween?
SCHEDULE
Sept. 5 Liberty
Sept. 12 East Carolina
Sept. 19 at Auburn
Sept. 26 IDLE
Oct. 1 Colorado (Thurs)
Oct. 10 at Syracuse
Oct. 17 Marshall
Oct. 24 Connecticut
Oct. 30 at South Florida (Fri)
Nov. 7 Louisville
Nov. 13 at Cincinnati (Fri)
Nov. 21 IDLE
Nov. 27 Pittsburgh (Fri)
Dec. 5 at Rutgers
Related posts:
- Big East Preview: West Virginia Mountaineers
- Virginia Cavaliers Team Preview 2009
- Virginia Tech Hokies Team Preview 2009
- Clemson Tigers 2009 Team Preview
- 2009 Syracuse Orange Fantasy Preview
Tags: Big East
[...] career it is easy to see those eclipsed by the more physically imposing Brown. I mentioned in my Mountaineer preview that the early schedule is doable, so it will either be Noel Devine or Brown that will make the [...]