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West Virginia Mountaineers - 2008 Season Preview

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook

It’s been a tumultuous offseason for the West Virginia Mountaineers, as coach Rich Rodriguez left for Michigan, and he and the university engaged in a months-long tug of war over a $4 million buyout. Will that affect the on-field product this season? Certainly not having Rich-Rod’s offense genius could. Interim coach Bill Stewart was named full-time head coach shortly after WVU routed No. 4 Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. But Rodriguez took nearly every coach from the staff with him to Ann Arbor. And many think Stewart may be in over his head as a Division I head coach; his only previous top experience was an 8-25 record with I-AA’s Virginia Military Institute. In addition, top running back Steve Slaton, who originally said he was coming back for his senior year, bolted to the NFL. Yet there is plenty of talent left on this roster, mainly on offense.

Coach: Bill Stewart (first full season at WVU, 1-0)

2007 record: 11-2 (5-2 Big East), beat Oklahoma in Fiesta Bowl

Returning starters: 14 (offense: 8, defense: 4, kicker/punter: 2)

Top returnees: QB Pat White, RB Noel Devine, LT Ryan Stanchek, LG Greg Isdaner, WR Dorrell Jalloh, WR Tito Gonzalez, LB Reed Williams, LB Mortty Ivy, DL Scooter Berry, K/P Pat McAfee

Key losses: RB Steve Slaton, DT Keilen Dykes, DE Johnny Dingle, LB Marc Magro, WR Darius Reynaud, FB Owen Schmitt, S Ryan Mundy, S Eric Wicks

2008 SCHEDULE

Aug. 30 Villanova

Sept. 6 @ East Carolina

Sept. 18 @ Colorado

Sept. 27 Marshall

Oct. 4 Rutgers

Oct. 11 Syracuse

Oct. 23 Auburn

Nov. 1 @ UConn

Nov. 8 Cincinnati

Nov. 22 @ Louisville

Nov. 28 @ Pittsburgh

Dec. 6 South Florida

Key game: Dec. 6 vs. South Florida – The Bulls have upset West Virginia the past two seasons. And this nationally televised game no doubt will be for the Big East crown and the BCS bowl game that goes with it. WVU and USF were picked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the preseason poll.

2008 OVERVIEW

New offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen added motion to the spread offense and added a few wrinkles to the playbook, including a little more vertical passing. So this unit may look slightly different at times from Rodriguez’s vaunted spread.

But the key to WVU’s season, without question, is Heisman candidate QB Pat White. The senior dual threat has been the Big East’s Offensive Player of the Year the past two seasons and is the school and league career rushing leader for a quarterback with 3,506 yards. Last year he rushed for 1,335 yards, passed for 1,724 yards and accounted for 28 touchdowns. It was no coincidence that White was injured in WVU’s two losses last season. He may be the most important player to his team in the country.

The second-most vital player to this team is Noel Devine, who averaged 8.6 yards per carry last season behind Slaton. In fact, it’s likely no coincidence that Slaton left as Devine came on big late last year and likely would have pushed Slaton for snaps this season. Devine, who is only 5-foot-8, had nine plays of more than 31 yards last season. “He’ll be a household name this year,” Stewart says. And a major Heisman candidate in 2009.

 

Top receiver Darius Reynaud is gone this season, which could be an issue since the Mountaineers do plan to throw a bit more. Junior Dorrell Jalloh (34 career catches), senior Tito Gonzalez (16 career catches) and junior Wes Lyons (11 career catches) figure to get the most playing time. Also watch for JuCo transfer Alric Arnett.

WVU’s offensive line is a major strength, as all five starters return. All-America left tackle Ryan Stanchek leads a group that pushed for two 1,000-yard rushers and an average of 297.2 rushing yards per game, third-best nationally. There were some injuries on this unit during the spring, but those should be resolved by the time the season starts.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel was one of the few coaches to not follow Rodriguez to Michigan. His defense allowed just 300 yards and 18 points a game in 2007, while finishing ninth nationally in turnover margin. However, only Scooter Berry returns as a starter on a D-Line that will have to be rebuilt.

The team’s two leading tacklers from 2007 return at linebacker in senior middle linebacker Reed Williams senior weak-side linebacker Mortty Ivy. They combined for 196 tackles last season. Second-year players Pat Lazear, Archie Sims and J.T. Thomas will likely rotate at the last spot.

The secondary loses four starters from last season; WVU plays a 3-3-5 generally. Only bandit safety Quinton Andrews, a junior who had 51 tackles last year, is back. The corners are also concerns, as Kent Richardson and Ellis Lankster are projected first-year starters there.

West Virginia will open the season as a top 10 team thanks to its superb offense, which shouldn’t miss much of a beat. However, if White goes down at all or Devine wears down to due his small stature, problems will follow. In addition, the pressure on Stewart will magnify if this club stumbles early. And with only four starters back on defense, WVU may have to outscore clubs until the defense jells. Against passing teams such as Cincinnati and Louisville, the Mountaineers’ new secondary could really be in trouble. Look for WVU, +1600 to win the BCS national championship at WagerWeb.com, to take a small step back, something to the tune of 9-3 in the regular season, but still be in the mix for the Big East title.

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