{"id":166,"date":"2015-09-03T16:18:26","date_gmt":"2015-09-03T16:18:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=166"},"modified":"2015-09-18T21:03:39","modified_gmt":"2015-09-19T02:03:39","slug":"166","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=166","title":{"rendered":"West Virginia Depends Upon It’s Defense in 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"
Above Image: Univ. of West Virginia<\/h6>\n

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Season Preview of West Virginia University out of Morgantown, WV.<\/h4>\n

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West Virginia<\/span><\/strong><\/em>
\nHead Coach: Dana Holgorsen<\/span><\/strong><\/em> (4th year, 28-24)
\nLast Year: 7-6, Conference 5-4<\/h3>\n

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\"DANA-MAD\"<\/a>
Dana Holgorsen, Head Coach, West Virginia Photo Credit: http:\/\/www.ngngsports.com\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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A big\u00a0season in Morgantown as the Hillbilly\u00a0faithful have reason to be excited.\u00a0\u00a0Will the defense\u00a0that Coach Dana Holgorsen has\u00a0finally developed\u00a0be effective\u00a0and compliment an always dangerous offensive?\u00a0 The Mountianeers defense\u00a0return 9 starters from a group that\u00a0gave up over 30 points\u00a0in 6 contests last year.\u00a0Returning players it self does not insure\u00a0wins.\u00a0 They might be good but they must do it on the field.<\/h4>\n

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West Virginia’s 2015 campaign rests on its defense. They\u00a0gave up over 27 points a game so the defense is still in a flux with those 9 returning starters.\u00a0 In\u00a02013, West\u00a0Virginia couldn’t stop\u00a0anyone and with coaching changes and some new personnel\u00a0improvement was made last year. Still, they gave up\u00a0up 27 points a game\u00a0and this group is\u00a0looked upon as being loaded? Has WV sold this as a positive for 2015?\u00a0\u00a0But the proof\u00a0will be on what they do on the field. \u00a0When the tough gets going, I don’t think the Mountaineers will be able to stop the best offensives in the Big 12 and when it is all said and done, the defense will fold and teams like Baylor, Oklahoma, and Okie State will have come close to half a hundred.<\/h4>\n

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The problem on defensive rests entirely on their pass rush. With a ranking of 99th last season, if the opposing passers are given time, they will again riddle a good secondary that comes back in tact. I don’t disagree that WV has players that will make plays on defense, but with high powered point a minute teams in the conference, an off day by either the offense by not keeping up,\u00a0or the defense giving up too many big plays, will bring L’s. Karl Joseph is the main hitter east of the Mississippi and will play on Sunday. A dangerous man, always looking for the big hit, he will be a target and the game will be on.\u00a0 He likes\u00a0to knock the snot out of offensive\u00a0skilled guys. The total of the defense looks great on paper with better than average linebackers in Nick Kwiatoski, moving from the middle to the strong side and Jered Barber, injured in 2014, going to the middle. Barber led the Mountaineers in tackles in 2013. Final word on West Virginia’s defense. Some say Holgorsen will win with it this year. He will on some Saturdays. Other Saturdays, look for the scoreboard to ring up like a pinball machine\u00a0against them.<\/h4>\n

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\"Jarred+Salubi+Karl+Joseph+Baylor+v+West+Virginia+nG9gTstA2lel\"<\/a>
Karl Joseph #8 of the West Virginia Mountaineers tackles Jarred Salubi #21 of the Baylor Bears during the game on September 29, 2012 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. WVU defeated Baylor 70-63. (Sept. 28, 2012 – Source: Justin K. Aller\/Getty Images North America)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Offense: It could be an off year for West Virginia with a lack of proven wide outs. But with Rushel Shell and Wendall Smallwood the rush game should be outstanding if the new offensive\u00a0line\u00a0blockers\u00a0mesh with the three returning starters. QB Skyler Howard will get the start and will need some protection. When they are on, West Virginia will be tough to beat, especially at home Look for a typical Holgorsan offense with a little bit more run game.\u00a0 He\u00a0must find consistent pass catchers. \u00a0Holgorsen will put point on the scoreboard. Grade: B<\/h4>\n

Special teams: Placement Jack Lambert is a big time kicker. No one better in late game must make field goals to win a game. Punting of Nick O’Toole needs to be more consistent. The return game should be good with a number of possible choices.<\/h4>\n

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\"GettyImages-460893608.0<\/a>
Skyler Howard, QB, West Virginia Univ. (photo: Stacy Revere\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The bottom line tells me that West Virginia is not a better team than TCU, Baylor, but are on the same level in many ways with Oklahoma and\u00a0Oklahoma State.\u00a0 To break through they have to win at least two of those four games and I just don’t see it.\u00a0\u00a0 With the Okla. State game the only one played in Morgantown, you are looking at three conference loses and the Cowboys will be a toss-up,\u00a0 The Pokes have what WV doesn’t have, that being the best set of wide receivers in the league and OSU will be looking for payback.\u00a0 Four loses if you ask me with those teams.\u00a0 The good is that West Virginia can be competitive with everyone, including those four, and I expect them to win the rest of their schedule.\u00a0 8-4 and 5-4 in conference, not what you want to hear in the hills of West Virginia.\u00a0 Yet, 9-3 is possible.<\/h4>\n

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Improvement continues as the Mountaineers are definitely better than Texas, Kansas State and Texas Tech.\u00a0 That marks another year of moving up the ladder in the conference.\u00a0 And don’t forget, playing in Morgantown is a bugger.\u00a0 A tough venue and a home of a proud and winning football program.<\/h4>\n
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Above Image: Univ. of West Virginia Season Preview of West Virginia University out of Morgantown,…<\/p>\n

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