{"id":6741,"date":"2019-07-30T19:36:47","date_gmt":"2019-07-31T00:36:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=6741"},"modified":"2019-07-30T19:43:52","modified_gmt":"2019-07-31T00:43:52","slug":"west-virginia-looks-toward-defense-in-browns-first-year-in-morgantown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=6741","title":{"rendered":"West Virginia looks toward defense in Brown’s first year in Morgantown…."},"content":{"rendered":"

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WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS<\/span><\/h1>\n

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Head Coach:\u00a0 Neal Brown (first year;\u00a0 35-18 in 4 years at Troy)\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

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Last Year:\u00a0 8-4<\/span><\/h4>\n

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New coach, new expectations.\u00a0 Is that good for West Virginia in 2019?\u00a0 Are the natives going to be restless?\u00a0 Will the wins come?\u00a0 Time will tell.\u00a0 With the exception of Oklahoma and Texas, the Big Twelve looks to be wide open and West Virginia could surprise and make it a better season thans some (like me) predict.\u00a0 Even with such a dismal prediction for this group in Morgantown, this Mountaineer might hunt when all is said and done. \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

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Coming over from Troy, Neal Brown is a proven winning head coach. After a slow first year at the Alabama school, Brown quickly turned Troy into a very good mid-major, getting the Trojans to three ten wins seasons and upsets over LSU in 2017 and Nebraska in 2018.\u00a0 A close six point loss in 2016 to Clemson might have been the most significant loss in Troy history, playing the Tigers even for most of that game.\u00a0 Brown will fit in well and his teams will not shy away from the top teams of the league.\u00a0 He knows how to get a team ready. Give him a few seasons and West Virginia should be a much better winner with him than former head man Dana Holgorsen. \u00a0 Expectations will be high for him and this program.\u00a0 My feeling is that WV has made a great hire.<\/span><\/h6>\n

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Offense:\u00a0 The offensive line and the quarterbacking are concerns.\u00a0 Two starters are back on the line but depth is not good.\u00a0 Injuries could put this group at the bottom of the league. Austin Kendall (Oklahoma) and Jack Allison (Miami Fla) have not impressed enough to be named the starter at quarterback as of the beginning of fall camp and that issue might not be resolved until the first game.\u00a0 The pass catchers and running back are good and the depth is excellent.\u00a0 The names are not important but the quality will allow all to play and show what they have.\u00a0 Again, it boils down to the o-line and what can they do for them in the run game and pass protection.\u00a0 This West Virginia team. losing their top five offensive players last year will not be as good and the shootouts of the past will expose them in loses.\u00a0 Grade: \u00a0 C<\/span><\/h6>\n

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Defense:\u00a0 West Virginia will go only as far as the defense allows it to go. \u00a0\u00a0 There are some nice stoppers here and progress has been made over the past couple of years.\u00a0 <\/span>Hopefully the new defensive coaching staff can continue to improve this group and there is no reason for it not to.\u00a0 Vandarias Cowan (Alabama) transfers to Morgantown and will be one of the better linebackers in the Big Twelve.\u00a0 He is a special player and will made the linebacking group (along with returner JoVanni Stewart) a hard hitting and good, both up the middle on runs and covering the ends.\u00a0 Kenny Robinson Jr. (All Big Twelve) returns with all the other starters from last year in the secondary and the defensive line will also be good, even with a couple of graduations.\u00a0 The defensive is up to snuff and will be one of the better in the league. Do not sell this group short and even with a lower expectation, West Virginia will impress on this side of the ball.\u00a0 Grade: B<\/span><\/h6>\n

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Special Teams:\u00a0 Brown will make sure that the kicking game will be good. It was one of the best at Troy.\u00a0 The return game and a better punter are pluses.\u00a0 Grade: B<\/span><\/h6>\n

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Game Outlook:\u00a0<\/span><\/h6>\n

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Games that West Virginia will win:\u00a0 James Madison (H); Kansas (A)<\/span><\/h6>\n

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Games that West Virginia will lose:\u00a0 Texas (H); Oklahoma (A)<\/span><\/h6>\n

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Games that West Virginia could win-\u00a0 Pick’em:\u00a0 North Carolina State (H);\u00a0 Texas Tech (H); Kansas State (A)<\/span><\/h6>\n

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Games that West Virginia will be a dog but could win:\u00a0 Missouri (A); Iowa State (H); Baylor (A); Oklahoma State (H);\u00a0 TCU (A)<\/span><\/h6>\n

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Prediction:\u00a0 5-7\u00a0 and 3-6 in Big Twelve play<\/span><\/h6>\n

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Austin Kendall-transfer from Oklahoma. (Mountaineersports.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS Head Coach:\u00a0 Neal Brown (first year;\u00a0 35-18 in 4 years at Troy)\u00a0…<\/p>\n

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