#22 West Virginia Mountaineers Season Preview

West Virginia Quarterback Geno Smith is a dark horse Heisman Candidate this Season.

Offensive Outlook: Geno Smith is a pocket passer who can be used as a dual threat.  Smith is considered to be a dark horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy.

West Virginia has a much better offensive line than the previous offensive lines that have served them over the past 5 years.  Don Barclay returns at left tackle with Jeff Braun returning at right tackle.  Left Guard Josh Jenkins and Right Guard Cole Bowers should help boost the interior offensive line along with center Joe Madsen.

West Virginia has Tavon Austin and Bradley Starks as wide receiver options for Geno Smith.  Both Austin and and Starks have the speed to run deep vertical streak routes stretching the field and forces defenses to switch to zone coverage schemes.

West Virginia has Shawne Alston at running back and Ryan Clarke as a fulback/#2 back option.  West Virginia has an offense that can put up an average of over 27 points per game.  With the starters returning I believe the Mountaineers could put up more than 30 points per game on offense.

Defensive Outlook: West Virginia has two quality pass rushers with Bruce Irvin who generated 14 sacks and Julian Miller who specializes in pass rushing.  Keith Tandy is a shutdown corner who can keep wide receivers in check.

Projected Record 10-2 (Big East Champions): West Virginia has more offensive talent on this team than any Mountaineers team I’ve seen over the past 5 seasons.  There are not as many big name quarterbacks or running backs, but their is more stability at offensive line and wide receiver.

If West Virginia starts the season 4-0 by defeating an LSU team that some pundits believe is the top team in the country, then it is not unrealistic to see the Mountaineers run the table like Oregon did last season.  West Virginia runs a very similar gimmick offense that Oregon ran last season.  No one expected Oregon to run the table and go to the National Title Game at the start of the year.  This year’s West Virginia team reminds me slightly of last years Oregon team.

I believe West Virginia gets off to a 2-2 start with losses to Maryland and LSU.  The Mountaineers are due for a trap game at some point in 2011 and I cannot see them getting by LSU.  After the 2-2 start West Virginia wins out and bulldozes by Big East foes once again.  West Virginia should finish the 2011 season 10-2 with an automatic BCS Bowl Bid for a January Bowl Game.