The Offense will be formidable. WVU will score points. Aside from the usual markers like turnovers, special teams play, etc..., success will hinge on the play of the Defense.
I author this in hopes of generating some decent conversation on an area of major concern. I have reservations about the D and I'd like to read yours if you have them.
Let's take a look at what potentially could be:
D line
DE- Rose/Dante Stills
NT- Bigelow/Darius Stills/Thrift
DT- Robinson/Donahue
Bigelow is coming off 2 ACL tears and is an unknown. WVU needs him to play at a high level in the middle. Does Stills play as a true Freshman? Does Robinson start over Donahue? Does Thrift(PSU transfer) provide help?
Linebackers
SAM- Benton
MIKE- Tonkery
WILL- Long
WVU is thin at LB. The two deep includes Qualls, Sandwich, etc. They had better stay healthy. I wish we had three David Longs.
Corners
Pitts/Washington
Bailey/Fisher
Pitts is an unknown. Fisher is an unknown. Lots of questions here as we are alarmingly thin.
FS- Robinson
Bandit- Avery
Spur- Henry
Robinson has shown flashes and we've got to hope that Dravon has a better 2018 then he did a 2017. Hopefully, the move will help him.
The D has been a sore spot during DH's tenure. In the 7 years that he's been in charge, WVU's average finish in total defense has been 79.4. Gibson was hired 4 years ago. Since he's been the coordinator, WVU's average finish in total defense has been 77.25. The last time WVU finished inside the top 50 in Total Defense was 2010 when they were #3 in total defense. Since 2011, WVU has finished worse than 100th in total defense, three times. Considering there are 129 teams, that's beyond alarming. WVU was 107th in total defense in 2017.
In a nutshell.... The D terrifies me.
What are your thoughts?
I author this in hopes of generating some decent conversation on an area of major concern. I have reservations about the D and I'd like to read yours if you have them.
Let's take a look at what potentially could be:
D line
DE- Rose/Dante Stills
NT- Bigelow/Darius Stills/Thrift
DT- Robinson/Donahue
Bigelow is coming off 2 ACL tears and is an unknown. WVU needs him to play at a high level in the middle. Does Stills play as a true Freshman? Does Robinson start over Donahue? Does Thrift(PSU transfer) provide help?
Linebackers
SAM- Benton
MIKE- Tonkery
WILL- Long
WVU is thin at LB. The two deep includes Qualls, Sandwich, etc. They had better stay healthy. I wish we had three David Longs.
Corners
Pitts/Washington
Bailey/Fisher
Pitts is an unknown. Fisher is an unknown. Lots of questions here as we are alarmingly thin.
FS- Robinson
Bandit- Avery
Spur- Henry
Robinson has shown flashes and we've got to hope that Dravon has a better 2018 then he did a 2017. Hopefully, the move will help him.
The D has been a sore spot during DH's tenure. In the 7 years that he's been in charge, WVU's average finish in total defense has been 79.4. Gibson was hired 4 years ago. Since he's been the coordinator, WVU's average finish in total defense has been 77.25. The last time WVU finished inside the top 50 in Total Defense was 2010 when they were #3 in total defense. Since 2011, WVU has finished worse than 100th in total defense, three times. Considering there are 129 teams, that's beyond alarming. WVU was 107th in total defense in 2017.
In a nutshell.... The D terrifies me.
What are your thoughts?