Bleed Gold And Blue

As many questions as there are about the Mountaineer offense, the defense is expected to be one of the better ones in the Big East if not the country. The Mountaineers return 8 starters on the best red zone defense in the nation in 2008. The Mountaineers only allowed 27 scores on 42 possessions once the opponent got inside the 20 yard line. The 64.29 percent rate was more than a point better than No. 2 California 65.85 and just one of four below 70 percent. The defense also ranked 17th in the nation in points aloud, only giving up 17 points per game. The Mountaineers rely on the 3-3-5 defense to do the work. This scheme relies on undersized, very active athletes who get to the ball very quickly. Though the defense looses one of its premier defenders in LB Mortty Ivy to graduation, it returns medical redshirt senior Reed Williams who was the Fiesta Bowl MVP in the 2007- 2008 season. He missed all but 2 games to season ending shoulder surgery but is at 100 percent and ready to start back.

The Mountaineer defense has a play maker at every level, even in the secondary, where in past years, has been said to be soft. Making the switch from WR to CB last year, Brandon Hogan has made an immediate impact on the secondary. He made great strides in his debut and became the defenses top cover corner in only a year. In his first year, he made 60 tackles, picked off 3 passes, broke up 7 passes, and recovered 2 fumbles. I have already mentioned the return of Reed Williams but there is another LB worth mentioning. Line backer JT Thomas could quite easily be on the All Big East team after putting himself on everyone’s radar after last season. With 65 tackles (10 for loss), three sacks, and 2 forced fumbles, he may be the most explosive and athletic of the Mountaineer linebackers. If the Mountaineer defense matches last years performance, it should help the inexperienced offence keep pace early in the season until the young offensive line start to mesh.

By: Kyle Ward

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