NCAA Football Preview - West Virginia Mountaineers

NCAA Football Preview - West Virginia Mountaineers By Pat Taggart, Associate College Football Editor Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - 2005 SEASON IN REVIEW: West Virginia proved to be the class of its league in 2005, completing its first undefeated Big East season since 1993. Cynics would say that the success was the result of a watered down Big East, but the Mountaineers showed their true grit in a triple overtime victory over Louisville. They went on to pummel the likes of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Connecticut after that big win by a combined score of 128-26, leaving no doubt that they were the class of the league. The only regular season loss by West Virginia came on October 1st at the hands of the Virginia Tech Hokies, who now play their ball as members of the ACC. Because of the success, the Mountaineers earned a bid to the Sugar Bowl to battle Georgia of the SEC, and what ensued was one of the best games of the collegiate postseason. The headstrong Mountaineers came away with a 38-35 triumph, setting the stage for what is expected to be a highly successful 2006 season. 2006 ANALYSIS: OFFENSE: Last season's success was largely due to the fact that quarterback Pat White and tailback Steve Slaton played much more like experienced seniors than freshman. Now, with just one year of college ball under their belts, White and Slaton are considered among the best at their position in the league. White is dangerous because of his ability to run and throw effectively. Slaton is a true home run hitter with tremendous explosiveness and surprising power. He rushed for over 1,100 yards in only 10 games and was named the MVP of the Sugar Bowl. Add big Owen Schmidt to the backfield, a true power back, and the Mountaineers figure to run the ball often again with great success. With three starting receivers and three starting offensive linemen back in place, the Mountaineers are loaded for another run at a BCS bowl. DEFENSE: Expect the Mountaineers to be solid along the defensive front, as seven players with experience are back in the fold. The best of the bunch figures to be Keilen Dykes, as he is tough to block without a double team. Dykes, who had five sacks in 2005, figures to take some pressure off standout linebacker Kevin "Boo" McLee, one of the top players at the position in the Big East. McLee finished second on the team in tackles as a junior, tallying 78 tackles, with two sacks and one INT. The Mountaineers were a +14 in turnover margin last season, ranking seventh in the nation, and McLee is capable of leading the defense to a similar finish this year. The biggest concern for the defense is the secondary, as many key contributors from 2005 have moved on, including free safety Jahmile Addae and Second-Team Big East corner Anthony Mims. SPECIAL TEAMS: Not considered a major area of strength heading into this campaign, West Virginia returns an inconsistent placekicker and an inexperienced punter in sophomore Pat McAfee and freshman Scott Kozlowski, respectively. There is plenty of talent to choose from for the return duties, although the roster is void of an experienced standout. OUTLOOK: West Virginia is being billed as the team to beat in the Big East for good reason, as coach Rich Rodriguez gets the most out of his players. There is a wealth of returning talent in place, and teams will find it nearly impossible to slow down White, Slaton and their no-huddle spread offense. If the Mountaineers can knock off Louisville on November 2nd on the road, an undefeated regular season is certainly a possibility.