Former Mountaineers in the NFL, Week 7

PacMan Jones: Bengals were on a bye. He is off the PUP.

Ellis Lankster, CB, Jets: Registered two tackles for the Jets in a win over San Diego.

Pat McAfee, P, Colts: Six punts averaging over 46 yards per, in a loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Corey McIntyre, FB, Bills: Bye Week for the Bills.

Ryan Mundy, FS, Steelers: Registered one tackle in win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Chris Neild, NT, Redskins: Didn't register any stats in loss to the Carolina Panthers.

Robert Sands, FS, Bengals: Bye Week for the Bengals.

Owen Schmitt, FB, Eagles: Bye Week for the Eagles.

Steve Slaton, RB, Dolphins: With everyone healthy, Slaton was inactive Sunday against the FIghting Tebows.

Injuries:

Brandon Hogan: Still technically on the PUP, but has begun to practice.

J.T. Thomas: Injured Reserve

It's Gameweek! Week 9 Primer

Matchup: West Virginia at Rutgers

When: Saturday, 3:30p, ABC

Line: WVU -6.5

West Virginia Players to Watch:

Geno Smith, QB: 2,497 yards, 18 TD, 5 INT

Dustin Garrison, RB: 494 yards, 6.7 YPC, 5 TD

Tavon Austin, WR: 48 rec, 624 yards, 2 TD, 1 return TD

Stedman Bailey, WR: 41 rec, 764 yards, 6 TD

Rutgers Players to Watch:

Gary Nova, QB: 890 yards, 7 TD, 5 INT

Mohamed Sanu, WR: 65 rec, 683 yards, 6 TD

Khaseem Greene, FS: 66 total tackles, 6 TFL, 1 FF

Justin Francis, DL: 27 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, 7 TFL

Storylines:

How does WVU respond from an awful outing? Hopefully with some passion. The Mountaineers were punchless Friday night against Syracuse. They better have their arms up, because Rutgers will do more of the same. Expect another physical game, and if the Mountaineers can't match the intensity, it could be another long day. I imagine that practice this week will be pretty rough.

What defensive unit shows up? The confident group that dismantled Connecticut? Or the soft unit that allowed Syracuse to do whatever they pleased? Jeff Casteel just doesn't have a consistent group this year, which does have some to do with inexperience. The linebacking unit has really been hurt by youth. However, the biggest problem has been the lack of a consistent pass rush, which has broken everything else down. Rutgers' line has struggled a bit this year, so we'll see if WVU can break through. We'll also see if Pat Miller gets replaced at left corner following a few tough outings.

Can Special teams wake back up? The unit looked very good against UConn, but it all came crashing down Friday night. Missed kicks, poor blocking, even worse tackling...it has just been a nightmare for Dana Holgorsen. I don't know if scheme or personnel. All I know is it needs to be changed, because obviously it's not working.

Rutgers hasn't beaten WVU since 1994. Since then, the Knights have only been close a handful of times in the 16 losses. They have to feel pretty good on Saturday. Rutgers comes in with a pretty talented defense, but wil have to play smart offensively. WVU is prone to playmakers, so look for Mohamed Sanu to get a lot of looks, especillay if Pat Miller is on him. The natives are restless for a win over the mighty Mountaineers, so it should be a fun atmosphere on Saturday.

Conference Realignment 2011: Reports say WVU first in line for Missouri's Big 12 Spot

With Missouri potentially making a conference decision soon, the Big 12 is preparing for either scenario. The conference will be proactive if Mizzou does make the split to the SEC. Soonernation's Brandon Chatmon writes...

If Missouri leaves, (Oklahoma AD Joe) Castiglione said the Big 12 has a "Plan A" and "Plan 1-A" but did not discuss specific teams outside of BYU. He also said he was hopeful Missouri would remain in the Big 12.

"I think our intent would be to move as quickly as we could," Castiglione said. "There may be other issues that hinder our ability to move as quick as we want. Behind the scenes we will be doing as much as we can as quick as we can to resolve it."

So, what is the potential Plan A or 1-A? It's not public yet, Chatmon writes that West Virginia could be the first team called.

West Virginia could be the top choice to replace Missouri if the Tigers left the conference, a source with direct knowledge of the Big 12's expansion plans told ESPN.com's Andy Katz on Satuday. The source said the league is more inclined to go to 10 teams in the short term while it assesses the pros and cons of 10 or 12 teams.

We have heard this before from Katz, and you wonder if it starts to gain steam this week, especially with Missouri possibly leaving.

Chatmon also includes quotes from an Austin American-Satesmen story, where a Big 12 official said WVU would be an upgrade over Missouri. In that article by Kirk Brohls, a Big 12 official claims that...

“West Virginia has better football than Missouri, better basketball than Missouri, a better budget than Missouri and more passion among its fans than Missouri. They’re better, anyway you turn ‘em. The travel’s not good (to Morgantown, W. Va) but that’s it.”

So, as we head in to another week of uncertainty, maybe the light at the end is getting closer and closer...and that light is more South and heartland than Southeast.

WVU-Syracuse Final Thoughts

Well, that was a fun Friday night...for Syracuse. WVU was completely ambushed by a fantastic game plan, executed perfectly by the Orange. The Mountaineers had no response, other than puking all over themselves. This was one of the worst losses in recent memory.

Most Valuable: Stedman Bailey. The wideout went for over 100 yards for the fifth straight game, including a spectacular catch-and-TD run early in the ball game. Bailey continues to have an extraordinary year.

Least Valuable: Everyone else. Just an awful performance.

Most Surprising: No Fight. Syracuse punched WVU in the mouth early and often. The Mountaineers had absolutely no answer to that intensity. They were blown off the ball, run over, knocked around, and generally destroyed by the Orange. This team needs to toughen up as soon as possible.

Least Surprising: Special Teams faltering...again. Another wretched performance that saw Syrcause break one return for a touchdown, and nearly a second. And to top it off, Tyler Bitancurt missed a PAT. Whether it's scheme or personnel, somebody needs to take some responsibility for this shambolic play.

Play of the Game: The Final Whistle.

Grades:

Quarterback: Geno was hit early, and visibly shaken. He missed open targets, slow on the tempo, and had a few picks. Not a great night for Smith.

Grade: C-

Running back: Dustin Garrison and Shawne Alston combined for over 100 yards rushing, granted some was in garbage time. But, the boys did average over five yards a rush, and were successful on short yardage. Overall, not a bad day.

Grade: B

Wideout: Pretty good game for this unit, when WVU actually had the ball. Stedman went over 100 yards, Brad Starks made a great TD catch, and Tavon Austin did what he could. Sadly the game didn't warrant more opportunities.

Grade: B

Offensive line: A terrible night for pass blocking. Syracuse ate up the line, consistently hitting Geno all night long. The unit did run block well, but that gets lost considering Geno nearly died. This unit needs to get tougher.

Grade: D

Defensive line: Completely non-existent. No pass rush, struggled to slow the run, and picked up some foolish penalties. Took a major step back.

Grade: D

Linebacker: Didn't make a play the entire night. Couldn't stop the run, and did absolutely nothing to slow down the tight ends.

Grade: D

Secondary: Not a game to remember. The tackling was poor, and the coverage was even worse. Pat Miller alone might be responsible for three wide open Syracuse touchdowns. Just an awful performance.

Grade: D-

Special Teams: Well, the return was good. Everything else, disgusting.

Grade: D

Coaching: If there were adjustments made at halftime, they didn't show. Steve Dunlap might want to hide this week, considering his kick coverage failed once again. A lot of work to be done before Rutgers.

Grade: C-

From the Blue Lot

Each week, Danks and Dookiestyle will answer questions about the Mountaineers upcoming game…

With Syracuse’s porous pass defense and WVU's 'air-raid' attack, how is it possible for WVU to not win running away? Shouldn’t the betting line be easy money (WVU -14.5)?

Dookie: How is it possible, you say? It’s possible if WVU reverts back to special teams breakdowns and egregious turnovers. That, and Big East teams are 1-5 on the road this year in conference games. Any road game gives challenges. That being said, I’d be ready to bet the farm on WVU tonight. Holgs gives us a chance to see how he responds on a bye week. I think you’ll see a lot of tweaks, some tightening up of some loose spots…and an absolute revenge beating.

Danks: Listen, there’s a reason you play the game. Anything can happen, and as Mountaineer fans we certainly know this. However, if Geno Smith gets protection it should look a lot like the Connecticut game. The Orange secondary has really struggled this year, and now have to deal with one of the best passing teams in the country. I think the Mountaineers win, and probably comfortably. But, I’m not sure easy money is the best way to describe it.

Does the Big East understand marketing? Two games on a Friday night…will anyone be watching?

Dookie: If you were the Big East Conference, and you know you suck and you crave exposure, would you jump at the chance to have two games on ESPN on a Friday night? I would.

I mean…its Rutgers v Louisville! It’s the New York market! ITS ALL ABOUT TV MARKETS! Everyone will be glued to their televisions in the Greater Big Apple to watch the Scarlet Knights play a team from Kentucky! (sarcasm.)

I think people will be watching football. Arguing with their friends about whether WVU can hang 70 on Syracuse or not…

Danks: Nobody watches TV on Friday night. And, a lot of football fans are out at high school games for Friday Night Lights. I understand the conference is looking to highlight these schools, and primetime ESPN and ESPN2 is always a good thing, but Friday night is just so unattractive. It’s hard enough for me to stay in on a Friday night a watch a game…and I never miss a WVU game.

Plus, it just looks so desperate. This is the night for MAC and Sunbelt football.

Can we get a complete offensive game? So far, we've been great in the first half on the road, great in the second half at home. Can we get a full 60 of explosive offense?

Dookie: If there was any time for it to happen, it would be this week. Big revenge game from last year. Holgs seems pumped up. Coming off a bye week. The tea leaves say this should be the week. I would love to see a game where penalties are minimal, special teams mistakes are minimal, there are no dumb turnovers…and we don’t punt. Just to see the numbers.

Danks: It’s hard to imagine how scary this offense will be if they do get a full four quarters. The team is already one of the highest scoring teams in the nation. Would they average 50? I still think you see some hiccups, and maybe a big mistake or two, but overall this offense should roll. Let’s not forget revenge will be in the air tonight as well.

The Friday Mix – Is Today D Day? Is Geno (A) right? And…Lets Concentrate on Tonight!

--Missouri’s board of whatever finish up their meetings today. Of which one topic might be switching to the SEC. According to an article on ESPN, that may or may not even be on the agenda. One hopes that it is so that this conference shake up and keep on going! You’ve probably noticed the lack of news regarding teams joining the Big East. That’s because everything depends on Missouri.

Sidebar—I find it simply amazing that so many athletic programs are being held hostage by a school in the Midwest that has accomplished very little athletically.

You all read twitter. You know the scenarios. Mizzou to SEC. Then WVU, Lville and whoever to Big 12. Or Mizzou stays in Big 12, and nothing happens. Or maybe WVU to SEC. But probably not. Probably staying in a crappy Big East that would be program suicide for anyone to join at this point.

Giggles. Fun for everyone.

--Another good article on ESPN. Roundball coach Geno Auriemma saying all this is Notre Dame’s fault. That Miami, Va Tech and BC don’t leave if ND had joined in football as well. He’s probably right. But don’t expect ND to care.

--Did you catch that soccer score the other night? Coach LeBlanc is on fire.

--Amidst all of this, WVU has a huge game tonight on the road in the big Orange. Everyone is talking revenge. Score 70, Holgs. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, Syracuse. Let’s go Mountaineers!

West Virginia-Syracuse Preview

West Virginia heads to the dome looking for revenge. The Mountaineers were embarrassed at home last season by a pesky, upstart Syracuse team that ended up having an outstanding season. Now, the Mountaineers look to grab the Schwartzwalder Trophy back in what could be a dying rivalry.

Offense:

West Virginia: Geno Smith continues to have a dynamic year. He now has over 2,100 yards passing, with 16 touchdowns and just three picks. He is also showing very good leadership on the field, keeping the tempo up when needed. His lead trio of receivers may be the best trio in the country. And Stedman Bailey is on pace to destroy WVU records. Bailey has gone for over a 100 yards receiving in four consecutive games. The Syracuse secondary is going to have their hands full all night long with this group. Look for WVU to go at least six receivers deep, with Brad Starks potentially being a deep threat once again. The rushing game continues to grow with Dustin Garrison, who is averaging 6.9 a carry. Shawne Alston will be used on short yardage, and the rest of the freshmen could be in the mix. The offensive live took a bit of a step back against Connecticut, so we'll see how they come out tonight. They will be in a battle against a very good Syracuse front. Look for a steady dose of Garrison early. If the Mountaineers can establish the run, it could be a long night for the Orange. The last thing they need is the field to open up for Geno.

Syracuse: Ryan Nassib has had an efficient season. His numbers would look even better if it weren't for some serious drops from his receivers. The gunslinger has 11 touchdowns to his name, and is playing at a solid level right now. Look for him to go towards Nick Provo and Alec Lemon often tonight. Provo will be a tough matchup for WVU. Lemon, along with his other wideouts need to hold onto the football. They can't leave any opportunities on the field. After a slow start to the season, Antwon Bailey has fired it back up. He is averaging 4.5 a carry, and has good history against the Mountaineers. The offensive line will be dealing with a lot. They need to create rushing lanes, while dealing with a good front six. They will also have to protect Nassib a lot more than they have. It may be tough to give their quarterback a lot of time to look down the field.

Defense:

West Virginia: The defense continues to improve. The pass rush has awoken, following a very solid game against Connecticut. Bruce Irvin and Julian Miller are starting to break the double teams and allowing the linebackers to stay in coverage. Look for more of the same. If the line can create their own push, then look for WVU lock up in coverage. Nick Provo will be a tough matchup, so look for both the safeties and Najee Goode to have a crack at him. Keith Tandy and Pat Miller will have a tough job on the outside, so they are going to have to earn their stripes. The Mountaineers may give up some yardage, but don't be surprised if they lock down when it matters to keep Cuse out of the endzone. WVU has not allowed a defensive touchdown in three gaes this season.

Syracuse: The big news is Chandler Jones will be back on the line. This will help the rush, as well as slowing down WVU's running attack. It will be extremely important for the pass rush to be effective. If Geno Smith has time to sit back and find receivers, it could be a long game. The Orange secondary got torched by Tulane last game, imagine what WVU might be able to do. It will be interesting to see what Syracuse's strategy will be. Last year, a lot of pressure melted Geno down. However, this unit is a bit younger than 2010, especially at the linebacking position. The Orange should still try to bring the pressure, and see if they can create a few mistakes.

Special Teams:

West Virginia: This is where I usually trash this unit. However, they are coming off their best game in about five years. The punting was fantastic. Mike Molinari is averaging over 43 yards a punt, and has taken the job from Corey Smith. The placekicking remains solid. The kick return is perfectly fine. But, the big story is the kick coverage. There was actually kick coverage last game. We haven't seen kick coverage since Bill Clinton was in office, until now. Now, can it continue? That's the question.

Syracuse: It's a good unit. Ross Krautman is one of the better kickers in the conference. The punting game is adequate. The kick coverage is deep, and they use some pretty good kick returners in Dorian Graham and Jeremiah Kobena. This unit has been much more consistent than WVU's. It will be interesting to see if they can exploit that.

Overall:

The Mountaineers will find open receivers all night, but can they finish drives and hold on to the football? This is only the second road game this season for WVU, and the dome can be a tough place to play. However, the Mountaineers should have enough success on both sides of the ball to take an insurmountable lead late. The Orange have very little margin for error, and that just doesn't bode well for a team that has struggle to put four quarters together.