Former Mountaineers in the NFL, Week 1

Pat McAfee, K/P, Colts: It was a busy day for Pat. He had six punts that averaged 46.8 yards. Might be a seriously busy season if the Colts don't find an quarterback.

Corey McIntyre, FB, Bills: Started at fullback, and helped Buffalo rip apart the Chiefs. Finished with one tackle in the game.

Ryan Mundy, FS, Steelers: Didn't accumulate any stats in Pittsburgh's loss to the Ravens.

Chris Neild, DL, Redskins: It was a fantastic debut for Neild. He finished with four total tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. Just an outstanding day for the big man.

Robert Sands, FS, Bengals: Was an inactive in week 1.

Owen Schmitt, FB, Eagles: Started at fullback, and was targeted once by Michael Vick. Helped the ground game finish with over 200 yards.

Steve Slaton, RB, Texans: Saw little time, rushing for 12 yards on two carries. Also had one reception for six yards. He is fourth on the depth chart.

Injuries:

PacMan Jones, CB, Bengals: PUP list

Brandon Hogan, CB, Panthers: PUP list

J.T. Thomas, LB, Bears: Injured Reserve

Deep Thoughts, WVU Style

I am certainly caught up in the ESPN College GameDay scuttlebutt. However, there is a lot of football before that choice will be made. There's no doubt that both WVU and LSU will have to be undefeated. The Mountaineers need to take care of business in College Park, while LSU has to take on Mississippi State. If both win, then ESPN will probably choose between, Morgantown, College Station (Oklahoma State v Texas A&M), and Tuscaloosa (Arkansas v Alabama)...of course, assuming those four teams are undefeated as well. All have good storylines. LSU is a national championship favorite, Texas A&M is on the way to the SEC, and Tuscaloosa is coming back from devastation. If ESPN were to combine best matchup with best storyline, they would probably go with College Station. Two top-10 teams, with one leaving the other's conference.

I've been impressed by Darwin Cook. The new bandit seems to be fitting in nicely, especially agains the run. He has shown very good speed and technique, while leading the team in tackling. He has also shown the confidence that I'm sure Jeff Casteel wants to see in the rest of the young defense. Cook was awarded for his superb game against Norfolk State by being named the Defensive Champion. Look for Cook's name to be called quite often this year.

Yes, I have West F***ing Virginia shirt. And no, I would never wear it to a game. It has a great place at home, maybe to a young, hipster bar. But not in public, where there is at least an allusion of a family atmosphere. Plus, you look like a jackass wearing profanity in that environment. Kudos to Olver Luck sending out the open letter to the fanbase. Hopefully people adhere to it.

The very best goes out to Bobby Bowden, who revealed that he is cancer-free following a bout with prostate cancer. The legendary coach was diagnosed in 2007, and was actually treated by a former player of his. The radiation treatment Bowden received seemed to do the trick, and has been cancer-free ever since. Certainly great news to hear for the former West Virginia coach, and hope that he remains free from cancer for the rest of his days.

IT'S GAMEWEEK! WEEK 3 PRIMER

Matchup: West Virginia at Maryland

When: Saturday, 12p, ESPNU

Line: Maryland -1

WVU Players to Watch:

Geno Smith, QB: 620 yards, 6 TD, 0 INT

Tavon Austin, WR: 9 rec, 114 yards, 1 TD, 1 return TD

Ivan McCartney, WR: 9 rec, 110 yards, 2 TD

Bruce Irvin, DE: 6 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack

Maryland Players to Watch:

Danny O'Brien, QB: 348 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Davin Meggett, RB: 126 total yards

Cameron Chism, DB: 6 total tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF

Storylines:

Can the defense take the next step? Sure, the group hasn't allowed a touchdown in two games, but they only have one sack and no takeaways. While the Mountaineers have kept teams out of the end zone, they are short on big plays. The pass rush needs to get better, especially when they start playing better offenses. The secondary will get strained if Burce Irvin and company can't get to the quarterback. WVU also needs to start taking some risks. This may be a case of Jeff Casteel not having enough faith in his young players at this time, but at some point this defense needs to start creating.

What will the WVU offense look like in the first half? Maryland won't let them take a half off. The Mountaineers will put a lot of pressure on their defense if they fail to show up. The Mountaineers are also too one dimensional. The running game needs to improve as soon as possible for the system to work well. It will be interesting to see Dana Holgrosen's playcalling in the first quarter. Will he try to open it up right off, or go more conservatively to try to get his team in rhythm.

First road game in 2011 for the Mountaineers. It's a road game against a non-conference opponent that wears funny uniforms. However, it's a team that can put some points on the board. WVU will have to deal with a hostile crowd, while still trying to get comfortable.

Thinking about the LSU game yet? I hope the team isn't. If they are, then forget about the possibility of ESPN coming next week. Nobody will care unless both WVU and LSU roll in undefeated. Maryland will walk to a win if the Mountaineers are looking ahead.

WVU-Norfolk State Reaction

It ended up being a blowout, but it took a half for the Mountaineers to wake up. There are probably more questions than answers heading into the third game. At least WVU was able to play four quarters in game two.

Most Valuable Player: Geno Smith. The quarterback once again got the job done, throwing for over 370 yards, with four touchdowns. It was a slow start, but the junior brought it big time in the second half to wrap up the victory.

Least Valuable Player: Anyone who Played in the First Half. Just an embarrassing first 30 minutes for WVU. The offense couldn't move the ball, and the defense couldn't get off the field. I can't imagine what that halftime speech sounded like. Well, maybe I can.

Most Surprising: Still no turnovers forced. Sure, the Mountaineers haven't coughed up the football in two games, but they also haven't forced any. It's great that the defense hasn't allowed a touchdown this season, but playmaking is non-existent. Jeff Casteel will have to get his boys playing at a higher speed to try to win some field position, and start forcing some mistakes.

Least Surprising: Geno's Efficiency. Smith is off to a solid start in the new offense. Yes, there have been some slow starts, but stats don't lie. Through two games, Smith has six touchdowns with no interceptions. He also has his highest completion percentage of his career (67%), and 620 yards. Smith will have to keep these numbers up while the Mountaineers try to figure out the ground game.

Play of the Game: Ivan McCartney's 39 yard TD catch. Early in the fourth quarter, Sticks got loose. Geno was able to throw a perfect dart to Sticks in the end zone for the score. It was a beautiful pitch-and-catch

Grades:

Quarterback: Smith was very good in the second half, going for four scores. His progressions were very good, but needs to get his wideouts playing at a quicker rate. Now Smith will have to put four quarters together.

Grade: B

Running Back: Better but still nowhere close to where it needs to be. The youngsters have struggled finding the holes, and don't accelerate enough when they do. Vernard Roberts may have a leg-up on the competition for the starting job.

Grade: C

Wide Receiver: Mixed results for this group. While they found the end zone quite a bit, there were more drops than week one. And Holgorsen continues to complain about lack of tempo between plays.

Grade: B-

Offensive Line: Good in pass protection, but Norfolk State only rushed three. Run blocking is still a disaster.

Grade: C

Defensive Line: Didn't break, but still struggled to get pressure on the quarterback. They do deserve a bit of leeway, considering their opponent wasn't dropping back to pass very often.

Grace: B-

Linebacker: Did well against the run, but was on the field just too much. Need to be more aggressive on contain.

Grade: B-

Secondary: Darwin Cook was all over the field, but the rest of the group struggled. Just too easy to complete a pass right now.

Grade: B-

Special Teams: A mixed bag for the group. Better in kick coverage, but not the best day for the actual kickers. Tavon Austin nearly took a punt back to the house.

Grade: B

Coaching: Offensively, the scheme worked for 55 points. It just took the team half to figure it out. Jeff Casteel needs to get his defense playing with more fire. It's great that they haven't allowed a touchdown yet, but this sam needs pressure and turnovers. Special Teams did improve as well.

Grade: B

WVU-Norfolk State Preview

West Virginia hosts FCS opponent, Norfolk State this weekend. It should be a nice tuneup for the Mountaineers heading into next weekend's game at Maryland. Look for WVU to end this one early, and allow as many players as possible to get some reps. Let's take a look at the matchup.

Offense:

West Virginia: The Mountaineers didn't fire on all cylinders in the first game, but did score 34 points in just over three quarters. So, imagine what this offense may look like when its at 100%. Geno Smith had a nice opening game, throwing for nearly 250 yards, with two touchdowns. He also showed his elusiveness in the pocket. Smith will be hard to slow down this season, especially against severely, inferior defenses. The blocking needs major work. The line, running backs, and receivers all failed in that aspect. There may be some changes to the line if it doesn't change. As for the rushing attack, look for carries for Dustin Garrison and Vernard Roberts. This should be a game where all the healthy backs get a chance. Rushing for 40 yards a game will not be tolerated. The receiving corps looked good in route running, but Dana Holgorsen criticized the lack of speed between plays. The offense is certainly still a work in progress, but the potential is definitely there.

Norfolk State: The Spartans play a similar offense, with plenty of spread and speed. Quarterback, Chris Walley is one of the most efficient throwers in the country. His completion percentage in the first game was over 86 percent. They will try to balance the attack as much as possible with Takeem Hedgemen. The tailback averaged over five yards per rush to start the season. Norfolk State has a pretty deep crop of wideouts, so expect the Spartans to sub as much as possible. They will look to keep WVU on their heels as much as possible in this game. It's probably the only chance they have to keep it close.

Defense:

West Virginia: The younger group did pretty well in week one. In three quarters of play, WVU's defense only allowed six points. However, the Mounties were only able to sack the quarterback once, and lacked a solid pass rush. Look for Jeff Casteel to mix up the blitzes moving forward. WVU will have to tighten up on the tackling as well. It's wasn't bad against Marshall, but by no means was it tight. The defense still looks a bit susceptible to the run, but probably will be until some of the young linebackers get reps. The secondary seemed a bit timid at times, but the bend don't break philosophy did work. Pat Miller established himself as the number two cornerback. Look for Miller to have a break out season. Norfolk State could be in a long day. Julian Miller and Bruce Irvin will probably spend a significant amount of time in the backfield.

Norfolk State: The Spartan defense will be led by a pair of linebackers, Corwin Hammond and DeVonte Reynolds. It's a variation of the 3-4 that actually is influenced by WVU's own Jeff Casteel. Look for outside blitzing on pass downs, and an attempt to clog the middle if possible on early downs. If Norfolk State can make WVU one dimensional than the secondary, led by Jamal Giddens, can play a bit more aggressively. It will still be a tough matchup for the Spartans, but you will certainly see an honest effort.

Special Teams:

West Virginia: It was a mixed bag for WVU in game one. Once again, the kick coverage was a disaster. However, the kick/punt return was solid, which included a 100-yard TD return for Tavon Austin. Tyler Bitencurt and Corey Smith were perfectly fine in the kick game, and the Mountaineers defended an onside kick well. However, kick coverage is still a major issue. WVU gave up a punt return for a TD, and too many yards. Look for some adjustments this week agains Norfolk State. If it continues to be a problem against the lessor opponent, then we have some real problems.

Norfolk State: Ryan Estep is a quality kicker at the FCS level. He had a nice debut, going perfect from the field. Punting duty is handled by Troy Muenzer, who has a 37 yard career average. They have good speed in the return game, which could be an issue for WVU. They will not have the size on special teams, but speed can kill.

Overall:

WVU shouldn't lose this game. In fact, it shouldn't be much of a game. Dana Holgorsen would certainly love to make a statement after a strange, storm-shrotened game last week. The Mountaineers are far superior in talent, and will also have a solid crowd to help out as well. Will WVU be looking ahead to Maryland and LSU? Possibly. But that still may not be enough for Norfolk State to have a chance. Look for the offense to get closer to the well-oiled machine that all WVU fans are waiting to see.

Prediction: 51-13 West Virginia

Comparing the Conferences: Where will WVU End Up?

The conference realignment talk continues to rule college football between the weekends. WVU has been linked to a possible move to the SEC this week, and have had links to the ACC and staying in the Big East in the past. Let's take a closer look of what these conferences look like, and the positives and negatives for all.

Scale: Very Poor, Poor, Fair, Pretty Solid, Solid, Excellent

Big East:

Football Competition: Fair

Football Recruiting Area: Fair

Basketball Competition: Excellent

Basketball Recruiting Area: Solid

Other Sports Competition: Solid

Conference Markets: Excellent

Best Market: New York

The Big East is certainly known for its basketball. Both Men's and Women's are very good. However, the Big East's best asset is the markets. The Northeast is the Mecca of news and publicity, and many of the teams are in or around New York, Philadelphia, and Washington. Teams are based from the Midwest, soon-to-be Texas, and the Eastern Seaboard. Sure, money isn't huge in football, but could be in the future with expansion.

Chance of Staying in Big East: 45%

SEC:

Football Competition: Excellent

Football Recruiting: Excellent

Basketball Competition: Fair

Basketball Recruiting: Fair

Other Sports Competition: Very Solid

Conference Markets: Fair

Best Market: Atlanta

Easily the best football conference in the nation. It would be very hard to say "No" to the big money sport. The football recruiting grounds are fertile. However, the markets aren't great, and basketball is top-heavy. Yes, the SEC gets serious football publicity, but it starts to dry-up quickly after that. For example...Who exactly calls SEC basketball games on ESPN?

Chance of Going to SEC: 25%

Big 12:

Football Competition: Very Solid

Football Recruiting: Excellent

Basketball Competition: Fair

Basketball Recruiting: Fair

Other Sports Competition: Solid

Conference Markets: Solid

Best Market: Dallas/Fort Worth

Big schools, mostly based in a big state. The market is good. Several schools are in or close to some of the largest cities in the country. Football and basketball are competitive every year. However, the future of this conference is up in the air. There's a good chance this conference may completely dissolve, especially with Texas and Texas A+M leaving, and the possibility of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State bolting too.

Chance of Going to Big 12: 5%

ACC:

Football Competition: Solid

Football Recruiting: Excellent

Basketball Competition: Excellent

Basketball Recruiting: Very Solid

Other Sports Competition: Solid

Conference Markets: Very Solid

Best Market: Charlotte

It would be a nice fit for WVU. It makes sense geographically, and it would reignite a few old rivalries. The markets are good, even reaching New England. It's also competitive in both football and basketball. It's not as deep as other conferences, and there is the possibility of some teams leaving, but overall, it's a pretty good situation.

Chance of Going to ACC: 20%

Big Ten

Football Competition: Very Solid

Football Recruiting: Solid

Basketball Competition: Solid

Basketball Recruiting: Very Solid

Other Sports Competition: Solid

Conference Markets: Solid

Best Market: Chicago

This midwestern stronghold boasts tradition and consistent competition. The markets are solid, though stuck in the middle of the country. However, that still beats the west coast. Travel is not as wild as some other conferences, and many of the stadiums and arenas are cathedrals. The conference's biggest issue may be its stereotyped style of play. The word "boring" tends to come up a lot with football and basketball. Whether its fair or not is irrelevant. The bottom-line is the word comes up too often.

Chance of Going to Big Ten: 5%

Big East Preview, Week 2

It was a perfect start to the season for the Big East, with the conference going 8-0. The highlight was USF's big win at Notre Dame, and now the Bulls look to build on what could be a special year. Another solid slate of games this week, as the league looks to remain perfect.

Last Week: 7-1

Overall: 7-1

Bye Week: None

Maine at Pittsburgh: The Panthers were pretty solid in game one against Buffalo. Ray Graham was the story, rushing for over 200 yards in that first game, and shouldn't be slowing down any time soon. Pitt would love to show off the new passing attack a little bit more but if the rushing game can't be stopped, why bother? Defensively, the Panthers had little trouble slowing down Buffalo, and should be right back at it this week against Maine. The Black Bears will battle hard, because that's what Mainers do! But, it won't be enough. Panthers roll.

Prediction: 34-7 Pittsburgh

Rhode Island at Syracuse: The Orange got more than they bargained for last Thursday, narrowly escaping Wake Forest. Hopefully for Syracuse this is the wake up call they needed. Defensively, Syracuse is better than they played the other day. However, they are dealing with a few day-to-day injuries to some of the starters. It shouldn't be too much of a problem this week as they take on Rhode Island. Look for Ryan Nassib to find some rhythm, and Antwon Bailey to light up the turf in this comfortable win for the Orange.

Prediction: 42-10 Syracuse

Norfolk State at (19) West Virginia: This will be a win for WVU if the team can actually play four quarters. Geno Smith was solid, but the rest of the offense could use some work. The offensive line was terrible, the running game was non-existent, and the receivers dropped a few passes. However, WVU scored 34 points in a little over three quarts, so just imagine what it will look like when it gets righted. Defensively, the Mountaineers picked up where they left off last season. The only issue in the first game was the pass rush. Expect that to change this weekend. Dana Holgorsen would love to send another statement early on that WVU is the team to beat in the Big East.

Prediction: 51-13 West Virginia

Ball State at (22) South Florida: The Bulls are the toast of the league following the big upset win at Notre Dame. Sure, USF had plenty of help from Notre Dame's mistakes, but a solid win is a solid win. B.J. Daniels is possibly the most underrated player in the league. He had a pretty good game against the Irish, and showed good maturity. His confidence wavered last season, so it was important to get off to the good start. The defense played well, and should have another solid game against Ball State. The Cardinals are coming off a nice win over Indiana. Ball State quarterback, Kyle Wenning was very strong in the win. He threw for over 79%, with two touchdowns. The Bulls need to slow down the rushing attack as well, something they struggled with last week. This is a classic letdown game situation, so USF has to be careful. A close game early on will give the Bulls a scare, but look for Daniels to take control of the second half.

Prediction: 27-17 South Florida

Florida International at Louisville: The Cardinals didn't exactly have the best debut. It was a struggle offensively. Louisville was able to move down the field, but need to do better in finishing. They face a Florida International team coming off a huge win over North Texas...though it was only North Texas. Wesley Carroll is a decent quarterback for FIU, but is susceptible to throwing the pick. Look for the Cards to bring the pressure as much as possible. The crowd should be a factor too. It's a Friday night ESPN game, and Papa Johns Stadium is a tough place to play. This is the type of game Louisville needs to win if they want to continue to grow. Look for a solid dose of Victor Anderson early on, with a steady helping of Will Stein after the passing lanes are open. A few FIU turnovers will lock things up for the Cards int he second half.

Prediction: 29-13 Louisville

Connecticut at Vanderbilt: A nice start for the Huskies last week, absolutely hammering their FCS opponent. UConn now faces a team that was actually out-gained by Elon. Sure, the Commodores won big, but didn't exactly show anything on offense. This will be a good matchup for the Husky defense, which is one of the more experienced groups in the conference. If Vandy struggled to move the ball on Elon, it certainly won't be easy against stingy, UConn. Johnny "Trickshot" McEntee started at quarterback for the Huskies, and performed well. Though all three gunslingers saw action. The show was stolen by freshman running back, Lyle McCombs, who finished with 141 yards and four touchdowns. Look for McCombs and DJ Shoemate to try to break down the Vandy defense. The Husky defense will probably shutdown Vandy's ground attack, so expect an ugly, grind it out game. This is a solid UConn win with an experienced quarterback. However, there is no experienced quarterback. Huskies still win, but it's a close one.

Prediction: 24-21 Connecticut

Rutgers at North Carolina: You really never know which UNC team will show up. The Thralls been one of the more unpredictable teams to follow over the past few seasons. Always seemingly on the cusp of the next level, a bad loss or scandal knocks them right back down. This is truly a respect game for both of these teams. Rutgers is looking to prove to the media that they are a bowl contender, and UNC looks to move on from Butch Davis. It should be a good matchup. Both teams are defensive-minded, but also have offensive playmakers. The big question for Rutgers will again be at the quarterback position. Chas Dodd will have to play mistake-free for Rutgers to have a chance. The run game will be tough to establish, so Dodd will have to find his experienced receivers to stay in this game. The Knights' defense will have some serious pressure on them as well, to try to keep this game close. Look for Rutgers to be in this game throughout, but too many mistakes will be the difference.

Prediction: 23-19 North Carolina

Game of the Week: Cincinnati at Tennessee: Take the over, folks. It's going to be one hell of a fun game to watch, as two potent offenses clash in Knoxville. Coming off a four touchdown game, Zach Collaros will look to keep the momentum going with a solid outing. Isaiah Pead will also look to have a big day, following a good debut last week. The Bearcats will score points, no doubt about it. However, how many will Cincy give up? The defense is truly the weakness for this team, and the Volunteers will keep the offensive pressure consistent. Tyler Bray was great against Montana, and the rushing attack is already on point. Both of these teams have the ability to come back so expect a back-and-forth battle. The experience on offense for the Bearcats may be the true difference, especially in a tight, late game. Look for Cincinnati to pull this one out, in a hostile environment by limiting mistakes.

Prediction: 38-35 Cincinnati