Hi all, WVU fan here. I've never posted on a message board before (not even WVU forums) but felt compelled to create an account after reading some of the mind blowing posts made from a few of my WVU brethren. Below I'll try to outline a more sane expectation of our team and save face for the majority of the WVU fan base.
I'll start with the defense.
First things first, the only exceptional player on the defense is David Long. He's undersized at LB compared to what y'all are used to but he is a stud. Unfortunately for us there is a dramatic drop off on defense from there. Dylan Tonkery was serviceable at LB last year and should be better in his second year. The third starting LB is a JUCO transfer so its hard to tell what we have there.
Safety: Dravon Askew-Henry was a Freshman AA but tore his ACL two years ago and was a huge liability last year. We are all hopeful that he can return to his pre-injury status but only time will tell. He is also playing a new position this year which is the tone setter for the D, so we really need him to be good. The other two starting safeties are decent but nothing to write home about. Kenny Robinson was a boom or bust freshman last year and, as all good homers do, we like to focus on the boom which is why WVUMULE was so high on him in his last post.
Cornerbacks: They were abysmal last year so it can only go up from there. Hopefully they can upgrade to just "liability" instead of "abysmal" this year.
That brings us to the DL. Surprisingly, it looks like the defensive line has turned into one of our strengths this year. I know, I know, you all are tired of hearing about our two transfers, but you have to understand that they actually are a really big deal for us. Our DL was miserable last year (as you guys rightfully bring up at any possible opportunity. SEE: Kansas running game). Two of our starters from last years DL left the program and it sounds like it was a mutual split with our DC even stating that one of them was like a cancer to the team. So those two transfers from big time programs, even if they didn't play much at their last schools, are an upgrade from what we have last year. Expect to see a lot of shuffling on the DL early in the game until the coaches figure out who is actually for real, because all fall they have been saying that we have 8 guys who can play. I like the optimism, but I'll believe it when I see it. Most of us fans will be ecstatic if 3 players turn out to be good (which I believe will happen).
Overall, we will be better than we were last year but we did not set the bar that high. I think of the defense like you all think of your whole team, it's a giant unknown. I do believe the talent is there, but have no idea if they will bring it all together. I would be happy if our D averaged giving up around 28PPG by the end of the year. I know, that's rough.
Offense:
QB: Will Grier will be the best player on the field, for either team. There is a reason he is a preseason first team AA.
WR: David Sills is also a preseason AA for a reason, all he does is score touchdowns. Gary Jennings is also a stud and will be playing on Sundays next year, he is the guy that you all need to shut to down really impact our offense. He has a knack for getting open and doesn't ever drop the ball. Marcus Simms is a speedster but has been known to drop the easy passes. We haven't seen T.J. Simmons yet so we don't really know what were getting but Grier has had nothing but good things to say about him (whatever that's worth).
RB: If the old saying goes "if you have two QBs, then you have no QBs" what does it mean if you have 4 RBs? Seriously, I have no idea what we have here. Some of our fanbase is excited that the coaching staff has talked up a RFrosh a TFrosh running back this fall but it worries me. I would have liked to see McCoy or Pettaway (the back-ups from last year) distance themselves as starters. Overall, I think defenses will have to account for Grier enough that the RBs will be decent but I have no idea which one will be the starter as the season goes on.
TE: I'm not buying into the TE hype until I see it. Dana has been saying for the last few years that we would start using a TE and it has yet to happen. All we really know is that Wesco is a blocker and Haskins is a pass-catcher.
Line: We have two very good lineman in Cajuste and McKivitz, both tackles. I am not drinking the cool-aid that our interior lineman will be great this year. Our interior line play last year was bad, which is the reason we either scored on a 4 play, 80 yard drive or had a three and out. Seriously, there wasn't much of an in-between last year. Our starting center from last year lost the job in the Spring, but has since pulled back even on the depth chart. This is another RB situation for me, I would have liked to see him distance himself from the backup.
Overall, our offense should be prolific if for nothing else than Will Grier and the fact it's his second year in the system. Say what you will about Dana, but returning QBs on his team have seriously improved numbers from the previous year. The interior line is my biggest fear, but I think they will be serviceable enough that we can average 35-38PPG.
Sorry for the long winded post but I wanted to give a more honest review of our team. As for a prediction of this game, I think we do end up winning, mainly because its the first game of the season. This will be one of the few games we don't have to worry about depth. I also think that you all are putting too high of expectations on your new head coach in the first game of the season. I think you all admit that he inherited a dumpster fire and I don't think he will be able to turn it around in the first game. If we played y'all in the 10th game of the year then I think there could be a very different outcome.
Good luck on Saturday and no matter the outcome, I will be rooting for the Vols to win every game the rest of the year.
I'll start with the defense.
First things first, the only exceptional player on the defense is David Long. He's undersized at LB compared to what y'all are used to but he is a stud. Unfortunately for us there is a dramatic drop off on defense from there. Dylan Tonkery was serviceable at LB last year and should be better in his second year. The third starting LB is a JUCO transfer so its hard to tell what we have there.
Safety: Dravon Askew-Henry was a Freshman AA but tore his ACL two years ago and was a huge liability last year. We are all hopeful that he can return to his pre-injury status but only time will tell. He is also playing a new position this year which is the tone setter for the D, so we really need him to be good. The other two starting safeties are decent but nothing to write home about. Kenny Robinson was a boom or bust freshman last year and, as all good homers do, we like to focus on the boom which is why WVUMULE was so high on him in his last post.
Cornerbacks: They were abysmal last year so it can only go up from there. Hopefully they can upgrade to just "liability" instead of "abysmal" this year.
That brings us to the DL. Surprisingly, it looks like the defensive line has turned into one of our strengths this year. I know, I know, you all are tired of hearing about our two transfers, but you have to understand that they actually are a really big deal for us. Our DL was miserable last year (as you guys rightfully bring up at any possible opportunity. SEE: Kansas running game). Two of our starters from last years DL left the program and it sounds like it was a mutual split with our DC even stating that one of them was like a cancer to the team. So those two transfers from big time programs, even if they didn't play much at their last schools, are an upgrade from what we have last year. Expect to see a lot of shuffling on the DL early in the game until the coaches figure out who is actually for real, because all fall they have been saying that we have 8 guys who can play. I like the optimism, but I'll believe it when I see it. Most of us fans will be ecstatic if 3 players turn out to be good (which I believe will happen).
Overall, we will be better than we were last year but we did not set the bar that high. I think of the defense like you all think of your whole team, it's a giant unknown. I do believe the talent is there, but have no idea if they will bring it all together. I would be happy if our D averaged giving up around 28PPG by the end of the year. I know, that's rough.
Offense:
QB: Will Grier will be the best player on the field, for either team. There is a reason he is a preseason first team AA.
WR: David Sills is also a preseason AA for a reason, all he does is score touchdowns. Gary Jennings is also a stud and will be playing on Sundays next year, he is the guy that you all need to shut to down really impact our offense. He has a knack for getting open and doesn't ever drop the ball. Marcus Simms is a speedster but has been known to drop the easy passes. We haven't seen T.J. Simmons yet so we don't really know what were getting but Grier has had nothing but good things to say about him (whatever that's worth).
RB: If the old saying goes "if you have two QBs, then you have no QBs" what does it mean if you have 4 RBs? Seriously, I have no idea what we have here. Some of our fanbase is excited that the coaching staff has talked up a RFrosh a TFrosh running back this fall but it worries me. I would have liked to see McCoy or Pettaway (the back-ups from last year) distance themselves as starters. Overall, I think defenses will have to account for Grier enough that the RBs will be decent but I have no idea which one will be the starter as the season goes on.
TE: I'm not buying into the TE hype until I see it. Dana has been saying for the last few years that we would start using a TE and it has yet to happen. All we really know is that Wesco is a blocker and Haskins is a pass-catcher.
Line: We have two very good lineman in Cajuste and McKivitz, both tackles. I am not drinking the cool-aid that our interior lineman will be great this year. Our interior line play last year was bad, which is the reason we either scored on a 4 play, 80 yard drive or had a three and out. Seriously, there wasn't much of an in-between last year. Our starting center from last year lost the job in the Spring, but has since pulled back even on the depth chart. This is another RB situation for me, I would have liked to see him distance himself from the backup.
Overall, our offense should be prolific if for nothing else than Will Grier and the fact it's his second year in the system. Say what you will about Dana, but returning QBs on his team have seriously improved numbers from the previous year. The interior line is my biggest fear, but I think they will be serviceable enough that we can average 35-38PPG.
Sorry for the long winded post but I wanted to give a more honest review of our team. As for a prediction of this game, I think we do end up winning, mainly because its the first game of the season. This will be one of the few games we don't have to worry about depth. I also think that you all are putting too high of expectations on your new head coach in the first game of the season. I think you all admit that he inherited a dumpster fire and I don't think he will be able to turn it around in the first game. If we played y'all in the 10th game of the year then I think there could be a very different outcome.
Good luck on Saturday and no matter the outcome, I will be rooting for the Vols to win every game the rest of the year.
