2007 West Virginia Mountaineers Football Preview

2007 West Virginia Mountaineers season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official West Virginia Mountaineers football preview as well as the 2007 West Virginia Mountaineers Football Schedule. Dont miss Maddux's winning NCAA picks against the weekly college betting lines from the best college sports handicapper.

Coach: Rich Rodriguez (7th year at West Virginia)
Team Name: Mountaineers
2006 Overall Record: 11-2
Returning Starters: 15

The West Virginia Mountaineers (11- 2 overall, 5- 2 Big East) tied for second in the Big East and then beat Georgia Tech in the Gator Bowl by a score of 38- 35. This season the Mountaineers have a chance to win their conference. Not only are they better than they were last year but their much-maligned secondary shows promise.

West Virginia scored an average of 38.9 PPG in 2006 and accumulated 303.0 YPG running, ranking them second nationally in that category. How'd they do with the pass? The Mountaineers were rated 100th. Although the team utilizes a spread offense, it's not done to pass but to create mismatches and establish the run. Junior QB Patrick White (PASS: 65.9% COMP, 1,655 YDs, 13 TDs, 7 INTs) ran for almost as many yards as he passed (RUN: 165 CAR, 1,219 YDs, 7.4 AVG, 18 TDs). He's the finest running QB in the conference. Senior TB Steve Slaton (248 CAR, 1,744 YDs, 7.0 AVG, 16 TDs) is Heisman Trophy material. The receivers are good but for the most part used as blockers. Three starters return to the line, including sophomore guard Greg Isdaner, who was an All-American last year.

Solid against the run, the Mountaineers' defense was porous versus the pass, allowing 243.3 YPG (109th nationally). FS Quinton Andrews, a sophomore, had 5 picks last year and 80 tackles, 46 solo. BS Eric Wicks, now entering his senior year, took down players 73 times with 45 tackles being solo. This season, senior corners Antonio Lewis and Larry Williams need to reign in the opposition. The team plays a 3- 3- 5 scheme but has not made good use of the "5." No starting linebackers return, while the frontline features two starting seniors.

The West Virginia defense gave up 21.7 PPG, including 17 passing TDs. For this team to fulfill its promise that has to stop. Swing games against Rutgers and Louisville are winnable. Watch out for South Florida, they could be a spoiler.

West Virginia Mountaineers Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
Sep 1	W Michigan	Home
Sep 8	Marshall	Away
Sep 13	Maryland	Away
Sep 22	E Carolina	Home
Sep 28	USF	Away
Oct 6	Syracuse	Away
Oct 20	Mississippi St	Home
Oct 27	Rutgers	Away
Nov 8	Louisville	Home
Nov 17	Cincinnati	Away
Nov 24	Connecticut	Home
Dec 1	Pittsburgh	Home

 

For more info on the 2007 West Virginia Mountaineers football program, view the Mountaineers football site or you can read about other Big East teams below.