West Virginia: For Real or Pretender?

[MixBerryCrunch]

So West Virginia went 10-3 last year and got into a BCS bowl by virtue of (barely) being the champion of the shittiest conference ever. They then went on to blast an average Clemson team that could have had a better defense if Cosh was coaching them.  Now all of a sudden they are supposed to be the best team in the Big 12?? I'm not buying it. Look at their schedule from last year and look at it so far this year. It clearly shows that against teams that play Gawd awful defense they can put up a ton of points, but against teams with even average defense they struggle to win. Also, take note that several Big East teams were ranked very high in total defense last year. I think that's more of a product of being in a shitty conference, than actually having a stellar D. Now Look at the games against Maryland. Notice the similar score? That does not suggest much improvement from last year.  I know a lot of you are all  for Oct 20th but you should be 

2011 Schedule                                                     2012 Schedule

Marshall                     W 34-13      D-Rank 88          Marshall                 W 69-34      D-Rank 116
Norfolk State              W 55-12                             James Madison         W 42-12     
At Maryland                W 37-31      D-Rank 107        Maryland                W 31-21      D-Rank 9
LSU                           L 21-47       D-Rank 2
Bowling Green             W 55-10      D-Rank 81
UCONN                      W 43-16      D-Rank 51
At Syracuse               L 23-49       D-Rank 79
At Rutgers                 W 41-31      D-Rank 13
Louisville                    L 35-38       D-Rank 14
At Cincy                    W 24-21      D-Rank 20
Pitt                           W 21-20      D-Rank 35
At USF                      W 37-27      D-Rank 38
Clemson                     W 70-33      D-Rank 64 (Even with being in a shitty conference like the ACC)

[Rage Against the McKee]

I just wish we played them next week so we could be the team that exposed them.

[MakeItRain]

:dnr: beyond the topic title but what do you consider "real or pretender?"  Are you  suggesting that they aren't good enough to beat 2 or 3 of the other 5 best teams in the Big 12?  If they finish 9-3 or even 8-4 I wouldn't consider them a pretender.

[GoodForAnother]

they're extremely overrated.  think baylor last year with a worse qb.

[MixBerryCrunch]

:dnr: beyond the topic title but what do you consider "real or pretender?"  Are you  suggesting that they aren't good enough to beat 2 or 3 of the other 5 best teams in the Big 12?  If they finish 9-3 or even 8-4 I wouldn't consider them a pretender.

Pretender to the Big 12 Crown. Haven't you noticed ESPN slobbering all over them this season and predicting them to win the Big 12? I also believe they are a pretend top ten team. Their offense is good enough to make them a top 20 team but they are not good enough overall to win the Big 12, get to a BCS Bowl in a real power conference, or be a top ten team.   

[MakeItRain]

overrated for sure, hard not to be when you're a top 10 team, but still highly dangerous.  That Baylor win last year was our best win.

['taterblast]

At Syracuse               L 23-49

all i need to know. CONFIDENCE RISING.

[MakeItRain]

:dnr: beyond the topic title but what do you consider "real or pretender?"  Are you  suggesting that they aren't good enough to beat 2 or 3 of the other 5 best teams in the Big 12?  If they finish 9-3 or even 8-4 I wouldn't consider them a pretender.

Pretender to the Big 12 Crown. Haven't you noticed ESPN slobbering all over them this season and predicting them to win the Big 12? I also believe they are a pretend top ten team. Their offense is good enough to make them a top 20 team but they are not good enough overall to win the Big 12, get to a BCS Bowl in a real power conference, or be a top ten team.   

They'd be good in any conference.  Depending on what their schedule would be in the SEC, they would have a better record there than here, potentially.  There's no where to hide in the Big 12, boys.

[MakeItRain]

At Syracuse               L 23-49

all i need to know. CONFIDENCE RISING.

We heard similar arguments against us last year, no?

[EMAWican]

• When Geno Smith completes at least 50 percent of his throws 15 yards or longer, West Virginia is 17-0.
• When he completes fewer than 50 percent, the Mountaineers are 5-7.
• Smith is completing 70 percent of his throws 15 yards or longer, scoring touchdowns on 20 percent of the throws, which have gone for an average of 18.3 yards.
 

I think that the first team to limit Geno's long throws will expose WVU, or at least that is obviously a big piece of the puzzle.  And looking at our defensive track record on throws of 20+ yards, I wish we played them sooner.

[MixBerryCrunch]

At Syracuse               L 23-49

all i need to know. CONFIDENCE RISING.

We heard similar arguments against us last year, no?

Im not seeing much improvement from WVU this year though. Last year for us the improvement was significant and obvious.  I think Baylor drops WVU this weekend. IF they blowout Baylor I'll be scared if not then 

['taterblast]

At Syracuse               L 23-49

all i need to know. CONFIDENCE RISING.

We heard similar arguments against us last year, no?

NO NEVER

[MakeItRain]

• When Geno Smith completes at least 50 percent of his throws 15 yards or longer, West Virginia is 17-0.
• When he completes fewer than 50 percent, the Mountaineers are 5-7.
• Smith is completing 70 percent of his throws 15 yards or longer, scoring touchdowns on 20 percent of the throws, which have gone for an average of 18.3 yards.
 

I think that the first team to limit Geno's long throws will expose WVU, or at least that is obviously a big piece of the puzzle.  And looking at our defensive track record on throws of 20+ yards, I wish we played them sooner.

I'd bet a high percentage of those 15+ yarders are mostly YAC.

['taterblast]

At Syracuse               L 23-49

all i need to know. CONFIDENCE RISING.

We heard similar arguments against us last year, no?

Im not seeing much improvement from WVU this year though. Last year for us the improvement was significant and obvious.  I think Baylor drops WVU this weekend. IF they blowout Baylor I'll be scared if not then 

i dunno man. the jury is still out on the "have they improved?" question

[MixBerryCrunch]

At Syracuse               L 23-49

all i need to know. CONFIDENCE RISING.

We heard similar arguments against us last year, no?

Im not seeing much improvement from WVU this year though. Last year for us the improvement was significant and obvious.  I think Baylor drops WVU this weekend. IF they blowout Baylor I'll be scared if not then 

i dunno man. the jury is still out on the "have they improved?" question

Yeah I can see that. Tomorrow will answer a lot of questions.

[EMAWican]

• When Geno Smith completes at least 50 percent of his throws 15 yards or longer, West Virginia is 17-0.
• When he completes fewer than 50 percent, the Mountaineers are 5-7.
• Smith is completing 70 percent of his throws 15 yards or longer, scoring touchdowns on 20 percent of the throws, which have gone for an average of 18.3 yards.
 

I think that the first team to limit Geno's long throws will expose WVU, or at least that is obviously a big piece of the puzzle.  And looking at our defensive track record on throws of 20+ yards, I wish we played them sooner.

I'd bet a high percentage of those 15+ yarders are mostly YAC.

I would agree, but we still limit 20+ yard passes, even including YAC.

[GoodForAnother]

At Syracuse               L 23-49

all i need to know. CONFIDENCE RISING.

We heard similar arguments against us last year, no?

Im not seeing much improvement from WVU this year though. Last year for us the improvement was significant and obvious.  I think Baylor drops WVU this weekend. IF they blowout Baylor I'll be scared if not then 

confirmed.  baylor is going to win by a TD.

[Rage Against the McKee]

I think WVU will beat Baylor fairly easily.

[p1k3]

I think WVU will beat Baylor fairly easily.

Yeah it shouldn't be close. Baylor is incredibly bad on defense.

[GoodForAnother]

naw man.  Baylor's gonna win and be all like, "WELCOME TO THE BIG 12, LOSERS!" and WVU will be all like, "aw man, dangit"

[AbeFroman]

At Syracuse               L 23-49

all i need to know. CONFIDENCE RISING.

We heard similar arguments against us last year, no?

lol.
Syracuse.
They lost by 26 to rough ridin' Syracuse.

[mocat]

There's no where to hide in the Big 12, boys.

 

[steve dave]

naw man.  Baylor's gonna win and be all like, "WELCOME TO THE BIG 12, LOSERS!" and WVU will be all like, "aw man, dangit"

good post

[MakeItRain]

• When Geno Smith completes at least 50 percent of his throws 15 yards or longer, West Virginia is 17-0.
• When he completes fewer than 50 percent, the Mountaineers are 5-7.
• Smith is completing 70 percent of his throws 15 yards or longer, scoring touchdowns on 20 percent of the throws, which have gone for an average of 18.3 yards.
 

I think that the first team to limit Geno's long throws will expose WVU, or at least that is obviously a big piece of the puzzle.  And looking at our defensive track record on throws of 20+ yards, I wish we played them sooner.

I'd bet a high percentage of those 15+ yarders are mostly YAC.

I would agree, but we still limit 20+ yard passes, even including YAC.

our secondary is a tackle machine, will absolutely help against WVU

[8manpick]

There's no where to hide in the Big 12, boys.

 

Makes it a ton of fun.