Coach:
Don Nehlen
142-88-4, 20 years
195-123-8, 29 years overall |
1999 Record: 4-7
Sep
04 |
@East
Carolina |
Lost
23-30 |
Sep
11 |
Miami
(OH) |
Won
43-27 |
Sep
18 |
@Maryland |
Lost
0-33 |
Sep
25 |
@Syracuse |
Lost
7-30 |
Oct
02 |
Navy |
Lost
28-31 |
Oct 16 |
Rutgers |
Won 62-16 |
Oct 23 |
Temple |
Won 20-17 |
Oct 30 |
@Miami (FL) |
Lost 20-28 |
Nov 06 |
Virginia Tech |
Lost 20-22
|
Nov 13 |
@Boston College |
Lost 17-34 |
Nov 27 |
Pittsburgh |
Won 52-21 |
|
|
1999
Final Rankings
|
AP-NR, BCS-NR,
Coaches-NR
|
2000 Outlook
|
The golden key for 2000 will be a much
needed improvement on the defensive side of the ball.
And that is no easy chore as seven starters depart from
last seasons disappointmenting efforts. If the Mountaineers
do not learn to tackle better it could be another long
season. On the other side WVU will put points on the
board with a stellar offensive line leading the way
for Avon Cobourne and some of the leagues best set of
receivers in Brown and Ivy. Although quarterback Marc
Bulger heads to the NFL, fans are hoping that Brad Lewis
and promising freshman Scott McBrien can lead the team
as the running situation will take some of the pressure
of of them. Possibly look for a two-headed QB system
next fall which Coach Nehlen feels may be on the plus
side. Fans will be treated to one of the best home schedules
to date as seven teams come into Mountaineer Field for
2000 including rivals and power hitters Maryland, Miami,
Notre Dame, Syracuse, and ECU. In other words, Coach
Don Nehlen gets his 200th career victory, but it ain't
gonna be easy.
Projected Record: 6-5
West
Virginia 2000 Schedule
|
WEST VIRGINIA
*POWER RATINGS
|
Offense
|
Defense
|
QB - 2 |
DL - 1.5 |
RB - 3.5 |
LB - 3 |
WR - 4 |
DB - 1 |
OL - 4 |
|
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|
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WEST VIRGINIA
MOUNTAINEERS
2000 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
|
|
Coverage of Mountaineer
Sports
|
2000
OFFENSE
|
Strengths: The offensive
line and running game appear strong as the OL could be the strongest
segment on the field. Numerous starters return all across the
front. Highly regarded Michigan transfer Jason Brooks will step
in at guard as senior bossman Rick Gilliam moves to the center
positon after feeding opponents plenty of dry pancakes in 1999.
In addition, there are plenty of talented youngsters that will
give the line depth to boot as WVU has not seen that many quality
players in a while. The Big East rushing champ, sophmore Avon
Cobourne, returns at tailback where he ran for 1,139 yards last
season, a WVU freshman rushing record, earning him Sporting
News Rookie All-American honors. The best news in Morgantown
is that senior Khori Ivy has been granted an extra year by the
NCAA giving the Mountaineers a solid set of receivers including
Antonio Brown. Both Ivy and Brown were the top two dogs in '99
accounting for 103 receptions and six touchdowns. |
Weaknesses: Who is going
to replace WVU record setter Marc Bulger at QB? It will be a
battle between Brad Lewis and freshman Scott McBrien, who has
impressed during spring ball. Lewis will come in as the starter
due to more experience as he filled in last year during a stretch
for an injured Bulger and threw for 726 yards and 8 TD's giving
Virginia Tech one heckuva scare. The loss of tight end Anthony
Becht hurts and it will be key to find quality depth at that
spot due to the fact that there are hardly any fullbacks at
West Virginia for 2000 creating a new H-back wrinkle to the
offense. Look for some two tight end sets and different formations
from Coach Nehlen this fall because of it. A new offensive coordinator
takes over in Coach Bill Legg. Injuries have plagued the Mounties
with young center Tim Brown (broken foot), H-back Brad Cusick
(knee), tackle Tanner Russell (shoulder surgery) sitting out
spring drills. Most costly is the loss of back up tailback Quincy
Wilson who could be out for next season as he seriously injured
a knee in the Blue and Gold spring game. Gone is senior kicker
Jay Taylor who led the conference in field goal percentage last
year as that duty is now wide open. |
OFFENSIVE DEPTH CHART
|
QB |
Brad
Lewis |
6-3 |
225 |
Jr. |
|
Scott
McBrien |
6-2 |
185 |
Fr. |
TB |
Avon
Cobourne |
5-8 |
190 |
So. |
|
Cooper
Rego |
5-9 |
198 |
Jr. |
HB |
Brad
Cusick |
6-4 |
245 |
So. |
|
Tory
Johnson |
6-3 |
240 |
Fr. |
WR |
Khori
Ivy |
6-2 |
190 |
Sr. |
|
Phil
Braxton |
6-2 |
200 |
Jr. |
WR |
Antonio
Brown |
5-10 |
170 |
Jr. |
|
Shawn
Terry |
6-3 |
180 |
Jr. |
T |
Matt
Wilson |
6-5 |
295 |
Sr. |
|
Greg
Miltleider |
6-4 |
300 |
Fr. |
G |
Wes
Ours |
6-1 |
280 |
Sr. |
|
Terry
Dixon |
6-3 |
320 |
Sr. |
C |
Rick
Gilliam |
6-6 |
325 |
Sr. |
|
Mike
Enick |
6-4 |
290 |
Sr. |
G |
Jason
Brooks |
6-4 |
290 |
Jr. |
|
Jeremy
Sherman |
6-6 |
310 |
Jr. |
T |
Tanner
Russell |
6-8 |
310 |
Sr. |
|
Brad
Knell |
6-5 |
290 |
Jr. |
TE |
Sean
Berton |
6-5 |
235 |
So. |
|
Steve
Terlesky |
6-4 |
260 |
So. |
K |
Brendan
Rauh |
5-9 |
185 |
Jr. |
|
John
Ohliger |
6-0 |
215 |
Sr. |
Returning
starters in bold. |
Key
Losses: Marc Bulger-QB, John Conte-C, Anthony Becht-TE,
Anthony Green-FB,
Jerry Porter-WR, Jay Taylor-K
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|
2000
DEFENSE
|
Strengths: The middle
of the defense has some talent at the linebacker set. West Virginia's
top big play defender and two year starter Chris Edmonds returns
after recording six sacks in '99. Edmonds will be moved back
to the rush linebacker spot to try and add a much needed pass
rush for 2000. Joining him will be the teams second leading
tackler Kyle Kaden who finished with 81 of them from the middle
linebacker slot a year ago. Keep an eye on young freshman Grant
Wiley as he shows plenty of promise for the future after putting
on a dazzling display of big hits during the spring.. On the
line senior Antwan Lake will be moved to tackle to try and add
some leadership up front. In the backfield safety Ricky Sherrod
will be a key as he tries to fulfill the promise coaches feel
he had since coming to West Virginia. In the field position
department punter Mike Fazzolari will keep opponents on the
other side of the field as he was 2nd Team All Big East as a
freshman in 1999 with a 41.5 yard average. |
Weaknesses: The whole entire defense
for 2000 has plenty of question marks. Gone are seven starters
from a senior- laden 1999 team that
gave up 26.3 points a game, 410 yards per game, with 192 of
it coming on the ground. Coach Nehlen has stressed the emphasis
on poor tackling and a lack of physical play. Making matters
worse is that big time recruit Osa Nosa has been suspended
indefinately from the team forcing some undersized guys to
step on the the defensive line. It will be key for some of
the interior lineman to hit the weight room and put some bulk
in the trenches for next season. Mark Thurston has been moved
to DE allowing Edmonds to try and create more action from
the rush linebacker spot. The defensive backfield lost every
single starter and then some, although there are still plenty
of numbers for the Mountaineers coaching staff to work with.
Team leading tackler Barrett Green has departed and will be
missed big time and it will be crucial that someone takes
up the slack.
|
DEFENSIVE DEPTH CHART
|
DE |
Jason
Davis |
6-5 |
280 |
So. |
|
Mark
Thurston |
6-3 |
255 |
Jr. |
DT |
Antwan
Lake |
6-5 |
275 |
Sr. |
|
Shannon
Washington |
6-5 |
245 |
Jr. |
NT |
David
Upchurch |
6-4 |
260 |
So. |
|
William
Perry |
6-2 |
300 |
So. |
RLB |
Chris
Edmonds |
6-3 |
240 |
Sr. |
|
Jamien
Harvey |
6-4 |
240 |
Jr. |
SLB |
David
Carter |
6-2 |
230 |
Sr. |
|
James
Davis |
6-2 |
210 |
So. |
MLB |
Kyle
Kaden |
6-3 |
235 |
Jr. |
|
Corey
McIntyre |
6-0 |
235 |
Sr. |
WLB |
Grant
Wiley |
6-1 |
212 |
Fr. |
|
Ben
Collins |
5-10 |
200 |
So. |
CB |
Lewis
Daniels |
6-1 |
190 |
So. |
|
Brian
King |
6-0 |
185 |
Fr. |
CB |
Richard
Bryant |
6-0 |
175 |
Jr. |
|
Lance
Frazier |
5-9 |
180 |
Fr. |
SS |
Shawn
Hackett |
6-1 |
190 |
Jr. |
|
Jerry
Jerido |
5-10 |
190 |
Sr. |
FS |
Rick
Sherrod |
6-3 |
190 |
Jr. |
|
Ben
Meighan |
6-2 |
200 |
So. |
P |
Mark
Fazzolari |
6-0 |
185 |
So. |
|
Zach
Anglin |
6-0 |
195 |
Jr. |
Returning
starters in bold. |
Key
Losses: Barrett Green-LB, Ryan Brady-DL, Greg Robinette-DL,
Perlo Bastien-DB,
Scooter Davis-DB, Boo Sensabaugh-DB, Nate Terry-DB,
Gary Thompkins-DB
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