After all, that’s what the offseason has been like for WVU’s defenders, which makes them the defenders of a very good reputation. People see Bruce Irvin all the time on campus or in town and they stop him for a moment to have a conversation and to have something to tell their friends or co-workers or parents or children. Things get twisted when it comes to the topic.

“All the time,” Irvin said. “Last year it was always about the defense and how good the defense was going to be. This year, people come up and they’re all like, ‘How good is the offense? Is it really that good? You see it every day. Tell me what it’s like.’ “

Hasn’t been much different now that camp has started. Many ask the defensive players about going against the offense or the development of the offense. They still get their share of questions related to their side of the ball and to their position, but offensive players and offensive themes remain most popular. And for that, a defense doing a lot of significant work doesn’t much mind the lack of attention.

“It actually takes a lot of the attention that could be negative off the defense, all that stuff about us losing seven starters and how people don’t think we’re going to be any good,” safety Eain Smith said. “I don’t think that’s a bad thing, plus it gives the defense more fuel to perform. And the thing is, we’ve still got the same coach and he doesn’t expect anything less from us.”

Can’t forget Jeff Casteel, who, I think it’s fair to say, likes being off the radar and then barnstorming the radar. Sure, the Mountaineers are replacing seven starters and asking returning players and veterans to do different things, but the system and the guys teaching it are the same. You can reasonably expect the success to be the same, too, which, when put next to Dana Holgorsen’s offense, is a promising prospect.

Remember, the defense was the only one in the country last season to never allow more than 23 points in a game … and that was good for a 9-4 record and a bowl loss, when the opponent scored a season-high 23 points against WVU. With Holgorsen and Casteel, WVU’s defense has to simply be good enough to win.

In the previous three seasons, the Mountaineers averaged just 25.3 points per game and topped 30 points 14 times and 40 just twice in 39 games.

Since he was named co-coordinator at Texas Tech in 2006 and then moved on to Houston and Oklahoma State, Holgorsen’s offenses have averaged 32.5, 40.9, 40.6, 42.2 and 44.3 points per game. They’ve scored at least 40 points in 35 of 66 games.

Casteel’s defenses have allowed 17.3, 18.1, 17, 21.7 and 13.5 points per game and allowed 21 points or fewer 42 times in 65 games.

The defenses on Holgorsen-coached teams have allowed 25.1, 25.9, 30.9, 30.1 and 26.4 points per game and allowed more than 21 points 43 times in 66 games.