Interesting concept right there that perhaps we never fully accounted for last season. The Mountaineers right now have a group of eight to 10 players they seem to really like and trust, which makes for better practices, better depth and a better push for starting spots and playing time.

The first team, from the start, has been Quinton Spain at left tackle, Josh Jenkins (he’s been really good, I’m told) at left guard, Joe Madsen at center, Jeff Braun at right guard and Pat Eger at right tackle.

The second team has been, from left to right, Nick Kinder, freshman Adam Pankey, John Bassler, freshman Tyler Orlosky and Curtis Feigt.

On occasion, Bedenbaugh will sub, as explained above, and put first-team tackles at guard and second-team guards at tackle and a first-team guard at center.

This is not a new concept, but it’s is a new-ish application at WVU. It didn’t have the bodies last year that it does now, which helps when Bedenbaugh has to sub, as he did Friday. If one player can illustrate this transformation — and that’s unfair, I know, but you can get the idea here — it is Nick Kindler, a rarely used player for three years and two seasons who is suddenly mentioned in rave reviews for how he’s helping the Mountaineers.

 A strike to the leg knocked Josh Jenkins out of practice and onto the sideline Friday and sent West Virginia scrambling for a solution.

Quinton Spain, the mammoth left tackle, stepped to his right to replace Jenkins. Nick Kindler, a seldom-used redshirt junior who has dabbled almost solely on special teams, filled Spain’s spot.

And then a funny thing happened for the Mountaineers.

“Things went smoothly,” offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh said. “We didn’t miss a beat. When you can do things like that, that’s when you’re becoming a good offensive line.”