Welcome to the Friday Feedback, which is getting limber before the opener. Knuckle cracks, neck cranks, journeys down the Smart Football rabbit hole, trips through the faded paperback Roget’s. All that’s left is somewhat early to bed and early to rise.

A review of what to expect from me over the weekend:

• Pregame radio on IMG, and they’re going to share the segment shortly afterward
• Live blog post during the game, with a rollicking pregame, news and analysis during the game and postgame quotes and reviews
• Facebook, Twitter and Instagram updates throughout the game
• On Sunday, I’ll post our stories and whatever photos and videos our team generates
• On Monday, your texts and my Texts from Game Day (if you’re not familiar with this, I’m sure someone can give you help if you ask for help)

New this year? Snapchat! We’ll give it a whirl. I’m at mgcasazza. Wednesday was a fun one in JRL493. I’ve been teaching the students sports reporting through my lens, but we flipped it around that day and I had them school me on Snapchat. The lesson within was I could write a story with words and I could put together a story with snaps. Each would accomplish similar or the same things, but if we’re being honest, the students are more likely to pick and enjoy one than the other.

I’ll be sure to stop by the WVUSBw/MC tailgate and get some footage.

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, pay attention to your content.

Sammy said:

Are we starting 9 seniors on defense?

Yep, and do you know what? I knew that, but I didn’t really know that until I read this. That’s pretty wild when you consider WVU started seven seniors last season. Lost them all, and Daryl Worley, and then lost Darvon Askew-Henry. So the team that needed nine new starters comes back with nine seniors. That’s uncommon. Seven of the nine seniors, plus junior Al-Rasheed Benton, are in their third season with defensive coordinator Tony Gibson and his 3-3-5. 

No one’s comparing this defense and all the unknowns to last season’s defense and all the certainties, but Gibson is willing to admit he has a similar level of comfort.

“As far as schematically and understanding what I want, yes, because they’ve been here,” he said. “A majority of them have been through a season. They’ve been in the meetings. That part of it I’m happy with.”

There’s another part, of course, and it’s alarming. Nose guard Darrien Howard, linebackers Justin Arndt and Sean Walters, Crawford, Douglas and spur safety Kyzir White will all make their first starts. Each is a senior, except for White, who is a junior college transfer preparing for his WVU debut.

“Can we go execute the game plan?” Gibson said. “I know we can get lined up and go where we’re supposed to go. Now, can we finish tackles and make plays? Those are the reasons I haven’t slept since probably last week.

“It’s never kicked in this early, but the last few nights, it’s been like I’ve taken a two-hour nap. But I think I’m more excited and anxious to watch these guys than I was a year ago.”

CC Team said:

Given HCDH’s comments about going back to his roots, his confidence in his running backs and wide receivers, and an offensive line that should be decent; that WV’s intent is to let the backs do the running and have Howard do more pitching and less read option. If so, the shuttle pass just may make a reappearance.

They say there’s no cheering in the press box … but if the hot potato returns, I’m not making any promises. Also, something we have not discussed that I tried to write about and couldn’t get anyone to discuss: I don’t think Skyler’s running much this season. At least, I think that’s the plan. He ran it 157 times last year for 502 yards. If this season goes acceptably close to as planned, I’d bet he’s close to half of that.

Down South said:

I’ve read all the stories about how great Missouri’s defense was last season. Color me unimpressed. The SEC East is abysmal offensively. Maybe that changes this year, but I’m going to have to see them slow us down to believe it.

The Tigers did pretty good work last season. No one had their way, except maybe Mississippi State, and five of the top six tacklers as well as the high-impact players among the defensive linemen, linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties are all back. That’s a good base. They’re not going to be blown away by what they see Saturday, and a few freshmen, like defensive end Tre Williams (who is getting the good type of Aldon Smith comparisons) and defensive back DeMarkus Acy could be playmakers. Let me ask you this: Are you going to have to see WVU move the ball against Missouri to believe in the Mountaineers? I think I’m on that side of the line.

Foul Shot said:

Hoping “Submarine” Sandwisch can make an impact Sat.
Crest, after that initial excitement, can’t seem to raise his game to #1 backup. Has to be the passing or lack of.
Hoping one of these first 3 games doesn’t come down to a long FG for the win.

Gibson said Sandwisch will be the first guy in behind Justin Arndt. I’m inclined to believe Gibson, but I’ll also believe it when I see it. There are a lot of ways to manipulate the linebacker positions with regard to the Sam-Mike Sandwisch-Hodari Christian deal. Why does this interest me as much as it does?

Michael Walker said:

If this game is a struggle it’s going to be a very long season. Missouri was near the bottom of the weak SEC East last season and only one offensive lineman has ever played a down.

I wouldn’t go that far. If WVU loses? Sure. If WVU struggles — a broad term — in the opener against an SEC team with a new coaching staff and a veteran defense that knows the head coach quite well, if WVU can’t use its offense to blow out that defense and if its new defense can’t dominate a shaky offense, it’s a bad day and it’s followed by a long week. But it’s not like Missouri is William & Mary. By the way, the line is down to 10 points. You can get 9 1/2. It was over two touchdowns a while back.

Karl said:

This game worries me too. Mizzou has some players on D. We have enough history on Skyler Howard to know how he fares against good defenses. Under 50% completions, multiple interceptions. He’ll throw a few long passes that are too short and our guys will lose the jump balls. Our defense won’t be 2013 bad, but it’s going to fall off with all of the personnel losses, which were compounded by an unlucky preseason. That’ll keep a bad Mizzou offense in the game. This game could come down to Rushel Shell. I think we’ll get a couple of good games out of him at the start of the season when he’s healthy and running aggressively.

Yeah, I don’t think this is unreasonable at all. If you put this line of thinking into the fifth game, you’d nod your head, though Karl might not include Shell in his fifth-game synopsis. The first game adds, I think, a degree of difficulty, but with the exception of William & Mary, WVU’s offense has been pretty good in openers. And yes, I’m counting the Alabama game. But this is the second-best opponent Holgorsen has seen in an opener. 

Gordo said:

 

It’s Skylers second full year as a starter. It’s also the second full year for some of his receivers. Plus the o-line is more experienced. I think all of that matters and that makes me hopeful that he won’t be terrible.

No one knows what happens, but I think we can agree on this: There’s no excuse for the offense now. There are only explanations.

Sid Brockman said:

Was so happy when I found out Ross was leaving Oklahoma. Was so sad when I heard he went to Mizzou and will be back to torture WVU one last time. Special teams!

There are two ways to look at the scenario with Alex Ross. He’s returning kicks with a new team that isn’t used to him. Or he’s returning kicks against a team with a new kicker and a bunch of new coverage players. But forget words. How about images? 

You can look at it this way …

… or you can look at it this way.

That’s Mike Molina taking down Ross. Never forget. Molina has not.

Mr Burns said:

Hopefully, Mr Ross will get many chances to return kickoffs.

Actually, that’s probably the best way for you all to look at it, right?

Mack said:

Nothing more fun than reporter problems.

Putting the entire backdrop in the frame makes Holgorsen look small.

I’m nothing if not transparent.

tom sirk said:

I just read USA Today preseason 1-128 listing; Mounties were #66 – not saying that is wrong per se, but to be ranked below such stalwarts as LA Tech, South Florida, Marshall, Western Kentucky, etc. does give one pause regarding the upcoming season. Hopefully, Dana and strong armed Texan will boost us to at least the mid-40’s by season’s end.

I don’t think mid-40s is going to cut it this season. 

Mack said:

I don’t want to be one of those types of fans . . . but I honestly find it difficult as a logical-thinking individual to put WVU under Marshall in football under any circumstances. I would list my reasons, but I think you guys can probably figure them all out for yourselves.

Eh, Marshall’s had a pretty good run the past three years, but even so, it’s not a legacy or longevity ranking. It’s a one-year evaluation, right? Only projecting 2016. I wouldn’t be surprised if Marshall had more wins and a better position in the polls.

CC Team said:

It is, of course, not really true that MU has a better team than WVU, but it is entirely possible that the Herd will have a decent record and will be ranked higher at the end of the year than the Mountaineers.

 That’s what I read … but I think the implication is that MU has a better team than WVU. If the teams played the past three years — I’ll stop.

Mikus said:

“Some kid sat right in front of it”. Come on Mike – who was it? Did you bring up the ghost of Mickey F. and tell him how things are done up in here?

Doesn’t matter who it was. I wasn’t going to make a scene, but I was astonished. It won’t happen again. 

jdwvu said:

Whats the deal with TV for the Youngstown game?

It’s a Tier 3 game with a 2 p.m. start. Who produces and who calls the game is probably all that has to be settled. We’ll know Sunday.

Down South said:

We seem really thin at running back. Shell has had his struggles. The next three guys are two freshmen and a JUCO transfer. I get they are talented, but that is the position that worries me on offense.

I feel like the jury is waiting on Shell. It needs to see new evidence or it’s ready and willing to rule. But I also really think Crawford is the real deal. Is he the real McKoy?

MattiMo said:

A good o-line can make up for some of that if Shell goes down.

Yes and no. It opens holes, I get that, but if Shell or Crawford or McKoy goes down, that brings Martell Pettaway into the equation, and I suspect that is not the plan right now. The line isn’t going to give him experience, and if WVU has just three backs, it’s not using two-back stuff. If one of the three goes down and WVU has to get out of a game, I bet Wellman fills in before Pettaway, if that means keeping a redshirt on Pettaway. If an injury covers a longer amount of time, then maybe Pettaway is bumped up.  

Sammy said:

It’s more about RB health. In 2012 the run game looked good until Alston got hurt, so we lost maybe our best back (who was just OK anyway) but then Andrew Buie was carrying it 20-35 times a game and he totally wore out. Run game was broken until Tavon happened. Having a few guys who can rotate makes a difference.

Here’s the other part about Pettaway. When was the last time the Mountaineers DIDN’T need four backs? And don’t say last year. WVU had two backs. WVU needed two more, so much so that Skyler became the third running back. If you need three running backs to use your full array of sets, you need four running backs. 

The 25314 said:

Buie only carried it 20 times 3 times all season. Baylor, Texas, TTU. The only time he carried anywhere close to 35 times was 31 times against Texas for 207 yards.

Correct, and he was not the same for a long time after that one. But Crawford averaged 20 carries a game against legit juco competition. I think he can hang.

Down South said:

No way Petteway redshirts, IMO.

I think I agree, but I don’t think he’s ready to play Saturday. 

Bobby Heenan said:

Maybe I’m naive, but I’m fine with the RB situation. I feel like out of all positions on the field, a newcomer can play RB as many of their “duties” or skill sets are either innate or not terribly complicated and immediate impact is possible. Anecdotally, it seems more history of freshman RB’s (or rookies in NFL) playing right away it seems more so than say a QB or O-line. Amos, Avon, Quincy Wilson, Slaton, Devine, Buie/Garrison, and Wendell all played significant snaps in their true freshman year. Not saying these young guys we have now are at that level, but true Freshman RBs can be just fine.

Agree with Down South. In a perfect world Petteway redshirts, but at some point we’ll need him when the inevitable RB bumps and bruises set in.

Not that it matters, but Petteway was probably my favorite recruit. I loved his film. It wasn’t jaw dropping like a Tavon or Noel highlight reel, but he just seemed to do so many things well (good vision, runs hard, good speed…not top end anywhere, but really solid), play hard, and seems built really well.

This is reassuring. I spent more time staring at the depth chart and wondering about depth and subsequent problems at linebacker and quarterback than I did at running back. And I happen to think the situation at safety is all right. A lot depends on Joyous Toyous Avery, though. (Can I call him J.T. Avery here now just so the damn autocorrect stops embarrassing me?) If he can fill in at free safety, Tyler can play spur behind Kyzir. If he’s shaky, then you probably pull a bandit to free — Khairi Sharif and Shane Commodore — and then the situation at backup bandit and spur is thin and Tyler can only do so much.

Sid Brockman said:

Does the diamond formation take over some of the TE stuff? Seems to me if you want to have two backs on the field some, that formation would be useful. Especially with a QB that has some wheels.

Good call. I think so. One appeal of the diamond is that it compensates for not having tight ends who can handle themselves on the line. Another is it simulates a lot of one- and two-back formations. You’re just using the tight ends from a different depth, and that’s a benefit for the offense against the defense that isn’t used to that. The problem with the diamond and/or two-tight ends is only puts two receivers on the field and it would appear Dana likes his receivers so much that he wants to get three or four on the field as often as is reasonable. So, in a way, not having a great situation at tight end, which is usually great of the offense, might actually end up being great for the offense. And that was a mouthful. We really need to finish.

I love you, Doug! said:

Every time, always, ever, in the history of football, it seems the TE is open down the middle for a 5-10-yard gain. Boy I’d love to see that some time.

Yeah, and watch out Saturday. Missouri has some good ones. The three listed on the two-deep are each 6-5 or 6-6 and 250 or 260 pounds … and that doesn’t include one of the top recruits who Missouri flipped from Alabama. Scales is playing Saturday. 

Sammy said:

It’s not that Maurice, Rasul and Crawford are starters, it’s just that they were in the game first.

True. But no pressure.

Clarence Oveur said:

It’s not that Nana’s chances are running out. It’s that he’s a senior and there’s three guys ahead of him on the depth chart.

Enjoy the weekend!