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Mitch Vingle WVU prediction: At Kansas

August 17, 2017 by  
Kansas and WVU tangle in Lawrence this year to start the conference schedule. (AP photo)

The Big 12 office did WVU a solid by starting the away portion of the Mountaineer schedule in Lawrence. West Virginia won handily against the Jayhawks last season and there’s no evidence KU will rise up this season.
One note: Many probably think Jayhawk coach David Beaty is on the hot season after a 2-22 record over the last two seasons. But that’s not the case. School athletic director Sheahon Zenger, in fact, gave the guy a raise and extension.
Among the other movements, Beaty brought in TCU co-offensive coordinator Doug Meacham, who will take over the play-calling.
In sum, there is some light at the end of the tunnel for Kansas. Yet WVU will mimic an oncoming train in this game. The Jayhawk secondary is weak. My man Fish Smithson is gone. And Mountaineer quarterback Will Grier will have a very nice day indeed. West Virginia moves to 4-0.
WVU, 35-17

Mitch Vingle WVU prediction: Delaware State

August 16, 2017 by  
Delaware State

If you’re in a hurry today, I’m going to get you on your way in a flash.
This will be no contest. None.
It’s not even Delaware. The Blue Hens, in fact, routed the Hornets 56-14 last season. Delaware State finished a robust 0-11.
And in this season’s MEAC preseason polling? DSU was again predicted to finish last of 11 teams.
In sum, WVU’s Dana Holgorsen will be able to name the final score. If you wish that I throw out a couple names to watch, OK. I’m a sweetheart. So the Hornets have a couple skilled guys in running back Mike Waters and receiver Mason Rutherford, who were named to the second-team all-MEAC preseason squad.
Yet enough of the pleasantries. The Mountaineers will easily win this to move to 3-0.
And one last note. The Hornets finish their season in Tallahassee against Florida State. Oh, the humanity…

Mountaineer Pick ‘Em

by Ryan Decker

If you’re on social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram, you’ve probably seen something similar to this.

The scenario is simple: You’re given $15 in fictitious money, and a chart of players to chose from. Using only that $15, pick the best team possible.

You can’t go over that price point, but if you come in under budget, reevaluate.

This chart, obviously, is centered on WVU greats.

 

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Comment your team below.

Mitch Vingle’s WVU prediction: ECU

August 15, 2017 by  
In this photo taken Friday, Aug. 4, 2017, East Carolina quarterback Garner Minshew warms up during the team's NCAA college football practice in Greenville, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Normally, a WVU game against East Carolina would be cause for pause.
Yet this 2017 Pirates team isn’t your father’s ECU.
True, East Carolina of the American Athletic Conference (which would have been WVU’s home had the Big 12 not rescued the Mountaineers) beat North Carolina State last season. The Pirates started off 2-0.
But then went 1-9.
ECU quarterback Zay Jones is gone along with most of the team’s receiving corps. If you search preseason all-AAC lists, about all you’ll find is wideout Jimmy Williams, 5-11, 194 pounds listed.
Otherwise, it’s barren. Most are calling for the Pirates to finish dead last in the AAC East Division, which also consists of South Florida, Central Florida, Temple, Cincinnati and Connecticut. (Bring back memories?)
Too, the worst news for East Carolina is it’s very weak against the run.
West Virginia is very strong at the run. Expect the Mountaineers’ Justin Crawford to have a very big day – as well as reserves like Kennedy McKoy (if he isn’t in the slot) and Martell Pettaway.
WVU wins this one going away.

WVU, 48-17.

Mitch’s annual WVU prediction begins TODAY with the Hokies

August 14, 2017 by  
Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente looks over his team at the start of NCAA college football practice in Blacksburg, Va., Thursday Aug. 3, 2017. | AP photo

 

Hello all. Welcome to my annual WVU predictions, this year with a twist.
It’s going to be blog-o-mized.
We’ll run down my predictions a day at a time.
Today, I’ll take a swing at a toughie: the Mountaineers’ opener against Virginia Tech at Landover, Maryland.
So let’s get to it, shall we?
If you’re either a fan or a gambler, you know the Hokies have opened as a slight (4-point-ish) favorite.
Honestly, WVU could have been established as the favorite and I wouldn’t have blinked. The Mountaineers have weapons at running back (Justin Crawford, Kennedy McKoy and Martell Pettaway) and quarterback (Will Grier). I truly expect Ka’Raun White to have a breakout season at wideout. Also, on defense, there’s some terrific talent in Kyzir White and Dravon Askew-Henry.
Of course, questions remain along the offensive front, most notably in regard to depth. Same with the defensive front.
On the flip side, Virginia Tech will start its first freshman at quarterback in an opener since Michael Vick in 1999. And, no, he is not of the Michael Vick caliber. His name is Josh Jackson and he’ll certainly be a target for WVU defensive coordinator Tony Gibson’s blitz attack. The Hokies do, though, have some veteran pieces returning on offense.
On defense, Tech has a boatload of returning starters. That’s not good for a WVU team seeking receivers, especially if Marcus Simms is out. But, like the Mountaineers, there are depth problems.
Expect this one to be close, but the quarterback comparison certainly favors West Virginia and there’s a soft spot along the Hokies’ defensive front that Crawford and company can exploit.
WVU 30, VT 28.

Big 12 Notebook – August 14     

by Ryan Decker

Texas Tech reinstates QB

Texas Tech has allowed redshirt freshman quarterback Jett Duffey to resume practicing with the team after he served a two-semester suspension. Duffey was suspended by the university in January after being found responsible for two counts of sexual misconduct.

Duffey was the No. 13 dual threat quarterback in the 2015 recruiting class by 247Sports, and despite the suspension, head coach Kliff Kingsbury said in February that he expects Duffey to, “slide right in and be very good.”

 

WVU’s Simms arrested

West Virginia wide receiver Marcus Simms was arrested early Sunday morning, and charged with DUI and driving with a revoked license. Neither WVU or the team have commented on the incident.

 

Gundy reacts to scrimmage

Oklahoma State held its first scrimmage Sunday morning, and head coach Mike Gundy addressed the media afterwards about the team’s progress.

The head coach, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, said he likes where the team is at, but there are still decisions to be made at backup quarterback, running back and, “we’ve got to decide who’s going to be out there first in the secondary.”

 

Texas RB sustains injury

Chris Warren, the top returning running back for the Texas Longhorns, sustained a concussion during last Thursday’s practice, the latest in a history of injuries for the junior.

“He was having a good camp,” Herman. “He’s alert. He’s in the protocol. If he’s still out this time next week, yeah, that would be concerning. But right now, I’m not too concerned.”

Warren missed most of last season with a year-ending knee injury. He rushed for 366 yards through the first four games of the season before suffering the injury.

This is just the latest in a slew of injuries felt in the Longhorn camp. Right tackle Elijah Rodriguez, who was battling for a starting spot, underwent surgery on his right ankle Thursday. There is no timetable for his return.

Toe dipping

August 12, 2017 by  

Hey all, it’s Mitch Vingle. All set to blog going forward!

Hope you enjoyed my story on WVU’s Mountain State punting connection in today’s paper. One quick note from Friday’s Mountaineer practice is Sports Illustrated’s Andy Staples made the trip in.

Also, check out my Sunday story on a man who can make a big difference for WVU this season. His first name is Ka’Raun.

Can it!

August 11, 2017 by Ryan Decker

West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen is a fan of many things. Football and energy drinks are two that should easily come to mind.

But we have learned over the last few days that he’s also a big fan of Gatorade … in a can.

 

That was Wednesday.

Today, as a group of media members made our way through one of the tunnels at the south end zone leading to the field, the head coach was there waiting for us. Not to talk about football, but to once again pitch us on Gatorade in a can.

With a smile on his face, the visored Holgorsen invited us to take a can to try for ourselves as he stood beside a large container of canned Gatorade. And boy, did we.

All I can ask for now is that it is served high above the field in Morgantown on Saturdays from here on out.

In saying that, I’m not sure if I’m as enthused with it as Holgorsen is, but it’s pretty good.

What do you think?

Mountaineer Offense Confident Following Scrimmage

by Ryan Decker

Most teams introducing a new starting quarterback, a new offensive coordinator and a talented but somewhat inexperienced receiver unit may be left wondering what lies ahead of them entering the season.

West Virginia doesn’t fit that stereotype.

The Mountaineer offense seemed very confident in itself following Friday’s 100-play scrimmage at Milan Puskar Stadium.

“We were kicking (the defense) this week,” said Ka’Raun White. “But it’s all competitive, all love at the end of the day.”

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WVU redshirt-senior wide receiver Ka’Raun White talks to reporters on the field Friday following the Mountaineers scrimmage. Photo by Ryan Decker

Not only do the players sound confident in themselves, but are excited to be in an offense operated by new OC Jake Spavital.

“Coach (Spavital) is putting the players in great positions to make plays,” David Sills V said. “He’s calling great pass concepts. He’s getting the running backs in great positions to make plays. We’re also playing at a great tempo right now.”

As for the scrimmage itself, junior wideout Gary Jennings thought units from both sides of the ball made strides.

“We were able to go over many of our progressions, many of our plays, and I think it went very well overall, both offensively and defensively,” said Jennings.

Asked about how much farther the offense needs to go to be ready for the season opener next month, Jennings said they’re close.

“We’re meshing very well. We’re jelling very well,” he said. “We’re not far away from being very good.”

Jennings acknowledged that timing is coming together between quarterback Will Grier and the rest of the offense, and Sills agreed.

“Will’s put constant work in throughout the summer,” said Sills. “He’s very smart. He knows how to get us in good positions to get the ball and he’s very accurate whenever he throws the ball.”

Kennedy McKoy, who is expected to see a number of snaps both from the running back and inside receiver positions, detailed how the adjustment can help him have a better understanding no matter where he’s at on the field.

“Now when I’m at running back and (Grier) gives a signal, I know what the inside slot is going to do,” McKoy said. “So if I have a check down I know not to go in that area because I know what route he’s running. Yeah, it helps a lot.”

The sophomore tailback said it’s the little things that he’s focusing on now that he better knows the offense from both positions.

Last year the Mountaineer offense racked up an average of 485.5 yards per game, including over 220 yards on the ground for the second year in a row. But from a scoring standpoint, are looking to return to the numbers they were producing in 2011 and ’12 when Spavital was the quarterback coach.

Big 12 Notebook – August 10

August 10, 2017 by Ryan Decker
AP photo
AP photo | Hey guys, Tom Herman isn’t jazzed about his team’s special teams play, either.

 

With football teams across the Big 12 landscape heading towards the midway point in fall training camp and practices before the start of the 2017 season, there are a number of points to go over.

But here are a few of the biggest notes from camps are some of the contenders in the conference, and one saddening note from off the gridiron.

Tom Herman, Texas HC

  • One similarity between WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen and Texas head coach Tom Herman’s media availabilities this week have been the importance of special teams. The Longhorns fell victim to four blocked kicks last year, which Herman said was, “unacceptable.”

“One blocked kick on the year, whether it be a PAT, field goal or punt is too many, and the stats back that up,” Herman said to reporters.

  • Herman’s first year in Austin should be highlighted by his quarterback Shane Buechele, offensively. However, the running back position could be a potential issue if no one emerges as the true lead back, as is the case so far according to the head coach. He did say, though, that’s OK as long as multiple tailbacks are putting in good work in practice.

“Would you like a guy to really, really separate himself? Yeah,” Herman said. “But if they don’t, but they’re all playing to an above-average to a winnable level, then I think that’s a good thing.

Texas is replacing the Big 12-leading rusher from a year ago D’Onta Foreman.

Oklahoma State

  • The Cowboys have been said by just about all college football experts to be one of the two best teams in the Big 12. Sports Illustrated recently went as far as to predict that Mike Gundy’s team would be one of the four to make the College Football Playoff. If that were to happen, OK-State would be the second team from the conference to make the CFP.

Both Gundy and his senior quarterback Mason Rudolph said it’s good for the program to get that sort of national attention. But, Gundy did say Rudolph and some of the other senior leaders have been a big help to him managing team expectations.

Oklahoma

  • Defensively there has been a shift in the scheming in Norman. The Sooners have made the change from a 3-4 to a 4-3 base defense, and even though it hasn’t been deployed in a regular season game yet, Oklahoma players appear to like the change.

“Honestly I just feel more free because there are fewer guards getting to me fast and more holes to fill,” senior linebacker Emmanuel Beal said to reporters Tuesday. “It allows us linebackers to play faster.”

Texas Tech

  • The Red Raiders are mourning the recent loss of incoming freshman Luke Gonsioroski, who passed away Monday after battling cancer.