Big things expected of WVU DB’s

Opposing quarterbacks could be shaking in their spikes when staring down receivers against West Virginia's defensive backfield in 2010.

WVU's secondary is expected to be one of the best in the country this season.

"We're not going out there to be bad," said cornerbacks coach David Lockwood. "We're going out there to be pretty doggone good."

The Mountaineers return four of five starters – losing only safety Nate Sowers. They return two of the Big East Conference's best at their positions with safety Robert Sands and cornerback Brandon Hogan who both earned first-team all-Big East honors in 2009. Fellow safety Sidney Glover is also receiving praise as a potential all-Big East player in 2010.

In fact, Lindy's Sports predicted WVU to have the fifth-best defensive backfield in the country in its preseason annual magazine.

Those high expectations come more from the promise of this group, not necessarily on proven statistics.

Last year, the Mountaineers finished fourth in the Big East in passing defense, allowing 209.85 yards per game, getting torched for big plays in losses to Auburn, South Florida and Florida State and in a win against Connecticut. But, in West Virginia's final three games of 2009, it proved to be much tougher against the pass – giving up an average of 173.67 yards per game against Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Florida State in the Gator Bowl.

"It's just another year under the belt in experience," Lockwood said. "The more experience you have, the better chance you have to go out there and make plays and play with confidence. We are expecting to be better on the back end."

If there's a weak spot in the secondary, it could be the lone new starter which is expected to be sophomore Terence Garvin, who played in 10 games last year and took major steps this spring. Still, Garvin made just 10 tackles in 2009.

Some would also say starting cornerback Keith Tandy, who was the culprit of being beaten by the big play in 2009, needs to step up in his second year as a starter.

However, sophomore cornerback Pat Miller, who backs up Tandy, considers the first-stringer the leader of the secondary.

"He does everything right, and he's there to help you," Miller said. "If you watch him play, you will learn something, so that's what I've been doing. I look at him and how he plays, and I try to do the same thing. He came in last season as a first-year starter and had a good year."

What may benefit the Mountaineers the most in the defensive backfield this season is an abundance of dependable corners. Not only are Hogan and Tandy back as starters, but West Virginia also has backups Miller and Brodrick Jenkins to add depth.

It will be the most depth at the position since 2007, when the coaching staff swapped four players in and out at the spots.

"We are going to rotate more, so we are going to be fresh for every game," Miller said. "We can throw a lot at other teams with the number of corners we have."

Jenkins and Miller had an increased workload in the spring, as Hogan focused on academics.

"We know what Brandon Hogan can do. By the time they're a fifth-year senior, what do you need to see from them?" Lockwood said. "We know what they can do, but it gives us a chance to see what the younger guys can do."

Lockwood said Jenkins has "swagger" and realized this spring that he can play at the Division I-A level. Miller, Lockwood said, had the same swagger when he came to campus from high school last summer, but didn't progress as the season went along.

Because of that, Jenkins seemed to bypass Miller for playing time with the No. 1 defense in the spring.

"He kind of leveled off and got a little comfortable last year," Lockwood said of Miller. "He needs to jump back in the saddle and get it going."

It isn't just Miller who is going to have to step up, though, if the Mountaineers are going to meet the high expectations that are being placed on its secondary.

"The sky is the limit," Tandy said. "We just have a lot work to do."