Chanticleers’ head coach knows WVU program well

It may be the first meeting between West Virginia and Coastal Carolina, but Chanticleers' head coach David Bennett says he's familiar with the Mountaineers' program.

Bennett and his family were in attendance for the 2002 Continental Tire Bowl featuring WVU and Virginia. The game was a Christmas present for his son, Jim, and, although the Mountaineers fell to the Cavaliers 48-22, Bennett came away impressed.

"It was a crazy environment," Bennett said. "I remember the West Virginia fans were a little bit louder than the Virginia fans."

The seventh-year coach of the Chanticleers' program also made a trip to Morgantown in the past. He was a pupil in an offensive line coaching clinic put on by former Mountaineer offensive line coach Rick Trickett.

Some years later, Bennett still believes the backbone of a team is its offensive line.

His quarterback, Zach MacDowall, saw his numbers decrease from 2008-09 after the graduation of much of Coastal Carolina's offensive line.

"It's hard to be a good quarterback if you don't have a good offensive line," Bennett said. "Last year, we didn't protect him very well, and his numbers went down. They got to give him time to make the plays and make the throws."

Last year, MacDowall, a transfer from Wake Forest, completed 126-of-299 passes amassing 1,664 yards through the air.

The Acworth, Ga., native likes to throw the deep ball as he ranked second (13.2 yards) in the Big South Conference passing yards per completion.

The 2010 offensive line is expected to be improved with Tim Franklin, a preseason second team all-Big South selection. Franklin started 11 games last year at left tackle but looks to move to a guard position this season.

Jonathan Morgan and Seth Smalls are the two seniors on the line that helped the Chanticleers earn 157 yards per game rushing the ball, a mark good enough for 37th-best in the country.

The rushing numbers look to decrease more this year as Bennett said the team will implement a 60-40 pass to run differential.

The reason for the decline is running back Eric O'Neal. O'Neal sat out most of the 2009 season due to ligament issues – an ailment that has plagued him for the majority of his career.

The Chanticleers' real strength is their defense, particularly at linebacker.

Preseason all-Big South selections Desmond Steward and Chris Walls garnered 103 tackles between the two of them. Steward led the team with 60.

The secondary has the potential to be one of the tops in the conference with three of four defensive backs returning to the starting lineup.

Safety Josh Norman is a preseason all-American with some of the best hands in the country. Norman, a junior, tied for second in the nation with eight interceptions a year ago. He also led the Big South in pass breakups totaling 15 last season.

Despite the talent and accolades of his defense Bennett fears the speed of the Mountaineers.

"Our guys have the chance to be on the field with some of the finest in America," he said. "We can't simulate that. You try, but you can't do it. We don't have anybody that can run a 4.3, (Noel) Devine might be able to run a 4.2."

Coastal Carolina has seen talent levels of a team such as WVU. In the past two seasons it has gone up against Penn State and Clemson. Heading into the 2010 season Bennett admits the Mountaineers will be the toughest team his squad will face, but that is not something he is concerned about.

"I'm more concerned about our guys, getting us ready," Bennett said, "I think in coaching too often you worry about what the other guys are going to do."