Questionable Calls: September 1, 2010

Will this year's team meet Bill Stewart's expectations and win 10 games?

When asked earlier this summer if Geno Smith would be a solid replacement at quarterback in 2010, West Virginia starting cornerback Keith Tandy had this to say: "That's what everyone wants to see."

Tandy's right.

West Virginia is one of the most veteran teams in the country. In fact, 19 of the Mountaineers' 31 starting positions are home to a junior or senior.

The question mark coming into the season is at quarterback, though. Smith, a sophomore signal caller, doesn't have the experience.

Everyone is asking: Can Smith do the job well enough for the Mountaineers to win the Big East?

I have your answer: A resounding yes.

With winning the Big East, WVU will also win 10 games for the first time under head coach Bill Stewart.

Smith is one of those players who exudes confidence, leadership and smarts. With those tools, he has been able to win over his teammates this summer and has looked like a veteran out there in the huddle during fall camp.

There's a lot riding on the arm – and healthy feet – of West Virginia's sophomore starting quarterback.

If Smith stays healthy, the Mountaineers will go as far as Smith can take them.

It's up to Smith to lead the way. To me, he's more than ready for the challenge.

West Virginia will win 10 games this season and has the talent to finish the season with the best record in the Stewart era. If not, it will be a major underachievement.

- Tony Dobies, Sports Editor

The Mountaineers have the talent and the potential to win 10 games, but there are too many things that could go wrong to say the team will do so this season.

Injuries, opponents and, as evidenced by last year's game against Cincinnati, even the officials weigh in on the outcome of a game. It's not strictly the talent of a team that wins games.

What about the team's chemistry? Will the offense be able to take care of the ball and will the defense be able to force turnovers?

Do the Mountaineers even have a punter yet?

WVU is already seeing injuries factor into the team as starting linebacker Pat Lazear won't be playing Saturday against Coastal Carolina. Who knows how long J.T. Thomas' shoulder will hold up? It's impossible to tell how long Geno Smith will be able to stay healthy.

Additionally, WVU still hasn't stapled down the offensive line, and, even if they do, the chances of every offensive lineman playing every snap like last season likely won't happen again.

The Mountaineers' schedule doesn't help matters either. Entering Baton Rouge and defeating LSU is surely no easy task (it has only happened five times since 2007, none of which to non-conference opponents).

WVU also travels to Pittsburgh and Connecticut and hosts Cincinnati.

Yes, the Mountaineers have all the necessary pieces to win 10 games this season. Whether or not they have luck on their side will have to be judged at a later date.

- Brian Gawthrop, Associate Sports Editor

The 2010 version of the West Virginia Mountaineers football team will meet head coach Bill Stewart's expectations of 10 wins, but it will not come without a few stumbling blocks.

Home games against Cincinnati and South Florida will be tough. Road contests against LSU, Pittsburgh and Connecticut will be WVU's biggest tasks all season.

That being said, I don't see a scenario in which WVU loses more than two of those games.

One of the key ingredients to the success of the Mountaineers this season will be how they distribute the ball amongst key players Noel Devine, Jock Sanders and Tavon Austin.

If Stewart is as dedicated as he says he is to getting the ball to Devine more often than last year, then WVU increases its chances of winning.

Also, quarterback Geno Smith seems to have the look of a quarterback who can finally give the Mountaineers the passing threat they need to open up running lanes for Devine.

The last key factor to meeting the expectations of Stewart will be Stewart himself.

Can Stewart be the coach who many saw during last year's Backyard Brawl who was not afraid to take a risk late in the game, or even a coach who is not afraid to try to put teams away early on in the game?

That remains to be seen.

But, Stewart does have the necessary offensive tools along with a stout defense that could return the Mountaineers to Big East Conference supremacy this season.

- Brian Kuppelweiser, Sports Writer

The stage is set for a 10-win season for West Virginia, although it does not look plausible.

At first glance, a team with 18 starters returning should be strong enough to eclipse double-digit wins, but there are too many question marks that still remain unanswered.

Perhaps not one position is more important than that of the quarterback. If quarterback Geno Smith would happen to go down with an injury, the season would go down with him.

Smith has a history of ankle and foot problems and, although he has been looking fairly mobile in camp, come a game situation the environment changes dramatically.

Smith will be thrown into the fire as a first-year starting quarterback. That alone should make fans weary.

The weakest aspect of the team has to be the offensive line. If somebody does not step up on the right side, it will be hard to utilize running back Noel Devine to his full extent.

The biggest thing the Mountaineers have going for them is their relatively easy schedule.

According to Phil Steele, WVU plays the 70th toughest schedule in college football.

Road trips to LSU, Connecticut and Pittsburgh are the toughest games for this team. Those, along with a home tilt against back-to-back conference champion Cincinnati, could be the potential losses.

The Mountaineers have the talent to win nine games. This year, nine wins may just be enough to win the Big East Conference title.

- Matthew Peaslee, Sports Writer