I AM LEAVING: QB Sean Boyle announced that he is leaving today….

We go from the attack to the defense in our final installment of our Spring position preview series. In order to transition into a new defensive front, WVU will be somewhat rearranging its defensive line this spring.

WVU Reorganizing Its Defense
Head Coach Neal Brown made a few changes in the past few years. Even after an unexpected 9-4 season in 2023, Brown still getting used to things. In fact, he frequently claims to the media that the Mountaineers’ defense in 2023 was insufficient. The team gave up 26 points per game on average, which ranked 64th in the nation. Brown isn’t happy, even though that was an improvement over 2022’s end results (116th in the nation with about 33 points per game). Brown is adjusting once more this year, this time

one who is motivated by the need to adapt his defense to the personnel.

The Mountaineers defense has played a 4-2 stack defense for the past five seasons. But West Virginia gradually turned into a more 3-4 front last season. They are still developing into that foundational framework. To make room for the three-man front, WVU has to reorganize its defensive line. For the most part, this means that the Mountaineer defensive line will use two edge rushers and one tackle as their down-linemen. Although the “bandit” position is still in use, it is more akin to an outside linebacker on the strong side than an edge rusher off the line.