By moving into the Big 12 next season, West Virginia's defense will be tasked with slowing down some of the more explosive offenses in college football. Based on what transpired during Saturday's spring game, there appears to be the underlying hope it can do just that, as the defense (Blue) defeated the offense (Gold), 43-34.
Senior defensive back Matt Moro and junior defensive back Broderick Jenkins each nabbed an interception in what was an impressive performance from the Mountaineers' defensive unit after finishing second-to-last in the Big East in points allowed last season.
"The trend lately has been the defense getting after the offense for about the last five practices," WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen said afterwards. "The first 10, offensively we did some good things, but probably in particular, the last five or six practices, the defense has been doing a lot better."
Offense shouldn't be a major question mark for West Virginia. After all, it's 70-point performance in the Orange Bowl last January wasn't all too long ago. On Saturday, senior quarterback Geno Smith looked more than OK, completing 23 of 29 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns with just one interception. Many of the same playmakers from last season's team are also back in Tavon Austin, who had five catches for 47 yards. Freshman wide receiver Jordan Thompson, a native of Katy, Texas, could play a significant role in 2012. He impressed Saturday, catching eight passes for 66 yards and a touchdown.
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