Charles LeClaire – USA TODAY Sports
The West Virginia Mountaineers were blitzed by the offenses in the Big 12 last year. With the offense getting overturned by graduation and the NFL Draft, the defense will have to be better as head coach Dana Holgorsen works out the kinks with his new offensive starters. To do that, the Mountaineer secondary has to improve and senior Brodrick Jenkins must bounce back in 2013.
It’s no secret that West Virginia struggled to stop the big plays through the air in 2012. That prompted a change in secondary coaches from Daron Roberts to Brian Mitchell who gave all the returning defensive backs a “clean slate” heading into next fall. That new beginning allowed Jenkins to come into spring ball and earned his way back into the starting lineup.
He will hope to improve on his junior campaign when he played in 10 games and made 31 tackles, including one for loss, with two pass breakups and an interception. More times than not, though, Jenkins looked overmatched against the high-powered Big 12 offenses, as was the entire secondary.
Things won’t be much easier on Jenkins and the WVU covermen in 2013 as the Big 12 continues to roll out high-octane spread offenses that are going to put a strain on any defense. For a defense that’s already struggling with some confidence or identity, a strong start to the season is imperative. Jenkins, in particular, has to put his struggles from a season ago behind him and play up to his potential in 2013.
If West Virginia hopes to turn things around and finish out a season in the Big 12, their defense must be better, specifically their secondary. If they continue their poor play from 2012 into next season, the Mountaineers will take a step back as a team in 2013.
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