2009 WVU Preview: Defensive Line

Unlike its counterpart on the offensive side of the line, the experienced and deep experience defensive WVU is expected to help anchor the 2009 season. Because of WVU’s unusual 3-3-5 stack defense, the Mountaineers play a three-man line, which is expected to plug up gaps, occupy double-teams and create chaos so linebackers can make tackles. They are not expected, specifically, to be pass-rushers. Most of WVU’s sacks come from blitzing linebackers and defensive backs. That said, if this line has sufficient talent and speed, it can get into the backfield on its own. Witness the 2007 Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma, whose massive-but-slow offensive linemen couldn’t contain WVU’s speedy pass-rushers without holding them. The leader of the defensive line unit this year is Scooter Berry, who only seems like an ninth-year senior. Berry has been at WVU since 2006 and was a come-along fullback with half-brother Jason Gwaltney, a highly recruited running back now ...