MORGANTOWN - Admit it, for the next three months you're going to analyze, reanalyze and overanalyze every facet of West Virginia's football team. By Dave Hickman Staff writer Advertisement - Your ad here MORGANTOWN - Admit it, for the next three months you're going to analyze, reanalyze and overanalyze every facet of West Virginia's football team.

It's just human nature, not to mention the reason message boards exist.

You're going to imagine every conceivable flaw and fault, as well as every potential strength. By the time practice begins in early August you'll have soaked up every tiny piece of information - from the off-season work habits of Reed Williams and Jarrett Brown to the status of Jock Sanders to the arrival of freshmen and even the transfer of largely anonymous wide receivers or offensive lineman - and formulate a theory that this team will be:

a) the best since Bud Wilkinson's Oklahoma teams of the mid-1950s;

b) the worst since the Cumberland team that lost 222-0 to Georgia Tech; or

c) something in between.

And you will do it all without the benefit of seeing these guys actually play or practice even once, not because you have no access but because, well, they aren't going to practice.

There is, of course, nothing I can do to dissuade you from such foolishness. Idle hands and all that, right?

I can, however, provide you with an outline of sorts. Thus, as a public service and free of charge (and by the way, you get what you pay for), if you feel the need to spend way too much time fretting over the pros and cons of specific aspects of West Virginia's 2009 football team, here's where you probably should and should not fret (least worrisome to most, and let the debate begin):

Safety: Surprised to see this as the least worrisome position on this football team? Yeah, well, I'm surprised to be typing it, too. But think about it. Virtually everywhere else there are concerns about depth and/or players trying to return from injury. There's only a little bit of that here, though, namely the question of Sidney Glover, who emerged as one of the secondary's best players over the course of last season, but hasn't been healthy for either the bowl game or spring practice. If he's up and running, though, this is a group with two excellent frees (Eain Smith and Robert Sands) and four quality guys to fill the two strong spots (Sands, Glover, Nate Sowers and Boogie Allen).

Wide receiver/tight end: What a difference a year makes here. Alric Arnett and Bradley Starks proved themselves capable of making plays in the bowl game and Wes Lyons was unquestionably the most surprising player of the spring. If Sanders returns (and let's face it, if he wasn't committed to doing so why would he still be in school?), that's a terrific group even without the possible emergence of Logan Heastie, J.D. Woods and perhaps another freshman.

Linebacker: This group would be even higher were it not for the question of Ovid Goulbourne's surgically repaired shoulders, which kept him on a stationary bicycle during the spring. Williams is merely the difference maker in the middle and J.T. Thomas is a star waiting to explode. There's depth with Anthony Leonard, Najee Goode and even Zac Cooper, although he seems destined to get most of his playing time as a pass-rushing end. Pat Lazear makes the group solid if he's the third starter, but Goulbourne could make it better.

Defensive line: See above. In nose guard Chris Neild and tackle Scooter Berry, the Mountaineers are more than solid at two of the three spots. Larry Ford and Julian Miller have potential at end. But if Tevita Finau finally shows up and is the real deal, that could be a boost, although I remain skeptical of any newcomer having that big an impact as soon as he walks onto campus.

Running back: Notice a trend above? Yes, the defense is less worrisome than the offense. But in most places that has little to do with talent and everything to do with depth. Beyond Noel Devine, the Mountaineers are still searching for just about everything. Mark Rodgers or Sanders would be the backup tailback, but don't discount a freshman, Tavon Austin perhaps. Ryan Clarke and even Justin Roberts made noise as a power back, but freshmen Chris Snook and Shawne Alston could push them aside. At fullback, there are plenty of capable bodies, including Will Johnson, Ricky Kovatch, Max Anderson and perhaps Snook.

Quarterback: By himself, Jarrett Brown isn't much of a worry. He has enough experience - along with composure and arm strength - to be a star. If something happens to him, though, wow. Coley White isn't ready, freshman Eugene Smith isn't even here yet and Starks is at wide receiver.

Offensive line: I am firmly convinced that a lot of these guys have the same skills and potential of West Virginia's recent highly acclaimed linemen (Dan Mozes, Ryan Stanchek, etc.). Trouble is, those guys were asked to zone block and became experts at it. These guys are being asked to zone block, pass block, you name it. The linemen of the past would have (and did, last year) struggled. So will these newbies.

Cornerback: The biggest concern on defense, by a mile. Brandon Hogan is the veteran and he's been a cornerback for what, 15 minutes? Keith Tandy was adequate in the bowl game after having played basically four snaps at the position during the regular season, so he's likely to be OK. But beyond that it's not as much a matter of finding out who can play the position the best, but who can play it at all. Freshmen Brodrick Jenkins and Pat Miller will get every opportunity in August.

Kickers: Scott Kozlowski will be just fine as the punter. Write it down. But field goals are being left to a bunch of guys who have never done it before. The good news is that young kickers are always emerging as wonderful success stories, and Tyler Bitancurt or someone else could do that, too. Just as often, though, the lack of a solid field goal kicker is devastating to a team. As for kickoffs, anyone out there have any eligibility left?

Reach Dave Hickman at 304-348-1734 or dphickm...@aol.com.