Spring practice officially draws to a close today with the playing of the Gold-Blue Game at the Greenbrier. Given the many questions for this team heading into the 2016 season, I could have made this a top 10 list.

 

I'll save you some time, though, and give you a mini-version ... Three Things to Watch at the Gold-Blue Game.

 

NOTE: I say 'watch' for those of you attending the game in person. IMG is not televising (or streaming) the game, so unless you are at the Greenbrier you won't be able to 'watch' today's scrimmage. But, I digress.

 

Here we go...Three Things to Watch at the Gold-Blue Game:

 

Skyler Howard

 

I know, I know ... big shock here. I'm saying watch the quarterback. Part of that is my interest in the position and part of it has to do with how important the position is to successful teams in today's day and age.

 

Entering his second full season as the starter and going against a completely rebuilt defense, Howard should show complete command of the offense and game today.

 

The offense should be ahead of the defense at this point and Howard's performance today should be the greatest indicator of this.

 

Receivers

 

This goes hand in hand with the above point. If Howard is going to have a big day, the receivers will have to be good. How much have they improved?

 

We saw flashes last year from Shelton Gibson, Ka'Raun White and Jovon Durante. If WVU is going to be one of the top offensive units in the Big 12, those guys have to be more consistent.

 

You won't see Durante today. After being ruled ineligible for the Motel 6 bowl, Durante really could have used this spring to grow as a player. Unfortunately for him (and the team), he is suspended for all of spring practice as well.

 

If and when he returns is a story for another day. So, today, watch White and Gibson. Can White make a similar leap to what his brother Kevin did?

 

In his first year with WVU in 2013, Kevin White caught 35 balls for 507 yards and had five touchdowns.

 

Year two ... those numbers exploded to: 109 catches, 1,447 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. It would be nearly impossible for Ka'Raun White to make that kind of leap in production. Read those numbers again. The improvement from year one to year two is extraordinary.

 

Ka'Raun caught 15 balls last season. Does that double this year? Triple? White is a huge key to this offense. Keep an eye on him today.

 

Shelton Gibson showed us in 2015 that he was a big-time downfield threat. Does he become more than a burner his season? He has shown he can make the spectacular catch. The routine grab has been a challenge. Make those catches as well and you're looking at an all-conference  player.

 

Does the Defense Show You Anything?

 

Let's be fair about expectations for the defense this year. This unit lost a ton. Joseph, Dillon,

Kwiatkoski, Worley and Rose to name a few.

 

The mantra around the defense has been that they are inexperienced, but not young. Most of the guys stepping in will be players that have been around the program. Tony Gibson is backfilling with players that have watched and studied this system, not first year guys, for the most part.

 

How big of a difference will that make?

 

Last year the defense gave up 24.6 points per game. Can this year's unit get within a touchdown of that number?

 

The defense doesn't have to be great today. It just has to not be awful. That may seem like a really low bar, I realize. But, given the turnover and the fact that a couple of key players aren't even on campus yet, the defense just needs to avoid looking like the 2012 group today.

 

I thought Dana Holgorsen made a great point earlier this week when talking about spring practice battles between the offense and the defense.

 

He said, “If it’s ever one-sided in spring you’re never going to be any good.”

 

If you're headed to the Greenbrier today, enjoy. This will be our last chance to see WVU football until August.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Skyler Howard, while Ka'Raun White is shown in the second pitcher. Shelton Gibson, who is ineligible for the spring game, is show in the third photo, while Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson, left, talks with Coach Dana Holgerson below. Photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.