WEST VIRGINIA PASS OFFENSE vs TEXAS PASS DEFENSE
West Virginia isn’t going to be the same team Texas saw last year with Will Grier running the show, but the Mountaineers will try to do some different things in the passing game, including getting the ball out quickly and in rhythm. If there’s one area that the team has struggled some in the passing game it’s with the downfield accuracy. The Mountaineers are only 4-18 on balls thrown over 20 yards downfield, so they have struggled to connect on deeper passes, even when plays have been there to be made. A lot of the offense’s throws have come behind the line of scrimmage or within that 10 yard zone. People close to the program haven’t lost confidence in the downfield game, but they are waiting for the light to come on with that area. The Mountaineers feature a lot of young receivers after losing their top four pass catchers from last year, which is probably a big factor. Freshman receiver Sam James has looked good. Quarterback Austin Kendall transferred in from Oklahoma and has been solid.
Edge – West Virginia *
WEST VIRGINIA RUN OFFENSE vs TEXAS RUN DEFENSE
This is an area in which WVU really struggled in the first few games. The Mountaineers started the season with 54 carries for 64 yards, which was a surprise. Coming into the season, everyone thought the ground game was going to be a strength with so many returning runners in the backfield and along the line. West Virginia really struggled early, but it shook up its personnel a bit and changed up the scheme, running more outside zone, putting wide receivers in motion … they’ve been more creative and have had success of late. In the last two games, WVU has exploded, rushing for 173 yards against NC State and just shy of 200 yards against Kansas.
Edge – Texas **
WEST VIRGINIA OFFENSIVE LINE vs TEXAS DEFENSIVE LINE
Left tackle Colton McKivitz has been the best player along the line by a wide margin. He’s a likely NFL guy. McKivitz played right tackle last year, but moved to the left side this year and has been very good. The team’s right tackle, Kelby Wickline, played against Texas last year after starter Yodny Cajuste was ejected. He and McKivitz have been steady, but WVU has had to move some other parts around to solidify its line play. The line really struggled early, as the run game numbers would suggest, but it’s playing much better of late.
Edge – Texas *
TEXAS PASS OFFENSE vs WEST VIRGINIA PASS DEFENSE
The WVU secondary hasn’t really been challenged a lot vertically, but it hasn’t really busted either. The defense has had one play all year where it gave up a big play against Kansas that went for 75 yards. Outside of that, it has played well considering WVU lost both starting safeties from last year’s team and is to break in new corners. This will be the DBs first real test and Texas will provide a much tougher challenge than anything they’ve seen so far. Right now, West Virginia is top 40 nationally in pass defense and giving up 201.5 yards passing per game. The team’s two senior corners have played pretty well. Safeties are green but have held up so far.
Edge – Texas ***
TEXAS RUN OFFENSE vs WEST VIRGINIA RUN DEFENSE
Missouri had a ton of success against them (232 yards) and was able to tempo WVU, causing the Mountaineers some issues getting aligned. The run defense has gotten better though. They were better against N.C. State and held Kansas in check in their last game. Kansas was able to hit some cutback runs so that will be something worth watching, and WVU has been susceptible against the quarterback run game as well. Tackling has been an issue overall and one of the defense’s biggest weaknesses has been the linebacker play.
Edge – Texas *
TEXAS OFFENSIVE LINE vs WEST VIRGINIA DEFENSIVE LINE
WVU’s defensive line has been the strength of the defense and it’ll be a pretty good test for Texas. In the past, WVU normally ran a 3-3-5 set where guys up front mostly just chewed up space. This year, the d-line is much more aggressive. The Mountaineers have 11 sacks through four games this year and brothers Dante and Darius Sills have been very good. Darius has an elite motor, plays nose guard. Dante is very talented and was a national recruit. If he can be a little more consistent, he’s an all Big 12 type of player.
Edge – Texas ***
SPECIAL TEAMS
Overall, WVU has been solid with its special teams. There’s not necessarily one area in which they’ve been spectacular, but the return and coverage teams have been solid. The punting game has been decent and WVU has blocked a couple punts and forced a couple turnovers. Texas has weapons on its special teams, but needs to clean up a couple mistakes from the Oklahoma State game.
Edge – Texas *
West Virginia isn’t going to be the same team Texas saw last year with Will Grier running the show, but the Mountaineers will try to do some different things in the passing game, including getting the ball out quickly and in rhythm. If there’s one area that the team has struggled some in the passing game it’s with the downfield accuracy. The Mountaineers are only 4-18 on balls thrown over 20 yards downfield, so they have struggled to connect on deeper passes, even when plays have been there to be made. A lot of the offense’s throws have come behind the line of scrimmage or within that 10 yard zone. People close to the program haven’t lost confidence in the downfield game, but they are waiting for the light to come on with that area. The Mountaineers feature a lot of young receivers after losing their top four pass catchers from last year, which is probably a big factor. Freshman receiver Sam James has looked good. Quarterback Austin Kendall transferred in from Oklahoma and has been solid.
Edge – West Virginia *
WEST VIRGINIA RUN OFFENSE vs TEXAS RUN DEFENSE
This is an area in which WVU really struggled in the first few games. The Mountaineers started the season with 54 carries for 64 yards, which was a surprise. Coming into the season, everyone thought the ground game was going to be a strength with so many returning runners in the backfield and along the line. West Virginia really struggled early, but it shook up its personnel a bit and changed up the scheme, running more outside zone, putting wide receivers in motion … they’ve been more creative and have had success of late. In the last two games, WVU has exploded, rushing for 173 yards against NC State and just shy of 200 yards against Kansas.
Edge – Texas **
WEST VIRGINIA OFFENSIVE LINE vs TEXAS DEFENSIVE LINE
Left tackle Colton McKivitz has been the best player along the line by a wide margin. He’s a likely NFL guy. McKivitz played right tackle last year, but moved to the left side this year and has been very good. The team’s right tackle, Kelby Wickline, played against Texas last year after starter Yodny Cajuste was ejected. He and McKivitz have been steady, but WVU has had to move some other parts around to solidify its line play. The line really struggled early, as the run game numbers would suggest, but it’s playing much better of late.
Edge – Texas *
TEXAS PASS OFFENSE vs WEST VIRGINIA PASS DEFENSE
The WVU secondary hasn’t really been challenged a lot vertically, but it hasn’t really busted either. The defense has had one play all year where it gave up a big play against Kansas that went for 75 yards. Outside of that, it has played well considering WVU lost both starting safeties from last year’s team and is to break in new corners. This will be the DBs first real test and Texas will provide a much tougher challenge than anything they’ve seen so far. Right now, West Virginia is top 40 nationally in pass defense and giving up 201.5 yards passing per game. The team’s two senior corners have played pretty well. Safeties are green but have held up so far.
Edge – Texas ***
TEXAS RUN OFFENSE vs WEST VIRGINIA RUN DEFENSE
Missouri had a ton of success against them (232 yards) and was able to tempo WVU, causing the Mountaineers some issues getting aligned. The run defense has gotten better though. They were better against N.C. State and held Kansas in check in their last game. Kansas was able to hit some cutback runs so that will be something worth watching, and WVU has been susceptible against the quarterback run game as well. Tackling has been an issue overall and one of the defense’s biggest weaknesses has been the linebacker play.
Edge – Texas *
TEXAS OFFENSIVE LINE vs WEST VIRGINIA DEFENSIVE LINE
WVU’s defensive line has been the strength of the defense and it’ll be a pretty good test for Texas. In the past, WVU normally ran a 3-3-5 set where guys up front mostly just chewed up space. This year, the d-line is much more aggressive. The Mountaineers have 11 sacks through four games this year and brothers Dante and Darius Sills have been very good. Darius has an elite motor, plays nose guard. Dante is very talented and was a national recruit. If he can be a little more consistent, he’s an all Big 12 type of player.
Edge – Texas ***
SPECIAL TEAMS
Overall, WVU has been solid with its special teams. There’s not necessarily one area in which they’ve been spectacular, but the return and coverage teams have been solid. The punting game has been decent and WVU has blocked a couple punts and forced a couple turnovers. Texas has weapons on its special teams, but needs to clean up a couple mistakes from the Oklahoma State game.
Edge – Texas *
