WVU goes on the highway and will get an enormous win towards TCU to carry our file to 5-3 on the season. We enter the bye week with extra wins than we had all of final 12 months and a few momentum heading into the ultimate 4 video games of the season. How did the Mountaineers pull out the primary true highway win of the 12 months? Let’s get into it…
Protection
No person goes to mistake the WVU protection we noticed towards TCU with the Metal Curtain, however the reality is that they performed an even bigger position in getting that win than our offense did. TCU racked up 484 whole yards, 29 first downs, and over 37 minutes of possession which is a well-recognized storyline for our a lot maligned protection. What was the distinction at present?
- We performed strong towards the run holding TCU to 112 yards dashing 49 of which come on 2 performs. By the point the 4th quarter got here alongside TCU felt fairly one dimensional.
- Our protection compelled TCU to execute on lengthy drives as an alternative of irritating 2 or 3 play TD drives we’ve given up over the previous 4 video games. We nonetheless gave up far to many large performs, particularly on third down, however we stored every part in entrance of us, and made TCU show they might execute constantly on 10 and even 15 play drives, and TCU couldn’t try this constantly with out turning the ball over.
- We compelled 3 turnovers, together with a strip sack on the ultimate drive that iced the sport.
As unhealthy because the protection has been this 12 months that is the 2nd week in a row the place they received a cease once they needed to. Hopefully they will construct off this by the bye week.
Offense
If I had written this instantly following the sport, I might have had a tough time saying something constructive about our offense following that sport. I felt the play calling was extraordinarily conservative and the offense simply merely refused to step on TCU’s throat by taking a 2 rating lead anytime our protection received a cease or turnover. Excluding the ultimate defensive cease of the sport, the WVU protection compelled a punt, missed area purpose, or turnover on 5 TCU possessions all through the sport. The WVU offense didn’t rating a single level once they received the ball after these stops.
Watching our offense fail to execute our protection did their job time and time once more was extraordinarily irritating, so how can we contemplate the offense a constructive? We nonetheless discovered a approach to put up 24 factors on one of the best protection within the Massive 12. The TCU hadn’t given up greater than 21 factors in any sport this season. The offense didn’t have their finest day for positive, however they did sufficient. 24 factors towards one of the best protection within the Massive 12 is what a nasty day for our offense seems like and that claims one thing.
Michael Hawkins Jr. & Cam Cook dinner
Neither Michael Hawkins or Cam Cook dinner put up loopy numbers at present, however they each entered this sport with a storyline and made performs that ended up being the distinction within the sport. Cam Cook dinner was returning to TCU the place he began his school profession earlier than transferring. Michael Hawkins Jr. performed his Excessive Faculty soccer within the Fort Price space.
Cam Cook dinner had a few his signature powerful runs that turned what seemed like damaging performs into constructive positive aspects. Michael Hawkins Jr. had a 36 yard landing run within the third quarter that actually put us answerable for the sport. The 2 attached on a 13 yard landing cross within the 4th quarter. That rating received us to 24 factors which proved to be sufficient for the win.
This workforce is exhibiting some toughness
Issues had been fairly darkish throughout that 3 sport dropping steak and even for 59 minutes and 38 seconds of the Cincinnati sport. To enter this bye week on a 2 sport win streak seems like, an enormous win and offers us a purpose to imagine that something is feasible for the ultimate 4 video games of the season.
What had been your keys to victory? How are you feeling about the remainder of the season? Let me know within the feedback!