HornSports Staff
HornSports.com
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- Oct 20, 2013
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OFFENSE
Like most of the offenses that the Longhorns have encountered throughout the season, West Virginia runs a fast paced, no-huddle, shotgun offense with some pro-style formations mixed in during short yardage situations.
(Single back shotgun)
(Two back shotgun)
(Pro-style, power formation for short-yardage)
WVU’s QB, Clint Trickett, has passed for nearly 3,000 yards and 18 TD’s, but he does have a tendency to turn the ball over (7 INT’s). Trickett is not a threat to run the ball and tends to hold on to the ball too long, as evidenced by the fact that he has been sacked 20 times.
The Mountaineers’ top offensive skill player, Kevin White, already has over 1,000 yards receiving and 8 TD’s. WVU likes use several different formations and utilize the speed and quickness of their receivers by running short passes and bubble screens out of bunch formations.
(4 WRs bunched to one side, screen pass to WR)
West Virginia’s offense proficient, ranking 23rd with 36.1 ppg, but is not very balanced as it ranks 11thin passing (325.8 pypg) and 53rd rushing (182.4 rypg). While the Mountainers pass more than they run, they will run the football if the ground game is productive. WVU has no specific go-to RB as they have two RBs with 100+ rushes and 500+ yards.
Other Notes:
- WVU’s offensive line has allowed 21 sacks through 9 games (86th nationally).
- The Mountaineers are second (behind Baylor) in the Big 12 in plays per game at 86.1.
- West Virginia has an average red zone offense - they have scored 20 TDs (14 rushing) and 9 FGs in 35 attempts.
DEFENSE
WVU runs a multiple defense with varying looks from play to play. On one play, the Mountaineers will run a 4 down line set and the next you may see three or no down linemen.
(Four down linemen)
(No down linemen)
While WVU has the look of a very aggressive defense, the statistics do not match up with that style of play. The Mountaineers only rank 90th in sacks with 15 for a total of 1.67 per game and they rank 121st in turnover margin (-12), which is equal to Texas Tech’s output on the season with only 1 forced fumble and 7 interceptions.
Other Notes:
- West Virginia ranks 62nd in both points against and yards surrendered per game (25.7 ppg/389 ypg)
- The Mountaineer’s secondary has been average, ranking 45th in passing yards allowed per game 212.6. The WVU defensive backfield has allowed 10 TD’s, and has intercepted 7 passes.
- WVU has a decidedly more difficulty time stopping the run than the pass as they allow 176.4 rushing ypg with 14 TD’s.
- Opponents have scored 20 of 22 attempts in the Red Zone (114th) with 11 rushing TD’s, 3 passing TD’s and 6 FG’s.
SPECIAL TEAMS
WVU’s special teams unit has been good and bad in several different areas. The Mountaineers have been very good returning kicks as they rank 17th nationally averaging 24.19 yards per return and have 2 kick returns for TD’s this season. They also have a good field goal kicker who is 21 of 26 on the year but has made all 4 kicks from 50+ yards out.
The area that the Longhorns have the best chance to take advantage of is in kick returns as WVU surrenders nearly 22.33 yards per return and has given up a return TD. Against TCU last week, the Mountaineers attempted to combat this area of weakness by pooch kicking – the adjustment was somewhat successful as WVU recovered a misplayed kick by TCU on one of the kicks.
MATCHUPS
Texas QB/WR/TE’s v. WVU DB’s:
Aside from the fumble that turned into a TD last week, Swoopes had a good game passing the ball against Tech. While he didn’t use his legs as often as many would have liked, the Texas QB led an offense that moved the ball and put up 34 points in a night game, in Lubbock, in spite of a subpar performance by the Longhorn receivers.
West Virginia has a better defense than Tech and has the appearance of being more aggressive than what the Longhorns faced last week. Swoopes has difficulty maintaining his composure under pressure and the Mountaineers will undoubtedly try to take advantage of that early.
WVU’s pass defense isn’t great but neither is Swoopes and the Texas passing attack.
Advantage: Even
Texas RB’s v. WVU LB’s:
It was refreshing to see the Texas RB’s play up to expectations last week. Against one of the worst rush defenses in the country, the Longhorns were able to move the ball on the ground better than they had all season long.
West Virginia, while not as poor as Tech, ranks in the bottom half of the country in rush defense. For the Longhorns to beat the Mountaineers, Texas needs the running game to be successful and that includes both backs, Swoopes, and Daje Johnson.
With the lack of success throughout the season for both units, it’s almost impossible to give either an advantage.
Advantage: Even
Texas OL v. WVU DL:
Texas’ line has played poorly for most of the season, but they have come through against teams that have difficulty pressuring the QB and stopping the run. WVU’s d-line hasn’t had great success in either of those areas, but they do get some assistance pressuring the pocket from blitzing LB’s and DB’s.
Even with the improved performance last week by the O-Line, there are still too many missed assignments and lack of a constant push to give Texas the benefit of the doubt against the Mountaineers.
Advantage:
Texas DB’s v. WVU QB/WR/TE:
Texas did a great job last week against one of the top passing attacks in the country as it limited Tech’s air raid attack to 100 yards less than their average and no passing TD’s. While that was without their top 2 QB’s, Texas took advantage and didn’t allow Tech to beat them in the air.
West Virginia brings in yet another top passing attack with a near 3,000 yard passer in Trickett, and an elite WR in Kevin White. The Longhorns won’t see anything they haven’t already seen in matchups against Baylor, OU, and Tech (in terms of scheme), but they will be tested by a QB who loves to take chances.
Texas will have multiple opportunities to create turnovers and capitalize on mistakes that the WVU offense has consistently made in fumbles (13) and interceptions (7).
Advantage:
Texas LB’s v. WVU RB’s:
Texas’ LB’s and rush defense has steadily improved throughout the season. Aside from their poor performance against BYU, the Longhorns have been fairly solid against the run.
Against Tech, Texas had one poor defensive drive against the Red Raiders’ rushing attack which resulted in their only offensive TD. The Longhorns have given up 12 total rushing TD’s on the season and 5 of those were against BYU.
WVU isn’t known as a rushing team, but they are still very capable of moving the football on the ground when it works. Against TCU, West Virginia’s first drive began with 8 of their first 9 plays as rushes and the drive ended in a TD. The Mountaineers do a good job of taking what the defense is giving them and using it to their advantage.
Even with the good performance by Texas against the run last week, they still have their issues from week to week stopping the run.
Advantage:
Texas DL v. WVU OL:
Texas’ D-Line is a strength for the defense – they are a big part of pressuring the QB which has helped the secondary rank in the top 10 in passing yards surrendered per game. The one weakness that the D-Line has had this season is its inability to plug holes in the run game, which has allowed opposing teams to average 175.1 yards rushing.
The West Virginia OL has also had it’s share of difficulties. While the Mountaineer have two RBs with over 500 yards rushing, they still only rank 53rd nationally in rush yards per game and even worse, rank 86th in sacks allowed (21).
The Longhorns are low in solid depth on the D-Line, but they have the talent at starting positions to perform well against West Virginia.
Advantage:
Special Teams:
Texas has basically had only one game where their special teams were average, while in each of the 8 other games. the unit had subpar performances. Whether it’s field goal kicking, kickoff returns, kickoffs, or punting, this team has had issues throughout the year in every area.
West Virginia has also had their issues, specifically at kick return defense, but they are very good at returning kicks and have a FG kicker with a big leg and a solid punter.
Week in and week out it’s the same thing: Texas must improve on special teams.
Advantage:
