Matt Cotcher
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FINAL SCORE: Texas 33 – West Virginia 16
First half: Texas 24 – West Virgina 3
Second half: West Virginia 13 – Texas 9
First half observations:
- WVU and Trickett came out firing right at Diggs. That’s an interesting tactic and one that no team has tried yet.
- Swoopes to Swaim for a 7-0 lead. On that opening drive for Texas, the OL blocked beautifully (run and pass). The playcalling built in a sequence. That is the rhythm the coaches have talked about all season.
- Nick Rose has been excellent on kickoffs all year. On his first two today, he’s been short of the goal line and giving Mario Alford a chance to do damage. The Mountaineers ended up shooting themselves in the foot with a false start penalty, but they still only had to drive it 50 yards for a gimme field goal.
- The Texas DB’s are lining up with a 5-6 yard cushion, as if they’re content to see if WVU can dink ‘n dunk their way down the field. With White and Alford’s ability to get deep, it’s a safe strategy. With poor special teams play, it’s not smart.
- Tremendous effort from Marcus Johnson to stay on his feet and convert a 3rd down on the Horns’ third drive. But the drive stalls – this offense isn’t good enough to convert 3rd & Long on a consistent basis.
- The way Adrian Colbert ran to the goal line and then horizontally to make the catch that pinned WVU at their own 1-yard line was textbook.
- The Mountaineer first delayed draw placall from inside their 10 was timely. Calling it again, two plays later, was greedy.
- Everyone say a special thank you to rehab therapists. Johnathan Gray. Damn. He made Karl Joseph look foolish. Twice.
- West Virginia’s defense has been susceptible to off-tackle runs all year. After exploiting that weakness in the first quarter, the Horns are rolling straight downhill in Q2.
- It’s 21-3. Texas is making big plays on both sides of the ball. The whole team is playing confident and fast. This Texas team would smoke the Texas team in the first nine games.
- The pick by Diggs is the kind of play that you make after studying film all week.
- Cedric Reed’s first half productivity was a metaphor for the team’s. Solid first two stanzas.
- Shawn Watson goes back to gouging theMountaineer defense on edge runs on the opening drive of the 3rd quarter. His mix of playcalling has been very effective. WVU has been off balance the entire game.
- Two nice open-field, solo tackles on consecutive plays from Jordan Hicks stall WVU’s first drive of the second half. Big time plays for momentum’s sake.
- The Texas offense seems determined to go for the kill, when running the football seems like the smarter play.
- Diggs came off his receiver on the boundary to make his big hit inside the 5. Again, that’s a film study play.
- Special teams play must be contagious? Josh Lambert has been good all year, but his misses today haven’t even been close.
- WVU’s wideouts do a really nice job of blocking downfield.
- The 3rd quarter was scoreless for both teams but the Mountaineers possessed the ball for about 9:00 minutes. The 21-point lead feels smaller than it should.
- Colbert with another solid special teams play to shed a block and down another punt inside the 5-yard line.
- Cedric Reed’s sack for a safety was a huge pressure reliever. The whole stadium and sideline breathed a major sigh of relief. Side note: How does WVU allow Reed to come through untouched?
- Ced Reed with another sack and strip. There aren't enough superlatives for his effort today.
1. Signs of confidence were everywhere in the first half – the hit by Thompson, the jukes by Gray, the pick by Diggs – the whole team played faster than they have in two years. This is the 4th quarter of the OU game, but in a first half.
2. For all the rhythm and confidence on offense in the first half, the second half was the complete opposite. No structure to the playcalling and it also didn’t protect the lead. Most will blame Swoopes, but the OL and WR’s contributed as much as he did.
3. With the number and quality of recruits at the game, I don’t think it could have been scripted any better….a first half where the Horns look like a traditional power, and a second half where they look like they need players in spots.
Notable Stat’s
- The Mountaineers were just 2 of 9 on 3rd down in the first half. They finished the game, 3 for 17.
- The Horns rushed for 8.1 ypc in the first half.
- Texas only had 28 yards rushing (net) in the 3rd quarter. The Mountaineers more than doubled that.
- Tyrone Swoopes completed 11 passes. That only 37 completions in the last 3 games. On a positive note, Swoopes spread the ball to 6 different receivers.
- No fumbles, only one interception and just five penalties for the Horns.
- Texas scored 3 touchdowns on 3 red zone trips. WVU was only 3/5 in the red zone.
- Cedric Reed’s final stat line: 12 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 TFL’s, 1 forced fumble, and 1 quarterback hurry.
