–I'm going to keep it short and sweet. This was simply an unacceptable effort all around from West Virginia. The Mountaineers were down 35-3 at half and were utterly embarrassed in all phases of the game. Nothing about this was positive and in a game where you needed to show you care, the Mountaineers didn’t answer the call. I’m not sure what happens next, but this game was completely unacceptable and had the same feeling to it that the Mountaineers played with in the 2018 bowl game against Miami. Just lifeless. And it was basically everything. Even when it was 13-3 it seemed like this game was over and West Virginia just didn’t seem to hop on the plane to Lubbock this week.
–West Virginia was outscored 29-0 in the second quarter after a 6-3 game at the end of the first. Yikes.
–The plan on offense just wasn’t it. West Virginia was trying to force the run when it wasn’t there and kept dialing up short throws at the line of scrimmage which went nowhere. The Mountaineers had 125 yards at halftime and averaged 3.7 yards per play in the first half against a defense that has struggled all season. We all expected the defense to struggle in this matchup, but the offense didn’t show up. I’m fine with the Rodney Gallagher jet sweep every now and then, but why is that a weekly staple? The Mountaineers couldn’t push the ball down the field against statistically one of the worst pass defenses in the country and struggled to protect with four tackles and a pair of turnovers. Yes, the offense scored in the second half but this game was well over by the time that occurred.
–Sophomore running back Jahiem White did run hard in this game and had about the only offensive highlights for West Virginia in this entire game. He finished with 124 yards and a touchdown and several times displayed some impressive contact balance. He also had 5 catches for 24 yards.
--Wasn't the best game for senior quarterback Garrett Greene although the final numbers look better. Greene was 29-389 for 265 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions but the Mountaineers really struggled to push the ball down the field. Greene along with the rest of the offense just really struggled.
–Texas Tech had six possessions in the first half and scored on each of them. For the game they scored on 9 of 10 drives. The Red Raiders started with two field goals, but then cashed in on four touchdowns to close the first half. West Virginia was simply outmatched on the defensive side of the ball and really outside those stops in the red zone didn’t have any sort of answer for what the Red Raiders were doing. At halftime, Texas Tech had 339 yards and 35 points, while averaging 8.3 yards per play with 18 first downs. The Mountaineers did get the Red Raiders offense to third down six times, but outside those two stops in the red zone they were 4-4 and really never had much resistance as Texas Tech basically did whatever, whenever they wanted. The Red Raiders hung 52 points on the defense and finished with 568 yards and 31 first downs.
–Credit to Michael Hayes for booting that 52-yard field goal in the wind. That was literally the highlight of the first half for the Mountaineers. But, special teams allowed a 20-yard punt return, the longest of the year and overall it just wasn’t the strongest effort there.
–West Virginia is going to a bowl game but as of typing this didn’t beat a team with a winning record all season. And lost five of the six games against teams with a winning record by double digits. This is a proud fan base with a lot of history on their side. You’re going to have a tough time trying to sell this 6-6 season to anybody after what the coaching staff said all off-season about taking the next step and looking like a contending team. This team didn’t contend this year and it’s simply that. While they were technically in the Big 12 race until yesterday, that was essentially in name alone. The Mountaineers don’t have any quality wins this year any way you slice it and that’s been a problem for this staff. Yes, there will be a bowl game and the Mountaineers would like to win it to move to 7-6 on the year but for the most part this season has simply been a forgettable one. The next few days should be interesting but what unfolded today is clearly not acceptable in any form or fashion.
–West Virginia was outscored 29-0 in the second quarter after a 6-3 game at the end of the first. Yikes.
–The plan on offense just wasn’t it. West Virginia was trying to force the run when it wasn’t there and kept dialing up short throws at the line of scrimmage which went nowhere. The Mountaineers had 125 yards at halftime and averaged 3.7 yards per play in the first half against a defense that has struggled all season. We all expected the defense to struggle in this matchup, but the offense didn’t show up. I’m fine with the Rodney Gallagher jet sweep every now and then, but why is that a weekly staple? The Mountaineers couldn’t push the ball down the field against statistically one of the worst pass defenses in the country and struggled to protect with four tackles and a pair of turnovers. Yes, the offense scored in the second half but this game was well over by the time that occurred.
–Sophomore running back Jahiem White did run hard in this game and had about the only offensive highlights for West Virginia in this entire game. He finished with 124 yards and a touchdown and several times displayed some impressive contact balance. He also had 5 catches for 24 yards.
--Wasn't the best game for senior quarterback Garrett Greene although the final numbers look better. Greene was 29-389 for 265 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions but the Mountaineers really struggled to push the ball down the field. Greene along with the rest of the offense just really struggled.
–Texas Tech had six possessions in the first half and scored on each of them. For the game they scored on 9 of 10 drives. The Red Raiders started with two field goals, but then cashed in on four touchdowns to close the first half. West Virginia was simply outmatched on the defensive side of the ball and really outside those stops in the red zone didn’t have any sort of answer for what the Red Raiders were doing. At halftime, Texas Tech had 339 yards and 35 points, while averaging 8.3 yards per play with 18 first downs. The Mountaineers did get the Red Raiders offense to third down six times, but outside those two stops in the red zone they were 4-4 and really never had much resistance as Texas Tech basically did whatever, whenever they wanted. The Red Raiders hung 52 points on the defense and finished with 568 yards and 31 first downs.
–Credit to Michael Hayes for booting that 52-yard field goal in the wind. That was literally the highlight of the first half for the Mountaineers. But, special teams allowed a 20-yard punt return, the longest of the year and overall it just wasn’t the strongest effort there.
–West Virginia is going to a bowl game but as of typing this didn’t beat a team with a winning record all season. And lost five of the six games against teams with a winning record by double digits. This is a proud fan base with a lot of history on their side. You’re going to have a tough time trying to sell this 6-6 season to anybody after what the coaching staff said all off-season about taking the next step and looking like a contending team. This team didn’t contend this year and it’s simply that. While they were technically in the Big 12 race until yesterday, that was essentially in name alone. The Mountaineers don’t have any quality wins this year any way you slice it and that’s been a problem for this staff. Yes, there will be a bowl game and the Mountaineers would like to win it to move to 7-6 on the year but for the most part this season has simply been a forgettable one. The next few days should be interesting but what unfolded today is clearly not acceptable in any form or fashion.
