--Football is a funny game sometimes and a week after West Virginia blew a 34-24 lead with 4:55 remaining, the Mountaineers rallied from down 11 with just 5:39 left. It was almost a mirror image of a week ago, with West Virginia opening things up and allowing the offense to throw the football and get quarterback Garrett Greene making plays with his legs while Kansas decided to go conservative with a chance to ice the clock and weren't able to do it. The Mountaineers get the football back and drive down the field score with 26 seconds left on a beautiful play design to Rodney Gallagher and then forced a turnover on a strip sack to preserve the win. Without the sake of being dramatic this win could very likely save the season for the Mountaineers from a mental perspective because dropping to 1-3 this early would have been a very difficult hole to climb out of with a trip to Oklahoma State next. Still, credit to this team for rallying and winning a game that not many thought they would at that point including myself. We'll see what this game means in the grand scheme of things for this year, but it's certainly worth celebrating tonight.
--Listen, it is what it is but this team is now 1-0 in the Big 12. That doesn't erase what has happened, but it matters especially with how wide open this league is going to be. I expect a lot of close games like this and you have to find ways to win them like this team did today.
--Now that doesn't erase the issues, as the Mountaineers were way too conservative at times in this game and it almost got them beat. The offense seemed stuck in neutral at times, but when Greene was allowed to open things up and just play football it functioned a lot better. The shifts/motions and everything else has a place, but this unit operates better to me when they're playing fast football and allowing Greene to do what he does best. West Virginia had 7 plays for 14 yards prior to the final two drives going 75-yards and 67-yards.
--Garrett Greene wasn't at his best at times in this one at 15-30 for 295 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, but he carried this team on his back in the final two drives and made play after play including some really good throws and some nice plays with his legs. He managed the clock well in those situations but used his legs to pick up some big plays to keep the offense moving. The Mountaineers just look like a different team in the two minute and Greene just looks so much more comfortable. He's a senior quarterback and this is one where despite it not being his best overall, that leadership and experience showed up when it mattered. That's the most he has thrown for in a game since 391 against Houston last year.
--West Virginia forced a pair of turnovers in this game after only having one through the first three and although neither resulted in points, the final one sealed the game. It's almost hard to believe that Tyrin Bradley has the last two interceptions that the defense has dating back to last season.
--West Virginia won this game with CJ Donaldson and Jahiem White combining for 12 carries for 53 yards. I definitely wouldn't have called that.
--Felt West Virginia did a better job against the pass at times in this one, although some of that was on Jalon Daniels just missing some opportunities. But the Jayhawks ran the ball with a lot of success in a lot of creative ways with 247 rushing yards but overall the defense tackled pretty well and made plays when it mattered. Those 247 rushing yards are the most that West Virginia has given up since Oklahoma State last season and the Jayhawks were at 5.3 per carry. But this effort is even more impressive with how many guys were injured at various times including Aubrey Burks. The Mountaineers had to use guys in different spots and made it work.
--The Mountaineers only had three penalties for 20 yards in this game. West Virginia was also 4-5 in the red zone but scored 29 points in those opportunities.
--Hudson Clement was excellent in this game. He was able to win in man coverage several times and finished with 7 catches for 150 yards, more than half of Greene's yards, but almost had another score. He just does the right things and has shown the ability to win in those contested situations at a higher clip than anybody else. Also tip of the cap to Rodney Gallagher who scored his first career touchdown on a really nice designed play for a 15-yard score. He continues to grow as a wide receiver.
--Overall, the offense was 7-13 on third down and a big reason was they were able to stay in manageable situations. Still Greene was 6-9 for 61-yards on third down and the Mountaineers also averaged over 10 yards on first downs.
--West Virginia was at 7 yards per play, while Kansas was at 6. I wouldn't have expected that.
--The West Virginia linebackers didn't have their best game in this one and Kansas will do that to you but Josiah Trotter is always around the ball. He had 11 tackles in this one. TJ Jackson also had another 1.5 sacks in this game and has been a force off the edge.
--Credit to Preston Fox. He played two snaps in this game and both were catching punts to ensure that the Mountaineers wouldn't have any miscues. But Gallagher also deserves some credit with a 16-yard return in this one showing his abilities back there.
--Props to the kickoff team. I've been really critical at times, but West Virginia booted the ball into the end zone at a high clip and when they didn't had great coverage with that team.
--West Virginia now gets a bye week and avoided disaster in this one while showing a lot of heart down the stretch run of this game. A lot of people might have given up late in this one, but this team didn't and that matters moving forward. It won't get any easier with a road trip next, but at least we can discuss the possibility now.
--Listen, it is what it is but this team is now 1-0 in the Big 12. That doesn't erase what has happened, but it matters especially with how wide open this league is going to be. I expect a lot of close games like this and you have to find ways to win them like this team did today.
--Now that doesn't erase the issues, as the Mountaineers were way too conservative at times in this game and it almost got them beat. The offense seemed stuck in neutral at times, but when Greene was allowed to open things up and just play football it functioned a lot better. The shifts/motions and everything else has a place, but this unit operates better to me when they're playing fast football and allowing Greene to do what he does best. West Virginia had 7 plays for 14 yards prior to the final two drives going 75-yards and 67-yards.
--Garrett Greene wasn't at his best at times in this one at 15-30 for 295 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, but he carried this team on his back in the final two drives and made play after play including some really good throws and some nice plays with his legs. He managed the clock well in those situations but used his legs to pick up some big plays to keep the offense moving. The Mountaineers just look like a different team in the two minute and Greene just looks so much more comfortable. He's a senior quarterback and this is one where despite it not being his best overall, that leadership and experience showed up when it mattered. That's the most he has thrown for in a game since 391 against Houston last year.
--West Virginia forced a pair of turnovers in this game after only having one through the first three and although neither resulted in points, the final one sealed the game. It's almost hard to believe that Tyrin Bradley has the last two interceptions that the defense has dating back to last season.
--West Virginia won this game with CJ Donaldson and Jahiem White combining for 12 carries for 53 yards. I definitely wouldn't have called that.
--Felt West Virginia did a better job against the pass at times in this one, although some of that was on Jalon Daniels just missing some opportunities. But the Jayhawks ran the ball with a lot of success in a lot of creative ways with 247 rushing yards but overall the defense tackled pretty well and made plays when it mattered. Those 247 rushing yards are the most that West Virginia has given up since Oklahoma State last season and the Jayhawks were at 5.3 per carry. But this effort is even more impressive with how many guys were injured at various times including Aubrey Burks. The Mountaineers had to use guys in different spots and made it work.
--The Mountaineers only had three penalties for 20 yards in this game. West Virginia was also 4-5 in the red zone but scored 29 points in those opportunities.
--Hudson Clement was excellent in this game. He was able to win in man coverage several times and finished with 7 catches for 150 yards, more than half of Greene's yards, but almost had another score. He just does the right things and has shown the ability to win in those contested situations at a higher clip than anybody else. Also tip of the cap to Rodney Gallagher who scored his first career touchdown on a really nice designed play for a 15-yard score. He continues to grow as a wide receiver.
--Overall, the offense was 7-13 on third down and a big reason was they were able to stay in manageable situations. Still Greene was 6-9 for 61-yards on third down and the Mountaineers also averaged over 10 yards on first downs.
--West Virginia was at 7 yards per play, while Kansas was at 6. I wouldn't have expected that.
--The West Virginia linebackers didn't have their best game in this one and Kansas will do that to you but Josiah Trotter is always around the ball. He had 11 tackles in this one. TJ Jackson also had another 1.5 sacks in this game and has been a force off the edge.
--Credit to Preston Fox. He played two snaps in this game and both were catching punts to ensure that the Mountaineers wouldn't have any miscues. But Gallagher also deserves some credit with a 16-yard return in this one showing his abilities back there.
--Props to the kickoff team. I've been really critical at times, but West Virginia booted the ball into the end zone at a high clip and when they didn't had great coverage with that team.
--West Virginia now gets a bye week and avoided disaster in this one while showing a lot of heart down the stretch run of this game. A lot of people might have given up late in this one, but this team didn't and that matters moving forward. It won't get any easier with a road trip next, but at least we can discuss the possibility now.
