Once again due to the nature of this one, this is a look at the first half.
OFFENSE:
Formation count: 3 WR 1 FB, 1 RB (21), 4 WR 1 RB (16), Diamond (1), 3 WR 2 RB (1)
--The first screen pass of the game was a sign of things to come in that department as Grier short-armed it and it bounced on the turf in front of Jennings. The timing there seemed to be off all day especially on those quick passes where Grier had exceled at getting those out.
--On the first touchdown, West Virginia handed the ball off to Crawford and he just found the hole created by the pulling guard Josh Sills and fullback Elijah Wellman who drove his defender back out of the play for an easy two-yard score.
--That was a theme at the jump, as Crawford had some big holes and even tripped over his own feet on one run that would have gone for a lot more.
--Quarterback and center exchange seemed to be off some, with one hitting Grier in the helmet in the first quarter, then Grier dropped the snap for the turnover.
--Can’t say enough about what redshirt senior Elijah Wellman does. He doesn’t get a lot of recognition for it, but he continues to clear holes and move people in the run game.
--Delaware State was playing off with the slot wide receivers, and Grier would just pop up and quickly get them the football for some chunks of yards including third down.
--Perhaps the most series of the game for West Virginia was on its fourth possession. A fumbled snap for two yards, a dropped pass to a wide open David Sills and then a fumble which resulted in setting up Delaware State inside the Mountaineers ten. That couldn’t have gone worse.
--West Virginia used the diamond formation for the first time on the next series, and Grier got great protection as he launched the ball down the field to Simms, who has beaten two defenders on the deep post for a 62-yard touchdown. Another beautiful deep ball and right in stride. The speed that he brings to this offense just adds a completely different dimension.
--Second worst series of the game would be the next, with a pair of negative runs and then Grier having all kinds of time in the pocket and forcing the ball down the field to Ka’Raun White into coverage. That was an issue of simply just trying to do too much and pushing the football down field.
--You’re not going to see very many prettier plays than the back shoulder throw to Ka’Raun White for a 28-yard touchdown. That’s timing and the defensive back never got his head around.
--Just call Simms the post-man. He ran another one on the 16-yard touchdown toss and simply just mean his man to the inside and it was an easy pitch and catch.
DEFENSE:
--On the bust for the 81-yard touchdown pass, the back was flexed in the backfield and simply ran across the formation and nobody picked him up out of the backfield. Gross had the assignment there and when Tonkery came up to apply pressure, Gross was stuck with his eyes in the backfield while the running back was wide open down the sideline out of the wheel route. Perhaps the most surprising part of the play was that Dravon Askew-Henry was able to track it down but didn’t make the tackle.
--Speaking of which, West Virginia has got to do a better job with the bringing players across the formation. It resulted in some big plays against Virginia Tech and is getting players out of position. Teams will have that on tape and are going to continue to go back to that until the Mountaineers can play assignment football there.
--West Virginia allowed some big runs in the opening, but did a much better job as the game went on in this department. The first carry of the game was a nine yard run, but about four of that was because the Mountaineers actually tackled the back forward.
--After re-watching the game, I really like the physical element that freshman Kenny Robinson brings to the position and he certainly doesn’t lack for confidence. Wasn’t challenged as much as you’d like to see in this one and has to do a better job getting his head turned around to put himself in a position to make plays but overall a lot of encouraging signs for a first career start.
--Biggest series of the game came on the quick change after the Grier snap bobble, when the Mountaineers stood on their own six and forced the Hornets into a field goal. The Mountaineers had good coverage on each of the snaps and were able to keep Delaware State out of the end zone.
--The 47-yard run was well blocked by Delaware State, but the Mountaineers have to do a better job getting off those and disrupting it. The running back wasn’t even touched until he was near the end of his run but the defense did respond and push the Hornets back after that including a sack for Ezekiel Rose.
--Tonkery put pressure on the interception and the quarterback simply just tossed the ball up down the middle of the field into double coverage. An easy interception for Dravon Askew-Henry.
--Tony Gibson didn’t see a lot of missed tackles on initial review and I agree with him. Only counted three in the first half.
--Do think effort was an issue up front at times, which can’t happen moving forward.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
--West Virginia opened with the one returner formation, with Marcus Simms deep on the opening kick and it was blocked well but his speed was simply the difference on the 80-yard return.
--Somebody that really stood out on the kickoff team was freshman Derrek Pitts. He is very fast and seemingly always around the ball.
--On the fumble recovery, senior linebacker Xavier Preston simply just ripped the ball away after it was mishandled on the return.
--How about the wheels for big defensive lineman Ezekiel Rose on the kickoff return on the pooch kick?
OFFENSE:
Formation count: 3 WR 1 FB, 1 RB (21), 4 WR 1 RB (16), Diamond (1), 3 WR 2 RB (1)
--The first screen pass of the game was a sign of things to come in that department as Grier short-armed it and it bounced on the turf in front of Jennings. The timing there seemed to be off all day especially on those quick passes where Grier had exceled at getting those out.
--On the first touchdown, West Virginia handed the ball off to Crawford and he just found the hole created by the pulling guard Josh Sills and fullback Elijah Wellman who drove his defender back out of the play for an easy two-yard score.
--That was a theme at the jump, as Crawford had some big holes and even tripped over his own feet on one run that would have gone for a lot more.
--Quarterback and center exchange seemed to be off some, with one hitting Grier in the helmet in the first quarter, then Grier dropped the snap for the turnover.
--Can’t say enough about what redshirt senior Elijah Wellman does. He doesn’t get a lot of recognition for it, but he continues to clear holes and move people in the run game.
--Delaware State was playing off with the slot wide receivers, and Grier would just pop up and quickly get them the football for some chunks of yards including third down.
--Perhaps the most series of the game for West Virginia was on its fourth possession. A fumbled snap for two yards, a dropped pass to a wide open David Sills and then a fumble which resulted in setting up Delaware State inside the Mountaineers ten. That couldn’t have gone worse.
--West Virginia used the diamond formation for the first time on the next series, and Grier got great protection as he launched the ball down the field to Simms, who has beaten two defenders on the deep post for a 62-yard touchdown. Another beautiful deep ball and right in stride. The speed that he brings to this offense just adds a completely different dimension.
--Second worst series of the game would be the next, with a pair of negative runs and then Grier having all kinds of time in the pocket and forcing the ball down the field to Ka’Raun White into coverage. That was an issue of simply just trying to do too much and pushing the football down field.
--You’re not going to see very many prettier plays than the back shoulder throw to Ka’Raun White for a 28-yard touchdown. That’s timing and the defensive back never got his head around.
--Just call Simms the post-man. He ran another one on the 16-yard touchdown toss and simply just mean his man to the inside and it was an easy pitch and catch.
DEFENSE:
--On the bust for the 81-yard touchdown pass, the back was flexed in the backfield and simply ran across the formation and nobody picked him up out of the backfield. Gross had the assignment there and when Tonkery came up to apply pressure, Gross was stuck with his eyes in the backfield while the running back was wide open down the sideline out of the wheel route. Perhaps the most surprising part of the play was that Dravon Askew-Henry was able to track it down but didn’t make the tackle.
--Speaking of which, West Virginia has got to do a better job with the bringing players across the formation. It resulted in some big plays against Virginia Tech and is getting players out of position. Teams will have that on tape and are going to continue to go back to that until the Mountaineers can play assignment football there.
--West Virginia allowed some big runs in the opening, but did a much better job as the game went on in this department. The first carry of the game was a nine yard run, but about four of that was because the Mountaineers actually tackled the back forward.
--After re-watching the game, I really like the physical element that freshman Kenny Robinson brings to the position and he certainly doesn’t lack for confidence. Wasn’t challenged as much as you’d like to see in this one and has to do a better job getting his head turned around to put himself in a position to make plays but overall a lot of encouraging signs for a first career start.
--Biggest series of the game came on the quick change after the Grier snap bobble, when the Mountaineers stood on their own six and forced the Hornets into a field goal. The Mountaineers had good coverage on each of the snaps and were able to keep Delaware State out of the end zone.
--The 47-yard run was well blocked by Delaware State, but the Mountaineers have to do a better job getting off those and disrupting it. The running back wasn’t even touched until he was near the end of his run but the defense did respond and push the Hornets back after that including a sack for Ezekiel Rose.
--Tonkery put pressure on the interception and the quarterback simply just tossed the ball up down the middle of the field into double coverage. An easy interception for Dravon Askew-Henry.
--Tony Gibson didn’t see a lot of missed tackles on initial review and I agree with him. Only counted three in the first half.
--Do think effort was an issue up front at times, which can’t happen moving forward.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
--West Virginia opened with the one returner formation, with Marcus Simms deep on the opening kick and it was blocked well but his speed was simply the difference on the 80-yard return.
--Somebody that really stood out on the kickoff team was freshman Derrek Pitts. He is very fast and seemingly always around the ball.
--On the fumble recovery, senior linebacker Xavier Preston simply just ripped the ball away after it was mishandled on the return.
--How about the wheels for big defensive lineman Ezekiel Rose on the kickoff return on the pooch kick?
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