--West Virginia head coach Neal Brown thought the support staff was critical for the win this past weekend playing in 86 degree weather. The keys to the game was points off turnovers and starting field position was +18 in their favor. The Mountaineers had a 42-yard net punt and Michael Hayes was very good kicking back for touchbacks. The four takeaways were huge. First half they missed too many tackles and third down they had a good day. Some of it is they have to continue to work on their zone drops. On offense, West Virginia controlled the game but they left a lot of yards on the field on the pass game.
--Wyatt Milum was lineman of the week, Michael Hayes on special teams, defensive was Beanie Bishop and Garrett Greene was offensive. Blue collar award was Jalen Thornton on defense, Eddie Vesterinen and Preston Fox.
--West Virginia is glad to be back home and they want to redeem themselves after the fourth quarter against Oklahoma State. It's a true blue game and it's Chuck Howley's jersey retirement game. Tom Landry said that he may have been the best football player he ever coached, which is all you need to say. BYU is a very proud program and the fans need to show up. This is their only east coast game of the year. They are a physical group and have some talent at wide receiver. Defensively they have a very good front and they are long. They have some good cover guys and are one of the best teams in the nation in forcing turnovers. They won't beat themselves.
--Brown said that the defense has to be better in run fits. They have to get more production out of their spear, and they must maintain their edges. They're missing too many tackles because they are not fitting it right up front and they are leaving a bigger gap than there needs to be. They need to make more of those than they are. And they need to do better in zone drops because they are giving easy completions. They are sinking further than they need to or they're not in their landmarks. They might be off by a yard or two, but it's allowing easy completions. They need to be able to fit the run better and take care of their assignments in drops.
--Three of the four turnovers were forced. On the second one that Beanie Bishop.
--Doug Nester is doubtful this week, Hudson Clement and Traylon Ray will both play. Hershey McLaurin they are hopeful he will return.
--At corner Beanie Bishop played well and was as best as he's done in coverage. Malachi Ruffin played well. They can play better at safety, although they did in the second half.
--Two things West Virginia did a much better job in early downs in the second half which put them behind the sticks and once it was a two-score game they had to throw the ball more than they are comfortable with.
--It was huge to put the ball for touchbacks. It was windy in that stadium and for him to do six touchbacks and one fair catch was huge. They have reduced their role on special teams for the starters on defense to preserve them. It's huge when Oliver Straw gets the ball up in the air because they're a fair catch operation.
--Bishop plays in the boundary so most teams it's a closer throw so you get more throws there naturally. A lot of times the lead target is in the boundary. His best football is when he is in man coverage because he uses his hands to be able to see. He's been a good influence and has been really good as a veteran guy in the secondary room.
--Proud is the right word for the rushing streak going over 140 yards over the last 11 games. They made a calculated decision to run the ball to be successful and they've had some injuries up front with a moving bunch but have had success. It's a stat that sticks out that he's proud of but they have to keep it up.
--West Virginia tried to get Beanie Bishop out of the portal the first time when he left Western Kentucky. He made a ton of plays on the ball and when he went to Minnesota they didn't watch much of the tape because they played him more inside. West Virginia had a need and wanted somebody that was a veteran and can cover.
--It's always more challenging playing somebody that you haven't played. You can't go back and look at how they defend you or anything like that. When he turns on the film, it was what he expected them to be from watching on television. They've been creative and different. They are doing more drop back with Kedon Slovis. They are really physical on both sides of the ball, they get lined up and don't get silly penalties or beat themselves. Everything they want to be, BYU has proven that they are.
--Best CJ Donaldson had played since Pittsburgh. That is who Jaheim was all week. His best run was an inside run that he got to the sideline. Justin Johnson didn't play as well this week but his reads last week were very consistent and got downhill. They will continue to get them touches and also will use Rodney Gallagher in the run game. Gallagher is coming along and now that Garrett Greene can run they can call some run plays for him. Gallagher is really good with the ball in his hands and he's been practicing better.
--Michael Hayes has been a big hit for them and he has been good on field goals and kickoffs.
--Kedon Slovis they will watch some things from last year but they are structured different defensively.
--The one thing is that BYU was playing a really challenging schedule over the past couple years which has prepared them.
--It makes no sense that they don't have helmet communication. He's been an advocate for it and he is the Big 12 representative for the AFCA.
--Wyatt Milum was lineman of the week, Michael Hayes on special teams, defensive was Beanie Bishop and Garrett Greene was offensive. Blue collar award was Jalen Thornton on defense, Eddie Vesterinen and Preston Fox.
--West Virginia is glad to be back home and they want to redeem themselves after the fourth quarter against Oklahoma State. It's a true blue game and it's Chuck Howley's jersey retirement game. Tom Landry said that he may have been the best football player he ever coached, which is all you need to say. BYU is a very proud program and the fans need to show up. This is their only east coast game of the year. They are a physical group and have some talent at wide receiver. Defensively they have a very good front and they are long. They have some good cover guys and are one of the best teams in the nation in forcing turnovers. They won't beat themselves.
--Brown said that the defense has to be better in run fits. They have to get more production out of their spear, and they must maintain their edges. They're missing too many tackles because they are not fitting it right up front and they are leaving a bigger gap than there needs to be. They need to make more of those than they are. And they need to do better in zone drops because they are giving easy completions. They are sinking further than they need to or they're not in their landmarks. They might be off by a yard or two, but it's allowing easy completions. They need to be able to fit the run better and take care of their assignments in drops.
--Three of the four turnovers were forced. On the second one that Beanie Bishop.
--Doug Nester is doubtful this week, Hudson Clement and Traylon Ray will both play. Hershey McLaurin they are hopeful he will return.
--At corner Beanie Bishop played well and was as best as he's done in coverage. Malachi Ruffin played well. They can play better at safety, although they did in the second half.
--Two things West Virginia did a much better job in early downs in the second half which put them behind the sticks and once it was a two-score game they had to throw the ball more than they are comfortable with.
--It was huge to put the ball for touchbacks. It was windy in that stadium and for him to do six touchbacks and one fair catch was huge. They have reduced their role on special teams for the starters on defense to preserve them. It's huge when Oliver Straw gets the ball up in the air because they're a fair catch operation.
--Bishop plays in the boundary so most teams it's a closer throw so you get more throws there naturally. A lot of times the lead target is in the boundary. His best football is when he is in man coverage because he uses his hands to be able to see. He's been a good influence and has been really good as a veteran guy in the secondary room.
--Proud is the right word for the rushing streak going over 140 yards over the last 11 games. They made a calculated decision to run the ball to be successful and they've had some injuries up front with a moving bunch but have had success. It's a stat that sticks out that he's proud of but they have to keep it up.
--West Virginia tried to get Beanie Bishop out of the portal the first time when he left Western Kentucky. He made a ton of plays on the ball and when he went to Minnesota they didn't watch much of the tape because they played him more inside. West Virginia had a need and wanted somebody that was a veteran and can cover.
--It's always more challenging playing somebody that you haven't played. You can't go back and look at how they defend you or anything like that. When he turns on the film, it was what he expected them to be from watching on television. They've been creative and different. They are doing more drop back with Kedon Slovis. They are really physical on both sides of the ball, they get lined up and don't get silly penalties or beat themselves. Everything they want to be, BYU has proven that they are.
--Best CJ Donaldson had played since Pittsburgh. That is who Jaheim was all week. His best run was an inside run that he got to the sideline. Justin Johnson didn't play as well this week but his reads last week were very consistent and got downhill. They will continue to get them touches and also will use Rodney Gallagher in the run game. Gallagher is coming along and now that Garrett Greene can run they can call some run plays for him. Gallagher is really good with the ball in his hands and he's been practicing better.
--Michael Hayes has been a big hit for them and he has been good on field goals and kickoffs.
--Kedon Slovis they will watch some things from last year but they are structured different defensively.
--The one thing is that BYU was playing a really challenging schedule over the past couple years which has prepared them.
--It makes no sense that they don't have helmet communication. He's been an advocate for it and he is the Big 12 representative for the AFCA.
