The philosophy at West Virginia has been for years now the 3-3-5 will stop the run and control the pass to not only make an opponent one-dimensional, but to task that team to assemble 10-, 12- and 15-play drives to get into the end zone or a position to kick a field goal.

Debate the practicality how you want, but that’s been the general theme with the premise being the defense is more likely to force a punt or a turnover by fumble, interception or downs before the offense can strike — and maybe that’s why through the years the Mountaineers have been suspicious against big plays on offense.

To make this work, though, your defense has to get off the field. That means minimizing first downs and stopping third downs. Do that, you’ll also be highly ranked in total defense and scoring defense and your offense is going to have the ball an awful lot. Common threads for winning teams, all intertwined.

Check out what WVU has done through five weeks of this season.

WVU is No. 2 in third down conversion percentage, allowing only 12 of 54 chances (22.2 percent) to go for a first down. Only Penn State (12-for-57) is better. WVU also has allowed only 46 first downs, the lowest total in the country.

“I guess it’s pretty simple,” WVU safety Robert Sands said. “We want it more. It’s all about wanting it more on third down.  We want to get off the field more than they want to continue their drive.”

UNLV, which visits Mountaineer Field for the first time Saturday, is No. 103 on third down and has converted 23 of 69 chances. The Rebels are No. 92 in time of possession (28:32) while WVU’s defense has helped the team rank No. 19 (32:16).