Saturday’s spring game was what you thought it was with the surging defense controlling most of the day in a 43-34 win — and that includes an offensive touchdown on the third down after time had expired.

Truth is, defenses usually catch on during the final few days of the 15 spring practices, which is what happened at WVU, because things get to be pretty familiar and even tedious. And then, in the spring game, the offense is stripped down so it doesn’t give much away on video for opponents to study, and that just makes it easier for the defense.

Still the offense is fine and will be fine and even better the next time you see it. The core is there and the core is good and the core isn’t going to change much. Oh, it will and it will matter because the changes will be deemed necessary, but there just won’t be much. Not in scheme and not in personnel. So says Dana Holgorsen.

“We’re playing with a whole bunch of people who won’t be playing in games,” Holgorsen said. “The guys in there? If we’re playing with them in the fall, we’re not going to win.”

No need to name names, but check out a box score, remember how the quality of play deteriorated after a certain point, witness an offensive line with tackles at guards and guards at tackle and center and you know what he means.

Sometimes in the spring you shake the tree and a treat falls into your lap, sometimes a kid, like a Jordan Thompson, is as good as everyone hoped, but WVU already had offensive talent and quality trumps quantity.

“There’s a collection of about 16 people that are actually going to play in a game,” Holgorsen said. “We’ve got an idea who probably 14 of them are I think once we figure out who the other two are, we’ll be all right offensively.”

Sixteen! And not only that, but 16 with 14 down and two to go. Look, these are soft numbers. There may be 14 and there may be 16 right now. There may be room for 17 or 18. No one who can help is going to be turned away just because Dana maxed some imaginary roster cap. These are all approximates. He said “about” and he said “probably,” but he also said 14 and he said 16, so let’s run with this: Who are the 14 and who helps WVU’s offense get to 16 for Sept. 1?