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So much of what follows today is going to require something of a constant reminder, so let’s get it out of the way. Yeah, but that was Oklahoma on the other side. It’s impossible to disprove or dispute that, and the point is a lot of the Bad things can be countered or accompanied by that line and I won’t so much as blink because they’ve got good guys. In many spots, they’ve got better guys. You can treat the Good stuff similarly because it came at the expense of the same opposition. I have to think West Virginia saw a playoff team Saturday night, and I think Alabama is good enough to be there at the end, though to be honest, the rest of the SEC West might complicate matters more than the rest of the Big 12 will test the Sooners.
Anyhow, I found myself watching this game in person and then for this thinking, “They didn’t play too badly.” It got out of sorts late, but as Oklahoma opened up a lead, Oklahoma poured on the pressure and it derailed a lot of what the Mountaineers were doing, and some of that was compromised even before the game by the fact that — let’s hear it — that was Oklahoma on the other side. And then defensively, the sustained effect and impact of the running game was too much, too.
But I thought WVU did all right and did things it wanted but also missed some openings and then ran out of gas or answers or both. The pressure overwhelmed guys, but I thought WVU did things to the defensive line and yet just never broke runs beyond the first level. The secondary help up fine and the receivers did their jobs, but Sooners receivers and defensive backs affected the outcome in various ways.
It happens and there’s still a gap WVU has to close, and WVU has to take care of special situations better than it is now. The defense has only forced three turnovers and the offense hasn’t scored after any of them. Against Alabama, Maryland and Oklahoma, the defense has allowed 21 scores (13 touchdowns) and the offense has only followed with nine scores (seven touchdowns). The defense has forced 10 three-and-outs, but the offense has matched that in punts (three) and “turnovers” (one a fumble, one on downs) and only scored three times (one touchdown).
“For the most part, we’re moving the ball, but the biggest deal is gaining momentum at the right time,” WVU offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said. “It doesn’t seem like we’re really able to get the — I guess the right word would be ‘understanding’ — of when it’s time to put the throttle down and get momentum back.”
All of which leads me to the picture up top. This is the second snap of the game. You can see the ball on the way from the center to the quarterback and you can see the ROLB is already on his way to the pocket. That’s Eric Striker and he’s a missile with a ludicrous first step. I don’t think he had the snap count down two plays in, and it’s possible he got a bead on Adam Pankey on film, but after 29 seconds, he changes the game with this otherwise little matter. He gets off the line in a hurry, he gets the sack, Pankey plays most of the rest of the game sunk back a little with his outside foot deep and you saw WVU use a ton of Cody Clay and/or Eli Wellman and even some Russell Haughton-James.
The more you need and use those guys, the less you use your playmakers on offense. As the game wore on and pressure mounted, WVU also lost its ability to make big plays. It’s all on a string.
How did we get here? Let’s find out by taking a look at the Good and the Bad of WVU v. Oklahoma.
Good: Perine Keith Ford must be a six-time All Pro if he was keeping carries away from this guy. When Ford gets back and the Sooners figure out how to balance Ford and Samaje Perine and mix in Alex Ross, good friggin’ luck. Watch Perine run and you think, “Dude’s a tank.” And you’re right because, naturally, that’s his nickname. He’s 5-foot-11 and 245 pounds, but he made some cuts and some reads that speak to a separate skill that makes him a little more dangerous than just a keg rolling down a hill. We could go over many of this 31 carries, but this one, I thought, spoke to this game. The Mountaineers have eight in the box and the Sooners are not impressed. Blake Bell (Aside: I was very impressed.) spins Brandon Golson out and the fullback ripkowskis through the hole and blasts K.J. Dillon. Then the left guard and the right tackle climb the ladder and take out Ish Banks and Nick Kwiatkoski and Perine accelerates and detonates. WVU never got to that second level. The Sooners spent a lot of time there.
Good: Wild Wes It’s hard to fathom this on a night the defense, and namely the front, was shredded by the run game (See: Opening), but Wes Tonkery was very good, wasn’t he? I didn’t know if he was missed at Maryland, and maybe that’s because Isaiah Bruce played well and Maryland’s run game is easier to define and defend. But now I know: He was missed at Maryland. He flew around the field Saturday, and you have to believe his coaches and teammates when they say how athletic he is. These are two proof plays and in different arenas, but he handles both. At the end, he had eight tackles, 11/2 tackles for a loss and an interception, but he did well early to contain runs and funnel the action back inside to keep the lid on for as long as the defense could manage.
Bad: Oof
Didn’t see a lot of Dravon Henry after running up to make this play. I thought Jeremy Tyler played pretty well in Henry’s stead. Certainly the most meaningful action of his career. But if Henry had to take a knee after this play, imagine what guys like Karl Joseph (13 tackles), Tonkery, Nick Kwiatkoski and Dillon were feeling Sunday morning.
Best: Lest I forget … Then again, how did K.J. Young feel when the flight landed in Norman, Oklahoma, and he stepped out of his seat? I’m guessing … not great. Rule of thumb: Step out of ankle tackles. Do not spin out of ankle tackles. (Side good: This was the only screen that beat WVU, and it was the fifth play of a drive that started with three passes and a run and tackles by Joseph, Golson, Tonkery and Terrell Chestnut, which is to say all over the field. Oklahoma had WVU chasing and a screen is a good way to take advantage. Mostly, though, WVU handled the screen game quite well.)
Bad: Best laid plans Not a great day for Clay and Wellman, especially late. They had their moments and did some things well, but as the game progressed, I thought they looked a little sluggish, and you can understand that when the Sooners are rolling in guys and sending them play after play. But it mattered and this happened. The fumble Wellman allowed was really big because WVU was down 11 and had the ball in Sooners territory to start the fourth quarter. The sack Clay allowed — to a safety lined up as a defensive end, by the way — was no less consequential because it followed a stop by the defense and came on a second-and-7 play again in Sooners territory. Oklahoma took advantage of its second chance to put away the game and scored nine plays later. Oklahoma was opportune. It turned the heat up at the right part of the game and further escalated things when it saw fit, but WVU has to handle those things better because teams are going to blitz. With that offense and those downfield threats at receiver, it’s a wise tactic, whether or not you’re as good as the Sooners.
Good: WVU had ideas, too Zero blitz, y’all. I’m not sure what to make of this. Tony Gibson sends seven. The Sooners have seven. Their seven is better, I guess, because WVU doesn’t really harangue Trevor Knight, who nevertheless misfires here. We’ll forget this because of the point and yardage totals and because of time, but the Mountaineers had Knight rattled. He was pulling the trigger early when he thought he saw things that were never really there, which is something Gibby seems to be good at four games into this. He was a little erratic. He was frustrated by drops. He was in a 2-for-10 rut and presided over three straight three-and-outs that netted 1 yard. Handoffs started to sound like a great idea, and he eventually settled. But for a time, he wasn’t feeling it.
Bad: Aaahhh In theory, there’s nothing wrong here. The wheel route, I guess, does get Daikiel Shorts a step running up the rail, and a better throw, which Trickett is capable of, wins this down. I think Shorts owes his quarterback a cleaner route, too. But watch the defensive backs cross and watch Mario Alford motor past his guy. Given the way these guys have played this season, I don’t think it’s crazy to say that’s a 65-yard touchdown. No way the safety stays with Alford and a throw that leads him.
Good: It’s a trap WVU got Oklahoma here and came really close to really getting Oklahoma here, but this was one of many highlights that came from these two teams knowing one another so well. It’s a cheeky design where the Mountaineers are shopping for one thing and buying another. It looks from the snap to be an inside screen to White. Thompson sells it, the defenders pinch and the safety steps forward. Then Thompson goes vertical and the safety is in a bad spot … except that the cornerback, Zack Sanchez, sees it and chases. I wonder if he improvised there, because Oklahoma’s playing man and his man is Kevin White. Thompson still has room, but Trickett … has to? … decides to? … roll right, and that takes some of the oomph off his throw. It’s still a good throw and it lets Thompson make a play, but if he stays in the pocket and steps into a throw, it’s a bigger play, right? Touchdown? Hard to say, but again, the way these guys have been playing …
Bad: Convoy I swear, I’ll stop wondering if the Mountaineers left big plays out on the field or are merely human, but part of the whole point here today is how the Mountaineers did many good things. They’ve got Oklahoma looped here. Guys are feigning a blitz and then racing to their right and all the action is going to their left. This is set up for a big play, and WVU gets one. Once the ball is in the air, there are, let’s say, six Sooners who are absolutely not making the tackle. Orlosky takes care of another early after the catch (he totally erases four guys, three who I previously said weren’t making the tackle, but it’s still impressive) and Clay wipes out another. That leaves three defenders and some receivers out there to make their lives miserable. Smallwood had the very good Mark Glowinski with him, but Smallwood runs by the poor guy and brings Jordan Evans into the play to make the tackle. If Glowinski puts hands on Evans, is this six? That said, it’s a beautiful play at the perfect time, and ultimately undone by the really iffy holding call on Marquis Lucas two plays later.
Bad: Flat! It insulted his hair. That’s the only reason I can come up with for why they guy making all the right decisions keeps missing the running back in space to his right. Charles Smith reasoned that Trickett hadn’t connected with White lately and was trying to get it going again, and that might be right, but this was the first drive of the second half. He hadn’t connected with anyone in a while. This was big, too, because it killed the drive right after the Sooners scored to start the second half, which made them really puff out their chests. But you see where I’m going here today, right?
Bad: Gus Speaking of Smith, I enjoyed him. I know some WVU people who interacted with him when he was on campus getting ready for the game and they had nothing but nice things to say about what he knew and what he wanted to get to know. But Gus? My man lost his soccer gig earlier in the week and only topped out at 84 mph Saturday. He seemed confused at points — “A laser…” when clearly the throw was too late and above too much air — and lost between his notes and the game — the onside kick — which happens. But he got PEE-rine right all night, so there’s hope.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcUj6WxNwkY
Good: Geee, aaay, emmm Understand first that Sanchez is a fine player and quite likely a future pro. Appreciate Kevin White, for he is, too, and we’re only going to see this for a relatively brief time here. Anyhow, this was at a point in the game when WVU had this kind of look. Rushel Shell was loosening up and WVU was running with regularity, if not with regular success, and that was going against Oklahoma’s design and desire. The Sooners weren’t doubling White and/or Alford much and were instead putting seven or eight in the box, and WVU had to run into that to pursue balance, to move the ball and to keep the defense looking the way it was. There are eight in the box here with one high safety and White beats Sanchez so badly so quickly off the ball that the safety has no chance. This, of course, would change.
Good: Sooners adjustment They just didn’t let White or Alford get down the field after halftime. They doubled or played off or played a deep safety and the score further let them dictate that direction because the pressure took over and WVU couldn’t protect long enough to let Trickett take advantage of coverage behind blitzes. This is a really curious call that people were booing, and I guess I get that, but look at the defense. The back line in the end zone is a 12th defender, too. There’s no play for a conversion or touchdown here. The call plays a part, sure. I’m not certain I agree with the decision, but I understand it. And this is a good look at WVU not getting to the linebackers to give the play a greater chance to succeed. Three of them end up on the ground before the play is over. That’s sub-optimal.
Good: Update I had Trickett as 2-for-4 for 41 yards when he moved to escape pressure (I feel like we need an acronym to reference this, similar to YAC). He threw an interception and, when rolling left, missed an open Alford who was running to space on that left side. For the season, he’s 9-for-16 for 141 yards and an interception with four carries for 28 yards.
Good: Violent hands I mentioned this in the game blog, and it’s possible it’s not a coincidence as much as a common description or characteristic among scouts. But I’ve talked to two early in this season about White and they both said he has “violent” hands. I thought the overlapping adjective was neat. They’re right, of course, and watch this play to see the value. It’s after White’s touchdown, and Sanchez gives White the appropriate amount of room. White pumps his pistons and makes the first few milliseconds of that play resembled the first few milliseconds of the touchdown. The action matters because that brief burst sets the tone for the play. Sanchez has to worry about all that land behind him and White looks ready to go long. Except he stops and Sanchez is caught looking and then has to run up to make a play he doesn’t make. That’s football there. You want every route to look the same so the cornerback can’t discern, and all of White’s routes right now look like a damn bomb.
Good: Tip your cap Nothing you can do about that. Golson may or may not be the smartest football player alive. The reality doesn’t matter because you just don’t account for the quarterback to run to the corner on third-and-goal. Now, do you account for him in the run game? Absolutely, and WVU did. Once it’s handed off, that part of the play is off. Golson is supposed to watch for a cutback, bootleg or reverse. He checks off bootleg, checks out on Knight and sees he running back hand off for a reverse. I doubt he was lectured very long on the sideline.
Bad: Reverse WVU showed this action on its first play and, whooo, was it open for the slot receive to sweep around the open end. This time it’s handed off and Geneo Grissom stays home because he’s watching for a cutback, a bootleg or a reverse. He sees the reverse and he ends this play. As good as Striker was, I was more impressed by Grissom, who may very well have just had the day he had (four tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and two batted passes) because of all the attention given to Striker. They’re a fantastic tandem, though. I still can’t tell you much about Pankey and Lucas except that they’re solid and the best options out there, but if after 12 games we agree, “They’re not as good as Oklahoma’s outside guys,” that’s not an insult.
Bad: Third-and-shoot The Sooners scored two touchdowns on third-and-goal, including Knight’s catch. This play set up another goal-to-go and Oklahoma would score on second down, just to force me to be creative with this point, I’m sure. But the point is WVU was close to getting 3s instead of 7s, which is vintage bend-but-don’t-break 3-3-5. The Sooners don’t really do a good job with this play, either. Two linemen do nothing, but so, too, do two defenders who have a chance to stop this and bring on the kicker. Hey, Sterling Shepard is a handful.
Good: Benevolence Speaking of having a chance, watch that again. Perine has a chance to pulverize Golson when the play comes back to the weak side, but he doesn’t. That could have been ugly.
Good: Package Again, WVU had success early against Knight and the Sooners and here’s a glimpse from when the getting was good. The speed is Shaq Riddick and Golson as defensive ends and Edward Muldrow as the MLB, which is interesting, but also effective. I guess if the tackles and guards have to worry about the edge, a speedster can come through the middle.
Bad: Necessary evil Made it this far without a special teams mention! So let’s talk special teams. Haughton-James is noticeably slow off the snap and Sanchez beats him around the end, but Haughton-James the makes the best of a bad situation and flagrantly holds the guy who really should have blocked the kick. Who knows what happens after that, and I have a hard time convincing myself Haughton-James had the foresight to do it, but WVU magically ended up with three points out of this. I would have loved to see results from a Gallup poll at Mountaineer Field at that moment to see how many people thought Josh Lambert would smoke the subsequent 54-yarder.
Good: I win! Never again do I have to defend my stance on special teams. It’s unreliable and nothing can occur normally or even be expected to. I have covered WVU teams when the offense threw shade at the defense and the defense sighed at the offense. I wonder if we’re near a point where the offense and defense give special teams the side eye. It’s not impossible. Let’s acknowledge WVU punted and covered punts well, and Lambert again arched brows. There are positives. Alford continues to prefer touchbacks on kickoff returns and Thompson let another punt roll 15 yards to be downed at the goal line, only to be saved by a Sooners blooper, but those negatives are minor ones. But this happened and it was utterly demoralizing. It doesn’t matter how many checks you have on the Good side in a game. You still fear, hell, you know something like this is possible. The truly disappointing thing here is Mike Molinari, who along with Rick Rumph missed the only shots WVU had at a tackle, kicked two kickoffs that quarter and two more in the third quarter into that end zone for a touchback. Those were his only four touchbacks on his seven kickoffs. The only one all game into that end zone that wasn’t a touchback was a touchdown — and feel free to wonder if that led to the players cruising into coverage here; I think that’s a possibility. Blame Joe DeForest all you want, but this recipe for disaster is not his recipe for disaster. You have to keep your feet, you have to stay in your lanes, you have to get off blocks and you have to get the guy on the ground or walking on the white stuff. Instead, this happened. WVU messed up to create a critical opportunity that Oklahoma exploited.
