Someone here may or may not have forecasted this, but Skyler Howard was all right Saturday. He missed one throw but hit hands on 11 others and for the most part blended in with two flashy exceptions during the 38-20 win against Texas. That was a win for and by all three sides of the ball, and the offense looked acceptable with 11 working as one and when the QB didn’t have to be the best player and do the best work in order for the other 10 to succeed.

I’m not sure this is East Stanford, but a little mimicry isn’t hurting the Mountaineers, won’t hurt them Saturday and may be a winning model for the rest of the season. WVU can play this way against these offenses, whereas it wouldn’t have worked in October. Still, this metamorphosis — gradual, in that it really did start a long time ago, but also dramatic because it’s been accelerated this season — is interesting to watch and to talk and write about, but to me, at least, the true intrigue comes after this season.

Was this an audible for the moment or for the future? WVU has been recruiting big linemen and various running backs — Pankey, Orlosky, Bosch, Smallwood and Shell are all juniors, by the way — but Dana Holgorsen has never invested in this style this assertively before. Plus, Howard is a junior, too, and there’s always been a second-time-through bump in a Holgorsen’ quarterback’s play. True, some get it better in their first year, but there is a value in experience, and the coach seems smitten with his signal-caller, even if that wasn’t outwardly obvious Saturday.

The Mountaineers trailed 10-7 with the points coming from linebacker Jared Barber’s fumble return touchdown, and the offense had 93 yards on 20 plays as the first quarter ended. The sum of it earned Howard an invitation to a rather one-sided conversation with Holgorsen on the sideline.

It was a verbal whacking.

“He’d made a couple mental errors, and I got after him a little bit, but he responded and did things the way we know he can,” Holgorsen said.

Howard threw but five passes the rest of the way and completed each of them for 92 yards and a pair of touchdowns that came on throws that were about as ideal as imaginable. The offense ran 42 plays in the final three quarters and accumulated 286 yards. The Mountaineers scored touchdowns on their two drives in the second quarter and then added a touchdown and a field goal in the third.

And then it was Howard who followed blockers into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter after a pair of passive three-and-outs.

“I think he responds to hard criticism,” Holgorsen said. “That’s not a green light to boo him, but he doesn’t tank in those situations.”

Much has been said about Howard. That might be the truest thing yet. Rap orgies with Porgy and Bess. Capture your bounty like Elliot Ness, yes. Bless you if you represent the Fu. But I’ll text you with some witch’s brew. My edits are in [brackets].

11:47:
I’m still drunk

12:07:
RB can’t be stopped so lets let our [shaky] qb turn it over

12:07:
Can a brotha get a quarterback?

12:09:
Skyler making it hard to keep the faith already!

12:09:
9 out if 10 hillbillies want Crest.

12:11:
According to my Tv, Skyler Howard is having technical difficulties

12:12:
New week, same terrible QB

12:12:
Woke up 8 minutes before game time. Perfect timing, unlike [friendly] Howard

12:12:
I feel like Dana’s just trolling us at this point

12:17:
Unsuccessful attempt by Shell for a first down via trash talk there

12:24:
Love this uni combo!

12:24:
Run. Smallwood. Every. Play.

12:25:
Poor Skyler…sigh. They need to stop designing run plays for him. #HeIsntQuick

12:28:
I want a stat: Skyler Howard plays (passes + QB runs) … Prediction: 90% are not what we want.

12:28:
Keep running Skyler. You’re clearly the best runner

12:28:
Barber shaves it close, stakes Mountaineers to early lead!

12:28:
Fumble, baby! Touchdown! Nicely done, defense! Yessir!

12:28:
I was taking a selfie and missed that. Dang.

12:35:
So Texas sideline gets a warning and ours gets a penalty? K.

12:35:
No wonder we got a sideline penalty–we have COACHES scoring!!

12:35:
Well damn. That was a quick answer to our touchdown. Defense…gotta do better.

12:35:
That was a great play.

12:35:
Texas offense – which sucks – moving the ball at will.

12:35:
cej early season appearance

12:35:
I just hope we don’t lose this game and wish that we’d given the ball to Shell/Smallwood more.

12:36:
Really, I’m stepping onto the ledge right now.

12:36:
LBs all went wrong way on that 65 yarder

12:39:
Please don’t tell me we’re in a shootout with Texas for cripes sake.

12:39:
We re generous. 1st team to allow Texas to score on first half on the road.

12:39:
Sure, if you’re the only safety, go ahead and bite hard on the motion.

12:39:
Fear no deficit with Howard at QB

12:40:
Seriously, “Skyler Howard plays.” They’ve all been bad so far.

12:40:
For the love of all that’s holy, put Smallwood back in.

12:41:
Just watched Inside Out last night. Would love to see those characters inside Holgorsen’s head while watching this offense.

12:44:
Smallwood big run. Next play let the [scrapper] take a sack. This [strategy] funny.

12:44:
Howard makes things happen … for the opponent. Goddammit.

12:44:
Way to take a sack. Keeping that defense honest.

12:44:
What an O’Toole.

12:44:
I am late and just saw the Barber TD. Good for WVU, but this is horrific football.

12:44:
Announcers living by the credo “If you can’t say something nice, talk about O’Toole’s facial hair.”

12:47:
Brad Lewis laughs at Skyler Howard

12:47:
Now with a photographic history of the facial hair.

12:53:
Put away by Petteway!

12:53:
I might be drunk. Lol

12:59:
Koron, baby!

1:08:
Only way Howard gains yards is to get slung like [full] sack of seed.

1:09:
How in the hell does the sideline judge have to throw that flag on the holding!!?? What the hell are the ref and ump watching!!??

1:09:
Texas reveals the secret to their fun game: holding

1:11:
Now you’re talking. But White looks hurt.

1:11:
You go Skyler. Good for you.

1:12:
Are we improving or is Texas that bad????

1:16:
Seems like if I knew my Bible, I might be able to make a pun about Elijah reaching the promised land.

1:16:
Tackling in spring game form today

1:17:
Guys going at Foreman and Swoopes like that Kansas safety trying to “tackle” LaQuan McGowan coming at full speed and already down by 60 points.

1:17:
Trade Swoops for Howard, and nobody knows the difference.

1:17:
Oh…Christian Brown…actin up!

1:17:
Great play and then a boneheaded move. Seems like WVU identity.

1:17:
D. Worley definitely has his mojo back!

1:18:
I love Gibbie because he dresses like he just don’t give a [franc].

1:19:
Thanks everybody for not telling us what Christian Brown did to earn a PF.

1:22:
Smallwood must have been a tough surname to have as a kid.

1:22:
That’s a good development for Durante’s confidence.

1:22:
I complain when he’s bad, but that was a nice throw.

1:22:
Blind squirrel finds a nut!

1:23:
Durante is gonna be so so so SO deadly in a year or so…or when he gets a more consistent QB. Daaaamn what a play.

1:23:
Skyler sure didn’t underthrow that ball, did he?

1:23:
Give Smallwood some credit for that bomb. Finally, though. [Freedom]!

1:23:
I feel I should clarify that Jovon was not the blind squirrel in that scenario.

1:24:
Probably could have shot down that pass with a scud missile though.

1:49:
likely the best halftime show ever

1:55:
It’s going to be fitting when Texas scores or a 3rd and goal this drive.

1:56:
These Texas 3rd down conversions are [frankly] ridiculous. TACKLE!!!!

2:14:
Too [frustratingly] easy. Where are the adjustments? And someone blow up that 3rd Down Death Knell.

2:14:
Red Bull + Yosemite Sam curses = Dana.

2:21:
I feel like Smallwood is making himself a buncha money this season…this tear h

2:21:
2 good throws on one drive! I got tenure this week, but that pales in significance to 2 good throws on one drive!

2:21:
Is this efficient Skyler Howard

2:21:
Shorts came up big twice on that drive.

2:21:
Yay! But, I’m not a fan of the white helmets.

2:25:
And THAT’S an Anthony Munoz finger!! Ewww

2:30:
Where’s Wendell? Maybe if he dressed like Waldo, the coaches could find him.

2:30:
BULLETIN: Dakiel Shorts found in Bolivia:6 for 6

2:34:
Skyler Howard – hero ball MVP

2:34:
Special teams! Who would ve thought?

2:43:
Worley Mammoth!!

2:43:
Not the best time to be buffering, Watch ESPN app!

2:43:
Howard has deceptive speed. He’s slower than he looks.

2:43:
Put them out of their [grieving] misery.

2:43:
Head down eating a ribeye.

2:43:
Thank God Skyler’s fresh on 3rd and goal. Hate to think what would happen with Smallwood on the field…

2:43:
Let’s remember they burned a second half timeout to run the qb up the middle when Smallwood had been dominating all day

2:43:
Did Smallwood insult Red Bull? Is that why Dana hates him?

2:44:
Bootleg? Are you kidding me?

2:52:
O Toole s undoing a lot of good work.

2:52:
Kwit!

2:52:
Texas sucks.

2:54:
O’Toole has money on Texas to cover

2:58:
I think Pankey is hurt.

2:58:
He actually followed the block!

3:00:
Hard to find any negatives in an 18-point win over Texas. Somebody get Foul Shot a beer.

3:05:
Came in lika wreckin’ ball!

3:28:
Someone on a highlight show just says West Virginia goes deep as well as anybody. Whaaaa?!

3:36:
Time of possession without scoring is like having 10-inch [dorado] in a whorehouse and you just wanna talk.

5:51:
Texas just turned the ball over again.…

5:59:
Dana wins. Flawless victory. http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/11/14/9735868/west-virginia-texas-dana-holgorsen-charlie-strong