You are looking live at an excerpt of a transcript of a coaching clinic West Virginia defensive coordinator Tony Gibson spoke at in the offseason between the 2014 and 2015 seasons. This is not to be confused with his famous appearance on the circuit before the 2013 season, when he spoke about multiple fronts and never so much as approached the topic of bringing back the 3-3-5.

Anyhow, I’m pretty sure Gibson does not want to let the opponent make hay on the ground. Maybe I need to read that a few more times, but it would appear that’s the gist.

This is noteworthy today because:

• WVU’s run defense has not been good
• Kansas State is, we are told, a reasonable facsimile to BYU

How ineffective have the Mountaineers been? It’s been almost historic. WVU has allowed 180, 185 and 280 yards on the ground. That’s 215 yards per game, and that’s not great. It’s not the worst defense of all time, but it is No. 105 out of No. 128 teams in the country.

More importantly, it’s one of a few instances since the start of the Rich Rodriguez Era in which the defense allowed 180-plus in three straight games. The last time WVU allowed 180-plus in four straight games in the same season? That’d be 2001 — there’s an instance that bridged seasons, and that seems unfair to count — and the famed Phil Elmassian defense finished No. 104 out of 115 teams against the run … and No. 8 in pass efficiency defense!

Could today be the day? Kansas State sure hopes so, and the Wildcats will try. They’re No. 47 nationally and average 197.7 yards per game, and we have to mention last week’s game was halted at halftime on account of bad weather. They had 165 yards in the first half of that one, so they were on their way.

But … how about Kansas State’s totals against WVU since the Mountaineers joined the Big 12?

• 146
• 157
• 1
• 98

So in Gibson’s two seasons as the defensive coordinator, his defense has allowed 99 total rushing yards against the Wildcats. What Kansas State does doesn’t change much. The coaches recruit to a system and focus on what they’re supposed to do. They might run the quarterback more one year or ask him to throw to a receiver more in another, but the principles in place are in place for a reason.

And WVU’s done pretty well against that, especially under Gibson, who has his own system and principles.

The concern, though, is that this defense might not be equipped properly or performing optimally. WVU’s pretty light up front. The defense has faced 249 plays and recorded nine tackles for a loss. Two (only two) of those seven are sacks, so they’ve stopped seven runs or passes that went live behind the line of scrimmage. The average of three TFLs a game is No. 126, and this is a big, big reason WVU’s allowing 5.04 yards per carry, which ranks No. 108.

“The way I used to be able to control that, or at least slow it down a little bit, was with the blitz,” Gibson said. “There were times in the game I dialed up some good things, but then it got to a point in the game I was almost afraid to blitz to leave our guys out there 1-on-1 on an island.”

Gibson likes to chop up blocking schemes with blitzes and the games the defensive line can play with twists and stunts. But if the Mountaineers aren’t getting into the backfield, it’s fair to assume the blitzes and the games aren’t working as intended. So there’s a chess match to consider with what plays Gibson calls.

There’s another to consider on the other sideline. WVU anticipates vintage Kansas State, which means using a big offensive line with fullbacks and tight ends facilitating the run game. But the quarterback runs power plays and draws, and the Mountaineers saw some option on film and figure they’ll see that today after struggling with it against Youngstown State.

Beware the pop pass, though. It’s cheeky stuff you’ve seen before, and though it’s not the featured part of the offense, it is used and used wisely. The quarterback has a run-pass option, and he has options for the run and the pass. Sometimes he takes the snap and can chose to run or throw. If it’s a read play, he can choose to keep the ball or give it to the running back. If he keeps it, he has the option to throw to a receiver on a slant, a tight end in the seam or a fullback who runs a short curl route.

The whole time, receivers are running routes, because they could be targets or blockers, and offensive linemen are blocking down the field, because they can be run blockers or illegal men downfield even if the officials never, ever call it. (They nearly changed this rule in the offseason, by the way.) Keep an eye on that today. If they’re more than 3 yards down the field, it’s illegal. WVU can’t be concerned with that but will nevertheless keep an eye on everything and everyone that moves.

“They’re going to have to have their eyes in the right spots a lot because of the [run-pass option] stuff,” Gibson said. “The quarterback does a great job hiding the ball and carrying out his fake and pulling it out of the belly of the back and throwing it to [the receiver] on the slant.

“We’re going to have to be disciplined with our eyes in the right spots to make sure we’re finding it.”

Oftentimes, Ertz will take a snap and read the defense and make a decision to hand the ball off or to keep it. When he keeps it, he can run it himself or throw a quick pass to a receiver, a tight end or even a fullback.

“Those are really difficult,” Arndt said. “You have pulling guards and they’re working down the field, so as a linebacker, you have to play the run. You can’t do anything about that. The guys in the secondary have to read the pass because they see receivers running and we can’t help them all the time because we have to play run first.”