Not a lot of scores through six games, but a lot of variation. Look at last week alone. Six scoring drives. The first three are from the first half. The next three are from the second half. West Virginia was prompt and opportune in the first half and then deliberate and effective in the second half.

The Mountaineers are mastering game control, whether by getting a lead, sticking to its plan or varying when they use pace and when they use huddles. They can put a team in a choke hold and they can put a team on skates. They can work on the clock and they can give the defense a breather. They can attack an offense with quick snaps and they can hurry up and wait.

They can do a lot of things before they even get to the plays, which also offer a multitude of formations and possibilities.

Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson appreciates that strategy. If his unit needs a breather, the offense has the ability to oblige. It is not always left to jog off, then jog right back on to the field whether it’s due to a touchdown or a punt.

He also endorses that plan because he knows what can flummox a defense — an offense that can vary speeds and keep defenses off-balance and always guessing.

“What we talk about as a defense all the time, if an offense goes really fast all the time, it doesn’t really bother you,” Gibson said. “What bothers us is teams that huddle, that tempo you a little bit, that run up to the line and check to see what you’re in, and try to figure you out. If you can change that tempo, that’s what screws with defenses.”