A few weeks ago, I wrote about something that had been missing from West Virginia football for far too long. The fans were starting to care again. There was excitement surrounding the program, a renewed sense of pride and a belief that Rich Rodriguez might be bringing back the Mountaineer football we remembered. Read more: WVU Football faces a Homecoming reality check.
That was after the victory over Virginia. Remember that?
It feels like a lifetime ago.
Three consecutive losses later, the energy surrounding this program has all but disappeared. The excitement of beating a nationally ranked Virginia team has given way to the frustration of watching what might be the worst West Virginia defense I’ve ever seen with my own two eyes. Oklahoma State exposed it, Iowa State took advantage of it, and Arizona spent last Saturday doing pretty much whatever it wanted.
The most frustrating part is that West Virginia has an offense capable of competing with just about anybody. Yet here we are, sitting at 3-3, winless in the Big 12 and wondering whether a bowl game in mid-December is really the best we can hope for.
An offense worth watching, a defense that’s hard to watch
Let’s give Rodriguez some credit. The man still knows how to run an offense. The Mountaineers enter Homecoming ranked fourth nationally in rushing offense, averaging 295.5 yards per game. Michael Hawkins Jr. and Cam Cook have become one of the most exciting backfield combinations in college football, and this offense has shown it can be dangerous through the air when necessary.
Last Saturday against Arizona was another example. West Virginia produced 522 yards of total offense, including 303 on the ground, and still lost by three touchdowns. There were certainly missed opportunities and costly turnovers, but the Mountaineers moved the football. They gave themselves opportunities to win.
Unfortunately, the defense gave them very little chance to capitalize.
I don’t know how else to describe what we’re watching from defensive coordinator Zac Alley. He looks completely lost trying to find answers, and whatever adjustments this coaching staff is making simply aren’t working. Players are out of position, assignments are missed, and opposing offenses seem to find open space whenever they need it.
I’m not suggesting this defense is loaded with talent. It’s clearly not. But at some point, the coaching staff has to figure out how to put these players in a position to succeed. We aren’t asking for the 1988 Mountaineer defense or anything resembling greatness. We just need a group capable of getting off the field occasionally.
Is that really too much to ask?
Rodriguez has a difficult decision ahead of him. Does he continue trusting Alley to find answers within a system that clearly isn’t working, or does he demand a simpler approach that gives his players a fighting chance? I don’t pretend to know everything happening inside that defensive meeting room, but I know what we’re seeing on Saturdays isn’t sustainable.
The offense shouldn’t have to score 45 points just to have a chance to win a football game.
Homecoming isn’t supposed to feel like this
Which brings us to Saturday and the Cincinnati Bearcats.
Homecoming. Morgantown. A conference opponent. The kind of Saturday that used to feel like an opportunity for West Virginia to remind everyone how difficult it was to come into Milan Puskar Stadium and leave with a victory.
Back when I was in school, Homecoming sometimes felt like scheduling the local junior varsity team. You showed up, enjoyed the festivities and expected the Mountaineers to take care of business.
Now I’m starting to wonder if West Virginia is becoming the team other schools want to schedule for their Homecoming.
Cincinnati comes to Morgantown with a 4-1 record and an extra week to prepare after its loss to Arizona. The Bearcats have a strong rushing attack of their own and will undoubtedly see the same defensive weaknesses that every other opponent has exploited over the past three weeks.
And somehow, West Virginia opened as a slight favorite.
If I were a betting man, I’d probably be looking pretty hard at Cincinnati.
Actually, never mind. I won’t go there.
The point is that Homecoming shouldn’t feel like a desperate attempt to save a season. But that’s exactly where this program finds itself. The Mountaineers need a victory, not just for their conference record or postseason possibilities, but for the psyche of the players and a fan base that desperately wants something to believe in.
A fourth consecutive loss would make it awfully difficult to convince anyone that meaningful progress is taking place.
Related: The Mountaineers may not win another game this year
And looking at the remaining schedule, where exactly are the wins coming from? Kansas and TCU might offer opportunities, but neither should be considered automatic. Not with this defense.
Where does Rich Rodriguez go from here?
I still believe Rodriguez is the right man to lead this program. Maybe that’s stubborn loyalty to the coach who helped create some of my greatest memories as a Mountaineer fan, but there’s also evidence that he knows what he’s doing.
Look at the offense and how quickly Hawkins has developed within this system. Look at what Rodriguez and offensive line coach Rick Trickett have accomplished with a group that is still building experience together.
These aren’t coaches who suddenly forgot how to win football games.
But Rodriguez is the head coach, and ultimately, this falls on his shoulders. He doesn’t have to turn this defense into one of the best in the Big 12 overnight, but he does have to figure out how to make it competitive. Whether that means simplifying the scheme, changing personnel or taking a more hands-on approach, something has to give. The current formula simply isn’t working.
I don’t think there’s a quick fix. This defensive unit needs more than a few adjustments or a motivational speech. It needs a serious evaluation of its personnel, its scheme and how the program recruits and develops players on that side of the football.
There’s still a reason to believe
As frustrated as I am, I refuse to believe everything we’ve seen over the past three weeks represents the future of West Virginia Football.
Michael Hawkins Jr. is only a redshirt sophomore, and assuming he stays in Morgantown, Rodriguez has a dynamic quarterback to build around next season. The offensive line has promising young pieces that can continue developing under Trickett, and the identity of this offense is already taking shape.
The bigger challenge will be rebuilding the defense, and I don’t think anyone should underestimate how much work that will require. This isn’t a unit that’s one or two players away from turning things around. Rodriguez and his staff will have to make some difficult decisions about personnel, recruiting and the overall defensive philosophy. But the encouraging part is that the offensive foundation is already in place. If West Virginia can simply build a defense that bends without constantly breaking, there’s no reason this program can’t become competitive again.
Homecoming offers a chance to stop the losing streak, restore a little confidence and remind this fan base why it was so excited just a few weeks ago. Nobody needs West Virginia to dominate Cincinnati or suddenly look like a Big 12 championship contender. At this point, we’re just looking for a conference victory. That alone would be a step in the right direction.
