This Saturday, West Virginia will be looking to rebound against the Baylor Bears.
Today, we take a look at the keys to the game, and what it will take for the Mountaineers to pull off a victory in front of an empty Milan Puskar Stadium this Saturday.
- Establish the running game, and keep it grinding: The Mountaineers were able to find some success running the ball against Oklahoma State. Though it may not have shown in the box score under team stats, Leddie Brown was able to have himself yet another day. The junior was able to finish with 103 rushing yards, and looked good in doing so. Too often, WVU went away from the running game and tried to force passes deep down the field.
If the Mountaineers want to be successful against the Bears, they must establish a running game and continue to grind at it. Shockingly enough, the Mountaineer running game appears to be the strength of the offense, and it will be huge in defeating the Bears. - Avoid giving up big plays on defense: Cowboys running back L.D. Brown was able to break off a 66-yard run against the Mountaineer defense on Saturday. Being the first score in a low scoring game, it was a back breaker to West Virginia and took the wind out of their sails early.
If the Mountaineers hope to have a chance to knock off Baylor this weekend, keeping their offense in check is a must. The Bears appear to have gone to an up-tempo look this season, and have the talent to make big plays. If WVU can avoid giving up big plays on defense, it will likely go into the fourth quarter with a very good chance to win. - Just don’t kickoff to Baylor…at all:The Bears were able to make a massive splash in the return game against Kansas. Ebner took two kickoffs to the house on the Jayhawks’ return unit. This does not bode well for the Mountaineers.
Honestly, it may be in WVU’s best interest to just squib kick the entire game. Our special teams still aren’t where they need to be yet, and any big plays on that side of the ball for Baylor could be fatal. - Will the real Still brothers please stand up?: Surprisingly, the Stills brother have been relatively quiet during the first two games. They are certainly overdue for a big performance, and it feels it could come against Charlie Brewer and the Bears.
If the Sills brothers can get pressure on Baylor, as well as the rest of the defensive line, it is likely WVU will come out with a victory. Hit Brewer early and often, and get him off of his game.
