Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
Monday Football Notebook
September 03, 2018 02:38 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Two days later, there is still a lot to like about West Virginia's season-opening, 40-14 victory over Tennessee at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
With the exception of a fourth-quarter fumble, the Mountaineer offense was nearly perfect in the second half, outscoring the Volunteers, 27-7, including a three-for-three touchdown stretch in the third quarter when senior quarterback Will Grier conducted the offense like a maestro.
West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen admitted Monday morning that he was pleased with the offense's efficiency, particularly in the second half.
"We want to finish drives with touchdowns and in the first half we were in the red zone twice and had to settle for two field goals, although I thought our field goal unit was spectacular," Holgorsen said. "That first one we stumbled and the second one we ran out of time, so I can't hold that against them too much.
"In the second half, we finished both drives with touchdowns when we were in the red zone, and I think we were five-for-six on critical downs," he added. "Other than the one turnover in the second half, I thought we were incredibly efficient offensively. We controlled the ball, kept the defense off the field and finished drives with touchdowns."
Holgorsen said he was also extremely pleased with his defensive line, and the entire unit was recognized by the coaching staff as their defensive players of the game.
WVU's remodeled D-line, featuring some rare four-down looks, was responsible for 7 ½ of West Virginia's 12 negative-yardage plays last Saturday.
"We had seven or eight guys that we rotated in there, and we haven't been able to do that since I've been here," Holgorsen pointed out. "One of the reasons West Virginia went to the 3-3 however many years ago – Tony Gibson was here when they made that switch – was because it was hard to find good, quality D-linemen. I think we've stumbled on to some good ones. We've hit on some of the recruits that are younger and then we were able to get some older guys here as well."
Holgorsen said it was important for West Virginia to be able to match Tennessee's size up front to slow the Volunteers down and having a couple of extra defensive lineman was the easiest way to do that.
"We knew Tennessee was going to get big on us, and it was appealing to be able to have a 260-pound guy in there as opposed to a 195, 200-pound guy, which we have to do in the scheme that we play the majority of the time," Holgorsen said. "I was very happy with the way the D-line played. We made that whole group our defensive player of the week just based on how disruptive they were and I expect those guys to continue to get better."
USC transfer Kenny Bigelow Jr. set the tone on the opening play of the game when he blew by Tennessee's center to force a fumble by Volunteer quarterback Jarrett Guarantano that went for a big loss.
The former five-star prep standout from Elkton, Maryland, was credited with two tackles for losses and a forced fumble, but it appeared his first TFL should have also been recorded as a sack. WVU director of football communications Mike Montoro is looking to get that changed.
If he's successful, that will give the WVU defense two sacks with junior Reese Donahue getting the other one.
WVU's other four-year defensive line transfer, Jabril Robinson, recorded three tackles.
"I was happy with Kenny and Jabril Robinson as well," he said. "We had no leadership in that group last year. Any time you play young kids on O-line or D-line it's not good. Having guys like them that are fifth-year and sixth-year seniors that have played at the highest level and got a lot of snaps … I'm proud of those guys. They've brought maturity and leadership to that group and they're bringing the younger guys along."
Another four-year transfer, former Alabama wide receiver T.J. Simmons, made the most of his one pass reception by breaking free down the far sideline for a 59-yard touchdown – West Virginia's only touchdown of the first half.
Simmons was in the game in place of starter David Sills V on that particular play.
"I kind of consider T.J. one of our starting receivers, honestly," Holgorsen said. "When we get into four-wide sets he's a starter. If we get into three-wide sets, which we did a lot, it's David, Gary (Jennings Jr.) and Marcus (Simms). Marcus had a great camp, because coming out of spring I thought it was T.J., David and Gary. Coming out of camp, I thought it was Marcus, David and Gary. It depends on what the set is as to who is the starter and who is not."Overall, Holgorsen said he was pleased that more wide receivers got into the game last Saturday against Tennessee because they are going to be needed as the season continues.
"We did a better job – and I want us to continue to do a better job when it comes to this – of not having just those starting guys out there all of the time," Holgorsen noted. "These guys play on special teams and if we're efficient and moving the ball like we did in the second half then they need to come out of the game. It's no different than rotating four running backs in there."
One of the few negatives was the disappointing news Holgorsen revealed today that starting outside linebacker Charlie Benton's knee injury will require surgery and he will be lost for the season.
"It's unfortunate," Holgorsen said. "He's a three-for-three junior college guy. He had a good spring and was going to get better and better, but he's going to have to have surgery, and he's going to be lost for the year."
Mountaineer fans will have an opportunity to listen Holgorsen tonight during his weekly show, live from Kegler's, on Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG affiliates across the state and also online via WVUsports.com and the popular mobile app TuneIn.
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