MORGANTOWN — West Virginia’s offensive Plan A did not work against Texas Tech.
When the Mountaineers tried Plan B, well, Texas Tech defenders were there to make some highlight-reel plays.
Plan A, according to WVU head coach Neal Brown was to attack through the quick screens.
“It’s hard to adjust to screens,” Brown began. “That was something, going into the game, they had struggled with. We had been really good at the screen game. We felt like they were going to pressure us and play man. That’s a good answer against pressure-man is going to the screens.”
It all seemed like a good plan for the Mountaineers (3-4, 1-3 Big 12), until it wasn’t.
Texas Tech’s defensive backs were taller and a little stronger than the WVU receivers assigned to block them, and it caused matchup problems on the perimeter.
“We were really close, not that anybody wants to hear that,” Brown said. “The first play of the game, we kind of got shoe-stringed tackled. Sam (James) had a couple thrown behind him.
“Those are bang-bang plays, and they were really close to being big ones, but they weren’t.”
The screens are a staple to Brown’s offensive philosophy, much like the draw play was to former WVU coach Don Nehlen a generation ago.
You see it so much as a fan base, that it seems predictable, and when it doesn’t work, the feedback isn’t positive.
Such was the case against Texas Tech, and when WVU tried to adjust, the Red Raiders continued to make plays.
WVU quarterback J.T. Daniels threw three interceptions, all on downfield throws.
One was intercepted by Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, as he leaped into the air in the end zone to come up with the ball in one-on-one coverage against Reese Smith.
Another saw Malik Dunlap basically wrestle the ball away from Bryce Ford-Wheaton, while Rayshad Williams came up with another leaping interception near the sideline while covering Kaden Prather on an out route.
“The one thing about those interceptions is they were all one-on-ones,” Brown said. “When you throw into one-on-one, you’ve got to have the expectation that your guy is going to come down with it or it’s going to be incomplete.
“Those three instances were all picks. One of them fell down and the other two just made plays. Our receivers, and our team as a whole, has to be more consistent.”
It was the first three interception-game of Daniels’ career, and he’s now thrown four picks — going back to the Baylor game — over his last 39 attempts.
“He’s got to bounce back. J.T. is even-keeled, so I don’t think it will hamper him getting ready for this week,” Brown said. “He didn’t play as well as he needs to play. He was off a little bit.”
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