MORGANTOWN — “It’s simple fixes, it’s easy things,” was the line uttered by WVU defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley last week and has since been repeated ad nauseam online following the team’s defensive collapse in the final minutes of Saturday’s loss to Pitt.
How simple or complicated the fixes actually are, they will be key this week as the Mountaineers open Big 12 conference play at home against the Kansas Jayhawks (noon, ESPN2).
“There’s some schematic things that we’ve got to do better,” WVU coach Neal Brown said about his defense, which ranks near the bottom nationally in several categories. “We’re not going to continue to do the same things.”
The Mountaineers (1-2) rank in the 100s nationally in yards allowed, first downs allowed, points allowed and passer efficiency.
“I really believe that we’re better than what we’ve shown, but that’s just me speaking right now because there’s no video proof of that,” Brown said. “I’m not naive on that, I’m not up here trying to cover up what our issues have been, I’m very aware of those.”
WVU’s defense has played well at times this season. In fact, the Mountaineers had a spectacular stretch of play during the Backyard Brawl last week. Through Pitt’s first three offensive possessions in the second half, WVU held the Panthers to four total yards on 11 plays with three punts.
After that, however, Pitt engineered the two touchdown drives that won the game for the Panthers.
“The frustrating thing is the lack of consistency,” Brown said. “We’ve got to do a better job of putting our guys in position to make plays. We also can’t continue to reward guys who aren’t playing well by continuing to play them.”
Brown announced Monday that TJ Crandall and Jacolby Spells will be inserted as starting cornerbacks this week, and even more defensive personnel changes could be on the way.
“We’ve got some guys that are just not performing as well as they need to or as well as they’re capable of,” Brown said. “It’s not an effort deal, there’s some technique, some lack of discipline. It’s not like they’re not to do what they’re asked to do; they’re just not playing well.”
The Jayhawks (1-2) could use a game against a struggling defense as their own offense has put up just 17 and 20 points in back-to-back losses.
New offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, hired from Baylor this offseason, has not fully meshed with star quarterback Jalon Daniels, who has more interceptions this season (six) than any other year in his career.
The strength of the Jayhawks offense has been running back Devin Neal, who has gone over 100 yards in each game this season. He’s up to 333 rushing yards already, averaging 7.4 yards per carry.
The KU defense has been stout so far, allowing just 16.3 points and 246.7 yards per game.
“It starts with their defensive line,” Brown said. “They’re real physical and they play really, really hard.”
Led by junior Tommy Dunn, Kansas’ defensive line has produced 4.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
The Jayhawks also have one of the best cornerback duos in the league with seniors Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson.
WVU’s offense has been mostly good this season, although without the big play element from a season ago. The Mountaineers are averaging 399 yards, 192.7 rushing yards and 31.7 points per game.
“Neal Brown’s an outstanding coach and I have a lot of respect for him,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said. “He’s an outstanding offensive mind and a very fine head coach and he’s going to have that team bouncing back and we intend to do the same.”
