WVU linebacker Reid Carrico (35) brings down a TCU ballcarrier throughout final Saturday’s sport in Morgantown. (Photo by David Pennock)
On fourth-and-2, TCU determined to roll the cube inside West Virginia territory on the 30-yard line. TCU quarterback Josh Hoover rolled out and tried to get his favourite goal, Eric McAlister, the ball, however defensive deal with Devin Grant stepped in entrance and broke up the cross. The Horned Frogs turned the ball over on downs.
WVU’s defense stopped TCU’s offense, which is a high 5 offense within the Big 12, 5 occasions, and held the offense to a discipline aim thrice, with one in every of them being at WVU’s 4-yard line. This was an entire flip from simply seven days earlier than, when a bottom-half UCF workforce torched defensive coordinator Zac Alley’s defense for 578 yards and 45 factors. UCF punted as soon as the entire sport.
“Especially early in the game when the offense couldn’t get a first down,” Rich Rodriguez mentioned. “The defense was in there battling.”
Linebacker Reid Carrico mentioned the week earlier than TCU, the workforce spent extra time in follow making the most of each minute. He mentioned they did that within the weeks prior, too, however just a bit extra this week.
“The last couple of weeks, it hasn’t reflected the amount of time we put in, but this week, we found a way to put in more time and practice hard and make the most of just about every minute that we have out there in practice,” Carrico mentioned. “Coach Rod probably already said we had a great week of practice and put ourselves in a good position to compete.”
The defense attacked early, too. TCU’s first three drives began in WVU territory after a foul punt, and the offense went for it on fourth down a few occasions. The defense was already behind the 8-ball. In these three drives, WVU stopped the offense twice.
“I thought there was a tone set early on, on defense, and just guys playing hard, physical and just answering the bell,” Carrico mentioned. “On defense, individually, in football, you’re going to be put in tough spots. Sometimes, crazy things happen in this game, and if you want to be a great defense, you got to be able to put out the fire.”
There have been plenty of issues after the UCF misplaced, in all three phases of the sport. The defense was gashed by the large play, and there have been plenty of missed tackles. Those two issues had been a standard theme via all 4 blowouts within the video games main up to TCU.
TCU had only one massive play, which was a 46-yard rush earlier than the half, bringing the Horned Frogs right down to WVU’s 12. The defense created a cease and compelled a discipline aim. The tackling was a bit higher, too. WVU solely allowed 96 yards dashing.
“The tackling was a lot better,” Carrico mentioned. “Still missed some. I missed a couple, but I’d say Coach Alley did a great job of getting us prepared and ready to know where we need to be in the fits and all that sort of thing.”
Carrico mentioned the defense was lastly making use of what Alley went over throughout follow within the sport. He mentioned the defense was anticipating much more this week than reacting.
“It allowed us to get downhill, hit the guy at the line of scrimmage, or a yard pass the line of scrimmage,” Carrico mentioned. “Rather than being five yards off the ball that bleeds for seven or eight.”
The defense confirmed slight enchancment and seemed extra just like the defense within the first three video games of the season, which was among the best within the Big 12 and was in the direction of the highest of the nation in sacks.
It makes you are feeling higher going ahead, realizing, possibly, the remainder of the yr, WVU received’t permit 38 factors a sport. This is the time to look higher, too, with No. 22 Houston and No. 13 Texas Tech coming up. The Red Raiders have the most effective offense within the convention, too.
“It’s definitely something that we can build off of,” Carrico mentioned.