MORGANTOWN - The West VIrginia University football team enjoyed a break last week - in some senses.
The Mountaineers didn't have a game Saturday, a welcome bye-week rest following a challenging four-game slate to start the season. Yet the behind-the-scenes work didn't stop. WVU (2-2, 1-0 Big 12) travels to Stillwater, Oklahoma, this Saturday for a clash against Oklahoma State (4 p.m., ESPN2). The bye week allowed WVU to look inward and get a better idea of what they have and what they need to work on before visiting the Cowboys (3-2, 0-2 Big 12).
Head coach Neal Brown said there were plenty of questions that needed addressed during the off-week.
"We look at it in all three phases, really," Brown said. "What tendencies have we put on tape through four games, and then what are we getting exploited at in all three phases? What can we do to correct those? What can we do to break tendencies? We also take a hard dive at what personnel are we not getting the most out of, where we have to get better and who's not playing that can help us."
Those bye-week practices showed coaches several Mountaineers who have played themselves into a better chance at cracking the rotation as the season progresses. Brown pointed out freshman safety Jacob Boyce, freshman running back Diore Hubbard, freshman defensive lineman Elijah Kinsler and freshman wide receiver Ric'Darious "Day Day" Farmer as young players who stepped up during practice.
The bye week also allowed coaches to pit the starting units against each other. Brown said the Mountaineers worked a lot on the passing game, evaluating both offense and defense. Both sides needed the work. WVU's passing game has been average. Its 228.5 yards per game is 10th in the 16-team Big 12 and 70th among the 133 Football Bowl Subdivision teams.
The Mountaineers' pass defense is a different story. WVU is 14th in the conference and 110th in the FBS in allowing 256.5 yards per game. Pass defense will be of significant concern against the Cowboys.
Oklahoma State, despite featuring 2023 Doak Walker Award-winning running back Ollie Gordon II, has struggled running the football this season, averaging just 102.2 yards per game. The Cowboys have fallen back on their passing game, throwing the ball nearly 60% of the time this season.
"We did a good amount, probably more than we normally do, good-on-good work during the bye week," Brown said. "You don't know if that pays off until you play a game, so that's the hope."
There's also the hope that the energy from WVU's comeback win Sept. 21 over Kansas has been able to carry through the bye week and into this week preparing for OSU. The Mountaineers scored two touchdowns in the game's last 5:39 to erase an 11-point deficit and start off the conference slate with a victory.
Senior tight end Kole Taylor said coaches are trying to keep players riding the high from that victory by reminding them what they did and how they responded in the clutch against the Jayhawks.
"It's just showing what you're capable of," he said. "I know, as far as offense, we do a great job of showing plays that are good, what we do well. And it's kind of building off that and giving yourself confidence to go out there and do that every play."
Brown said the confidence carryover has been beneficial. He's not sure the momentum from the win will stick around. The gap between games is too wide. But Brown feels there's still plenty on which his players can build.
"I think how we finished the game defensively, we definitely have some confidence," he said. "How we finished the game offensively, we definitely have some confidence. And I think that continues to build as you go through your bye week."
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Brown said, of the players who were hurt during the Kansas game, only sophomore corner TJ Crandall remains questionable to participate against the Cowboys. The others - redshirt freshman linebacker Josiah Trotter, senior offensive lineman Wyatt Milum, senior corner Garnett Hollis, senior spear Aubrey Burks and redshirt senior safety Anthony Wilson - should be ready to go.
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WVU's next home game, Oct. 12 against Iowa State, will kick off at 8 p.m. on Fox. This game will also be the team's "Coal Rush" game. The Mountaineers will sport all-black uniforms for that night game against the Cyclones.