West Virginia Showed Growth in the Running Game but There's Plenty of Room for Improvement
Anxiety levels have dipped slightly concerning the Mountaineers' running game after rushing for over 300 yards and five touchdowns in the season opener against Eastern Kentucky. West Virginia running backs Leddie Brown and Alec Sinkfield both eclipsed the 100-yard mark and notching career-high with 123 yards apiece.
It's the first time a Mountaineer rushed for over 100 yards in nearly two years and the first time two backs rushed for over 100 yards in the same game in close to three years.
Both running backs ran with more of an edge and were more poised and confident, while the offensive line created big holes and showed agility, pulling down the line, getting to the second level, and getting a hat on a hat.
Yet, that’s what they were supposed to do against an inferior team out of the FCS level, and West Virginia head coach Neal Brown uttered those same sentiments after watching the film.
“We’ve got to continue to prove that we’re better. I don’t think just because we ran the ball well against Eastern Kentucky - our offensive line played better. That’s what we were supposed to do,” said Brown. “Now, we didn’t always do what we were supposed to last, so that’s a step in the right direction, but we’ve got to be able to do it and sustain it against good people at the Power Five level in our conference.”
Still adjusting to the talent level, the running game did a complete 180 from a year ago. West Virginia rushed for a measly 34 yards in the season opener against James Madison last season and averaged just 73.2 yards on the ground for the year. Although at times you could see improvement, it never resembled a rushing attack.
“We have put a plan together, and really, it started in that month of November on how we had to get better because you’re not going to be a championship program and win at the elite level in the Big 12 unless you can run the ball and stop the run. We were okay stopping the run last year, but we ran the ball putrid. We put together a plan. I spent a lot of my quarantine time on that. (Redshirt junior quarterback) Jarret (Doege) had a role in it. (Assistant head coach/offensive line) Matt (Moore) had a role in it. (Tight ends/inside receivers coach Travis) Trickett had a role in it. (Co-offensive coordinator/running backs coach) Chad Scott had a role in it.”
After one game, Brown does feel better about the running game but then delivered one of his go-to phrases as of late and personally one of my favorites, “I don’t think we’ve arrived yet.”
With that said, there were a few mistakes along the offensive line within the two-deep of the depth chart that need to be cleaned up, and there is plenty of room for improvement when it comes to being physical in the trenches.
“I thought at times it was really good, and at times we’ve got to be better,” said Brown. “I’d like for us to chase the ball and finish plays better. I want to play with a little tougher mentality throughout games, but I thought we showed some signs.”
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