Brown Believes Alec Sinkfield is a "Considerably Different Player" in 2020
In 2019, West Virginia finished 128th out of 130 FBS teams in rushing yards per game. To say the least, there's only one way to go from here, and that's up.
With one game officially in the books, the running game was the talking point for many, and this time, it was all good things. The top two running backs on the depth chart, Leddie Brown and Alec Sinkfield, each racked up 123 yards against a very vulnerable Eastern Kentucky defense. Although it was an FCS opponent, it was good to see the offense have some resemblance of a running game. Everyone had been waiting for Brown to breakout and be the workhorse out of the backfield, but no one really thought about Sinkfield, who was impressive.
During the first couple of years in a Mountaineer uniform, Sinkfield battled injuries, and it may have hindered his development early on. Now, he's back stronger and faster than ever, and according to head coach Neal Brown, he's a different player.
"Leddie [Brown] is the starter at this point, and he's earned that right, but Sink is a guy that has had a really productive camp. He's been a considerably different player over the last six weeks compared to the way he was last year. I think he's playing with more confidence. He's added some bulk. He's been more decisive in the run game. He took coaching at the end of the year last year, and he was really hungry to play more and wanted to know what he could do to improve and coach Chad Scott our running backs coach, really gave him detailed things to work on during the quarantine and his time away, and he really worked on those things. He's been better in space - he's been better in finishing runs. He's a guy that's going to continue to play, and we'll continue to script and game plan to get him touches."
For the Mountaineers to be competitive in the Big 12 in 2020, they will have to have some success running the football, and it can't just be the Leddie Brown show. As good as that sounds, he needs to have a complimentary back, maybe two. Sinkfield is the perfect change of pace and should establish himself as the No. 2 guy. Brown is a downhill runner and seeks contact, where Sinkfield has more wiggle to him and can stop on a dime and change direction quickly - a more elusive back.
Whether or not this improved rushing attack lasts throughout conference play is remain to be seen. Still, if week one was any true indication of how good the ground game can be, West Virginia will be able to steal a couple of wins away and find themselves in the top half of the league.
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