Opponent Defensive Breakdown: Baylor Bears

As the Mountaineers prepare for its game with Baylor, let's take a deeper look at the Bears' defense

On Halloween, West Virginia travels to Waco, TX to face No. 12 Baylor. The Bears currently sit as the number one team in the Big 12 with a 7-0 record.

Head Coach Matt Rhule and defensive coordinator Phil Snow lead a defense that through seven games are ranked 45th nationally in total defense, allowing only 358.6 yards per game (221.1 passing and 137.4 rushing) and only 19.1 points per game. Rhule is entering his third season with the Bears after taking over a program that was in complete disarray. Snow came over from Temple with Rhule, but is a veteran with 36 years of collegiate coaching experience.

Snow and the Bears will run a 3-3-5 stack, taking advantage of Baylor's speed on defense.

Injuries:

• CB Grayland Arnold has an unspecified injury, and it is unclear if he will suit up Thursday against West Virginia
• LB Clay Johnston suffered a season-ending knee injury who was leading the team in tackles with 58

Names to keep an eye on:

• Terrel Bernard (Linebacker) - Bernard leads the team in tackles with 39 and is used as a spy in the middle of the field in attempts to prevent any QB runs and slow down short passes.
• Jordan Williams (Linebacker) - Williams leads the team with two interceptions and is now second on the team with 33 tackles. Williams is a great fit for the 3-3-5 defensive scheme.
• James Lynch (Defensive Tackle) - Lynch leads the team with 8.5 sacks.
• Chris Miller (Safety) - Miller has totaled 31 tackles so far this season and has been a leader on this defense. 

A lot of people are already counting this as a win for Baylor, but West Virginia has the opportunity to make this a game and stick around with the Bears. 

The Mountaineers will have to control the clock and keep Baylor's offense off the field. They can do this by running the ball and focusing on running off the defensive ends. The interior for Baylor is tough, but if Leddie Brown and Kennedy McKoy can bounce the ball outside, there may be plenty of space waiting for them on the edge. The Bears have given up most of their points in the second half, so if the Mountaineers can keep it close by halftime, this one may be closer than the experts predict. 

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