Week 4 - Rocky Mountain Low

West Virginia traveled to Colorado for a road game against a rebuilding Big XII team, and came up short in overtime. This game was a game of too many missed chances. WVU should have won this game, but the Mountaineers hadn't shot themselves in the foot all game long. WVU has Colorado in 3rd and long on their first scoring drive and a personal foul penalty gives them a first down. 2 plays later they scored. On their 2nd scoring drive, another Mountaineer personal foul penalty on 3rd down gives Colorado a first down in WVU territory. Jock Sanders drops a 3rd down pass in the red zone that hit him in the hands, and instead of first down the Mountaineers punt. Reed Williams interception and return deep into Colorado territory is wasted as the Mountaineers commit another personal foul and end up losing 35 yards of field position. WVU goes for it on 4th and inches, and fails to gain 6 inches on a dive up the middle. It seems like WVU has totally abandoned the passing game since the loss to ECU, in favor of the run. That's fine, if they can run like WVU has in years past. But they aren't. The Mountaineers failure on 3rd downs is killing them. Fortunately, the defense seems to have figured out 3rd downs. After scores on Colorado's first 2 possessions, the Mountaineer defense shut down the Buffs offense. I'm extremely encouraged by that. If that kind of defensive performance continues, WVU will be in every game they play. Now, if only the offense will come around. I'll give Stew the benefit of the doubt for now. He's trying to install a totally new offense, and replacing just about all of the defense. I'm going to wait and see how WVU plays out the rest of the season before I jump on him. But his decisions had better show the same improvement we all expect from the West Virginia offense. If not, he may not have his dream job long. Right now, the Mountaineers biggest problem is themselves. They've shot themselves in the foot in every game, and it is those mistakes that have led to both losses. The new pieces are taking time to fit into the jigsaw puzzle that is WVU football. Until they stop committing stupid mistakes, they aren't going to win many games. But they improved considerably over the ECU game. If they continue to show that kind of improvement, WVU can still have a very good season. Win out, including defeating Auburn, and this will all be washed under the bridge...