Between The Eers How WVU Beats Baylor
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00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 - Hello everybody, welcome into Between the Ears
00:12 here on Thanksgiving day.
00:13 Thank you guys for taking a few minutes
00:15 out of your viewing of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
00:18 this morning as we are here to bring you
00:20 a little bit more on the West Virginia Mountaineers
00:23 and their matchup against the Baylor Bears
00:25 to wrap up the season, regular season I should say,
00:29 out in Waco and this has been a place
00:31 that has not treated the Mountaineers well.
00:33 They're one and four out there,
00:34 but it's also been a place this year
00:36 that has not treated the Bears well.
00:37 They're one and six at home this season.
00:41 Their only win is against Long Island
00:44 and they only put up I think 30 points in that game.
00:47 It's been a complete down year for Dave Aranda
00:49 and the Baylor Bears.
00:50 I don't even really know where to begin with,
00:54 I mean, this team has just been such a mess
00:57 and really I think we have to start offensively.
01:01 Blake Shapen looks like he's not gonna be able
01:04 to play in this game,
01:04 so that completely changes things for them offensively.
01:08 He was actually having a good season.
01:09 When he's been in the game and he's been healthy,
01:12 he's thrown the ball very well,
01:13 13 to three touchdown interceptions,
01:15 completed over 61, 62% of his passes,
01:18 but it's no surprise that he's not gonna be playing
01:21 in this game because the offensive line
01:23 has been horrendous this season.
01:25 They are worst in the Big 12 in the sack category.
01:28 They've given up 31 so far this season.
01:31 So Chris, let's start with Baylor offense.
01:34 What do you see out of them on paper?
01:36 What intrigues you?
01:38 What worries you about this matchup, if anything?
01:40 - Well, you took my sack stat, so there's that.
01:44 (laughing)
01:46 - File on 'em.
01:47 - I think the one thing you, honestly,
01:50 there's nothing on paper that really worries you
01:54 with this team.
01:55 Blake got injured early in the year.
01:57 They threw in, of course,
02:01 I don't have the quarterback's name up.
02:03 - Sawyer Robinson.
02:05 - Sawyer Robinson.
02:05 I was gonna say Braden Sawyer, so way off on there.
02:09 But Sawyer Robinson, you know,
02:12 he had to step in after the first game of the season.
02:14 Blake missed three games.
02:16 So you wonder with continuity within the offense,
02:18 but you mentioned the offensive line's been bad.
02:23 Leading rusher doesn't have 500 yards on the season.
02:26 They're one of the worst offenses in the league.
02:29 I think the biggest concern with this
02:31 is the intangibles, right?
02:32 It's senior day.
02:34 Wanna go put the seniors out with a win,
02:37 finish the season with a win.
02:39 So I think that's really the only thing
02:41 on both sides of the ball you worry about.
02:43 'Cause on paper, there's nothing that concerns you.
02:47 They're not getting after the quarterback.
02:49 They're not stopping anybody.
02:50 They're last on pretty much every category
02:53 offensively and defensively.
02:54 So can they just play above what they did all year
02:58 for the seniors?
02:59 I think that's really the question.
03:00 And on the other side, you kind of look at it
03:02 for West Virginia,
03:03 they're looking at a three and eight Baylor team.
03:05 You mentioned it, they've only beaten LIU at home.
03:08 So that's an easy overlook.
03:09 I remember these are 18 to 20,
03:11 probably with West Virginia's case.
03:12 Well, you got Devon Carter.
03:13 So 18 to 22 year olds out there,
03:16 and it's easy to overlook a team
03:18 that's only won match three wins.
03:20 So for me, it's just about the intangibles.
03:22 West Virginia just needs to do what they do,
03:24 but are they focused?
03:25 Are they looking for the off season,
03:28 bowl prep, Thanksgiving week, missing family,
03:31 having to travel.
03:32 There's all those things that kind of go into it.
03:36 So my concern with West Virginia is very little
03:40 because they've been a focus group
03:41 pretty much all year.
03:43 I don't think they really overlooked anybody.
03:45 All year you can kind of say,
03:46 well, maybe they overlooked Houston,
03:48 but to me that was more of a bad matchup
03:51 than them overlooking anybody.
03:52 This is a young, hungry squad.
03:53 So really for me, it's just stay focused,
03:57 keep doing what you're doing, run the ball,
03:58 keep working on the passing game,
04:00 keep it simplified for Garrett
04:02 and not just last one of the regular season.
04:04 - I actually like their run game.
04:07 I know they don't have a ton of yardage there,
04:09 but I think when you look at their yards per pop,
04:12 it's like four, four and a half, somewhere in that range.
04:15 The thing I think is, the problem is,
04:17 they're just falling behind in these games.
04:19 Their defense has been so bad,
04:20 they haven't had the chance to really run the ball enough.
04:23 And they've kind of had to play from behind.
04:25 So they've had to put it in the air.
04:26 And I think that's why losing Blake Shapen
04:30 is really critical for them,
04:31 because now they're going to have to lean on a run game,
04:33 which they don't know what they're going to get out of
04:36 when you try to run your offense through it.
04:39 They do have a couple of big backs
04:41 in Richardson and Pendergrass
04:43 that are going to be tough to tackle.
04:44 But again, I'm like you.
04:46 I think West Virginia, what they put on tape last week,
04:49 and really over the last month of the season,
04:52 if you just remove that Oklahoma game from your memory,
04:55 defense has played fairly decent, I think.
04:58 And especially against a team like this,
05:00 an offensive line like this, they've won these matchups
05:03 where if you look at these battles in the trenches
05:08 heading into the game and you see West Virginia has an edge,
05:11 they typically end up holding to that.
05:13 They end up winning that battle up front.
05:15 So I don't think that's much of a concern at all.
05:18 In terms of Garrett Green,
05:20 what do you want to see here in this final game?
05:23 I know he's kind of had an up-and-down season,
05:26 but last week he did a lot with his legs.
05:29 I feel like this is a good opportunity
05:31 really to air things out,
05:33 maybe get that 200-plus-yard game,
05:36 get his completion percentage up a little bit.
05:39 Is that what you're kind of looking at in this game here,
05:41 too?
05:42 I really just want to see --
05:45 you know, it's hard to do it really in one week,
05:46 but improvement on those swing passes.
05:49 I know we've mentioned it the last few weeks,
05:51 kind of the bunnies on the outside.
05:53 He's made great passes over the middle,
05:55 but you just want to see him settled in.
05:58 You know, there's been times where he started off games
06:02 really efficient and moved the ball right down the field.
06:05 That scripted first series has been good.
06:07 Let's see it in the second and third.
06:10 The fourth series moved the ball down the field
06:12 where it's not as scripted, where the defense adjust.
06:16 How does he handle that?
06:18 They've really kind of slowed there
06:20 after the first possession,
06:22 and there's been times where they've went three now
06:24 on the first possession.
06:25 So you want to see that continue on the initial drive
06:29 and then just continue rolling offensively.
06:32 You'd like to see them jump out to a big lead.
06:34 I don't know if they've done that in the Big 12
06:36 where they've gotten to a two- or three-possession
06:40 lead right off the bat.
06:41 So if you can jump out early, I think that shows growth.
06:45 Again, that's a one-week turnaround.
06:47 But with the three-and-eight-bailor team
06:49 that's struggling, I know we mentioned
06:50 a tangible senior day.
06:51 They're going to be hyped up to start the game.
06:53 That would be a really good test
06:54 because when you move forward to the bowl game
06:56 and then going into next season,
06:58 obviously everyone's hyped up first game,
07:00 second game as well.
07:01 So you want to see that kind of progression,
07:04 maybe start this game against a bad team,
07:06 kind of get that confidence
07:08 where they can continue to roll early,
07:10 jump out on teams early where they --
07:12 You know, we've talked about all year,
07:13 what's the best defense sometimes?
07:16 A really good offense where you're forcing your opponent
07:19 to have to make the right plays, to have to get down and score,
07:22 and you can force them in a bad situation.
07:24 So they can do that against this bailor team.
07:26 I think that bodes well.
07:28 I mean, yes, they're three-and-eight,
07:29 but it bodes well if you can do it against a bad team,
07:31 then that's the right step forward
07:33 going into postseason, into spring,
07:35 and into next season.
07:37 Yeah, I think Cincinnati kind of took a little while
07:40 for them to get that multi-score lead.
07:42 BYU, I know they scored quickly.
07:44 I can't remember if it was right away.
07:46 But, I mean, they kind of controlled
07:48 those two games from the get-go,
07:49 and I think that's what you would hope to see
07:51 in this game, too.
07:53 You don't want to see that situation
07:55 where you let bailor hang around,
07:57 and, you know, they get some confidence
07:59 that they can maybe get this win,
08:01 because, again, this is their ballgame, essentially.
08:04 They're not going to have another game
08:05 until next September.
08:07 And Dave Aranda has been very aggressive
08:09 not only this year but throughout his career,
08:11 and I expect him to be super aggressive this year.
08:14 Like, in this game, I wouldn't be surprised,
08:16 like I told Eugene on the "Game Day" show,
08:18 I wouldn't be surprised if they go out there,
08:21 and if it's fourth and five from their own 40,
08:23 I wouldn't be surprised if they go for it.
08:25 What do they have to lose?
08:27 So, I mean, I think they're going to throw the kitchen sink
08:28 at West Virginia, and if that is the case,
08:32 what is the danger in that?
08:34 Do you think it forces West Virginia
08:36 to be more aggressive themselves,
08:38 or what do you think?
08:40 West Virginia shouldn't be scared to be aggressive.
08:42 They shouldn't be scared of that in any way, shape, or form.
08:45 They've been aggressive all season,
08:47 so that's something I'm sure they're prepared for.
08:49 I'm sure they realize that this is their ballgame as well,
08:53 and I think one of the things you have to be careful for
08:54 is, you know, it's Thanksgiving break.
08:57 A lot of their fans are students a lot,
09:00 and they bring a lot of the energy,
09:02 just like most college atmospheres.
09:06 But you can kind of get a little asleep in that, right?
09:07 There's nobody there,
09:09 and you're just kind of going through the motions.
09:11 So, it's one of those games that it can get sideways.
09:15 Like you said, you let this team hang around
09:17 in the fourth quarter,
09:18 and all of a sudden you're trying to gear yourself up.
09:20 It might be too late.
09:21 So, it's definitely a game from start to finish.
09:24 You have to play and just prepare,
09:26 and one of the good things about this West Virginia team,
09:29 we don't know who's going to start the ballgame,
09:31 but there was only eight kids announced,
09:33 and how many of those guys are really going to,
09:35 you know, can't use film outside of Zach Plusher,
09:39 can't use that extra bit of work
09:41 going into the off-season for NFL training camps or whatever.
09:46 But when you look at Zach, he's a West Virginia kid.
09:49 Exactly. So, he's probably got more pride.
09:51 Now, you know, even if he sets out,
09:53 doesn't mean he doesn't have pride.
09:54 I would set out if I was him.
09:56 Like, why risk it?
09:57 But you don't know.
09:59 I think there was one month's draft
10:00 that had him in the third round,
10:03 but I'm sure that's going to be all over the place
10:06 as we roll along closer to the NFL draft.
10:09 So, really, they've had their team intact,
10:12 and I know we've talked about in the past
10:14 getting those bowl practice reps with a young team
10:18 is extremely valuable, and here's a young Nucleus
10:22 that's played together all season
10:24 that can just correct a bunch,
10:26 and you can kind of expect, look,
10:27 they can finish strong here,
10:29 go out and do what you're supposed to do,
10:31 and beat the hell out of Baylor.
10:33 You go into bowl prep really with a lot of momentum,
10:38 and keeping all those kids together will be huge,
10:40 and I think so much of this game
10:43 really is just keeping your momentum
10:46 going into the postseason.
10:49 It is. To me, this is kind of like a tape game,
10:52 kind of like what you were saying with the bowl game
10:54 and how this is an opportunity for these guys
10:56 to put stuff on tape.
10:57 You only got two more opportunities.
10:58 So, for guys like Lee Koba, Beanie Bishop, Doug Nestor,
11:03 I mean, this is two more opportunities
11:06 that you're guaranteed to have,
11:08 barring any situation where you get an invite
11:11 to one of these all-star games or combines or whatever.
11:15 So, this is one of your final chances
11:17 to kind of prove yourself to the NFL scouts before the draft,
11:20 and you got to make the most of those opportunities.
11:23 And really a good example is C.J. Donaldson.
11:25 He's been here two years, and he hasn't played every game
11:28 because of injury.
11:29 So, you really, like, when you think about it,
11:31 you get four years of eligibility.
11:33 That's 48 guaranteed games.
11:35 Better on this guy's... -It's not a lot.
11:37 I mean, it sounds like a lot, but it's really not.
11:38 -It sounds like a lot, but C.J.
11:39 has probably missed, you know, almost...
11:42 He's a little over half that. -Over half the season.
11:43 -Over half of those each season, you know.
11:46 So, he's probably going to hit around the 18, 19 mark.
11:50 He's already missed out on several games.
11:52 So, then he's played hurt a couple of times.
11:54 So, how many times has he been healthy?
11:55 So, one of these, you know, you get the opportunity
11:57 when you're healthy to really showcase your talents.
12:00 This is one of those games that you can put up the numbers,
12:03 really add to your resume moving forward.
12:08 -Specifically, too, with Garrett Green.
12:10 I mean, he's starting to catch some people's attention,
12:14 you know, throughout the conference
12:15 and maybe even nationally a little bit.
12:18 But, again, what he did last week with the three touchdowns,
12:22 all the rushing yardage, if you can build on that
12:26 and put up another performance against Baylor,
12:29 maybe even with your arm or with both, whatever,
12:31 have a clean day, get that completion percentage up,
12:35 you go 84, and if he shows out in the bowl game,
12:38 all of a sudden, I think what you're going to see, Chris,
12:40 is a lot of people's expectations nationally
12:43 for this team in 2024 are going to take a big, big jump
12:47 just because of what they saw from Garrett Green
12:50 down this last month of the season or so.
12:53 -Yeah, you know, if you're looking ahead,
12:55 you got to look -- I just mentioned Zach Frayer.
12:58 More likely going to lose him next year,
13:00 and you're going to miss him.
13:01 He's Doug Nestor on the offensive line.
13:03 Now, they've been building this offensive line.
13:05 It's not a panic situation at all.
13:09 So, but continuity, how well they gel together early,
13:15 that chemistry up there is big.
13:17 Zach's taking care of a lot of stuff.
13:19 He's captain at offensive line.
13:21 He barks out the same signals,
13:22 so he's going to be missed tremendously.
13:25 -Oh, yeah. -So, it's one of those things
13:27 where, look, they've been here five years,
13:29 but they've done a really good job of locally finding guys.
13:33 Got Johnny Williams, who's a highly talented recruit.
13:36 They love Johnny Williams.
13:38 You still have Wyatt Milam coming back.
13:40 So they've got pieces,
13:42 but I think that's your biggest concern.
13:44 I would still temper expectations
13:47 going into next year because this receiving core
13:49 still has to make big jumps.
13:51 He's still got to find consistency.
13:52 He's still got to have a 1,000-yard receiver.
13:54 He's probably going to have to add another receiver, too,
13:56 from the portal.
13:58 They've done a pretty good job on the portal,
14:00 I'd say, the last couple seasons.
14:01 I mean, look at Beanie Bishop.
14:03 I think three of the guys ended up getting hurt.
14:06 Didn't get to see him. That's unfortunate.
14:07 But you kind of look at the success overall
14:09 of the portal from last year.
14:10 It's been pretty good.
14:11 They can find a couple pieces.
14:14 I think you have.
14:15 If you're going into this season,
14:17 you kind of look at the receiving core like, "Ugh."
14:20 -Yeah. -They did a lot better
14:21 than I thought, even without a 1,000-yard receiver.
14:24 So now you have more confidence there.
14:26 But I think most of it's offensive line,
14:28 what happens with the running back situation.
14:31 Jaheim White's been great, stayed healthy.
14:34 But what happens with Jalen Anderson and Justin Jefferson,
14:37 you also have DJ Oliver more than likely is going to return
14:40 because he's still young.
14:41 But there's still a lot of talent back there.
14:44 So how that plays out as well will be key.
14:47 And then look at the defense.
14:49 You're going to have to replace Liko,
14:51 but obviously we have Josiah Trotter
14:54 still waiting in the fold.
14:55 They've got young pieces there.
14:57 Ben Cutter has shown, but he's only going to be a sophomore.
15:00 Yes, they're only going to be sophomores.
15:02 So you might want to find a veteran linebacker
15:05 in there as well.
15:06 And then defensive front,
15:07 you're obviously going to miss some pieces as well.
15:09 So defense is still struggling from all the --
15:12 You know, that was really some of the success
15:15 that they had early on was defensively.
15:17 But when you got poached the way they did,
15:19 it's really been a building process.
15:21 Like, they've been steady offensive on
15:23 because they haven't been poached.
15:24 There's a lot of watching kids,
15:25 a lot of kids that were overlooked
15:27 that they've been building.
15:28 But defensively, they're not a lot of that talent.
15:31 So they're able to bring it in.
15:32 It's still going to be a work in progress.
15:34 Again, Beanie Bishop's going to be gone.
15:36 You're secondary.
15:38 It's going to look like it's going to be thin again,
15:40 so they're really going to have to work their magic.
15:42 And Beanie Bishop was a great font.
15:46 How do you find that in the offseason?
15:49 Replicating that's going to be really, really hard.
15:51 Defensively, they've got their work cut out for them.
15:53 But like I said, offensively,
15:56 you might have to go out and score some teams.
15:58 And, you know, don't want to put that on Garrett right now
16:01 because he's still developing.
16:03 We'll see.
16:04 You know, a season under his belt,
16:05 the way he came out last week after that Oklahoma game
16:10 was great.
16:11 You know, the kids un-phased.
16:13 Can't wait to see how he works out this offseason.
16:15 So, more defensively for West Virginia in this game,
16:20 again, without Blake Shapen,
16:21 they're probably going to have to lean on the run game
16:23 a little bit, try to get the ball out of Robertson's hands
16:26 quick.
16:27 They do have some talented receivers,
16:29 and Monterey Baldwin is the big one, very explosive receiver.
16:34 They get their tight end involved.
16:36 Jackson Jr. is kind of like their big, long target
16:39 that they like to throw the ball deep down the field, too.
16:41 So, they've got guys that can go make plays.
16:44 They just haven't had the time to get it to them.
16:47 So, if you're Coach Grimes in this game,
16:52 what is your game plan entering this game against West Virginia?
16:55 What do you feel like is going to give Baylor
16:57 the best chance to succeed?
16:59 I think I stay disciplined.
17:00 I think you can try to apply some pressure,
17:02 but you apply pressure with discipline.
17:06 And what I mean is, you know, you see West Virginia
17:08 trying to make too many plays,
17:09 getting themselves out of position.
17:10 You go straight up field, push the pocket into them,
17:13 keep your edges strong on the outside,
17:20 then you can get to them.
17:23 You don't want to scramble to the outside.
17:24 So, if the defensive ends can get out of field
17:27 and you can push the pocket in the middle,
17:28 I think that's the best.
17:29 That's really a lot of defenses.
17:33 I don't know if you can really --
17:35 I think you still have to make Garrett beat you with his arm,
17:38 and maybe you kind of put a spot on Garrett Green
17:42 and make him force -- just man up,
17:44 make the receivers win those one-on-one matchups.
17:47 Don't really know enough skill-wise about their defense
17:51 on the secondary. Can they man up?
17:53 I don't know.
17:54 They're playing a lot of young ballers there.
17:56 West Virginia really hasn't shown me
17:58 that they can win a lot of one-on-one matchups.
18:00 So, I would just continue to one-on-one,
18:03 man up, and send everybody else after Garrett Green
18:06 and the running backs.
18:07 Make him make the throws down field.
18:09 Make him beat you with his arm.
18:12 -West Virginia ran for 424 yards last week
18:17 against what is one of the better front sevens
18:20 in the Big 12, you could argue.
18:22 Baylor is ninth against the run,
18:25 allowing 233.5 yards per game.
18:29 Does West Virginia have another 300-yard game in them?
18:32 -The thing about that, West Virginia was running
18:33 so many plays by the time they got to Cincinnati
18:37 that they narrowed it down to what they really ran really well,
18:41 and it just threw Cincinnati completely off.
18:45 Everything was just wide open.
18:46 So, you know, that's a credit to the staff.
18:49 Admittedly, they threw too much at Garrett for Oklahoma,
18:52 and that's a great --
18:54 that's, I don't want to say great Oklahoma defense,
18:56 but that's a great coaching staff.
18:58 They knew exactly what to do.
19:00 And when you throw too much at someone
19:01 that doesn't have the full understanding,
19:03 that's kind of the result you get.
19:05 So, I think, really, what they've done,
19:06 you know, they talked about some of the follow-up.
19:08 That's what they've run really well.
19:09 Garrett does a really good job on the read option
19:12 of keeping that ball in there, disguising what he is doing.
19:16 And they just didn't have anybody on Garrett.
19:18 So I think for Baylor, it's important to have a spot.
19:21 Yes, it kind of takes it off.
19:23 It takes a little bit off in coverage,
19:25 but if you have a guy floating in the middle,
19:27 it can take away those short rests over the middle.
19:29 And, again, you want to force Garrett
19:30 to throw the ball down the field,
19:32 prove that the receivers can win those one-on-one matchups,
19:34 those 50-50 balls, per se, 50-50 balls,
19:38 and just prove that they can win with his own.
19:41 I don't know why that really hasn't been a success.
19:43 Oklahoma pretty much did that,
19:44 but they also have the skill on the outside
19:46 to just man up with people.
19:48 So I think that's really a lot.
19:49 Like, it's easy for West Virginia.
19:51 Fans always get mad at West Virginia, and me as well,
19:55 that the corners are far off the receivers.
19:59 Well, if you go up on the receiver
20:01 and he's tenths of a second faster than you,
20:04 he's still going to get open five yards down the field.
20:06 Like, it doesn't matter.
20:07 Then you have nothing behind it.
20:09 Yeah, what you're trying to do is keep it in front of you
20:11 and make them make the play.
20:12 Now, there's still a little bit too much cushion in that
20:15 that they can make it easy to toss and catch at times,
20:17 but it's the same result.
20:18 Just don't let anything behind you.
20:20 I think with Baylor, again, if they feel they got it,
20:24 go out, press coverage, especially Devin Carter.
20:26 He's shown he's struggled with that all year.
20:28 Just go out and press cover these guys
20:29 because Traylor Ray is going to be a great player,
20:32 but he's not physically there yet.
20:33 Hudson Clement has the potential to be
20:35 one of those sneaky good West Virginia receivers
20:38 we've had over the years,
20:40 but he's not going to get off press coverage right now.
20:42 So just go out and press them and win or lose by it.
20:47 Just be physical with those receivers and see what happens.
20:51 Yeah, I agree.
20:52 This is, again, on paper,
20:54 it's a matchup that heavily favors West Virginia,
20:57 I think, just in about every area,
20:59 and really what I wrote down in my notes this week for Baylor,
21:04 I mean, I felt like I was writing the Cincinnati preview
21:07 because it felt like --
21:08 Just go do what you do.
21:10 Yeah. Go do what you do, execute,
21:12 and you walk away with a win.
21:15 The only difference between the two is Cincinnati
21:19 can run the ball and they can stop the run.
21:21 Outside of that, it's essentially the same team
21:23 that you're playing this week.
21:25 You know, Shapen isn't in, like, he --
21:27 I think he's -- During conference play,
21:30 I believe, he's fourth in the league
21:32 in passing West Virginia.
21:33 He might be third overall.
21:35 It's a big loss for them.
21:36 It is, and the kid, I think his three starts
21:39 throwing just under 50%
21:41 through one touchdown, three interceptions.
21:43 So, I mean, it's a big drop off,
21:44 and I know that Sawyer Robinson, is that his name?
21:47 Yeah. He was a highly talented transfer from Mississippi State,
21:50 and he's going to be good in the future,
21:52 but, you know, trying to learn the system,
21:54 everything that they're doing, it's just a little quick,
21:57 but I think he would be --
21:58 We'll have to see what happens with David Miranda,
22:00 of course, as well.
22:02 So, we'll kind of see what happens there,
22:04 but they may have something there with him,
22:06 but it might be actually a confidence builder
22:10 going up against thin West Virginia defense.
22:12 We'll have to see who plays, but Shapen definitely,
22:15 he's a junior, and he's put up a lot of --
22:18 He's put up some good games this year.
22:20 Their biggest problem with a lot of teams in college football
22:23 has been the red zone offense.
22:25 I think they only have 12 touchdowns
22:26 from the red zone this year.
22:27 Red zone defense isn't that great, either.
22:29 Actually, yes, it is. Actually, yes, it is.
22:31 They're actually really the fourth in the league
22:33 in red zone defense.
22:34 Offense, though, not so much.
22:36 Yeah. Well, they also give up a lot of big plays.
22:39 That's the offset.
22:42 You can limit those opportunities when you give up.
22:44 That's what I mentioned in the game day shows,
22:47 like, look, they're fourth in the red zone,
22:49 but when you're giving up 33 points per game,
22:51 that tells you that they're just giving up
22:53 explosives all over the place.
22:54 So we'll see what happens.
22:57 West Virginia and Baylor, 7 o'clock kickoff down in Waco.
23:00 You can catch it on FS1.
23:02 We'll have the Mountaineers Now postgame show with Eugene
23:05 and myself after that one,
23:07 and then we'll be back Sunday for some Mountaineers
23:11 Now postgame show with Chris,
23:12 and that will be West Virginia-Bellarmine,
23:15 and I'll also have the Sunday morning video,
23:18 like I always do, recapping the game, and that'll be Baylor.
23:22 So we'll know whether or not West Virginia
23:25 gets to 8-4 here in a couple of days.
23:27 Thank you guys for watching another episode
23:30 of "Between the Ears."
23:31 Make sure you hit that subscribe button
23:32 on YouTube at Mountaineers Now
23:34 and give us a follow on X at the same handle,
23:38 and we wish you guys a happy Thanksgiving.
23:40 Stay safe and enjoy your time with the family this weekend
23:43 as we get ready for the 12th and final game
23:45 of the football season.
23:46 Take care.
23:48 (upbeat music)
23:51 (upbeat music)
23:54 (upbeat music)