Iowa State’s offense to strain WVU football defense’s physical, mental fortitude
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MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia football's defense went back to the drawing board after being gashed for 609 yards by Oklahoma State in Week 4. It wasn't pretty, and people were calling for defensive coordinator Zac Alley's job. On Tuesday, during his weekly media availability, Alley went over the issues and said the Mountaineers needed to make improvements at all three levels.
Alley and the defense need to clean up the issues in a hurry because WVU is now in Big 12 play and has its second conference game this weekend against Iowa State.
The Cyclones haven't been known for their offense over the past couple of years, and the same is said about this year's team under new head coach Jimmy Rogers. Rogers is a defensive-minded head coach, having been a defensive coordinator before becoming a head coach, and it's shown.
That isn't to say Iowa State's offense is bad. The Cyclones average 30 points a game, and have played a pair of top 25 opponents through the first four games. Iowa State's defense will create challenges for Alley's defense, looking to rebound after its worst performance of the season.
What stood out the most to Alley after watching film was how many times Iowa State offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl switches up personnel groupings and masks it. They constantly sub out receivers, tight ends, running backs and even offensive linemen. WVU could see 11, 12, 13, and even 31 personnel; nothing is off the table.
"They do a good job of mixing it up," Alley said. "I think on the season they’ve had like 278 snaps of that. The same 11 people on the field three times, so you’ve got a lot of variation in who’s out there on the field every single snap."
In a short amount of time before the ball is snapped, the Mountaineers will have to react quickly, making substitutions of their own to match up depending on size and speed.
Alley admitted that there will be times when the scouting up in the booth gets the personnel wrong, so there needs to be a backup plan.
"I’m sure we will mess up a personnel call from the booth one time, so here’s our four 'Oh crap' calls that we know we can play anything," Alley said. "Because it’s like they say, ‘11,11 oh crap, it’s 12.’ What are you going to do? There’s some of those things where I think you know 'all right we can play this,' and it may not be perfect, but you’re gonna be okay."
The amount of different running backs Iowa State can use creates problems. Redshirt sophomore Aiden Flora is the main back, leading with 382 yards and three touchdowns. But Tulane transfer Arnold Barnes III and redshirt sophomore Cameron Pettaway are just as involved.
Running behind the three of them, Iowa State has rushed for 180 yards a game. Not to the extent of WVU's offense, but the Cyclones are a run-first team, especially between the tackles.
"They play three of them guys, and they move them all over the field, and sometimes they’re all in there together," Alley said. "I’ve been impressed with obviously their running game. The tailbacks run hard. They break tackles. They get downhill. The whole team, you can tell they’re well coached. They’re hard-nosed. It’s bloody your teeth in the A gap. Then come back and do it again."
The rushing attack includes senior quarterback Jaylen Raynor. The Arkansas State transfer has carried the ball 31 of the team's 144 rushes for 137 yards and three touchdowns. He's not a traditional scrambler first, though. Alley compared him to Coastal Carolina quarterback Deuce Bailey, who the Mountaineers faced in Week 1, where he can take off when he's pushed outside the pocket.
Like in the battle with the Chanticleers, containment is going to be a priority this week.
"He wants to throw it first, and then he has the ability to scramble, which is maybe a little bit different," Alley said. "He was in the first game. It was more like it ain’t there, take off and run. He’ll go through a progression. One is not there. He’ll look at two. That’s not there. Then he may start to run at that point."
Raynor is a capable passer. He's thrown for 639 yards and five touchdowns through four games. Raynor does have three interceptions, so he's not perfect. Tulane transfer receiver Omari Hayes is his top target, and returner redshirt sophomore Dominic Overby is right there with him.
"He’s probably a little bit more in the pocket presence-wise," Alley said. "He’ll stand in there and deliver the ball. He’s not a scramble-first guy."
Like the Iowa State teams in the past, and it shows on their defense, this is going to be a physical game in the trenches. With all the different personnel groupings and multiple running backs, the defensive front seven is going to be challenged mentally and physically.
Alley's defense was beaten last week, but this week is a chance to rebound, showing how tough the defense actually is. Linebacker Ashton Woods thinks the defense is ready for a physical matchup on the road.
"It's a bloody your nose in the A gap game," Cutter said. "They love to run the ball downhill. We just got to come out there and hit them harder.”