WVU football DL Corey McIntyre looking to get back on the field, annoyed with watching TCU game from couch
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MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia football ruled out defensive lineman Corey McIntyre Jr. on Friday night before the TCU game. He suffered an injury the previous week against Cincinnati. It was a brutal loss for a streaky defense. McIntyre had 17 total tackles, forced a fumble and a sack on the season. He went from a depth piece to starting in five games this season.
But with the game being on the road, McIntyre didn't travel with the team and had to watch the team play from his couch in Morgantown.
"It was a little annoying," McIntyre said. "But it happens. It's the way the game goes. But it's all right. We'll be good."
McIntyre was anxious. More anxious than when he was playing on the field. He couldn't do anything but watch. McIntyre's screaming and yelling at the television had no effect on the outcome of the game.
Watching the game from his couch provided a different perspective. McIntyre could see the entire field and what went wrong in real time. Usually, players don't get to see what happened until after the game, or on the sidelines on one of the coaches' tablets.
"I could see the whole game from a camera view," McIntyre said. "I'll just shout what guys probably need to do or something."
The defense got the job done to an extent. The Mountaineers forced a game-winning fumble on the last drive to help the team to a 24-20 win over the Horned Frogs. There was plenty to clean up. WVU allowed one of the worst offenses in the Big 12 to gain 484 yards and a season-high 20 points against a Power Four opponent.
From McIntyre's vantage point, he thought the defense had shown improvement in the TCU and Cincinnati wins.
"I think our guys did a great job, especially from how it's been in the past," McIntyre said. "They were just out there playing physical, very relentless, and proud of them for sure because they went there and finished the job."
Now, it's continuing the success from the past two games into the final four games of the season. The Mountaineers play three ranked teams and talented offenses, including this weekend against No. 13 Texas Tech.
McIntyre took plenty of notes from watching on TV and noticed a couple of key areas WVU can be better at to help keep the defense rolling.
"Just having a lot of more vocal people on the defense," McIntyre said. "I feel like people just stepping up and telling everybody to get hype or something. I feel like energy is contagious, and I think we need a lot of that. I think we see it as well."
Another big addition to the defense will be getting McIntyre back.
Rich Rodriguez said McIntyre, along with other banged-up players, will go through practice Tuesday and Wednesday, and go from there, with the hopes of playing.
After a week off and watching the game from home, McIntyre said he expects to play this weekend, preparing to face a physical Red Raiders' offense.
"I'm starting to feel better," McIntyre said. "Been practicing every day, and everything, just trying to get back."
McIntyre was on last year's team when Texas Tech came into Morgantown and handed the Mountaineers their worst loss of the season, 49-0. The Red Raiders had 572 yards of offense and even had a defensive player score an offensive touchdown. It was embarrassing.
It was the final game of the year and left a bad taste in McIntyre's mouth. He wants to get his get-back.
"It was just bad," McIntyre said. "It was very annoying for sure. I feel like everyone who was here last year feels the same way and has that type of animosity this week to go get that."