A Little Know-Howe: "Year Zero 2.0" Begins for WVU Today as it Plays Host to Big 12 Foe Texas Tech
By Brad Howe on November 09, 2019 from A Little Know-Howe
Now that October is in the rear view mirror the Mountaineer football team will turn its attention to the stretch run of November. Following the near-miss against Baylor, West Virginia should enter the final month of the season with some confidence. At least on the defensive side of the ball.
West Virginia turned in its best defensive performance of the year against the Bears. Given the injuries and departures on that side of the 
ball, the effort was nothing short of remarkable. The Stills brothers, in particular, were outstanding. Five sacks between the two of them against Baylor.
ball, the effort was nothing short of remarkable. The Stills brothers, in particular, were outstanding. Five sacks between the two of them against Baylor.
Bridgeport’s Dylan Tonkery played his best game of the year according to Brown. Tonkery has 4 tackles, but it will be his assist on the goal line stand (from inside the one yard line) in the second quarter that will stand out. The offense has been a different story. Errant throws, dropped passes and the two bad snaps indicate this offense is regressing not improving.
Injuries have ravaged the offensive side of the ball as well so that’s part of the reason for the struggles. Against Baylor starting guard Chase Behrendt left due to injury. He was joined by TJ Simmons and Kennedy McKoy.
Mounting injuries, subpar performance and the rule allowing players to appear in up to four games and still retain a redshirt season, set up a really interesting November. Neal Brown said this week there are plans in place to use quarterbacks Jarret Doege and Trey Lowe. The offensive struggles aren’t all on Austin Kendall of course. But, now that Doege can be used in each remaining game and still redshirt, I will 
be stunned if we don’t see him.
be stunned if we don’t see him.
Brown has shown a willingness to try something (anything) to jump start the offense. New formations, new plays and even position changes have all been used this season in an attempt to increase production.
The first half has been particularly rough for the offense. Kendall has the third lowest passer rating in all of FBS in the first half. If West Virginia struggles out of the gate yet again, I’ve got to believe we see Doege.
Texas Tech arrives in Morgantown with its own issues. The Red Raiders are just 1-4 in Big 12 play under first year head coach Matt Wells.
The coaching change from Kliff Kingsbury to Wells was supposed to get rid of the all offense, no defense teams we had come to expect from Kingsbury.But new Tech defensive coordinator Keith Patterson, who presided over one of the worst WVU defenses in history in 2013, returns to Mountaineer Field with a group ranked last in in the Big 12 in yards per play allowed.
The biggest question I have entering this game centers around both offenses. Texas Tech is ranked ninth in the Big 12 in points per play. 
WVU is dead last. Can the WVU offense take advantage of a Tech defense that is susceptible to the big play? So far, West Virginia hasn’t shown an ability to hit those explosive plays consistently.
WVU is dead last. Can the WVU offense take advantage of a Tech defense that is susceptible to the big play? So far, West Virginia hasn’t shown an ability to hit those explosive plays consistently.
Texas Tech counters with an offense that wants to play up tempo, but hasn’t necessarily turned that quick pace into a high scoring offense.
This game opened with West Virginia a one point underdog. That’s the shortest line we’ve seen for the Mountaineers since being favored at Kansas more than six weeks ago.
My colleague Hoppy Kercheval has dubbed this season ‘Year Zero’ for Neal Brown. The moniker references a season for Brown in which the vast majority of the fan base knew going in this would be a rebuild. Wins and losses matter less this year than they will at any point moving forward under Brown.
Kercheval followed up on our latest Three Guys Before The Game podcast this week by saying the month of November is ‘Year Zero 2.0.’
Hear the full Three Guys Before The Game episode (Texas Tech Preview) here: http://wvmetronews.com/2019/11/05/three-guys-before-
the-game-mountaineer-morsels-episode-153/
the-game-mountaineer-morsels-episode-153/
The month of October was brutal for West Virginia. It faced what will most likely end up as the top four teams in the Big 12. November offers a chance for a fresh start. Or at least as fresh a start as a team can get in the final third of a season.
New players are available, the schedule becomes easier (but not necessarily easy) and the final month of the season offers a chance for West Virginia to gain some all-important momentum heading into the off season.
‘Year Zero 2.0’ begins today against Texas Tech.
NOTE: For more on the Texas Tech - WVU game, I invite you to listen in to our extensive, award-winning, nine hours of gameday coverage on the Metronews Radio Network beginning at 9am today.
I will be joined by Hoppy Kercheval, Greg Hunter, Kyle Wiggs, Dave Weekley, Fred Persinger, former WVU defensive coordinator Steve Dunlap and former WVU quarterback Rasheed Marshall.
You can listen to our coverage on radio stations throughout the state or by streaming live at: WVMertronews.com
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