10 keys to the West Virginia game

I don’t want to oversell it but this is a big game for Steve Sarkisian. Not as big as next week, but if Texas wants to realistically contend for the Big 12 title, it needs to win today. 

1. Hudson Card: Quinn Ewers isn’t walking through that door. Not this week anyway. Tailor a game to Hudson Card’s strengths, he does have some. RPO’s, comebacks, bootlegs, etc. A game manager is only as good as the game plan he’s given to manage. Give him a good plan and he’ll keep you on schedule. I saw Case McCoy win games at Texas.

2. Throw to open the run: Tangential to No. 1. WVU is likely to give UT space underneath. Use that for your ‘run downs’ and make them stop it. Jordan Whittington and Ja’Tavion Sanders should have big games today. Empty sets out of 12 personnel por favor. That can easily put Whittington back home in the slot. Give some extended handoffs to Agiye Hall, too. Let him be an athlete.

3. Press, but really press: The whole point of press coverage is to disrupt route timing. Playing up is a start, but getting a jam will be the best route to get the bigger receivers off schedule with a QB looking to get rid of it quick. Texas is creating pressure this season — not as much as PFF claims — but doesn’t have the type of elite closing speed the great D-lines have. Just a little extra time could go a long way.

4. Game plan the NT: Jordan Jefferson is a real threat to Sark’s intentions. He needs to receive the amount of respect and attention Bama’s interior received. This is a big game for Jake Majors with Jefferson lining up over him.

5. Cornerbacks: WVU‘s outside receivers will be the stiffest test so far for the Texas corners. They pair speed that can give Ryan Watts trouble and size that can give D’Shawn Jamison issues. They should see a lot of action not just down the field but on quick passes. It should be fun to watch UT’s physical corners.

6. C’oup de grace: This is overly simple but if you’ve watched Texas enough over the last year, it really does boil down to putting your opponent down for the count when the opportunity presents itself. This is meant as much on offense as defense. Texas has been in position to put both Alabama and Texas Tech away on offense and has been unable. Some might even say Sark was overly conservative in certain situations. There will very likely be a point today when Texas can put WVU away with one well executed play call. Do it and let the English see you do it. Too often the c‘oup de grace has turned into seppuku. 

7. Width in the run game: Bijan prefers to bounce it anyway. He is devastating if given time to find an ever expanding cut back options. This will help tire a quality WVU D-line as well. WVU’s run defense has been good but Texas should be able to run the ball right today. Lean on Christian Jones’ ability as a run blocker. Lean on Cole Hutson’s ability as a puller. Take advantage of corners playing off and the wide receivers’ spirited run blocking.

8. Safety/linebackers in coverage: The corners will be tested physically and athletically, the safeties and linebackers will be tested more mentally. Sources state they had a good week of practice in this regard. Neal Brown will surely test them over the middle with an experienced QB who has done well taking care of the ball (neither pick was really his fault).

9. Edge contain: I don’t think WVU can consistently run it up the gut against Texas, even with big ol CJ Donaldson. If I’m wrong here that will spell trouble. I do have concerns regarding WVU’s ability to run outside of the Texas edges. I’m a fan of No. 87 for WVU. More often than not he’ll tell Texas where the ball is going. He’s a good blocker. Sorrell and Oghoufo will have their hands full when he comes their way.

10. Stick with the deep ball and Ro-Cat: But don’t be afraid to throw it to someone other than Worthy and don’t be afraid to call a pitch or pass from Roschon Johnson. 3rd and 2 Ro-Cat should be anything other than a straight forward run.

This is likely going to be a close game that’s decided with a 4th quarter possession. I would rather have Bert Auburn deciding it than Casey Legg.