Takeaways: Issues Still Evident for WVU Despite Kansas Win

Winning can temporarily mask issues, but it won’t make them go away. So despite WVU rallying to beat Kansas and open Big 12 play with a win, the Mountaineers still have plenty to work on before anyone can be truly confluent in this team moving forward.

With that said, what are the main takeaways from West Virginia’s 32-28 win over the Jayhawks as Neal Brown’s team heads into a much-needed bye week.

WVU needs more of the two-minute offense mentality

Overall in the game, Garrett Greene only completed 15-of-30 passes for 295 yards. He also threw two interceptions. But after an up and down game throughout most of the day, a different Greene emerged in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

Once WVU fell behind 28-17 after Kansas added another score when play resumed following a long weather delay, Brown put his offense in a hurry mode throughout the rest of the game. The intensity and tempo increased and everything else became more simplified.

Brown said after the game that he eventually told Greene to just take off if no one was open. Greene did just that, taking off for 87 rushing yards.

“I’d like him to check down more, but that’s not who he is right now.”

It’s also worth noting Greene relied heavily on Hudson Clement, who registered 150 yards on his own. Greene even appeared to rely on Clement too much, missing other open targets like Traylon Ray.

WVU HC Neal Brown on Garrett Greene running around more: “I’d like him to check down more, but that’s not who he is right now.”

He also added that he did tell Greene to take off and run if he doesn’t have anyone open.

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) September 21, 2024

While Greene has been shaky at times this season and doesn’t appear close to as advertised throughout the offseason, a steady steam of a simple plan could be WVU’s best bet to get the most out of their electric leader.

The secondary is still a problem

Even though Kanas quarterback Jalon Daniels only threw for 184 yards, the West Virginia secondary still showed signs of being a weakness for the defense. A unit that allowed Albany to throw for more yards than any FCS program has ever produced against a Mountaineer team and then let Pitt’s Eli Holstein carve them up as he led the Panthers back from a 10-point deficit needs more than one game for anyone to believe in them. Not only that, but Kansas’ success on the ground created a scenario Daniels didn’t need to throw as much as the previously mentioned quarterbacks.

Jacolby Spells, who got the start in an effort to find a bandaid, was serviceable out there. Brown even labeled his performance as “competitive” after the game. Garnett Hollis left a lot to be desired again and the group also dealt with several players going down with injuries.

It still feels like a quality passer will pick apart this secondary.

T.J. Jackson is a beast

Ascending into the starting lineup for the Backyard Brawl against Pitt due to a serious injury to Eddie Vesterinen, Jackson earned the honor of Big 12 Newcomer of the Week. He then followed that up with an equally impressive effort against Kansas.

Jackson recorded six tackles and a sack, continuously stepping up when his team needed him the most. The transfer out of Troy is a big reason why West Virginia has been able to establish a pass rush that did not exist in either of the first two games. According to PFF, Jackson entered Week 4 near the top of the country in quarterback pressures, and he’s likely to say at the top of that list.

West Virginia needs to use bye week to get healthy

After watching multiple players experience some kind of injury, the bye week could not be coming at a more perfect time for the Mountaineers. Not only does this team need the break to help get over the mental roller coaster of the first four games, especially the last two, but it needs the time away to heal.

In addition to enjoying the win, Brown was able to provide a positive update on one of his key players who left the Kansas game.

Brown said Aubrey Burks, who exited the game after collapsing on the sideline, is fine and in good spirits. Burks was even back with the team towards the end of the game after being airlifted to the hospital.

While he didn’t have anything on if Burks will miss any time, Brown also said that Burks’ test results were negative. Burks and the Mountaineers now head into a bye week with an opportunity to heal up and get ready for a tough road trip to Oklahoma State.

Burks was not the only WVU player to go down with an injury during the game.

Several members of both the offense and the defense went down with injuries throughout the first half of West Virginia’s Big 12 opener on Saturday. The players who were attended to include linebacker Josiah Trotter, offensive lineman Wyatt Milum, defensive backs Garnett Hollis and TJ Crandall, safety Anthony Wilson and Burks.

While Trotter would quickly re-enter the game, Hollis and Burks were both carted off the field. Burks collapsed on the sideline. Crandall has what appears to be a concussion.

WV Sports Now has been told Hollis suffered an ankle injury and will provide more information as it’s unveiled. The status of the others is unknown at this time.

Schedule doesn’t get any easier after bye….

The resiliency of this group of Mountaineers will be tested again in two weeks. West Virginia will travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma to take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Sept. 18.

WVU currently sits at 2-2 (1-0, Big 12) heading into their first bye week, and one that’s coming at a perfect time to recover, both mentally and physically from an up and down season so far.

For a related story, Neal Brown and his players express being “extra happy” for Rodney Gallagher after he caught the game-winning touchdown to beat Kansas.