Zac Alley Gives Plan to Fix WVU’s Defense; No Starter is Safe

Knowing the WVU defense has been the subject of most of the criticism during the three-game losing streak, defensive coordinator Zac Alley spoke to the media on Tuesday about his process for how to improve.

For starters, he made it clear that nobody’s starting role is safe.

“I told everybody, like, it’s an open job. I mean, ain’t nobody solidified as a starter. We weren’t good enough to say you got 11 starters out there. So we’ll try and put the guys that are the most athletic guys we can to give us an opportunity in positions that we feel like they can be successful,” Alley said.

Alley also emphasized simplicity in light of the possibility of making changes to the defensive personnel with an upcoming game Saturday.

“We’re trying to get our best 11 on the field,” Alley said. “So move some guys around, figure out where they are, and then try and be as simple as we can this week with still having the ammo to go win the game.”

Alley mentioned a major problem with the defense is players not executing the game plan, even opponents change their look on the offensive side.

“I think the biggest thing is getting them comfortable to have confidence in the execution. I think there’s gray areas sometimes maybe in the player’s mind of like, ‘Well, this split wasn’t exactly what we saw in practice. He’s two yards tighter. So I didn’t do what you said I was supposed to do on every play because he was 2 yards tighter.’ So there becomes indecision when there’s changing pictures and things.”

West Virginia’s defense allowed Arizona to hang 45 of their 52 total points on them on Saturday, which followed giving up 577 yards and 45 points at Iowa State and 609 yards and 41 points against Oklahoma State.

Find more coverage of Zac Alley and the WVU football program at WV Sports Now.