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Grading West Virginia in Rutgers game
Slideshow: WVU wins
West Virginia 24, Rutgers 16
OFFENSE, B-
West Virginia's offense is still lacking luster. The longest play was a 25-yard touchdown catch by Tyler Urban. The longest run was an 18-yard scamper by quarterback Pat White. Tailback Noel Devine couldn't break loose and averaged just 2.9 yards on 19 carries. A bright spot was West Virginia's improved play on third downs (8 of 16). The offensive line didn't create enough room for Devine to run at times, but it gave White and backup quarterback Jarrett Brown solid protection. The o-line didn't allow a sack all day.
DEFENSE, A-
The defense won the game when Scooter Berry deflected a Mike Teel pass on fourth and 5 with just 1:34 remaining. The defense also held Rutgers to 72 total rushing yards, including 20 in the second half. Linebacker Anthony Leonard, a first-time starter, recorded a team-high nine tackles in Reed Williams' absence. Mortty Ivy (8 tackles) stepped up his play. The secondary was unable to contain Kenny Britt (12 catches, 151 yards), but Teel was rather inconsistent otherwise having only completing 44 percent of his passes. Rutgers had a number of key drops that could have been trouble for West Virginia, though.
SPECIAL TEAMS, B+
Defensive end Zac Cooper rushed 18 yards for a first down on a fake punt to highlight special teams play. Cooper's run kept the drive alive and led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Brown.
Ellis Lankster fumbled the opening kickoff, but the call was overturned when he was ruled down before the ball got loose. Lankster then used a 34-yard return on next punt to put the ball on Rutgers' 33-yard line and set up West Virginia's first touchdown. West Virginia coach Bill Stewart, who is in charge of special teams, promised he'd get the unit back on track this week after giving up a few long returns last week. West Virginia held Rutgers to a long return of 26.
