West Virginia could have a running game issue vs Colorado
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West Virginia could have a running game issue vs Colorado originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Last week Colorado head coach Deion Sanders made headlines when he questioned the accuracy of availability reports on his weekly coaches show. Specifically pertaining to why their opponents seem to have a significantly shorter list of injured players than Colorado. While that disparage has been consistent this season, that is not the case with West Virginia.
According to Sports Illustrated, the two programs provided their availability report, something was noticeably different. Both teams have about the same number of players on that report (out, doubtful, questionable). West Virginia has eleven while Colorado has ten.
For Colorado there is nothing surprising. Offensive tackle Jordan Seaton (Questionable) and cornerback DJ McKinney (Questionable) were names not previously believed to be injured, but the rest of their list is not surprising. On the probable side, receiver Omarion Miller and Joseph Williams as well as offensive lineman Xavier Hill could be game time decisions.
As for West Virginia, there are five names that could affect the eventual outcome of the game on Saturday. The Mountaineers leading passer Nicco Marchiol is listed as out. Marchiol was completing 67% of his passes for 720 yards and two touchdowns as well as another 56 yards on the ground. Scotty Fox Jr however, is right behind him statistically with a completion percentage within eight percent and only a hundred less passing yards on ten less pass attempts. However, the larger concern might be with the running back room.
West Virginia’s leading rusher Diore Hubbard is noticeably absent from the availability report and would be expected to be a full go on Saturday. After Hubbard, West Virginia lists four running backs that are on the report. Jahiem White, Tye Edwards, Clay Ash, and Tyler Jacklich. Those names comprise over 400 yards rushing thus far this season, but more importantly those backs combine for almost a 5.0 yards per carry average. Suggesting that Hubbard and Cyncir Bowers will likely need to carry the load.
Colorado’s rush defense ranks among the worst in the sport. Ranking 134th vs the run nationally. They also allow almost 5.3 yards per carry to opposing running backs. In the last couple weeks, the Colorado run defense has also given up a number of significant chunk yardage plays on the ground.
Colorado has been a tale two different teams. One team plays solid competition semi-close; the other team has given up a hundred points in the last two weeks. Versus No. 17 Georgia Tech and No. 7 BYU, they were close but failed to capitalize late. Against Utah and Arizona, teams who have not been as successful as Georgia Tech and BYU, big chunk rushing plays put the games away early. In both games, Colorado lost by a combined 105-24, giving up 38 and 40 points in the first halves respectively. In large part due to an inability to even slow down the run.
Colorado at West Virginia kicks off at Noon ET and will broadcast on both, the TNT and HBO Max networks.
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