West Virginia left Saturday with a 31-24 win over Coastal Carolina, but Chanticleers coach Ryan Beard made it clear he came away impressed with what the Mountaineers brought to the field.
Beard, in his first season leading Coastal Carolina, praised WVU’s staff and the way the team played on both sides of the ball. He singled out Rich Rod and Zac Alley, calling the Mountaineers “a high quality football team” and saying, “I have so much respect for Rich Rod and Zac Alley and those guys. They have a great football team that plays hard and physical and fast.”
He also pointed to the bigger picture around the program, describing West Virginia as “a good football program” with “a ton of resources... Bodies for days. [That's why we had to take risks].”
On offense, Beard said the Mountaineers made life difficult with their backfield talent and the presence of a running quarterback. “When they have running backs like that, and especially a running quarterback, you gotta make your layups. When you have a chance to get them down, you gotta get them on the ground.”
Beard had especially strong words for Michael Hawkins Jr., who he said repeatedly created problems for Coastal Carolina. “He's a hell of a ball player.
He was up there making checks, he was tough to bring down, he was making throws, he was extending plays with his feet. Everything we've talked about all week about him, it showed up and it hurt us.
It's like what we said at halftime, you have to contain the young man. You have to limit his looks and get him on the ground when you can.”
In Other News...
WVU Snap Counts Exposed One Trust Issue Fans Will Notice
West Virginias latest snap counts offered a clear look at how the staff is sorting out its rotation, and the picture was pretty straightforward on offense. The starting offensive line never came off the field, while 21 players saw action on that side of the ball, a sign the Mountaineers are still leaning heavily on their first group even as they work through the early part of the season.
The defense was more fluid, with 30 players getting in the game and the rotation shaped in part by the injury to defensive lineman Darius Wiley. Even so, the distribution of snaps suggests there are still roles up for grabs, and the way those defensive reps continue to settle will tell a lot about which players the staff trusts most when the games tighten up. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Offensive Grades Just Clarified Who Drove The Coastal Carolina Win
Pro Football Focus latest game grades offered a clearer look at how West Virginia pieced together its win over Coastal Carolina, and the offensive numbers pointed straight toward a balanced effort. Michael Hawkins earned the top grade on the unit at 79.5, a sign he was efficient in the role he was asked to play, while the Mountaineers also got meaningful support from their running backs and offensive line.
The grading breakdown also showed how much the context of the game mattered, with Hawkins performance tied closely to the way the offense was called and executed around him. Armoni Weaver-Bomar also showed up well in the charting, though his grade came on limited snaps, leaving a few interesting questions about which offensive pieces might carry more weight going forward. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Already Has A Few Early Problem Spots Fans Will Notice
West Virginias latest game offered an early look at where the Mountaineers are already getting steady play and where the rough edges still show up. The Pro Football Focus grades point to a few bright spots, with quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. and defensive lineman Nate Gabriel standing out among the better performers as both sides of the ball were put under the microscope.
Carsten Casady at right tackle and tight end Ryan Ward were among the lower-graded players, which is the kind of detail that tends to matter when a team is still sorting out its identity. For a WVU staff trying to build consistency, those evaluations can be just as useful as the positives, since they hint at which spots are stabilizing and which ones may need attention before the tests get tougher. [Read more 🡒]