West Virginia’s defense has turned into a weekly headache, and Zac Alley isn’t pretending otherwise. After two Big 12 games, the Mountaineers have given up 86 points and 1,186 yards of total offense, and the problems have piled up fast enough that simplification has become the message.
Alley said this week the answer starts with shrinking the playbook and getting the basics cleaned up.
“A lot this week,” Alley said when asked how much he has to simplify things. “I think we got to cut it down and make sure we can at least line up and fit inside zone.”
He went even further when pressed on whether the defense needed a major trim-down.
“Not that hard this week. I think we're the worst defense in college football.
So, it's pretty simple to say that it ain't f------ worked. So, I don't plan to keep doing the same thing over and over again.
That seems like insanity. We'll cut it down and make sure they can execute.”
West Virginia is not last nationally, but it is close at 133rd - which is dead last among Power Four teams. And while the next challenge brings a dynamic passing attack led by Noah Fifita, Alley made it clear the starting point is stopping the run.
“Well, we got to stop the run first. Misfit gaps, not reading our keys- just the basic things that we worked on through fall camp and have to translate to the games, and obviously they're not right now. If you let them run the ball on you, you got no shot of stopping anything else.”
The larger issue, though, is that Alley has been saying for months that the defense is carrying too much. Rich Rodriguez has echoed that since spring, and Alley’s own comments suggest he sees the same problem now more than ever. Two weeks ago, he asked a brand-new defense to play dime, something it hadn’t done in its first three games, and the result was a disaster.
With so many newcomers, the complexity has become part of the issue. Alley knows the defense has to be stripped down, and he didn’t try to shield himself from blame.
“I think we are talented enough to be a lot better than we are, so that's on myself and the coaches. We've got to get these guys to play to their ability level.
I don't expect every guy to be an All-American every play, but to at least be the best version of themself every day and every play they're in; that's what we need and to maximize their ability level. We're certainly not playing to what the talent level is.”
In Other News...
Rich Rod Just Made WVUs Biggest Problem Impossible To Ignore
West Virginias defense has reached a point where the problems are impossible to overlook, and Rich Rodriguez is treating them that way. After back-to-back rough weeks that saw the Mountaineers give up more than 1,100 yards and 86 points, Rodriguez pointed to the basics, saying the unit needs clearer coaching instructions and better execution from the players.
Arizona arrives next with a dangerous offense led by quarterback Noah Fifita, which only sharpens the urgency for West Virginia to clean things up quickly. For a team already trying to steady itself, this is the kind of matchup that can expose every loose end, and the Mountaineers will need a far sharper defensive answer than they have shown lately. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Mourns Young Commit As Program Rallies Around His Family
Chris Wilson Jr., a defensive line commit in West Virginias class of 2027, was shot and killed in Muncie, Indiana, leaving the Mountaineers facing the kind of loss that reaches far beyond football. Rich Rodriguez and defensive line coach Deke Adams both publicly shared condolences for Wilsons family and the community around him, a reflection of how deeply the news landed inside the program even though he had not yet arrived on campus.
West Virginia is now working to support Wilsons family in the days ahead and plans to honor him during an upcoming home game. For a program still trying to build toward the future, the response around Wilson has underscored something more immediate and more human: the bonds that form as soon as a player is welcomed into the fold, and the responsibility that comes with them. [Read more 🡒]
Rich Rod Hints WVU Help Is Emerging In Two Key Spots
West Virginias staff is still sorting out where the next wave of help is going to come from, and the search is happening on both sides of the ball. Defensive coordinator Zac Alley has started rotating in new players, including freshman linebacker Antoine Sharp Jr., as the Mountaineers try to identify who can become reliable contributors rather than just emergency depth.
On offense, Rich Rodriguez pointed to several running backs and wide receivers who could earn more snaps, with NaQuari Rogers among the names worth watching after recently joining the program. Rogers is still getting comfortable with the system, but Rodriguez said his maturity has stood out in practice, along with the skills that made him an intriguing add as West Virginia looks for answers in a few key spots. [Read more 🡒]