Texas Football: 5 Matchups to Watch for Texas vs. West Virginia
The only way Texas will be able to reach a bowl this season is by knocking off a Top 25 opponent. This week's home matchup with No. 23 West Virginia would be a great move toward a strong finish.
West Virginia has been one of 2014's biggest surprises, riding its all-around offensive attack and stingy secondary to a 6-3 record, with all three losses coming against Top 10 teams. Based on that strength of schedule and a statement win over Baylor, the Mountaineers are one of the few three-loss teams left in the rankings.
That's bad news for the Longhorns, who have struggled with West Virginia's peers of late. Per The Austin-American Statesman's Brian Davis, the Longhorns are 4-19 against ranked teams since 2010, coming up empty all four times this season.
For Texas to reverse that trend, it will need to win at least three of its five key matchups. And it starts with slowing down the Mountaineers' best offensive player.
Texas CB Quandre Diggs vs. WR Kevin White
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Whoever covers Mountaineer wideout Kevin White will be Texas' most important defender on the field, which is why it has to be Quandre Diggs.
The 6'3", 210-pound White has to be accounted for on every play, which he proved with seven straight 100-yard outings. He's the first man quarterback Clint Trickett looks for when he drops back to pass and is a chief reason why the Mountaineers have busted into the Top 25.
For this reason, Texas needs to consider shadowing White with Diggs, its defensive leader and best corner. The senior gives up some size, but plays bigger than his 5'10" frame and can sew himself to his man's hip.
Vance Bedford knows this, no matter how much he loves Diggs at the nickel spot:
"Quandre is such an outstanding nickel back that you hate to take him from that position. He has great instincts and great awareness and that's what a nickel back must have. We are going to have a few changes in this ballgame to try to match guys up. It's going to be a game situation and see how it's going.
"
There's no guarantee that the Horns nail Diggs to White. We just know that when White's covered, it forces Trickett to hold the ball just a second longer, and that's all this pass rush needs to get home.
Texas LT Marcus Hutchins vs. West Virginia DE Shaquille Riddick
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This is really the entire Texas backfield versus Shaquille Riddick, because the Longhorns don't have a player capable of stopping him.
Riddick is a pure pass-rusher, recording all but two of his eight tackles for loss on the quarterback. At 6'6" and 242 pounds, he's long and quick to the backfield, a combination that will give left tackle Marcus Hutchins all sorts of fits.
"Big sack by Shaquille Riddick. Knocks off Boykin's helmet as a result. Back up QB comes in, unable to convert on 3rd and long. #DEFENSE
— WVU IMG Sports (@WVUIMGSports) November 1, 2014"
Hutchins has to play better than he has, and he needs a lot of help from his teammates. Backs Johnathan Gray and Malcolm Brown both need to get some body shots on him, while quarterback Tyrone Swoopes must be more confident with the football.
Texas just can't afford to let Riddick blow up drive after drive. The West Virginia offense is too good for that.
Texas WR John Harris vs. West Virginia Secondary
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John Harris has had at least four catches and 60 yards in seven of nine games this season.
Texas has scored a total of seven points in the other two.
A forgotten (read: disrespected) man during his first four years, Harris has arguably been the Longhorns' most important offensive player. He's making plays all over the field as Swoopes' favorite target, especially in the red zone, and is on pace to be Texas' first 1,000-yard receiver since 2008.
He has to get open against a tough secondary that ranks second in the Big 12, allowing just 6.2 yards per attempt. Otherwise, we may see another brutal outing from Swoopes.
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Texas DTs vs. West Virginia OGs
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Malcom Brown versus Quinton Spain. Hassan Ridgeway versus Mark Glowinski. Texas' defensive tackles matching up with West Virginia's offensive guards is good on good, and it should be a lot of fun to watch.
As noted by B/R's own Sean Frye, Spain and Glowinski have played at an All-Big 12 level this season as two of the nastiest interior linemen in the conference.
On the other side of the ball, Brown and Ridgeway have been dominant, combining for 9.5 sacks on the year as the two team leaders in that category.
"#Texas DC Vance Bedford said if underclassmen project as 1st rd pick, he recommends they go to #NFL. He sees DT Malcom Brown as 1st rd pick.
— Chip Brown (@ChipBrownHD) November 5, 2014"
You can bet that whichever duo wins this battle will end up with the win as well.
Texas RB Malcolm Brown vs. West Virginia Front Seven
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It's amazing how much a functional running game can cover up.
In their 34-13 win over Texas Tech, the Longhorns coughed up a stupid fumble for a touchdown, barely completed 50 percent of their passes and allowed three sacks with two quarterback hurries.
Yet somehow the game was barely in doubt because the Horns were able to pound the ball with their tailbacks, as Brown and Gray ran for 5.1 yards per carry. In turn, Swoopes was able to hit some deep throws over the top, allowing him to post a respectable 9.1 yards per attempt.
The West Virginia secondary is tough, but the Mountaineers are light up front, as pointed out by SB Nation's Scipio Tex. A powerful back and Texas' most effective runner, Brown should wear out this front seven to keep Texas in the game.
If not, the Longhorns have a real problem on their hands.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats and information courtesy of TexasSports.com.
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