LSU vs. West Virginia: 5 Things We Learned About the Mountaineers

That was not the way West Virginia wanted to show the nation it belongs in the SEC, ACC or Big 12.

Now that we know West Virginia isn't going to finish 12-0 and play for a BCS Championship, it's time to focus on what the Mountaineers can do following a 47-21 loss to No. 2 LSU Saturday night.

"

Teams like LSU are going to find a way to win and they did, said West Virginia's first-year coach Dana Holgorsen. I'm not very happy, but hats off to coach (Les) Miles. It's again, like I said Tuesday, a very established program, No. 2 in the country. They have very good athletes, and they outplayed us and outcoached us.

"

But all is not lost as No. 16 WVU (3-1) remains the favorite to win the Big East.

Keep reading and learn the five things we learned about the Mountaineers following the loss.

Special Teams

Special teams have been an issue for the Mountaineers since Don Nehlen was the coach.

It doesn't look any better with Dana Holgorsen coaching.

WVU punter Corey Smith averaged 38.7 yards on six kicks, but twice he shanked punts.

The biggest gaffe was after the Mountaineers pulled within six points in the third quarter and Morris Claiborne did his best Patrick Peterson impersonation.

Claiborne broke three tackles en route to a 99-yard touchdown, which pretty much iced the game.

And then there was Tavon Austin who couldn't field a punt and the offense kept starting inside its own 10.

"The special teams game was pretty one sided," Holgorsen said.

Defense

LSU wore down the West Virginia defense and this was easily the most athletic team Jeff Casteel's group will play all season.

However, this is back-to-back games that WVU has allowed 31 or more points. Last year the defense didn't allow more than 20 in a game until the Champ Sports Bowl against North Carolina State.

The defense struggles to get off the field and allowed Spencer Ware and Michael Ford to gain 92 and 82 yards, respectively. Ford had TD runs of 22 and 15.

It was also the third game that the defense didn't force a turnover.

West Virginia's defense is also struggling to make solid tackles, and super rusher Bruce Irvin is not getting much of a pass rush.

Geno Smith

West Virginia's junior quarterback had another big game.

He completed 38-of-65 passes for 463 yards and two touchdowns. However, he was also picked off two times, one a huge interception by Tyrann Mathieu near the end of the first half that set up a cheap LSU touchdown.

"Geno has to read that better," Dana Holgorsen said.

Still, Smith is a big-time college quarterback and he's proving it with his toughness in the pocket and his accuracy.

Pass Protection

Who would have thought going against the athletic LSU defense that Geno Smith wouldn't get sacked once?

The offensive line played its best game of the season and proved to be up to the challenge with LSU's defensive line.

It did appear that LSU avoided sending too many rushers in an attempt to cover WVU's receivers, but the fact Smith had plenty of time in the pocket was a real positive and something Dana Holgorsen noted in his postgame press conference.

"I thought the pass protection was fantastic," he said. "Geno (Smith) made some plays."

Coaching

Dana Holgorsen is without a doubt a major upgrade over Bill Stewart.

But it's also clear he's still learning to be a head coach.

Les Miles got the better of him on this night, and Holgorsen knows it.

It's also pretty clear Holgorsen is a perfectionist and he'll keep improving as a coach.