WVU football team should run more against Delaware State

With Will Grier, the WVU football team will consistently be one of the best passing teams in the country. But the running attack is pretty good, as well.

In both games to start the 2017 season, the Mountaineers have passed the ball more than they have ran it. In the opening loss against Virginia Tech, the WVU football team passed 54 times and ran 35 times.

Against East Carolina, a huge victory at Milan Puskar Stadium, West Virginia threw the ball 47 times and ran 32 times. This week at home against Delaware State, those numbers should be flipped.

With the success of the passing game, the Mountaineers should focusing on developing the running attack even more. The WVU football team will have to be more diversified with the approaching Big 12 Conference slate coming up. The Mountaineers have a chance to compete for a conference championship and having an elite offense will make that a strong possibility.

With Justin Crawford, Kennedy McKoy, Martell Pettaway and Tevin Bush, the WVU football team has a stable of strong running backs. Crawford is coming off a 118-yard performance against the Pirates. That was his second performance of more than 100 yards this season as he scooted for 106 yards against Virginia Tech.

Against the Hokies, Crawford had a long run of 42 yards and against East Carolina, he found the end zone for the first time this season. Crawford had a total of two touchdowns against the Pirates and had a long run of 41 yards.

More from Hail WV

• Every West Virginia potential March Madness venue in 2023 NCAA Tournament
• West Virginia March Madness Schedule: When do the Mountaineers play next? (Updated March 12)
• West Virginia vs. Kansas prediction and odds for Saturday, February 25 (Take Mountaineers as underdogs)
• WVU Football Recruiting: Mountaineers make Malik Hartford’s short list
• Previewing WVU basketball against Oklahoma State

With Delaware State upcoming on the schedule, Crawford should have another 100-yard game, another two-touchdown day and several more runs of 40 yards or more. Crawford has that keen breakaway speed and he can break tackles. Delaware State does not have a good defense, so Crawford should have a field day at Milan Puskar Stadium.

McKoy should also have a big day. He is coming off a 99-yard performance against ECU with a touchdown. McKoy carried the ball 19 times against the Pirates and should get even more carries against Delaware State.

Even Bush and Pettaway should be more active. They can combine to have more than 20 carries against Delaware State after combining for 18 carries against the Pirates.

Will Grier will still get his against the Hornets. The WVU football team should easily be up by three touchdowns in the first quarter. Grier probably won’t see any action in the second half as Chris Chugunov will take over quarterback duties.

Related Story: Will Grier will develop into a star for WVU

All four running backs should be a major factor in a bulk of the plays on Saturday. The Mountaineers may not run 80-plus plays against the Hornets, because every time they touch the ball, there is potential for big-play possibilities. The Hornets won’t be able to slow down the WVU football team through the air, or on the ground.

Because this will be an easy victory against a lowly FCS opponent, the Mountaineers need to experiment with the offense and make sure it has reached its full potential moving forward.

Next: 30 best games in Mountaineers history

The best way to do that is to run the ball as much as possible. Listen for the names “Crawford,” “McKoy,” “Pettaway” and Bush a lot on Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium.