WVU football: Mountaineers need to score when able

MORGANTOWN, WV - DECEMBER 03: Head Coach Dana Holgorsen of the West Virginia Mountaineers looks on before the game against the Baylor Bears at Mountaineer Field on December 3, 2016 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV - DECEMBER 03: Head Coach Dana Holgorsen of the West Virginia Mountaineers looks on before the game against the Baylor Bears at Mountaineer Field on December 3, 2016 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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The WVU football team improved its red zone scoring in 2017 compared to what it was in 2016. However, the team won less games last season.

The offense was sluggish and times and didn’t put together drives that lived up to its potential. It’s crazy how the Mountaineers could have all this firepower on offense but not always get the ball downfield.

Some of the issues could have stemmed from issues of power with head coach Dana Holgorsen and new offensive coordinator Jake Spavital. Even though the two are close friends and have worked together before, it was still an interesting experiment that we’re still figuring out how it works for everyone involved.

Will Grier’s injury last season was unfortunate and it came at the wrong time for this team. What could be good is all that is in the past and the coaches and staff know what needs fixed to make the potential success a reality.

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Passing is what the Mountaineers will rely on in 2018 because Grier is back and so is the nation’s leading scorer in David Sills. But the scoring can be better balanced with a developed running back. Kennedy McKoy will be the go-to guy with Justin Crawford out for next season. With more carries, McKoy has better chances to score. Last season, he had three touchdowns.

If McKoy can reach 1,000 yards, he can probably score at least 12 touchdowns. A lot of those carries could come in the red zone which will improve those close scoring chances. The WVU football football team averaged 34.54 points per game last season and averaged 459 yards per game.

Those numbers may not shift a whole lot for next season, but with the offensive stars coming back the numbers should be closer to 40 and 500. That would be a dream. But again, many are saying this could be a dream season.

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It never really works out for the WVU football team to have a potent offense and an intimidating defense in the same season. With both sides of the ball getting the work done, it truly will be the WVU football team’s best season under Holgorsen.