MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Former West Virginia lineman Jeff Braun attended last week’s 45-6 win over Maryland, his first up-close look at the 2015 Mountaineers.
Film study is a fine tool for evaluating technique and execution, but watching the O-line in person—through pregame warmups and then manhandling the Terps—provided a complete picture.
“You can tell these guys really care about it,” Braun said. “They play hard together and they play for each other. That’s something you don’t always have year after year, but these guys definitely have it.”
Football junkies can watch Braun critique a sequence of plays in the Gold & Blue Lunch Report above. (Through three games. the guy has consistently emphasized facets of line play easily missed by those of us who haven’t been in a three-point stance since high school.)
Next up for the No. 23 Mountaineers is Saturday’s tell-tale trip to 15th-ranked Oklahoma, a matchup of early-season unbeatens that opens Big 12 play.
“Now you’re into Big 12 play and it’s time to strap it up for real,” Braun said. “We thought Maryland was going to be a challenge, but they weren’t. Now we don’t know if it’s us playing well or Maryland being that bad. I think it’s a combination because I think we are playing well.”
“Absolutely, this going to be the first true test. You know, this is going to tell us how the season is going to unfold. You’re going to know, win or lose, what type of team you have.”
Some nuggets from Braun that didn’t fit into the video clip:
The Matteo/Bosch rotating right guard: Center Tyler Orlosky, noting different mannerisms of Tony Matteo or Kyle Bosch, repeatedly has stated his preference for West Virginia sticking with one or the other at the adjacent spot. Through three games, the two have rotated series.
“I’ve seen both of them be physical, I’ve seen both of them make mistakes,” said Braun, assessing the platoon. “I think for the center it’s more of familiarity sort of thing—he’s been playing with Tony for however many years now and he understands how he’s going to block and he understands communication. But you’ve got two good guys, so be thankful for that and thankful that you have a sixth man.”
Sooners’ recruiting defensive standouts: Recalling the 50-49 loss to Oklahoma from 2012, Braun said he faced four- and five-star defensive linemen and a backup who’s now in the NFL.
“Every year Oklahoma is going to get that elite-level athlete. Now, you don’t have to shy away from that. I think you need to go in with an attitude that we’re elite as well. We have those athletes as well and we need to hit ‘em in the mouth.”
Another 11 a.m. Central kickoff, much to OU’s disdain: For the seventh time in 13 homes games, Oklahoma is saddled with a morning start time.
“I don’t get that at all. It needs to be looked at,” Braun said. “I don’t think it’s fair to either team, really. It’s different. For noon games we were up at 6 a.m., so I’m sure for this 11 a.m. kick they’re going to be up at 5.”