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Middle-of-pack offense about what Holgorsen expected in ’15

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Distinguishing between Baylor’s offense and West Virginia’s (a distinction drawn rather noticeably by Saturday’s 62-38 final), coach Dana Holgorsen said the Bears have developed receivers while WVU’s are developing.

“No. 1 for us is getting really close,” Holgorsen said of sophomore Shelton Gibson, who caught a 70-yard touchdown on the Mountaineers’ first series and ranks fourth in the Big 12 at 90 yards per game. “We’ve got to get the other guys to continue to develop, continue to mature, continue to build confidence.

“We’re not there yet, but we’re going to get there pretty quick.”

West Virginia now features a pair of true freshmen at the opposite wideout, including David Sills, who was signed last February as a quarterback. Falling behind Sills on the two-deep is speedster Jovon Durante, whose first four college games produced 16 catches for 243 yards and three touchdowns. The past two weeks he has combined for 21 yards on two catches.

Overall, Holgorsen said West Virginia’s offense is “pretty close to where I thought we’d be.” Where is that exactly?

— Sixth in the Big 12 at 36.3 points per game.

— Sixth in the league at 5.8 yards per play.

— Third in the Big 12 at 215 yards rushing per game, but only sixth at 4.3 rushing yards per play.

— Sixth in the conference passing at 269 yards per game.

— Sixth in the Big 12 in passing efficiency.

— Fifth in third-down conversion success at 40.8 percent.

— Last in the conference with 12 lost turnovers.

“Our deal from the beginning has been just keep getting better,” Holgorsen said. “Lot of youth, lot of new players, lot of inexperience. Just keep getting better, and I think we are. We’re on track. We need to continue that path.”

Lambert’s dropoff: Citing a preseason plant foot injury that postponed Josh Lambert’s progress, Holgorsen said last year’s Lou Groza Award finalist also has been ill the past two weeks.

Then Holgorsen twirled fingers around his head and joked, “The good news is it’s not a goofy kicker thing.”

Lambert had been 7-of-7 from inside 40 before Saturday’s miss at Baylor. His longer kicks have consistently lacked the oomph of 2014, when he made an NCAA-record 16 field goals from 40-plus.

Injury update: Cornerback Terrell Chestnut is day-to-day after leaving the Baylor game with a left shoulder injury, Holgorsen said.