West Virginia Football Mailbag: Defense Woes, Hawkins' Rise, and Coaching Questions

West Virginia Mountaineers fans are frustrated. After a rough stretch that saw the defense surrender a combined 1,100 yards in two weeks, the questions are pouring in about the state of the program under head coach Rich Rodriguez. In this week's mailbag, we tackle the biggest concerns, from the struggling defense to the emergence of quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. and the future of defensive coordinator Zac Alley.

Why is the West Virginia defense struggling so badly?

The defensive unit has been the primary source of frustration for Mountaineer fans. Giving up 45 points and a combined 1,100 yards of offense in two weeks has many questioning the coaching and the personnel.

According to our analysis, the issues are multifaceted. The defense is extremely light up front, which was a concern heading into the season. The defensive line is not knocking opposing offensive lines back, muddying up the run game, or collapsing the pocket. This puts added pressure on the secondary and leaves the unit vulnerable to both the run and the pass.

There are also questions about scheme complexity. Some believe the coaching staff may be putting too much on the players, especially with so many new pieces. A poor game plan against Oklahoma State, where they went to a dime defense and got torched, may have had a ripple effect, costing the unit valuable reps in their base defense.

Is quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. the real deal?

Despite the team's struggles, quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. has been a bright spot. While his completion percentage may raise eyebrows, a closer look at the numbers tells a different story. In a recent game, three drops and two throwaways accounted for five incompletions. Removing those, his completion rate jumps to 61%.

Hawkins accounted for 72% of the offense's total yards and was responsible for four of the team's six touchdowns. His ability to make defenders miss and escape pressure is invaluable, especially given the offensive line's struggles. Our assessment is clear: Hawkins is a star and is not the problem. He is only five games into his tenure as a full-time starter and is already putting up impressive numbers.

Will defensive coordinator Zac Alley be fired?

The calls for defensive coordinator Zac Alley's job are growing louder, but a mid-season change appears unlikely. Firing him now would trigger a significant buyout, as he is owed 100% of his remaining salary if let go without cause. He is making $1.5 million per year.

Furthermore, there is no obvious internal candidate to take over as defensive coordinator mid-season. While Alley deserves a share of the blame, the issues also stem from a lack of execution by players and some misses in the transfer portal. The expectation is that Rodriguez will evaluate the situation at the end of the season, with year three being critical for the head coach.

Could offensive players leave via the transfer portal?

Fans are worried that the porous defense could drive top offensive talent to seek opportunities elsewhere. However, our sources indicate that West Virginia is already in discussions to secure new deals for some of their top players, including Mike Hawkins Jr.

Hawkins reportedly loves this offense and is only going to get better in it. The offensive line has been serviceable, but no one has played well enough to be