Defense wants breakout game

West Virginia's defense was expected to lead the Mountaineers in 2009.

Three games in, though, and it's been the opposite.

While the offense is ranked in the top 10 in total offense in the country, the defense is allowing 27 points per game (83rd in scoring defense).

West Virginia has been known for a bend-but-don't-break style under defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel.

But after giving up 41 points in a loss to Auburn in the team's last game, the Mountaineers have been broken a lot.

"I want us to do and show that we are a good defense, and the 40 points the other team scored on us was a mistake," said safety Robert Sands.

Last year against Colorado, Sands said the defense found its way in the 17-14 overtime loss.

"At that point, we got to gel, and we were able to focus better, and the team just came together, and everyone bought into the plan," he said.

While the Mountaineers gave up two quick touchdowns in the first quarter of the game to trail 14-0 early on, the defense shaped up.

From that point on, West Virginia was solid defensively, giving up 20 points or more just three times in the games following the Colorado loss.

WVU finished 11th in scoring defense in 2008. Prior to the Colorado game, though, WVU was ranked 52nd in the total defense.

"I think our guys just said we can play fast, and we can contain these guys," said WVU head coach Bill Stewart. "I think we gelled, I know we did after that game. I was in that locker room after that game. There was a lot of hurt.

"We became a football team on defense last year after that game."

West Virginia comes into the game in a similar situation as last year.

Starting linebacker and defensive leader Reed Williams was injured last season and didn't play in the first two games of 2008. In 2009, Williams started in the season opener but was injured against East Carolina and didn't play against Auburn.

Now, he's back and ready to start again.

"Reed Williams is cranked and ready to go," Stewart said. "Reed Williams had a good practice yesterday. He hit in shells, he ran full speed, and he competed in every drill."

Sands is looking for a breakout performance from his entire defense Thursday.

"This game is going to be a pretty good one," he said. "We are going to go for a goose egg. We are going to try and shut them out."

NOTES

Stewart said West Virginia will have no advantage against Colorado, because the Buffaloes are traveling across the country.

WVU's second-year head coach said because the game is at 7:45 p.m., and it's not a noon start time, Colorado will not be affected.

Defensive lineman Scooter Berry is not practicing against the scout team this week but has been running and is questionable for the Mountaineers' game Thursday.

"We had him on the sled, but he did not hit live," Stewart said. "I did not want to see his arm get pulled back."

Berry bruised his shoulder against East Carolina.

Quarterback Jarrett Brown, who left WVU's game against Auburn early with a shoulder injury, will also be ready to go against Colorado.

Meanwhile, wide receiver Wes Lyons is 100 percent healthy for the first time this season since the opener against Liberty.

The Big East Conference and the New York Yankees will have a press conference today to discuss a "major college football bowl game at Yankee Stadium beginning in 2010."