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Through two games, WVU ran 54 times and passed only five times on first down. Rich Rodriguez says every practice rep is tied to down, distance and situation. The run tendency is clear, but the article allows that play selection could change against stronger opposition; it does not announce a new pass-heavy plan for Virginia.
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WVU converted 17 of 30 third downs, with 21 attempts needing six yards or fewer. On third down, Michael Hawkins turned four runs into three first downs and completed six of seven passes for five first downs. Those favorable distances are part of the improvement and must be preserved against Virginia's defense.
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Virginia allowed just 62 yards on 23 first-down rushes through two games, while opponents converted eight of 30 third downs. Fourteen attempts required at least seven yards, and the defense allowed only one passing conversion in those situations. First-down run resistance is central to testing WVU's third-down success.
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Virginia's offense averaged 6.5 yards per play on first down and 9.3 on second down in the opening two games. Its second-down passing was seven-for-seven for 151 yards and four touchdowns. Early-down efficiency explains why the Cavaliers have faced relatively few third downs; these are early-sample results, not a forecast against WVU.
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Virginia's third-down offense was only seven-for-22. Beau Pribula was two-for-three passing without a first down and had five rushes for minus-15 yards, also without a conversion. Keeping Virginia behind schedule is therefore a specific WVU defensive objective, although the Cavaliers' early-down success has limited those situations.