# West Virginia Mountaineers Mailbag: Midseason Changes

> West Virginia Mountaineers face midseason defense struggles after loss to Arizona.
- Title: West Virginia Mountaineers Mailbag: Midseason Changes
- Summary: West Virginia Mountaineers face midseason defense struggles after loss to Arizona. West Virginia Mountaineers' defense has historically underperformed, with…
- Keywords: west virginia mountaineers, rich rod, hawkins, defense, midseason changes, college football, arizona, sports, West, Virginia, Mountaineers, Mailbag
- Source: West Virgina Mountaineers On SI — https://si.com/college/westvirginia/football/mailbag-midseason-changes-portal-misses-resources-helping-hawkins
- Published: 2026-10-12T08:21:26+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: west virginia mountaineers, rich rod, hawkins, defense, midseason changes, college football, arizona, sports
## Mailbag opens
West Virginia Mountaineers fans receive a mailbag split into two pieces for the third consecutive week.
## Arizona loss frustration
Frustration grows after West Virginia Mountaineers lose to Arizona, a game that was expected to be decided.
## QB desperation pass
Fans question why starting QB took a big shot to throw a desperation pass on 4th down when down by 21 with a minute left.
## QB pass analysis
Starting QB Hawkins completed 11 of 28 passes, with low completion percentage due to heavy reliance on deep shots.
## Defense performance
West Virginia Mountaineers' defense has historically underperformed, failing to stop high school teams.
## Defense coaching concerns
Defense coaching staff lacks experience in calling defense at Division 1 level, making midseason changes unlikely.
## Defense issues
West Virginia Mountaineers' defense issues stem from multiple factors including play-calling, player positioning, and coaching.
## Resource management
Program director Wren focuses on providing resources rather than limiting them to address defensive issues.
## Interim DC search
No interim defensive coordinator candidates exist beyond Josh Eilert, who has limited experience with Zac's defense.
## Offensive play count
West Virginia Mountaineers have gone over 100 offensive plays only twice in history, both times winning.
## Quarterback retention
Quarterback Hawkins plans to stay at West Virginia for two more years, with program support for his development.
## Future outlook
West Virginia Mountaineers' defense issues will require multiple adjustments to improve performance.
## Season impact
West Virginia Mountaineers have lost two games to Oklahoma in recent history, with one loss in 2016.
## Next steps
West Virginia Mountaineers fans can submit questions for next week's mailbag via X or Facebook.
## Program status
West Virginia Mountaineers' defense has historically underperformed, with no immediate coaching changes expected.
## Key takeaway

West Virginia Mountaineers' defense has historically underperformed, with questions about coaching changes and quarterback Hawkins' role.