So, are you a glass half empty kind of guy or are you a glass half full person?
Why, you ask?
Well, if you are the first then you probably are thinking that Saturday's 70-63 Homecoming victory by No. 9 WVU over No. 25 Baylor was a game that featured outstanding offenses.
But, if you are the latter, then you will probably point to the 133 points and more than 1,500 yards of total offense as a sign of two horrible defenses making offenses appear better than they really were.
So, which was it? Both.
Thanks to the play of senior quarterback Geno Smith, wide receivers Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin and J.D. Woods as well as an offensive front that has provided the foursome enough time to perform the feats that we are witnessing on Saturdays, West Virginia is a legitimate Top 10 program.
However, if the defense doesn't find some way to consistently slow down opposing offenses, then the Mountaineers will find it hard to remain among the country's elite. Especially, facing a Big 12 slate of games that feature seven teams ranked in the Top 25 and all but one, receiving votes in the most recent coaches poll.
Can the defense get better?
Sure it can.
Remember, it wasn't until WVU took on Clemson in the Orange Bowl that fans got a glimpse of what this offense was capable of accomplishing when clicking on all cylinders.
The loss of veteran defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel and two of his assistants during the off-season meant an already thin unit - standouts Bruce Irvin, Najee Goode and Keith Tandy were just a few of the losses from the defense - was faced with the daunting task of learning a new system.
Sure, it is frustrating to watch this defense perform. We are accustomed to seeing a somewhat more effective unit take the field.
But, just like head coach Dana Holgorsen and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson had to adjust their concepts to fit the talents of the players they found in their system when they arrived in Morgantown, defensive coordinator Joe DeForest and his staff must accomplish the same feat.
That takes time.
Fortunately, the defense isn't being counted upon to win games. Especially, when you have an offense that looks to be unstoppable at times - five touchdowns on six second half possessions against Baylor.
What it needs to do is make just enough plays to allow the offense to build a cushion like it did to open the second half on Saturday.
WVU scored the first three times it had the ball after the intermission while the defense held the Bears off of the scoreboard until the Mountaineers had built a 56-35 advantage.
Should the defense have a similar performance when WVU travels to the University of Texas next weekend, then the Mountaineers will return to Morgantown with their first loss in 2012.
But, then again, another offensive onslaught like the one seen this past weekend and WVU will be 5-0 heading into its road game at Texas Tech.
