ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

In the first five games of this season, West Virginia looked like it would challenge school records for offensive production, which is saying something for a program that has always liked to get up and down the field.

The Mountaineers scored at least 30 points in each of their first five games for the first time in school history and were averaging 33.4 points and 449 yards per game.

In the four games since, though, the West Virginia attack has weakened considerably, averaging just 22 points and 324 total yards per game. In the last two times out, the Mountaineers have failed to break 20 points.

Sure, the opponents have gotten better, and the familiarity by Big East defenses plays a role. But that can't explain everything about the dropoff.

"It's lack of focus, lack of communication," receiver Alric Arnett said. "That all plays a factor when you start off fast like that and slow down like we did. It's just mental things. We've got to get refocused."

That refocusing better happen fast, with the next game coming Friday against Cincinnati, which ranks fifth nationally in scoring at 40 points per game. Another subpar offensive performance by the Mountaineers like the one they had Saturday versus Louisville -- an ugly 17-9 win -- will spell elimination from the Big East race.

"We had 57 snaps (against Louisville)," head coach Bill Stewart said. "If we have 57 snaps against Cincinnati, it will be a mess.

"We are not clicking on the cylinders that need to be clicking, and we need to hit our stride this week."

The passing game in particular needs to get back in rhythm. Fifth-year senior Jarrett Brown was on a roll earlier in the year. He had 798 yards passing in the first three games and was among the nation's top quarterbacks.

But in his last three games, Brown has averaged a little over 150 yards passing per game with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Brown hurt his non-throwing shoulder in the Auburn game, suffered a mild concussion against Marshall and turned an ankle last week against Louisville. Stewart insists the injuries have healed, but it's reminiscent of what happened to Pitt's Bill Stull last year as he battled injuries, including a concussion, in a rough second half of the season.

"He is moving around well and looks to me like he has his feet back under him," Stewart said. "I told him that I wanted him to be alive in the pocket and have fun. I want him to play like it is sandlot football. He needs to pick it up, and he knows it.

"It all can’t be put on Jarrett, because we’ve had some drops in crucial situations. Also, there are breakdowns along the offensive line when guys are wide open."

The struggles in the passing game have let defenses concentrate more on stopping the running of Noel Devine, who was stymied in the South Florida loss and played only one half because of an ankle injury against Louisville.

West Virginia has one less day of practice to get ready for this game and cure what ails the offense. Arnett said the team has practiced well this week and that more concentration is all that's needed against Cincinnati.

"We had a good talk about getting back to being focused, getting that drive back that we had earlier," he said. "We have to approach this game with a different state of mind."