MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- As good as West Virginia's defense has been this season, it has, like many other parts of the team, struggled in an area where it used to be so strong.
Through nine games, the Mountaineers have forced 15 turnovers.
Among 119 Division I-A teams, only 20 have fewer and many of those teams are among the most unsuccessful in the country. WVU is on pace to create 22 turnovers, its lowest total since forcing 21 in 1999.
"I wish it was more," said senior linebacker Mortty Ivy, whose Mountaineers (6-3, 3-1 Big East) visit Louisville (5-5, 1-4) in a noon game televised on ESPN. "It should be more."
Since 2004, the Mountaineers have ranked Nos. 36, 9, 61 and 6 in forced turnovers. They've forced 14 fumbles this season, but recovered only six, and deflected 36 passes, but intercepted just nine.
"Honestly, it should be up in the 20s now," true freshman free safety Robert Sands said. "Sometimes it takes a funny bounce. It's like that sometimes, but at least we're forcing fumbles and getting our hands on the ball."
To complicate matters, WVU's offense is not capitalizing. The turnovers have been worth just 42 points and seven came from Ivy's interception return touchdown against Villanova.
On the other 14 turnovers, the offense has scored five touchdowns, punted five times, thrown an interception, run out of time at the end of the first half once and run out the clock at the end of the game twice.
Three of the five touchdowns came in the second half against Connecticut.
WVU's offense has committed 10 turnovers and the opposition has turned them into 37 points.
In its three losses, WVU turned the ball over twice for seven points and caused no turnovers against East Carolina; turned the ball over once for seven points and didn't score off two turnovers against Colorado; and turned the ball over twice for a field goal and caused no turnovers against Cincinnati.
The offense has a plan for how to operate after a turnover and normally intends to go for a big gain on a pass or trick play.
"I think that's the same any time you watch a game," Offensive Coordinator Jeff Mullen said. "You see a turnover and immediately look for some kind of trick play, some kind of reverse or deep ball. That's Coaching 101. You see it a lot every weekend, but it depends on field position. If you're on their side of the 50, sometimes you take a shot. The defense is scattered and doesn't have enough time. There's a sudden change and the defensive guys are getting a drink instead of meeting."
WVU could get some practice against the Cardinals, who have committed a Big East-high 23 turnovers. The miscues have cost them 86 points. In the three-game losing streak, they've committed seven turnovers for 24 points.
Louisville had two turnovers inside its own 35 against Cincinnati and the second led to a touchdown after taking a 10-7 lead.
"We shot ourselves in the foot at bad times," Coach Steve Kragthorpe said. "We'd gotten significant gains and had a chance to make it 17-7 and continue our momentum, but we turned it over instead of getting points."
Cardinals quarterback Hunter Cantwell has thrown 12 interceptions and four have been returned for touchdowns. He's also lost two fumbles that have been returned for scores.
"It can change, but we have to make it change," Ivy said. "We need to secure the tackle and have guys swarm to the ball and when the ball's in the air we've got to play it like it's our ball. Either way, we have to get the ball more."
Contact sports writer Mike Casazza at mi...@dailymail.com or 304-319-1142. His blog can be found at blogs.dailymail.com/wvu.
