MORGANTOWN - The question stumped Sidney Glover. When was the last time he both started and finished a game healthy?

He's been at West Virginia almost three seasons now and to his recollection it hasn't happened during that time. So then he thinks back to his days in high school in Ohio.

"It might have been,'' Glover said. "I'm injury-prone right now, but I'm trying to stay positive and trying to fight through them.''

Glover isn't alone in his perseverance. West Virginia's junior strong safety seems surrounded by teammates with the same kind of in-today, out-tomorrow misfortunes. And while there are certainly other reasons why the Mountaineers have struggled at times this season, there is little question that the revolving door that is WVU's starting defensive lineup is a contributing factor.

Get this: When the Mountaineers (7-3, 3-2 Big East) host Pitt (9-1, 5-0) in Friday's 7 p.m. Backyard Brawl at Mountaineer Field, it might be the second time all season that the 11 players WVU thought it would have in its defensive starting lineup this season are actually there.

The first wasn't until West Virginia's most recent game, a 24-21 loss at No. 5 Cincinnati 10 days ago.

"If we could all stay out there, it would help us because we've all got experience,'' Glover said. "I think we've just been banged up, and all the pieces weren't falling in the right places this year like we hoped. With all 11 guys out there healthy, we've yet to really see that this year. We had expectations of being a great defense coming into the season, but it hasn't really happened.''

Indeed, West Virginia's defense has struggled at times this season. Statistically, the Mountaineers aren't bad, but it isn't the kind of shut-down defense that many had hoped to see at the beginning of the season with eight starters returning. WVU ranks sixth out of the eight Big East teams in total defense and fifth in scoring defense.

But again, that Cincinnati game was the first time all season that the starting defensive lineup was the one that was generally considered to be the best prior to the season. It was close in the first two games, but Glover was absent because of a combination of preseason injuries and a lack of practice time. Then injuries at various times to middle linebacker Reed Williams, tackle Scooter Berry (who also served a suspension), Glover and safety Nate Sowers assured that in no game was the best lineup ever on the field.

"And even [at Cincinnati] there were 11 guys playing through pain,'' Williams said. "I mean, look at [Glover]. He's playing with a bum shoulder. We're just buying some time. We really needed the bye week.''

MORGANTOWN - The question stumped Sidney Glover. When was the last time he both started and finished a game healthy?

He's been at West Virginia almost three seasons now and to his recollection it hasn't happened during that time. So then he thinks back to his days in high school in Ohio.

"It might have been,'' Glover said. "I'm injury-prone right now, but I'm trying to stay positive and trying to fight through them.''

Glover isn't alone in his perseverance. West Virginia's junior strong safety seems surrounded by teammates with the same kind of in-today, out-tomorrow misfortunes. And while there are certainly other reasons why the Mountaineers have struggled at times this season, there is little question that the revolving door that is WVU's starting defensive lineup is a contributing factor.

Get this: When the Mountaineers (7-3, 3-2 Big East) host Pitt (9-1, 5-0) in Friday's 7 p.m. Backyard Brawl at Mountaineer Field, it might be the second time all season that the 11 players WVU thought it would have in its defensive starting lineup this season are actually there.

The first wasn't until West Virginia's most recent game, a 24-21 loss at No. 5 Cincinnati 10 days ago.

"If we could all stay out there, it would help us because we've all got experience,'' Glover said. "I think we've just been banged up, and all the pieces weren't falling in the right places this year like we hoped. With all 11 guys out there healthy, we've yet to really see that this year. We had expectations of being a great defense coming into the season, but it hasn't really happened.''

Indeed, West Virginia's defense has struggled at times this season. Statistically, the Mountaineers aren't bad, but it isn't the kind of shut-down defense that many had hoped to see at the beginning of the season with eight starters returning. WVU ranks sixth out of the eight Big East teams in total defense and fifth in scoring defense.

But again, that Cincinnati game was the first time all season that the starting defensive lineup was the one that was generally considered to be the best prior to the season. It was close in the first two games, but Glover was absent because of a combination of preseason injuries and a lack of practice time. Then injuries at various times to middle linebacker Reed Williams, tackle Scooter Berry (who also served a suspension), Glover and safety Nate Sowers assured that in no game was the best lineup ever on the field.

"And even [at Cincinnati] there were 11 guys playing through pain,'' Williams said. "I mean, look at [Glover]. He's playing with a bum shoulder. We're just buying some time. We really needed the bye week.''

Glover is pretty much the poster child for West Virginia's defensive injuries, having at various times this season dealt with shoulders, legs and an assortment of bumps and bruises. And it has attacked his confidence somewhat.

"I think it slows me down and makes me not as confident going out there as I want to be,'' Glover said. "Sometimes I think about it and worry about it. I try to put it out of my mind and I say I'm going to do it, but it's always in the back of my mind. Sometimes I don't have the confidence to just fly around and let my body be reckless. I'm thinking, well, if I'm out there too reckless, here comes another bruise or nick that I don't need.''

Williams, who has dealt with his own shoulder and leg injuries, accepts the injuries to a point.

"I don't know if anybody playing football this time of year is a hundred percent,'' Williams said. "If you are, you're probably a quarterback or a punter.''

In fact, he has grown so used to either being out of the lineup or having a teammate sidelined this season that when that ideal 11 actually took the field for the first time this season at Cincinnati, Williams didn't even realize it.

"You can't think about the what-ifs. It's a tough sport. Things happen week in and week out,'' Williams said. "You're lucky if all 11 guys play throughout the season. I don't think it ever happens. But you have to be able to deal with that adversity, to have that [backup] step up and make plays when he has to. No excuses. We just haven't been able to get it done and it's time we start getting it done.''

Reach Dave Hickman at 304-348-1734 or dphickm...@aol.com.