An open letter to WVU's football coach next year

[spreadoption]

Dr. Mr. (fill in the blank with anybody other than Neal Brown):

Those who do not learn from mistakes are doomed to repeat them. So, please, do not repeat the blunders of Neal Brown and his overpaid and underperforming assistants. You are in a results-based business and the results of Coach Brown and his staff were embarassingly poor, which resulted in their dismissal. You are left to clean up Coach Brown's mess and return the Mountaineers to respectability. You will be given several years. Here are a few things that must be at the top of your immediate To-Do List:

1. Recruit a quarterback who is actually a threat to complete a pass.

2. No more midget quarterbacks.

3. Recruit some skill-position players who are quick-twitch athletes. WVU's best teams had quick-twitch guys, like Tavon Austin, Jock Sanders, Steve Slaton, Pat White, Amos Zereoue, etc. The teams under Coach Brown had no quick-twitch guys, which meant it was filled with guys who could not make tacklers miss and create something out of nothing, which meant no explosive plays.

4. When the son of a former WVU standout wants to play quarterback at WVU, and he's being recruited by other Power-5 programs, and is better than any quarterback you have on your roster, then offer him a scholarship and put him at the top of your recruiting board.

5. A dual-threat quarterback is always better than one-trick pony at QB.

6. Recruit -- please, please, please -- recruit size and strength. Make it a priority. WVU was laughed at by Big XII opponents for looking like a high school-sized team, not a Power-5 program. For years, our front 7 on defense was pushed around like ragdolls by Big XII teams that play grown-man football (Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma etc.) and the number of missed tackles, because our defensive players are too small and too weak -- that's the No. 1 cause of missed tackles -- was alarming. Our offensive line also failed to generate push when playing legitimate defenses, so recruit size on the OL. Remember, bigger is better.

7. Recruit a center who can make a shotgun snap without sailing it over the QB's head.

8. Do not go to the transfer portal for defensive backs from places like Duquesne, Charlotte and bad I-AA programs. The guys were at those schools because they do not have Power-5 skills. If you're going to get guys from the portal (which is a must at WVU), you get guys from Power-5 programs.

9. Hire assistant coaches who actually like -- OK, at least don't hate -- recruiting and are good at it.

10. Recruit a fullback. You can easily find a good one because most D-I teams don't utilize a fullback, so there are a bunch of good ones out there. Try putting the FB into the offense. You'd be amazed what a FB can do for your running game.

11. Don't be afraid to try something different on offense. I don't care if you want to run the triple option. At least then you would establish an identity. Coach Brown was here for six forgettable years and failed to establish an indentity for WVU football, other than that of a team that loses "big" games and lets down its fanbase with regularity. Under Coach Brown, you couldn't tell if WVU was trying to be a running team, a passing team, a spread team, an Air Raid team, a pro-style team. It seemed like every week Coach Brown was trying to throw something at the wall, hoping it would stick. That method doesn't work. Develop a system and stick with it. Recruit to it. Make it the core of your program.

12. Don't cost WVU wins over Pitt twice in three years, like your predecessor did.

 

[oceantide83]

Any coach would have trouble winning at WVU from here on out. Even Saban.

 

[jlaudiomaster]

Any coach would have trouble winning at WVU from here on out. Even Saban.

You are not wrong, but it would be nice to win maybe a game against a top 25 team once a year, or once every 5 years at least.

 

[deedoubleyou]

Any coach would have trouble winning at WVU from here on out. Even Saban.

Yeah and this is the loser mentality of some of the worst fans anybody can ask for. Why don't you just go root for Fairmont State and leave WVU alone? We don't need this kind of weakness. WVU ranks in the top 35 in the country in the nil. We are the winningest team to not win the big one. We used to be a perennial top 25 team. A good coach can win at wvu. I hope Neil Brown takes you with him when he gets fired. You should be fired from being a fan along with the other wimpy posers who believe this kind of crap. Take that loser attitude somewhere else

 

[WVU_Dave]

Couldn't agree more on the QB issue. I appreciate Greene and his heart, but don't want to rely on unconventional QB play or keep watching balls launched into nothingness. You can almost bet on when he's going to play action and go deep and also bet on the fact our opponents aren't nervous about it. (Granted there was a hold on one of them.). And wouldn't be surprised if the INTs were due to him not being able to see over the linemen. He's not a bad QB (and our center stinks) but he's not a big12 championship level QB.

 

[deedoubleyou]

We have a quarterback who's more of a running back but we try to use him as a drop back passer. It's just the way Neil Brown doesn't coach to his players strengths. Players like Garrett are useless in this system. I have no idea why he was even recruited here except for the fact that Neil Brown is a complete idiot.

 

[WVU_Dave]

We have a quarterback who's more of a running back but we try to use him as a drop back passer. It's just the way Neil Brown doesn't coach to his players strengths. Players like Garrett are useless in this system. I have no idea why he was even recruited here except for the fact that Neil Brown is a complete idiot.

We have a quarterback who's more of a running back but we try to use him as a drop back passer. It's just the way Neil Brown doesn't coach to his players strengths. Players like Garrett are useless in this system. I have no idea why he was even recruited here except for the fact that Neil Brown is a complete idiot.

I can't fathom why we don't try Nicco at all, I felt Brown was doubling down on stubbornness for literally no reason but ego during the his post game comments. Seasons shot for the most part, why not try him and see what happens.

 

[OlegeezEER]

Couldn't agree more on the QB issue. I appreciate Greene and his heart, but don't want to rely on unconventional QB play or keep watching balls launched into nothingness. You can almost bet on when he's going to play action and go deep and also bet on the fact our opponents aren't nervous about it. (Granted there was a hold on one of them.). And wouldn't be surprised if the INTs were due to him not being able to see over the linemen. He's not a bad QB (and our center stinks) but he's not a big12 championship level QB.

Our most successful era was with an unconvential QB, and his name was Pat White.

 

[OlegeezEER]

Dr. Mr. (fill in the blank with anybody other than Neal Brown):

Those who do not learn from mistakes are doomed to repeat them. So, please, do not repeat the blunders of Neal Brown and his overpaid and underperforming assistants. You are in a results-based business and the results of Coach Brown and his staff were embarassingly poor, which resulted in their dismissal. You are left to clean up Coach Brown's mess and return the Mountaineers to respectability. You will be given several years. Here are a few things that must be at the top of your immediate To-Do List:

1. Recruit a quarterback who is actually a threat to complete a pass.

2. No more midget quarterbacks.

3. Recruit some skill-position players who are quick-twitch athletes. WVU's best teams had quick-twitch guys, like Tavon Austin, Jock Sanders, Steve Slaton, Pat White, Amos Zereoue, etc. The teams under Coach Brown had no quick-twitch guys, which meant it was filled with guys who could not make tacklers miss and create something out of nothing, which meant no explosive plays.

4. When the son of a former WVU standout wants to play quarterback at WVU, and he's being recruited by other Power-5 programs, and is better than any quarterback you have on your roster, then offer him a scholarship and put him at the top of your recruiting board.

5. A dual-threat quarterback is always better than one-trick pony at QB.

6. Recruit -- please, please, please -- recruit size and strength. Make it a priority. WVU was laughed at by Big XII opponents for looking like a high school-sized team, not a Power-5 program. For years, our front 7 on defense was pushed around like ragdolls by Big XII teams that play grown-man football (Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma etc.) and the number of missed tackles, because our defensive players are too small and too weak -- that's the No. 1 cause of missed tackles -- was alarming. Our offensive line also failed to generate push when playing legitimate defenses, so recruit size on the OL. Remember, bigger is better.

7. Recruit a center who can make a shotgun snap without sailing it over the QB's head.

8. Do not go to the transfer portal for defensive backs from places like Duquesne, Charlotte and bad I-AA programs. The guys were at those schools because they do not have Power-5 skills. If you're going to get guys from the portal (which is a must at WVU), you get guys from Power-5 programs.

9. Hire assistant coaches who actually like -- OK, at least don't hate -- recruiting and are good at it.

10. Recruit a fullback. You can easily find a good one because most D-I teams don't utilize a fullback, so there are a bunch of good ones out there. Try putting the FB into the offense. You'd be amazed what a FB can do for your running game.

11. Don't be afraid to try something different on offense. I don't care if you want to run the triple option. At least then you would establish an identity. Coach Brown was here for six forgettable years and failed to establish an indentity for WVU football, other than that of a team that loses "big" games and lets down its fanbase with regularity. Under Coach Brown, you couldn't tell if WVU was trying to be a running team, a passing team, a spread team, an Air Raid team, a pro-style team. It seemed like every week Coach Brown was trying to throw something at the wall, hoping it would stick. That method doesn't work. Develop a system and stick with it. Recruit to it. Make it the core of your program.

12. Don't cost WVU wins over Pitt twice in three years, like your predecessor did.

Nobody else wanted Rocco Becht he only had one Power 4 offer. We recruited Nicco that year anyway.

 

[OlegeezEER]

Any coach would have trouble winning at WVU from here on out. Even Saban.

People will learn that very fact in the next 20-30 years.

 

[WVUBRU]

Our most successful era was with an unconvential QB, and his name was Pat White.

You speak a lot of truth on your three posts. Many on here don't understand facts. Here is another fact. I recall years past when we had immobile QB's, some of these same haters were bellyaching wanting to play a dual threat qb and were even calling for Greene. Now he is a bum in their eyes.

Greene gives it his all. He has done more good than bad. He isn't perfect and he will not play in the pros but this fanbase expect nothing but every play to be a a 20 yard gain and a TD on every possession while the team goes 14-0 and playing in the NC game every single year. And if not, fire the coach and replace the players.

 

[oceantide83]

Yeah and this is the loser mentality of some of the worst fans anybody can ask for. Why don't you just go root for Fairmont State and leave WVU alone? We don't need this kind of weakness. WVU ranks in the top 35 in the country in the nil. We are the winningest team to not win the big one. We used to be a perennial top 25 team. A good coach can win at wvu. I hope Neil Brown takes you with him when he gets fired. You should be fired from being a fan along with the other wimpy posers who believe this kind of crap. Take that loser attitude somewhere else

The worst fans are those who complain about their coach and team and stop supporting the program.

 

[OlegeezEER]

You speak a lot of truth on your three posts. Many on here don't understand facts. Here is another fact. I recall years past when we had immobile QB's, some of these same haters were bellyaching wanting to play a dual threat qb and were even calling for Greene. Now he is a bum in their eyes.

Greene gives it his all. He has done more good than bad. He isn't perfect and he will not play in the pros but this fanbase expect nothing but every play to be a a 20 yard gain and a TD on every possession while the team goes 14-0 and playing in the NC game every single year. And if not, fire the coach and replace the players.

I think Pat White is the ideal type of QB for this program. Greene is a poor man's version of him, but his running ability has allowed us to win games and to stay in games that we would have probably lost in the last two seasons. Nothing against Becht, but he isn't what we are missing. I don't see our record being any different with him as QB. It might even be worse since it was Greene's running that kept us in the Kansas game.

 

[WVUBRU]

I think Pat White is the ideal type of QB for this program. Greene is a poor man's version of him, but his running ability has allowed us to win games and to stay in games that we would have probably lost in the last two seasons. Nothing against Becht, but he isn't what we are missing. I don't see our record being any different with him as QB. It might even be worse since it was Greene's running that kept us in the Kansas game.

I find it is stupid in life to make an argument out of conjecture like many do in their rationalizations and arguments. I agree with you on your points about Greene and who knows with Becht but it isn't relevant as he isn't here and Brown was targeting a higher rated QB at the time. None of these bellyachers said at that time "why aren't we going after Anthony Becht's son instead of this 4 star out of Arizona?" But now, they make conjecture that Brown sucks since Becht is having success with ISU. I say good for Rocco Becht for becoming a quality QB in a program that fits him. There are no sour grapes from this WVU fan even though I would have rather won last night against him.

 

[WVUALLEN]

We have a quarterback who's more of a running back but we try to use him as a drop back passer. It's just the way Neil Brown doesn't coach to his players strengths. Players like Garrett are useless in this system. I have no idea why he was even recruited here except for the fact that Neil Brown is a complete idiot.

Being short doesn't mean he can't win. Trying to make him a pocket passer QB is not smart. Doug Flutie was a short QB.

 

[WVU_Dave]

Our most successful era was with an unconvential QB, and his name was Pat White.

I don't know Pat White personally, but I attended and watched him enough to say "I knew Pat White and Garret Greene is no Pat White". I can also feel comfortable stating that "I saw Rich Rodriguez coach an unconventional offense and Neal Brown is no Rich Rodriguez."

 

[OlegeezEER]

I don't know Pat White personally, but I attended and watched him enough to say "I knew Pat White and Garret Greene is no Pat White". I can also feel comfortable stating that "I saw Rich Rodriguez coach an unconventional offense and Neal Brown is no Rich Rodriguez."

Pat White is the type of guy that only comes to WVU every 20-30 years. Greene may not be Pat White, but his attributes are similar. He is a poor man's version of him. It has been pointed out by another poster in this thread that when we had the more conventional pocket passer, we didn't get the results we desired from these QB's either. We have had more success with the unconvential QB's than with the conventional ones.

 

[WVU_Dave]

Pat White is the type of guy that only comes to WVU every 20-30 years. Greene may not be Pat White, but his attributes are similar. He is a poor man's version of him. It has been pointed out by another poster in this thread that when we had the more conventional pocket passer, we didn't get the results we desired from these QB's either. We have had more success with the unconvential QB's than with the conventional ones.

Most of them could hit open receivers by their 4th year. It's hard to run an unconventional offense if it's not your forte (our coaches) and you don't scare anyone with the threat of passing. They simply key on your QB and while he'll escape and make some plays, you have no shot at coming back from behind. Either this teams gets ahead big and early or it's over. I can't fathom defending the situation at this point, both our coach and QB have had years to improve.

 

[OlegeezEER]

I find it is stupid in life to make an argument out of conjecture like many do in their rationalizations and arguments. I agree with you on your points about Greene and who knows with Becht but it isn't relevant as he isn't here and Brown was targeting a higher rated QB at the time. None of these bellyachers said at that time "why aren't we going after Anthony Becht's son instead of this 4 star out of Arizona?" But now, they make conjecture that Brown sucks since Becht is having success with ISU. I say good for Rocco Becht for becoming a quality QB in a program that fits him. There are no sour grapes from this WVU fan even though I would have rather won last night against him.

Teams are also built differently. Iowa State is very sound fundamentally. They have their system, and they play it with high precision.

 

[OlegeezEER]

Most of them could hit open receivers by their 4th year. It's hard to run an unconventional offense if it's not your forte (our coaches) and you don't scare anyone with the threat of passing. They simply key on your QB and while he'll escape and make some plays, you have no shot at coming back from behind. Either this teams gets ahead big and early or it's over. I can't fathom defending the situation at this point, both our coach and QB have had years to improve.

Greene hits open receivers at times, and at times he doesn't. He made poor decisions at times yesterday, and no one disputes that. He also has won games for us with his legs. Most QB's either have accuracy or they don't. Chad Johnston never really improved. Either did Rasheed Marshall or Skylar Howard. The guys that we had that could throw darts ended up on NFL rosters, but we don't get those guys all that often.

 

[WVU_Dave]

Greene hits open receivers at times, and at times he doesn't. He made poor decisions at times yesterday, and no one disputes that. He also has won games for us with his legs. Most QB's either have accuracy or they don't. Chad Johnston never really improved. Either did Rasheed Marshall or Skylar Howard. The guys that we had that could throw darts ended up on NFL rosters, but we don't get those guys all that often.

Hey each his own, if you're ok with our programs current state and direction and feel we're as good as we can be, I can respect that. Maybe you're right that this will be as good as it gets and people like me just need to get on board and accept it.

 

[Butler-eer]

Our most successful era was with an unconvential QB, and his name was Pat White.

Pat White had a 65% completion for his career. SR yr 65%. SO yr. 66.6%. Unconventional only that he could run.

 

[Butler-eer]

You speak a lot of truth on your three posts. Many on here don't understand facts. Here is another fact. I recall years past when we had immobile QB's, some of these same haters were bellyaching wanting to play a dual threat qb and were even calling for Greene. Now he is a bum in their eyes.

Greene gives it his all. He has done more good than bad. He isn't perfect and he will not play in the pros but this fanbase expect nothing but every play to be a a 20 yard gain and a TD on every possession while the team goes 14-0 and playing in the NC game every single year. And if not, fire the coach and replace the players.

Everybody keeps saying GG is a dual threat QB. Comparing him to Pat White is stupid. GG can scramble like the best of them. I'll give him that. His passing game is sub par. 55% won't get this team the W's we need in this day and age of the B12. Pat White on the other hand was a career 65% passer. He also had the speed to outrun most defenders. Along with that he had a coach that put in a scheme that highlighted his talents. He also had elite RB and WR that were just as effective.
GG is what he is. One dimensional QB that gets shut down when teams put a spy (or 2) on him every down and dare him to beat them with his arm.
Love GG, but he just isn't the QB to take this program to the top of the B12.
In comparison to some of the better passers, Will Grier was 65%, Mark Bulger 62%.

 

[WVUBRU]

Everybody keeps saying GG is a dual threat QB. Comparing him to Pat White is stupid. GG can scramble like the best of them. I'll give him that. His passing game is sub par. 55% won't get this team the W's we need in this day and age of the B12. Pat White on the other hand was a career 65% passer. He also had the speed to outrun most defenders. Along with that he had a coach that put in a scheme that highlighted his talents. He also had elite RB and WR that were just as effective.
GG is what he is. One dimensional QB that gets shut down when teams put a spy (or 2) on him every down and dare him to beat them with his arm.
Love GG, but he just isn't the QB to take this program to the top of the B12.

I never put Greene on the same level of White. I haven't seen anyone else have either. He isn't even close. I said he is a dual threat QB which is true. I also said he gives it his all which is also true. Another poster said he is a poor man White which I wouldn't go that far but the point he made was in context saying he was a dual threat.

You are disputing something that wasn't said.

 

[deedoubleyou]

I can't fathom why we don't try Nicco at all, I felt Brown was doubling down on stubbornness for literally no reason but ego during the his post game comments. Seasons shot for the most part, why not try him and see what happens.

I can only blame having a really lame coach for all of this. He definitely deserves his shot and there is no reason not to try a real pocket passer in this system. Brown is not going to call crafty plays to help accentuate greens abilities. But he's also too stupid to try the other quarterback Who obviously fits the system better. We really need a new coach bad. This is the worst I've seen at West Virginia

 

[WESTBGVA]

^^^^^^PITT FAN^^^^^

 

[eerlobe]

Any coach would have trouble winning at WVU from here on out. Even Saban.

I’ll take that bet! Saban could win the B12 with his eyes closed. This conference is mediocre at best. WVU doesn’t have terrible talent, we have terrible leadership.

 

[WVUBRU]

Big 12 is not mediocre but it isn't the SEC or Big 10. WVU has B level talent (IMO) but lacks depth in most positions. I would argue it doesn't have good enough talent on the defense much less have depth. Saban has proven he is one of the greatest college coaches ever but he would have it much harder to get top talent like he had at LSU and Alabama. No comparison on recruiting with those schools versus WVU.

 

[WVUALLEN]

I don't know Pat White personally, but I attended and watched him enough to say "I knew Pat White and Garret Greene is no Pat White". I can also feel comfortable stating that "I saw Rich Rodriguez coach an unconventional offense and Neal Brown is no Rich Rodriguez."

Neal Brown isn't even a Bill Stewart and both of these guys were stubborn coaches when it came to assistants.

 

[OlegeezEER]

Pat White had a 65% completion for his career. SR yr 65%. SO yr. 66.6%. Unconventional only that he could run.

The offense he ran his first three years was unconventional with very little passing. White might have had his best passing numbers in 2008, but the overall team record was its worst results.

 

[OlegeezEER]

Hey each his own, if you're ok with our programs current state and direction and feel we're as good as we can be, I can respect that. Maybe you're right that this will be as good as it gets and people like me just need to get on board and accept it.

I never said I was ok with the direction, but I think Brown moving to a more mobile QB with zone read running plays was the right decision. Look at the previous QB's we had under Brown and compare the product today to then. It's been better with the QB running the football than it was when we had someone standing back in the pocket.

 

[OlegeezEER]

I never put Greene on the same level of White. I haven't seen anyone else have either. He isn't even close. I said he is a dual threat QB which is true. I also said he gives it his all which is also true. Another poster said he is a poor man White which I wouldn't go that far but the point he made was in context saying he was a dual threat.

You are disputing something that wasn't said.

If I had a penny for every time this poster either misread or misinterpreted a post, I would be a millionaire.

 

[OlegeezEER]

Big 12 is not mediocre but it isn't the SEC or Big 10. WVU has B level talent (IMO) but lacks depth in most positions. I would argue it doesn't have good enough talent on the defense much less have depth. Saban has proven he is one of the greatest college coaches ever but he would have it much harder to get top talent like he had at LSU and Alabama. No comparison on recruiting with those schools versus WVU.

I think WVU's talent is comparable to the other top teams in the Big 12. If we had the best coach in the world, we might get a few more players, but not enough to blow away the competition. Especially in the age of paid rosters.

 

[WVUBRU]

If I had a penny for every time this poster either misread or misinterpreted a post, I would be a millionaire.

There are two posters that could make you a lot more money

 

[WVU_Dave]

You speak a lot of truth on your three posts. Many on here don't understand facts. Here is another fact. I recall years past when we had immobile QB's, some of these same haters were bellyaching wanting to play a dual threat qb and were even calling for Greene. Now he is a bum in their eyes.

Greene gives it his all. He has done more good than bad. He isn't perfect and he will not play in the pros but this fanbase expect nothing but every play to be a a 20 yard gain and a TD on every possession while the team goes 14-0 and playing in the NC game every single year. And if not, fire the coach and replace the players.

We expect to beat Pitt and compete for our conference championship. We should expect a veteran QB to make deep passes and run occasionally to make a play. We should expect to get better most years not regress. That is a far cry from 20 yard passes on every play and going 14-0. How about a 10-win season every 4 years and a decent bowl game? How about not settling for the Mayo bowl as the crowning achievement for a coach's 6 year run and a QBs entire tenure together? A NC, LMFAO not asking for a miracle.

 

[WVU_Dave]

I’ll take that bet! Saban could win the B12 with his eyes closed. This conference is mediocre at best. WVU doesn’t have terrible talent, we have terrible leadership.

Yes it's the new Big12 without Texas and OU, I refuse to believe we can't be competitive with what's left. Iowa State is and let's face it they are not even the primary school in their small state. Excuses are the on ramp to losing.

 

[WVUBRU]

We expect to beat Pitt and compete for our conference championship. We should expect a veteran QB to make deep passes and run occasionally to make a play. We should expect to get better most years not regress. That is a far cry from 20 yard passes on every play and going 14-0. How about a 10-win season every 4 years and a decent bowl game? How about not settling for the Mayo bowl as the crowning achievement for a coach's 6 year run and a QBs entire tenure together? A NC, LMFAO not asking for a miracle.

I agree with most of your comments in this post. Unfortunately, not the sentiment that is reflective from many others.

 

[deedoubleyou]

I agree with most of your comments in this post. Unfortunately, not the sentiment that is reflective from many others.

You support a coach who is completely destroying the WVU football program and get mad at the people who want better and believe WVU is worth better. Your opinion is about as useful as a poopy flavored lollipop at this point, Bru. You are just another one of the fans that should follow Neil Brown when they run him out of town. You guys deserve each other and WVU deserves way better.

 

[The Bell Tolls for Thee]

Our most successful era was with an unconvential QB, and his name was Pat White.

That only works if you run an unconventional scheme. Even if Greene/White/Donaldson could fill the White/Slaton/Schmitt roles, the line couldn't get up to speed on the zone blocking to make it effective. The time to tailor the scheme to Greene was the Spring.

 

[The Bell Tolls for Thee]

Hey each his own, if you're ok with our programs current state and direction and feel we're as good as we can be, I can respect that. Maybe you're right that this will be as good as it gets and people like me just need to get on board and accept it.

Even with the possibility that this is the new normal, you'd be a fool to accept it at this point. WVU has had better success with Stewart and Holgorsen over the last 16 years despite their respective deficiencies. And just assuming this is the new normal with any coach and not an issue with Brown is to ignore the overwhelming history of all college football prograns where the coach is more the problem than the program.