Mike Casazza: Sills' father, former coach not surprised

[43rd Parallel]

EXCERPTS:

-- “If West Virginia really wants to maximize his talent, they need to get him the ball 15 times a game, one way or another, whether that’s a few snaps at quarterback, a few at wide receiver, a few in the slot,” said Steve Clarkson, Sills’ longtime quarterbacks coach who has mentored a number of college and NFL stars through the years. “They really need to find ways to get him the ball and move him around and not just flank him out wide to the right.”

--
Clarkson has compared the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Sills to 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel before, and he’s not backing away now.

“I think he’s a taller version,” Clarkson said. “I think it’s an accurate comparison, but he could just be the first David Sills. He does a lot of things that just wow you that you can’t teach. I’d love to see them really maximize his talent level, because they’re in a very unique situation now. His redshirt is gone, so if you’re going to put all your chips in the middle of the table, it’s not about the future. It’s about now. You’ve got to let it ride.”

CHARLESTON GAZETTE-MAIL

 

[wvpaper]

What would Gary Patterson do with a talent like Sills? Possibilities boggle the mind.

 

[MntnEERinSC]

What would Gary Patterson do with a talent like Sills? Possibilities boggle the mind.

Probably put him at WR like he did Boykin!

 

[GoWVU]

Again, I don't understand anyone who criticizes Holgorsen for the redshirt decision.

He needs to focus on making the 2015 team better or else Dana won't be employed long enough to worry about how Sills could possibly help in 2019.

 

[wvpaper]

Probably put him at WR like he did Boykin!

some people, including patterson, think boykin is the tcu qb

 

[MntnEERinSC]

some people, including patterson, think boykin is the tcu qb

So he didn't play WR during his career at TCU?

 

[wvpaper]

So he didn't play WR during his career at TCU?

upon entering the big 12, patterson adapted with great success. tcu's qb position transitioned to an athletic, run oriented spot - much like rich rod's offense.

dana does not adapt

 

[KeatonsCorner]

upon entering the big 12, patterson adapted with great success. tcu's qb position transitioned to an athletic, run oriented spot - much like rich rod's offense.

dana does not adapt

ducked that post hard, Otis...


and "Dana doesn't adapt"?

2011: 417 rushes, 542 passing attempts (43% run)
2012: 461 rushes, 537 passing attempts (46% run)
2013: 427 rushes, 464 passing attempts (48% run)
2014: 563 rushes, 534 passing attempts (52% run)
2015: 303 rushes, 203 passing attempts (60% run)


but TCU runs a "run-oriented" offense, right?

TCU in 2015:

283 rushes, 267 passing attempts..... (51% run)

2014: 509 rushes, 527 passing attempts (50% run)
2013: 403 rushes, 419 passing attempts (50% run)
2012: 512 rushes, 402 passing attempts (56% run)
2011: 532 rushes, 350 passing attempts (60% run)

but....... but............ Boykins means Patterson can play run-heavy................but..........

 

[wvpaper]

ducked that post hard, Otis...

??

and lol

anyway, dana will never see the qb position the way patterson or rich rod see it. dana views the qb as a distributor, in his system. his view will never change.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

that's it.......... close eyes, cup ears and ignore the facts killing your argument...

 

[wvpaper]

that's it.......... close eyes, cup ears and ignore the facts killing your argument...

lol - again. you will be able to make the argument you're trying to make, when dana starts sills at qb. not until then

 

[KeatonsCorner]

lol - again. you will be able to make the argument you're trying to make, when dana starts sills at qb. not until then

The only argument i MADE was you know nothing about either WVU or TCU football..............or Arizona for that matter.....


"dana will never see the qb position the way patterson or rich rod see it. "

Zona 2015:

350 rushes, 278 passing attempts (56% run)

WVU 2015: 60% run

RichRod's valuable "running QB":

Anu Soloman - 4.5 rushes a game

Jerrard Randall - 8.3 rushes a game

Skyler Howard - 13 rushes a game

TCU's Boykins - 11 rushes a game

Poor, Otis........ you just can't get right

 

[wvpaper]

The only argument i MADE was you know nothing about either WVU or TCU football..............or Arizona for that matter.....


"dana will never see the qb position the way patterson or rich rod see it. "

Zona 2015:

350 rushes, 278 passing attempts (56% run)

WVU 2015: 60% run

LOL. You have a real problem with posting irrelevant stats. It is truly comical how you think they help your argument.

After posting a .200/.255/.326 slash line in 2013-14, Danny Espinosa is the Nats’ second-best hitter this year. His 2015 slash line is .257/.360/.459, all career highs.

Do I win?

 

[KeatonsCorner]

that's it.......... close eyes, cup ears and ignore the facts killing your argument...


says Patterson and RRod run their QB more than Dana............ proven false

says Patterson is an ever-evolving HC......... maintains a near 50/50 playcalling split over the last 5 seasons...........

Says Dana will never use his QB like RRod or Patterson does............... proven false



Poor, Otis........ you just can't get right

 

[wvpaper]

["KeatonsCorner, post: 444458, member: 5120"]that's it.......... close eyes, cup ears and ignore the facts killing your argument...


says Patterson and RRod run their QB more than Dana............ proven false SOLOMAN AND RANDALL SPLIT TIME AT QB. SKYLAR AVGERAGES 1.6 YRDS A CARRY. THE OTHER QBS YOU MENTIONED AVG 10+ YRDS A CARRY.

says Patterson is an ever-evolving HC......... maintains a near 50/50 playcalling split over the last 5 seasons........... ADDS NOTHING TO YOUR ARGUMENT. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE QB POSITION, DOPEY.

Says Dana will never use his QB like RRod or Patterson does............... proven false[] SEE ABOVE OR ASK A WVU FAN

LOL. Yeah, you are done here.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

lol............ so now you're trying to pin Coaching strategy on Howard's lack of production in the run game? Beautiful

Soloman and Randell split time, you say? Neat. Their combined runs per game doesn't equal Howard's.

"Those other QBs average 10+ yards" False, yet again. Anu averages 3/carry.

Nope. You said "Dana will never LOOK at the QB position in the same way as ____"

And I showed you that you were wrong with facts.............. you're clouding the water. It's a typical retreat strategy in the animal kingdom, Otis.

Howard is also averaging 2.5 yards per carry......... but facts don't matter in your sad little world, Otis


But your approach was NEVER focused on player-production........... Your ill-informed, uneducated stance was that the C-O-A-C-H would never call an offense like those others...... and you were wrong. Like always.......... woke up today......and your wrong.

 

[MntnEERinSC]

I still wanna know what innovative ways Patterson would use Sills? Would he use him like he did Boykin?

 

[pressvirginia]

percentages that a team attempts to run the football are insignificant to the success it has doing it.

Arizona's rushing production is No. 5 in the NCAA.

WV's rush attack is 58th.

Ariz has rushed for nearly 1,000 more yards in 2015 than have the 'Eers.

As for Sills, his former coach has some lofty expectations. If Sills' camp expects the young man to receive 15 touches a game after one decent showing against a poor Baylor D, they're going to be disappointed. Now and in the future.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

percentages that a team attempts to run the football are insignificant to the success it has doing it.

Arizona's rushing production is No. 5 in the NCAA.

WV's rush attack is 58th.

Ariz has rushed for nearly 1,000 more yards in 2015 than have the 'Eers.

As for Sills, his former coach has some lofty expectations. If Sills' camp expects the young man to receive 15 touches a game after one decent showing against a poor Baylor D, they're going to be disappointed. Now and in the future.

Arizona has played 2 more games that WVU too..................

the team-statistic rankings are heavily swayed because programs like WVU have played 1-2 fewer games so far than others like Zona. WVU is 58th despite only 6 games worth of running stats... I'll gladly take that, when others have 7-8 games' worth.

But the "argument" was SOLELY about the running strategies of QBs among the various coaches listed above................ Otis brought a gut-reaction, uninformed opinion, and I gladly educated him.


btw, WVU's 216 rushing yards/game average ranks us 20th in CFB....

 

[pressvirginia]

I hear ya on the 2 more games. Ariz's averaging 282 rush yards, so they are a top 10 best running team.

Interesting to see Ga South & Baylor are 1st & 2nd in rushing. Each of those 3 doing it in different ways.

Right or wrong, my preference is running the ball, controlling the clock & possession, and limiting turnovers.

I'm thrilled to see Dana go with more running & I hope that continues. Including with Howard too.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

Agreed. Holgorsen is evolving as a HC

 

[wvpaper]

lol............ so now you're trying to pin Coaching strategy on Howard's lack of production in the run game? Beautiful

Soloman and Randell split time, you say? Neat. Their combined runs per game doesn't equal Howard's.

"Those other QBs average 10+ yards" False, yet again. Anu averages 3/carry.

Nope. You said "Dana will never LOOK at the QB position in the same way as ____"

And I showed you that you were wrong with facts.............. you're clouding the water. It's a typical retreat strategy in the animal kingdom, Otis.

Howard is also averaging 2.5 yards per carry......... but facts don't matter in your sad little world, Otis


But your approach was NEVER focused on player-production........... Your ill-informed, uneducated stance was that the C-O-A-C-H would never call an offense like those others...... and you were wrong. Like always.......... woke up today......and your wrong.

keaton is flailing - again. lol.

 

[GoWVU]

The 2 more games played isn't a factor in yards/game, attempts/game, or yards/carry.

Arizona is #9 in YDS/G and WVU is #21, which looks reasonably close, until you notice we're averaging over 50 ATT/G compared to their 43 and change.

That's where AZ is killing us--the yards/carry. It isn't even close (6.45 to 4.28). The schedule differences and greater passing threat may account for some of that, but the gap is way too large to account for all of it.

I have no dog in this fight, just want to see everyone look at the issue with the proper tools.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

Oh I never argued that Arizona didnt have a better ground attack.... They do

Otis unwisely chimed in about our Coach's lack of strategy, and I felt the need to educate him

 

[wvpaper]

Oh I never argued that Arizona didnt have a better ground attack.... They do

Otis unwisely chimed in about our Coach's lack of strategy, and I felt the need to educate him

lol. are you capable of admitting you lost an argument?

 

[MntnEERinSC]

lol. are you capable of admitting you lost an argument?

I assume he's about as capable as you are lol, between the both of you, neither has ever been wrong!!

 

[wvpaper]

I assume he's about as capable as you are lol, between the both of you, neither has ever been wrong!!

if dana starts sills at qb, i will concede you are right and i am wrong. i'll even say dana is capable of growth.

but until then, if you are a reasonable person, you must admit you don't have a point.

 

[MntnEERinSC]

if dana starts sills at qb, i will concede you are right and i am wrong. i'll even say dana is capable of growth.

but until then, if you are a reasonable person, you must admit you don't have a point.

What point am o trying to make? I just asked a question!!

 

[wvpaper]

What point am o trying to make? I just asked a question!!

and it was a very good question. the answer, of course, is 2.

 

[MntnEERinSC]

and it was a very good question. the answer, of course, is 2.

Lol ok?

 

[Nova Mountaineer]

reading between the lines seems like Stills' former coach is setting it up that if Dana doesn't use him more, the former coach would
recommend Stills transfer.

 

[VaultHunter]

"5-6 wins and Dana keeps his job" wvpaper

 

[MikeRafone]

I wonder if Paper has been hitting the weights so he can jump the fence with baby the when he tries to sneak into spring practice this year?

Leaving young Pulp with his brother to hold while he went over the wall last year was sad.

Nova, I don't see your scenario happening unless Sills drops to a D-II school. Yeah, he would have redshirt year to burn for a transfer year to a D-I school, but he doesn't strike me as the kind of kid who wants to set a year, now that he's seen action on the P-5 level.