Comments on: Patterson turns focus to 2013

By: mark s

mark s — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 03:30:34 +0000

Give the Head coach 3 yrs like they gave Bill Stewart. If he doesn’t improve by then, fire him and move on. He deserves the same as any other coach. Rich only lasted 3 years at Michigan. That seems to be the norm.

By: Cowboyslang

Cowboyslang — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 19:19:59 +0000

Right on- a dog behaves if you train him to. Same with football players. They’ll play as their taught an the only thing they should do is to play harder in a game than practice.

By: Chalkdust

Chalkdust — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:56:58 +0000

I’ll tell you what me me sick, running a big time Div. I football program into the ground and embarrassing the entire state except maybe a few fellows who are easily satisfied.
Even after the first five games, I’m thinking ok, ok, just retooling. Baylor hangs a 63 on’em, James Madison was an adventurer, Marshall was out-manned (not out-played) and in spite of O-linemen’s feet placement, they ran the ball down the throat of Texas. After that game, things changed, I don’t know what, but it seemed like a panic attack. By the end of the five game losing streak, it appeared the entire D-team had been replaced and the backwards hat guy was safe in the up-stairs booth. What happened to summer and fall pratice, was it wasted time in player selection?
Oh well, you die hard fans know the score. Coaching is 75% of winning any sporting contest. Other-wise certain coaches would not win no matter where the go.

By: WVU Alum in Houston

WVU Alum in Houston — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 02:22:41 +0000

I agree with you, Joey. I was just getting ready to post the same exact comment. Casteel knew we had no one coming back. He left at the perfect time and he knew exactly what he was doing! I also agree with your comment on the O line. What a lazy, overrated group, except for our center.

By: bill

bill — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 23:00:20 +0000

Nothing was said in the article about getting defensive backs to stick with receivers tight enough so that, even if the quarterback does – God forbid – have enough time to sit back in the pocket and comb his hair, he’s still not going to have anywhere to go with the ball! I’m tired of watching the Mountaineer secondary get ripped by every team they play, even the ones they were supposed to beat. 3-4 defense means little if the last 4 don’t know how to cover.

By: Boothe

Boothe — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 22:39:57 +0000

3-3-5 or 3-4 doesn’t matter nearly as much as “PLAYAZ” and fundamentals – I.E., d-backs turning their heads to look for the darn ball.
It’s to early to trash Patterson, he had one game to try & correct the d’s bad habits of a season.
I am disappointed that the d staff changes didn’t produce a bit more improvement in some of those fundamentals for the bowl game, but Patterson is capable, just look at his Pitt d giving us fits last season.
But in the end, the d was what it was, the real shocking let down in TTU, KState, and bowl games was by the offense, a total vanishing act…
Geno, for all his talent, appears to need to mature in his approach to the game, cut down on the bravdo and just PLAY.

By: Dutchman

Dutchman — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 22:36:58 +0000

It was literally painful to watch such great (offensive) football talent squandered by an ineffective and poorly coached defense. For WVU to bring up the rear in ‘D’ tells me two things: Holgs preferred his good ‘ol OK buddy rather than someone who knew defense, and the players didn’t know what they were doing. Basic fundamental ‘D’ was absent with this squad. Simple corner techniques stepping back until turing on a pivot when the receiver makes his cut or just turning to the ball at the right moment — there were probably a dozen passes that could have been easily intercepted if the corner, safety, or LB just turned around — are basics learned in HS, along with sound tackling, that seemed beyond the capability of this WVU defense. The responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of DeForest Gump, regardless of the number of freshmen, for not coaching them properly … and Holgs for hiring Gump to begin with.

By: graybeard

graybeard — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 22:05:19 +0000

I’m no expert but after looking at a couple Manwalks WVU didn’t have any BIG guys. WVU always looked soft in the middle on the O and D side of the ball. Can’t win in the Big 12 undermanned like that

By: KeithJS

KeithJS — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 21:57:27 +0000

Terrible Bowl, played very poorly on WV’s side. Apparently this is a bowl which has a contract with the B12. We have to finish higher to avoid future visits.

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 21:30:28 +0000

Blah blah blah, system this system that, youth this youth that…look a kid does not forget how to tackle a guy from his senior year of high school to his freshman year of college…if they were good enough to be recruited to div I then there should be no question about tackling or effort…and what system out there doesn’t belive in tackling and effort..coaches and their effort need to be looked at…if youre a good enough coach you should make the kid fit any SYSTEM…