With recent issues within Texas, and how they lost to an inexperienced & young OU team, brings to mind how we as WVU fans have certain expectations for WVU as Neal Brown & Staff continue to build our beloved program.
Tom Herman, when hired, was considered one of the best, if not thee best option at the time. According to ### team recruiting rankings these are the classes that have played during Hermans tenure thus far:
2013 = 17th
2014 =17th
2015 = 10th
2016 = 7th
2017 = 25th
2018 = 3rd
2019 = 3rd
2020 =8th
Firstly, if Brown had inherited 17th, 17th, 10th, 7th, & 25th(would equal Browns 2019 class), WVU fans would have super high expectations, that he should have won at least 1 BIG12 championship to date. As WVU has significant recruiting & resource disadvantages compared to a Blue blood program, and while we all believe Brown is a great coach, a culture builder, it will be far more challenging for Brown to maintain a yearly ranking average of approx 13 (13-16), then 10th(17-20), in all honesty maintaining an average lower then 20-25, even if we start competing consistently will be extremely challenging.
Best case scenario, considering all programs far better positioned for talent acquisition, 22nd-24th would probably be a realistic goal, if everything falls into place.
While rankings do not always accurately reflect talent or potential, esp how that talent fits into schemes. Hypnotically, lets say Brown maintains a 22 average for 4 years, and recruits players perfect for schemes, and doesnt miss on any player, while also deploys great player development methods.
Thats still only good for top 20, maybe 12 type of team, so how do we outperform? We will never be able to recruit on a level compared to a Alabama, an OU, or UT.... So, how do we outperform, how do we rise above the 15th most winningest program?
RRod was the perfect timing with scheme, DC's not caught on yet, and player skillsets. The probability of that happening again is not likely, so how does a disadvantaged program consistently compete for conference titles? We get 4-8 blue-chip recruits per class, and another 10-12 high impact players per class....
The absolute perfect alignment of talent, scheme, & player development, still leaves us a bit shy of our objective.
Ive been thinking about how can you beat a more talented team...Certainly you can out-scheme opponents, and that may help us some games, but going up against a CFP caliber program with unlimited resources, analysts, etc, we cant depend on out-scheming alone...
Time and time again, my thoughts revert back to #SPEED.
On a collegiate level, speed is the one skill-set that will offset a more talented roster. How does a DLine beat a 4-5 star OL, SPEED. How does a WR or RB beat a 4-5 star DB & LB, SPEED...
Speed combined with scheme, is the one attribute that allows for a less talented, or differently talented team, compete against prototypical NFL style player/roster. A perfect example of this is how Tavon would consistently beat 4-5 star recruits, and while Tavon's talent does not come along very often, we can strive for players similar in abilities.
We do see Brown recruiting good speed on both sides of the ball, players like: David Okoli, JV, Reese Smith, Sam Brown, A Sparrow, Victor Wikstrom(as a TE hes very fast), Davis Mallinger, etc.... Im not informed enough on other RB's, DB's, & LBs to know how their speed & shiftiness compares against other players..
That said, I do think he should and can continue to improve overall team speed. Its the one aspect that allows players to win one on one battles... It also offers OC's & DC's the ability to deploy certain concepts that can beat more traditional methods.
I also feel recruiting undervalued speedsters, OL & DL included, would be an easier path, as they may be overlooked by other programs. Potentially an easier method of talent acquisition.
In order to compete at that level, obviously QB play is critical, and speed can come into play here too. While getting another Pat White will never happen, he was a generational type of talent, we can find an option which opens up offensive concepts. Garrett Greene is such a player. While its yet to be seen how he will do at WVU, dynamic QB play is a must if we expect to compete against a more talented roster.
In the end, and no matter who is our HC, the question remains the same. How can a program with so many disadvantages, consistently outperform? How do you shape a roster to beat teams with 50%+ Blue-Chip recruits? Brown is showing he knows how to maximize every angle to improve talent level, personally I think in the short amount of time hes been here, I think hes done a great job recruiting. While this is a slow process, and developing that talent is even slower, it simply takes time(years) to build a program to consistently compete. My knowledge of football is elementary compared to Brown or any of his staff, so this is just a "fans" opinion, but Speed & Shifty skillsets do make for exciting football, an underdog story maker.
For others in here, whats your thoughts, on realistic expectations for WVU, and what methods do you think would most likely provide us the ability to compete 1 out of 2 or 3 years for conference titles, given our disadvantages(population, geography, resources, funds, etc)... How would you build a team that can win individual battles?
Tom Herman, when hired, was considered one of the best, if not thee best option at the time. According to ### team recruiting rankings these are the classes that have played during Hermans tenure thus far:
2013 = 17th
2014 =17th
2015 = 10th
2016 = 7th
2017 = 25th
2018 = 3rd
2019 = 3rd
2020 =8th
Firstly, if Brown had inherited 17th, 17th, 10th, 7th, & 25th(would equal Browns 2019 class), WVU fans would have super high expectations, that he should have won at least 1 BIG12 championship to date. As WVU has significant recruiting & resource disadvantages compared to a Blue blood program, and while we all believe Brown is a great coach, a culture builder, it will be far more challenging for Brown to maintain a yearly ranking average of approx 13 (13-16), then 10th(17-20), in all honesty maintaining an average lower then 20-25, even if we start competing consistently will be extremely challenging.
Best case scenario, considering all programs far better positioned for talent acquisition, 22nd-24th would probably be a realistic goal, if everything falls into place.
While rankings do not always accurately reflect talent or potential, esp how that talent fits into schemes. Hypnotically, lets say Brown maintains a 22 average for 4 years, and recruits players perfect for schemes, and doesnt miss on any player, while also deploys great player development methods.
Thats still only good for top 20, maybe 12 type of team, so how do we outperform? We will never be able to recruit on a level compared to a Alabama, an OU, or UT.... So, how do we outperform, how do we rise above the 15th most winningest program?
RRod was the perfect timing with scheme, DC's not caught on yet, and player skillsets. The probability of that happening again is not likely, so how does a disadvantaged program consistently compete for conference titles? We get 4-8 blue-chip recruits per class, and another 10-12 high impact players per class....
The absolute perfect alignment of talent, scheme, & player development, still leaves us a bit shy of our objective.
Ive been thinking about how can you beat a more talented team...Certainly you can out-scheme opponents, and that may help us some games, but going up against a CFP caliber program with unlimited resources, analysts, etc, we cant depend on out-scheming alone...
Time and time again, my thoughts revert back to #SPEED.
On a collegiate level, speed is the one skill-set that will offset a more talented roster. How does a DLine beat a 4-5 star OL, SPEED. How does a WR or RB beat a 4-5 star DB & LB, SPEED...
Speed combined with scheme, is the one attribute that allows for a less talented, or differently talented team, compete against prototypical NFL style player/roster. A perfect example of this is how Tavon would consistently beat 4-5 star recruits, and while Tavon's talent does not come along very often, we can strive for players similar in abilities.
We do see Brown recruiting good speed on both sides of the ball, players like: David Okoli, JV, Reese Smith, Sam Brown, A Sparrow, Victor Wikstrom(as a TE hes very fast), Davis Mallinger, etc.... Im not informed enough on other RB's, DB's, & LBs to know how their speed & shiftiness compares against other players..
That said, I do think he should and can continue to improve overall team speed. Its the one aspect that allows players to win one on one battles... It also offers OC's & DC's the ability to deploy certain concepts that can beat more traditional methods.
I also feel recruiting undervalued speedsters, OL & DL included, would be an easier path, as they may be overlooked by other programs. Potentially an easier method of talent acquisition.
In order to compete at that level, obviously QB play is critical, and speed can come into play here too. While getting another Pat White will never happen, he was a generational type of talent, we can find an option which opens up offensive concepts. Garrett Greene is such a player. While its yet to be seen how he will do at WVU, dynamic QB play is a must if we expect to compete against a more talented roster.
In the end, and no matter who is our HC, the question remains the same. How can a program with so many disadvantages, consistently outperform? How do you shape a roster to beat teams with 50%+ Blue-Chip recruits? Brown is showing he knows how to maximize every angle to improve talent level, personally I think in the short amount of time hes been here, I think hes done a great job recruiting. While this is a slow process, and developing that talent is even slower, it simply takes time(years) to build a program to consistently compete. My knowledge of football is elementary compared to Brown or any of his staff, so this is just a "fans" opinion, but Speed & Shifty skillsets do make for exciting football, an underdog story maker.
For others in here, whats your thoughts, on realistic expectations for WVU, and what methods do you think would most likely provide us the ability to compete 1 out of 2 or 3 years for conference titles, given our disadvantages(population, geography, resources, funds, etc)... How would you build a team that can win individual battles?