What's your biggest concern heading into WVU fall football camp?
- Thread starter Vernon
- Start date
Receivers that can get separation, then hold onto the ball. To many huge drops last year.
Deep threats and playmakers at wideout. I like where we are everywhere else. I think we'll be solid on defense at worst. Our defense has the potential to be really good if the improvement curve continues.
I'd also like to see some better 2 minute drill clock management. Shook my head sometimes at what we were doing going into half time of some of the games.
Offensive line and outside receiver. Having said that we are not going to be successful unless our QB play improves and I believe it will.
Can we stretch the field vertically on offense. Our o-line looked decent in spring ball (which bodes well considering the amount of time they've actually played together), I think this is the most talented stable of running backs we've had under Dana, and our slot guys are experienced. If we can stretch the field vertically we should be pretty good on offense.
On the defensive side...... can we get to the QB without having to send the equipment manager on a blitz?
On the defensive side...... can we get to the QB without having to send the equipment manager on a blitz?
QB.
The floaters gotta stop. Is Howard really going to be much better than last season ?? He better be because without White (or another wr really stepping up) his job this season will be much more difficult.
--Also...improve deep ball accuracy and start releasing the ball much more quickly.
......so yea... I think we have issues at the QB position
The floaters gotta stop. Is Howard really going to be much better than last season ?? He better be because without White (or another wr really stepping up) his job this season will be much more difficult.
--Also...improve deep ball accuracy and start releasing the ball much more quickly.
......so yea... I think we have issues at the QB position
Another position that I'm curious about is the linebackers. Do we have the depth there to stop Big 12 foes?
Injuries. Not enough depth at many positions. I want a 3rd string quarterback that can start 3 games and win them (They don't HAVE to be the Sugar Bowl, the Rose Bowl and the National Championship - but I wouldn't complain).
Remembering how the offensive and defensive lines were somewhat dominated by an average Texas team and the second half of the Oklahoma game where their running back, one in particular seemed to run for 7 - 10 yards before a defender got within a yard of him,,,, I'm going with line play on both sides of the ball. We get good line play and have descent depth, I think we can have a pretty successful season. By the way, first post on new board,, very nice job.
QB depth. Guys get dinged up, and we have to have more than one guy ready. I really think that if Crest is good enough to be a starter at WR, then he should just change to the WR position.
But I would not mind seeing a graduate transfer qb show up in August, for depth and maybe more.
Also we need improved run defense.
Lgm!
It all starts up front. Gotta have O-line and depth. Preseason last year, DH said we were set with 2s pushing 1s. As season wore on DH was concerned that 2s were not stepping up. Consequently, he rode the same 5 until an injury occurred. Without relief, they are going to lose a step or two as their bodies wear. Late last year, they were trying to survive the season instead of aggressively playing the game. Must have'em up front to be a successful team.
For me, it's 1. D Line and 2. D Backs.
Team needs better run stop and not getting beat with home run plays from passing game. So, we need DL to step up and get both pressure on the QB without having to always bring blitzes; and, need DL to be stout in run D. Also, there is a lot of experience in DBackfield -- need those guys to play like it.
Frankly I have the same 3 concerns I had last year at this time, plus 1 new problem:
1) OL play has been pretty average as a whole since Rick Trickett departed. They seem a bit stronger in pass protection than in run blocking. Short-yardage situations were a major problem under Stewart and are still spotty at times under Holgorsen.
2) The D has been atrocious since Casteel left. Last year was a slight improvement, but only looked good in comparison to the pathetic performances the previous 2 seasons. It still needs massive progress to be above average.
3) For a head coach whose calling card was supposed to be QBs, I find it very alarming that we appear to be facing a third straight season in which the job will be "won" mainly by default. How many QB recruits has Holgorsen signed...7 or 8? Not one has been even close to as good as Geno, a recruit of a coach who was definitely not known for his QB prowess.
4) The new problem in 2014 was the absolutely embarrassing failure to field a competent PR man. That was a major black eye and reflects very poorly on the allegedly "great" recruiting I keep hearing Holgorsen brings to the table. Honestly someone should've been fired for that travesty alone.
1) OL play has been pretty average as a whole since Rick Trickett departed. They seem a bit stronger in pass protection than in run blocking. Short-yardage situations were a major problem under Stewart and are still spotty at times under Holgorsen.
2) The D has been atrocious since Casteel left. Last year was a slight improvement, but only looked good in comparison to the pathetic performances the previous 2 seasons. It still needs massive progress to be above average.
3) For a head coach whose calling card was supposed to be QBs, I find it very alarming that we appear to be facing a third straight season in which the job will be "won" mainly by default. How many QB recruits has Holgorsen signed...7 or 8? Not one has been even close to as good as Geno, a recruit of a coach who was definitely not known for his QB prowess.
4) The new problem in 2014 was the absolutely embarrassing failure to field a competent PR man. That was a major black eye and reflects very poorly on the allegedly "great" recruiting I keep hearing Holgorsen brings to the table. Honestly someone should've been fired for that travesty alone.
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Will this team come together....... and then become the best they can be. [smoke]
Let's Goooooooooo Mountaineers!!!!!
Let's Goooooooooo Mountaineers!!!!!
OLINE
Ours hasnt been mean & nasty since an old Marine headed to Tallahassee.
Related is a qb not having time and getting KOd like Clint, and rbs who dont hit the hole and dance too much in the backfield. The rbs drive me nuts. Make a single cut and hit the hole. They're not Noel Devine so run like Q.
Ours hasnt been mean & nasty since an old Marine headed to Tallahassee.
Related is a qb not having time and getting KOd like Clint, and rbs who dont hit the hole and dance too much in the backfield. The rbs drive me nuts. Make a single cut and hit the hole. They're not Noel Devine so run like Q.
Last year was the year to make some noise but there were some heartbreaking losses. Reminded me the 92 season. Had last years team played in the Big East lite they would have possibly been mentioned in the same breathe as the 05 or 07 teams. That being said I think the passing game will struggle because of both qb and wr play. I am also not sold on this defense. Anyone with a pulse destroyed them last year. I believe we are looking at 5-7 or 6-6 with all the difficult road games.
QB play. If we cannot get good performances out of the QB, then a repeat of 2013 is likely to happen, Dana will be fired and we will start over as a program. Skyler better step up.
1. QB - Kind of surprised we don't have better talent here. But hopefully Howard can be solid over the whole year.
2. OL - If we can pound the ball and play good D, that would take some pressure off Howard. Not sure that is possible in the B12.
3. WR - See 1 and 2.
2. OL - If we can pound the ball and play good D, that would take some pressure off Howard. Not sure that is possible in the B12.
3. WR - See 1 and 2.
I'd say we were two Josh Lambert field goals away from that last season, wouldn't you?
For me it has to be QB. I always assumed that Crest would be our next signal caller and now that that appears to not be the case, I just don't have much confidence in Howard after that bowl game. How can a guy consistently throw a ball 9 yards long and not make an adjustment? Just not confident that the kid has what it takes. I hope I am wrong.
I'm most concerned about our red zone Offense. Too many times in the last several years we have managed to move down field to the red zone and then came away with nothing or at best, maybe a field goal. Plus, I'd really like to see the team get that pitiful Special Teams monkey off their back and be a force during those times.
The last image I have of Howard at QB does not give me much reason for optimism. He constantly over threw receivers in a game that even an average QB could have easily won. I am just not sure how much better he could have gotten since that day. Of course, I could be and hope I am wrong. Otherwise, I agree with many other posters that the WR position is of some concern as well.
You think we win that game with an average quarterback? I didn't think A&M was that good but we didn't play well at a number of positions.
What I meant by that is that if we complete just 4 or 5 of the passes he overthrew, we likely win that game. I think in a lot of cases he missed wide open receivers. I was not knocking A&M, I just don't think they were going to stop us if we were not overthrowing the receivers. You are right, we did not play well at other positions either, but I think we overcome those with decent QB play that day.
So how do you distinguish between 1.) an overthrown ball by a quarterback, or 2.) a read pattern misread by a receiver, or 3.) when a quarterback and a receiver are just not on the same page on the read? [smoke]
As a Georgia Southern fan from reading your main concerns about your team coming out of the spring, I feel like your openning game against my Eagles will be a good test to of were your team is at concerning the questions being brought up in this thread.
As far as your offense, I know that your team will play teams that have far better D's than we do. Ours last year teams D's main weakness was our D-backs and the only way we really stopping passing teams last year was that team stopping thereselfs. As far as the questions about your D go, I do not believe you will play any other team that will run the ball any better that the Eagles. Therefore if your D is able to stop our running game you will know that you have a very good run defense. As far ask our passing games goes it all works off of the run. To stop our passing game your DB's just need to stay at home and not bite on our running game when we are passing the ball because that is what make our passing game work.
As far as your offense, I know that your team will play teams that have far better D's than we do. Ours last year teams D's main weakness was our D-backs and the only way we really stopping passing teams last year was that team stopping thereselfs. As far as the questions about your D go, I do not believe you will play any other team that will run the ball any better that the Eagles. Therefore if your D is able to stop our running game you will know that you have a very good run defense. As far ask our passing games goes it all works off of the run. To stop our passing game your DB's just need to stay at home and not bite on our running game when we are passing the ball because that is what make our passing game work.