Welcome to the Friday Feedback as we wrap a bow around a mad-as-hell, not-going-to-take-it week in the WVU sports world. Sooner we finish this, sooner the week’s over, right? Let’s begin with a comment trilogy that could pretty much stand on its own to summarize this week:

Homer said:

I’m just going to keep posting this until it gets answered somewhere: Why does WVU refuse to throw a pass downfield? Are they coaches scared? Are they players unable or too dumb? Is it some combination? About 115 other teams do it every week with regular success, and the others are squads like WVU and Navy that don’t even try. Makes no sense.

A reply?

Mack said:

Homer, WVU will work on its passing game once it finds an easy, comfortable game to do so. So far, we’ve had to face such giants as Villanova, Marshall, Syracuse, and Rutgers. Give the coaches a break. You can’t just do whatever you want when you’re going against the Orange defense.

Sarcasm very much intended, huh?

Alli said:

Homer, first play of the game, we threw a downfield pass. Jarrett over threw the ball. Jarrett also missed some reads during 3rd downs where he chose to check down instead of throw it to the sticks. So the downfield pass is in the playbook, we just don’t do it very often. Some have pointed out that our WRs have had butterfingers all year, too, so they may feel uncomfortable giving them the ball. Regardless of the issues, we need to start throwing the ball down the field.  

An explanation from Bill Stewart? He wants go deep, but sometimes the routes and/or the throws haven’t been there and sometimes the games have required a different approach:

“We’d like to pitch and catch more, but we’ve had to control the ball more for various reasons — Pat got dinged in the third quarter against Rutgers. We need to pitch and catch a little more, but we’re very content to win the football game with defense and the kicking game. That’s what I was raised on.”

As for the receivers …

“I’m very pleased that Wes Lyons has stepped up and done a nice job. He’s really made some nice catches. We do need to get the ball to Alric Arnett like we did early in the year. Dorrell Jalloh made a big catch against
Rutgers, a nice double-move and Pat threw the ball to the spot. When we have the ball 35 minutes, we can pitch and catch a lot more. You have more plays. When you have the ball 25 minutes and run 50-some plays, to get in a rhythm you have to keep the ball and sustain drives and time of possession and hopefully get a few more big plays.”

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, careful is sometimes careless.

Shannon said:

I can’t blame Boyd at all for his decision. Ultimately, if he believed WVU, in its current situation, is not the best fit for him then he made the right decision taking back his commitment at this point. You can’t fault the kid for making the decision.

To Alli’s point about playing down the rumor, you could perhaps make an argument that Boyd wanted to see what would happen on the field against Syracuse, figuring that Syracuse was a lackluster opponent and the offense could show sparks of normality against the Orange. When the offense could only muster 17 points and essentially performed like it was infested with engine grime, I think that moved Boyd from uneasy about his commitment to wanting to get out of his commitment.

But you’re right, we’re screwed. Big time!

I’m reminded of the Big Lebowski: “Nothing is ****** here, Dude. Come on, you’re being very un-Dude.” I think it’s a big deal, but shouldn’t perspective be a WVU fan specialty by now. P-Rod’s departure was a far bigger deal and … I’ll stop.  

Alli said:

Shannon, I agree. During the ‘Cuse game, all I could think was “we need Boyd bad!” And he’s gone. So what does the coaching staff do now? Do they get on their knees and beg Boyd to come back? Isn’t it a bit late to find a decent dual threat guy? Sorry, but I don’t think Coley or Starks are the future of this team.

You guys know that I’m the optimistic one here, but I’m going to panic now too if that’s okay.

It’s late, but it’s not too late. There are a number of uncommitted players, one kid’s making a visit soon — Auburn? — and there’s a ton of playing time available. There’s a lot of work to do to repair the image, but there’s also a lot to like about WVU and what it has to offer, provided the thing doesn’t completely crumble. I also wouldn’t give up on Starks or summarize his career with one play. Haven’t seen enough of Coley to formulate an opinion, but he’s a pretty fun kid to talk to. He actually admitted he didn’t know West Virginia was a state before WVU started recruiting Pat. I think you need to know these things. Hopefully it doesn’t ruin your day.

glibglub said:

So what does the coaching staff do now? Do they get on their knees and beg Boyd to come back? Isn’t it a bit late to find a decent dual threat guy?

Here’s an idea: Send that mariachi band from the Swiffer commercial to serenade Tahj with “Baby Come Back.”

Ooooo, it feels so good to be negative. I think I’ve gone over to the dark side. I hate myself . . .

This is a dangerous time for you, when you will be tempted by the Dark Side of the Force. 

Gordo said:

I completely agree with Coach Stew. I know a lot of people are going to say he’s being snippy, but I’m glad that he’s showing a backbone here. I think if the kid wants to go look somewhere else then that’s his decision, but we don’t need to be pandering to any 18 yr. olds and certainly not their parents. If that causes us recruits, frankly I don’t care. I’d rather have a team full of Owen Schmidtt’s anyway. I bet he never complained about not getting enough touches.  

I’d bet on that team. 

Josh24601 said:

The “No Player’s Daddy” doctrine is chimera, a pitiful smokescreen concocted to make Boyd’s decommitment seem like something more mutual.

It’s completely transparent; the wizard didn’t even bother drawing the curtain.  

First use of the word chimera, but also a fair point to discuss. Was that random monologue a punch-back or a rope-a-dope? I just happen to think there was something going on behind the scenes. Could have done without making it somewhat public, though.  

Victor Von Doom said:

How much does anybody/everybody think “negative recruiting” played into this, especially since
Michigan is on Boyd’s new “schools of interest” list? Didn’t P-Rod subtley suggest at some point that Doc Holliday did some subterfuge to lure a recruit from WVU to Fla. a few years ago? Could be a payback, especially since Michigan is sorely lacking a QB to run the spread. But if it’s not P-Rod it could be any number of other coaches spreading stuff that might not necessarily be true … or may be fact-based, as in, “you sure you want to be part of that?” I’m thinking WVU has given great cause for recruiters from other schools to engage in a fair amount of fuel-to-the-fire type of thing by simply pointing out what WVU has done, or, more accurately, not done offensively so far this season. And Jeff Mullen is surely not enhancing his reputation. Impressionable minds and all that … and I’m not talking exclusively about the kids. Parents aren’t immune to biting on that too.  

I wouldn’t blame Michigan, but then again I couldn’t blame anyone for — not negative recruiting — resourceful recruiting. It’s a business and no commit is really committed until signing day. At the end of the day, the decision is up to the kid, whatever it may be. Boyd wanted to right what he felt was a wrong. Now it’s upon WVU to right what many, many others — and clearly, not just prospects — feel is wrong.  

Kneeb0ne said:

This is officially the beginning of the coming years of mediocrity under Bill Stewart.

If nothing changes (i.e. coaching) why would ANY four star athlete commit to WVU?If this is what our team looks like and Bill Stewart “wouldn’t change a thing,” I would hate to see what happens when things go awry.

Fair point, but if nothing changes, there will be changes. Right? Anyone? 

thacker said:

Thank you God for keeping Jeff Casteel around. —That Guys Psalms 14:23

Hey, this seems like a good time to point out that people were ready to chase Casteel out of town in 2006. You don’t hear that nowadays.  

Mack said: 

I am reminded of the movie “Annie Hall” and the line, “Wouldn’t it be great if life was like this?”

I wish I could have Rodriguez and Magee coach this team for one week, just to see the offense pile up 30 points and illustrate even further how incompetent Stewart is.

By the way, for about the fourth week in a row, the commentators made fun of our coaches. This time, after the 300th screen pass that didn’t work (and the subsequent boos), Larry Coker says, “I think they’ve seen that play before.”

If you ever interview Stewart or Mullens, please just ask this one question, “What exactly are you trying to accomplish on offense?”

Ball control. That’s now what people want to hear or see, but that’s the direction this team has taken the past few weeks. They want to build and sustain drives and keep the young defense off the field, but also avoid big risk-no reward. They don’t have the big gain or quick strike components (yet?) so they’re content to do drive and avoid shootouts.

Alli said:

Want to know why Devine finally had that big run? We finally blocked at the second tier! It’s not a difficult concept to understand. Why this team still doesn’t get it, I don’t know. I think they just assume they are so wonderful, they don’t have to do the little things right. The reason why we had so many big plays over the past two years is because We had fullbacks and wide receivers who liked to get down field and open holes. The one reason why our screens look so pathetic is because of WR’s are HORRIBLE blockers. Someone needs to show these guys on offense how crappy they look so they can get there heads out of their backside.  

Good insight. It’s as if you’re at field level for these games. Blocking was spot on at the end of that game and they caught Syracuse with the right play at the right time. Syracuse was going Cover Zero on many third downs and when protecting its end zone and Mullen dialed one up — though, to be fair, I don’t think he could have called many other plays on third-and-7 from his 8-yard line. There are signs that point to the line clicking, by the way, and on that play they did indeed get help from receivers, the tight end and the fullback. 

Erinn said:

Can we take this opportunity to discuss the other Boyd and his wondrous ability to light a fire under Devine’s behind for a 92 yard run? Confused? Well, if you were in the stands on Saturday you saw a certain Ryan J. Boyd make his football YMCA debut on the jumbotron. Devine’s run ensued two plays later. Our blogger has written to Boyd’s powers at basketball games in the past. And Boyd has always been at football games … for as long as I have been there at least … but he has never been featured so prominently. Give that jumbo tron man a big Christmas bonus this year for that segment!  

I will not let this go. He needs to travel with the team. I’m perhaps one more “coincidence” away from demanding he be given an adjunct position. 

Hoot said:

could someone please tell me what has happened to the back-side option
of the spread that Pat White ran to perfection these past few years?
I watched LSU and Florida both run that play Saturday nite…hell,
I even saw an NFL team run it Sunday. If its good enough for them
to run, why aren’t we still using it? As it is, opposing teams know they
just have to follow Noel to know where the ball is going.

Can’t say where it’s gone, but it’s supposed to be coming back. It’s too good not to use, either, especially with the personnel and the way WVU can deceive opponents by using the play, but also using it to spring other plays.

JP said:

You gotta fight – for your right – to boo Stew

How does Stew what the crowd is booing? It seems to me that he has more pressing matters to worry about than booing. How about coaching better so no one wants to boo? Booing can be tiresome, but if Stew and Mullen would help their players put some points on the board and we will all feel better.

Agreed. Success does not breed contempt here.

Karl said:

He should be happy he has a fan base that cares so much. It’s what seperates Mountaineer Field from every other arena in the Big East. It’s also what makes the expectations higher here. The alternative is that people just stop showing up, and if the lousy football continues, those days will come. Then he can go on contentedly losing in the quiet comfort of a Nippert Field-like atmosphere.  

Ageed again. Which is why it’s bizarre to take on fans for … well, for caring. It’s not going to work. First time they drop a stink bomb on the field against Auburn, you think people will say ,”Bo– wait, I’m not supposed to do that…”?

thacker said:

It’s a silly philosophical debate.

It is when place in the context that fans never know the entire story and that most fans cannot relate to circumstance. But then, that just may make ‘booing’ nothing more than silly. The old adage of ‘never criticize something that you are not willing/capable of providing a solution’ may provide something more than a philosophical perspective. Then again, fans are allowed to be fans and that should be kept in perspective.

I find no fault with Bill Stewart defending the honor and dedication of his ball players and doing it any manner or forum of his choosing. He has, on more than one occasion, offered himself up for criticism and chosen to fight for his kids to justifiably keep them out of the fray. That, perhaps, demands to be valued and respected.

Agreed again … again. Nothing wrong with wearing the target and, to take it further, I’ve said before I think he should fight back and assert himself some and battle some of the things he does not like. So he singled out booing the team. I can go for that, but it just seems like giving attention to something that doesn’t deserve attention and it threatens to turn people against him.  

gordo said:

Please, if I hear “it’s your right to boo” one more time I’m gonna puke. Yes, we all know you have a right to voice your opinion. It’s your God-given and inalieanable right to boo. And we certainly don’t want to infringe on anyone’s rights to boo. Your right to boo – ridiculous.
Thacker makes a great point. What Bill Stewart is doing (by defending his players, regardless of who the booing is intended for) should be praised. Instead, people are on here talking about how dumb he is. This is the kind of stuff that ticks me off. Criticize the play-calling and I’m there with you, but let’s knock it off with all this petty stuff.
Yes, you have the right to boo and Stewart has the right to tell you to shutup.  

I’m in total agreement with the final two sentences, the last one in particular, but all I’m saying is it’s a needless argument. 

overtheSEC said:

Man, European basketball seems to be at least 50% faster than American b ball.
The pause button at precisely 1:37 confirms that the flawlessly executed Mikan-drill layup starting at 1:32 is indeed our boy

Confirmed that Thursday. Still haven’t found a video of Deniz Kilicli, who seems to be a legit professional prospect.

glibglub said:

Well, I watched the video, and I have to agree with the commenter who wrote “enes kanter müthis oynuyor.” You got that right . . .

Enjoy the weekend!