Welcome to the Friday Feedback, which really wishes the cell phone was alive last night. You’d laugh at the volume of people who I ran into or who found me and were trying to help me find a solution or who expressed they were excited to read the Kansas State edition. So I’m going to get as much of you into this edition, and I bet it’s going to help me out a bunch because I’m having a hard time sorting out some things here.

A lot of people are throwing the ugly numbers out there because they’re ugly numbers and they hook emotional people and trigger emotional responses at an emotional time. The November record, the record since Texas in 2012, the record against ranked teams, the volume of special teams disasters, the sacks, the turnovers, the penalties, so on and so forth, I’m trying to find an explanation for it all. The sacks, penalties and turnovers are, to me, who and what this team is after 11 games … and maybe after 49 games. But the fumble on the goal line, the stupid punt return fumble and the two interceptions are completely in line with what’s happened of late or all season. I didn’t think the Mountaineers were reckless on offense (I didn’t say special teams) before last night. But Clint Trickett’s interceptions and Wendell Smallwood’s fumbles are spring practice mistakes.

What has a hold of me are these late-season slides. I don’t like presentation without context, and surely there’s a reason Dana Holgorsen is 2-9 in November in the Big 12, why he has three straight seasons with three-game losing streaks. Discipline? Depth? Coaching? Indifference? I would argue yes.

I think in 2012, WVU wasn’t as good as 5-0 and the fifth-best team in the country, but was probably better than 7-6. Still, that team was weak and couldn’t make the best of a bad situation, so why would we expect it to make the best of a bad situation? Last season, 4-8 made sense with the roster and the quarterback situation. This season? Well, sorry, but 6-2 may have felt about right, but it still left you wondering if they were, you know, good. I felt like maybe the Mountaineers weren’t that good if I had to wonder. Yet the losses are by 10, 12, 1 and 6 points to top-12 teams, but also by 17 after a shameful first-half no-show at Texas. I guess 6-5 feels about right, too, right now, but not four weeks and three games ago.

But there’s the point: In three straight seasons, WVU hasn’t found what it needed to steer its season back onto the road and prove its great, good or merely even better. And that’s where the focus goes now: Why is this the case?

As for the schedule with another wonky week, let’s keep an eye on the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. There may be TFGD potential if the Mountaineers make the championship game. I’ll keep you updated there, but it’d fill a spot on Monday. I’d like to drop the G&B in its Tuesday slot, and that thing might come in plastic wrap. We’ll do the chat Wednesday and we’ll skip the F Double because I’ll be on the way to Ames — and you’re out of your mind if you think that won’t be hard for the Mountaineers. If the Cyclones win tomorrow (at home against Texas Tech), they’ll have momentum. If they lose, they may very well be playing for their coach’s job. They might be regardless of what happens against the Red Raiders. Whatever the scenario, do you feel good about WVU bringing the right baggage to Jack Trice?

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, pay attention.

Mack said:

Hey Mike, after the game when you’re writing about how kansas State doesn’t make any mistakes, how about you mention the huge calls by the officials that have gone in their favor.

Went out of my way not to write that because, man, that team was beatable — and that was my lede today. The postgame refrain was “Can’t make mistakes like that against K-State!” which is silly and serves as shelter from the real questions and answers. WVU had the opportunity to play bad and beat an alarmingly unsound KSU team and simply couldn’t. Or wouldn’t. I’m not sure which is right. That explanation afterward didn’t cut it for me. As for the officiating, I’m not sure I follow. The reversal on White’s circus catch was the right call. I thought the offensive pass interference was iffy, but I can understand the call. I thought the defensive pass interference against K.J. Dillon was a poor call. I was surprised they didn’t review the time Waters was hit from behind, I think by Brandon Golson, and it was quickly ruled an incomplete pass. What other ones are we looking at?

WondEER said:

Why is Smallwood in that series at the goal line…why not a bigger back?

Because JaJuan Seider likes Smallwood’s first step in short-yardage situations and because he trusts Smallwood’s ball security most. Those are the answers. 

Clarence Oveur said:

The safety didn’t make that play, Mike. Smallwood just didn’t receive the damn handoff.

That play doesn’t happen if Smallwood pays attention to detail, or Clint puts the handoff where he’s supposed to.

Handoff was fine. Smallwood dropped it. And all I meant was the safety recovered it. Quiet games for KSU’s deep guys, but they played deep and the linebackers handled the run without much help.

Drew said:

This team has quit again.

They did it last year.

It has taken them longer, but they’ve done it again.

Maybe that’s true, but I’d sort of admired WVU’s verve throughout the season because I’ve been looking for the “Nah, I’m good.” moment when guys back away from the table and it’s clear they’ve quit. You can pinpoint a moment or moments in each of the past two seasons. I thought we had it last night when Trickett threw the terrible interception at the end of the half. The offensive players sunk and the sideline dipped. Whatever they tried to maintain after the horrible punt and the touchdown was spent. But then Trickett made the tackle and I sensed a “…we’ve got to keep going?” reaction. A 24-3 game at the half ends really badly for WVU. I have no doubt about that. And then Kyle Rose blocked the field goal and only the guys on field goal block seemed excited as everyone went into the locker room. Trickett, who somehow got back onto the field with a concussion to start the second half, threw an interception and I thought WVU had nothing left. And I think I was wrong. Howard sparked the team and WVU got back into the game. A bunch of guys do play hard on that team, including Trickett. Are they done? Perhaps.

grumpy said:

Punted to wrong side. Your kidding me.

Fyi we will not win at Iowa state next week either.

That was a touchdown the second Lockett caught it. WVU’s coverage team was almost entirely out of the shot from the overhead cam on the replay. It was laughably bad, and based on his postgame criticism, I think it’s fair to say Dana’s near his end with O’Toole. Also: That directional kick was new for the Oklahoma State game. WVU put it in to make Tyreek Hill run to a side to field the punt and give the coverage team time to corral him. O’Toole screwed one up at the end of that game and got away with it. I asked him about the tactic and the kick after the game and he more or less said it was new and he wasn’t comfortable with it because it was new. WVU hadn’t gone side-to-side since.

glibglub said:

Bill Snyder facial expressions power rankings:
5. Restrained.
4. Inscrutable.
3. Stoic.
2. Deadpan.
1. Blue Steel.

6. Famished.

Drew said:

I really disagree with Mike on that INT. Smallwood was on a consistent stride. Trickett just missed him.

Shannon Dawson, postgame: “Clint thought he was going to stay on the move but Wendell throttled down. It was just a miscommunication. We throw and catch that route I can’t tell you how many times. That should be routine.” But again, Trickett got kneed in the head making a tackle at the end of the first half. He had two concussions last season, one against KSU he didn’t tell anyone about and one against Texas that kept him out of the next game. Dawson wouldn’t say what happened at halftime and deferred to Holgorsen, who’d already spoken and left. Trickett goes out and throws that interception and then goes to the locker room. There’s room for interpretation there, but there’s room for an explanation, too.

Clarence Oveur said:

When can we talk about Clint Trickett being a very average QB?

Probably right about the time WVU proudly boasted it was a run-first team. Trickett’s arm has been less than what it was earlier in the season. To me, he looks spooked by his offensive line and it seems his clock ticks much faster now than before, but then he inexplicably holds onto the ball way too long. When you’re over-throwing and you’re worried about your surroundings, you make bad decisions and bad throws. I can’t ignore that we started seeing signs right around the time WVU started handing it off and throwing short a lot and rarely saw the sort of reward that would justify the unflinching continuation of that behavior.

Dann said:

After a beautiful defensive set, this nincompoop ruins the effort.

Vernon Davis! Show of hands: Who didn’t see that play coming sooner or later? And, show of hands: Who say Dana patting Davis on the head after that one? Hands should be up and down like Josh Lambert. That play is so much not on the coaches that I don’t want to belabor the point, though I do think the player errors are a reflection of a fear of or a respect for the coaches. But remember when WVU had the same damn problem in 2012? The ball would hit and everyone would sprint out of bounds. I think that’s the play here. I don’t care how Pop Warner it looks, it’s better than this nonsense. And don’t let anyone, including me, sell you on “Punt returning is hard!” It is. Getting away from a turnover is not hard. But we’ve been saying for how long that people were naive to believe special teams wouldn’t catch up to and cost WVU? They did. Again. My favorite part of the turnover here is the roughing penalty and the kick that still went 42 yards, far enough to trouble Davis. I have no idea why WVU rushed. Hindsight is useful, sure, but the defense was stonewalling KSU and Howard was hot. Sometimes you just take what you’re given.

Speaking of defense …

The 25314 said:

It frustrating to watch WVU, with equal talent, get boat raced. If you had the coaches switch sidelines, WVU would be the one leading 23-10. And maybe by more.

Had the same conversation with some people after the game. If you were playing flag football and picked teams, I think you’d run out of WVU players first. If you were getting ready for a fight and picking teams, I think you’d run out of KSU players first. If you gave Snyder WVU’s players, I think he’d win. They destroyed WVU’s screens. They pass protected beautifully. They went at WVU’s offensive tackles. had superior special teams. Some simple and sharp stuff. Interesting debate. Not sure what it means, but it made the weather a little more bearable.

smeer said:

and Mike C – there should be no QB controversy

Howard is clearly throwing a better ball and running the O better and can scramble

not even close

You knew it was coming, though. I’ll be surprised if Trickett plays Saturday, and I’m not sure he should play. Howard is the QB that WVU knows the least about at this point. Trickett’s on the way out. Millard is Millard. Crest got a lot of looks earlier in the season. WVU can learn plenty about the future in the present this week and then maybe even in bowl prep. I’ve heard some pretty discouraging things about Crest’s arm of late. Dana’s made this sound a little more chronic than sudden, and for all we know, Crest’s arm is problematic and he’ll be a receiver or a tight end soon. Two more QBs will be here for next season, and maybe you see one or both in the spring. Don’t you have to take a long, hard look at Howard now? Where could this be in five weeks?

glibglub said:

I would’ve liked to have seen what this team could do with a durable and mobile QB. I feel that the program is so close, but when the QB is off, as he clearly has been, it starts to careen like a driverless bus. And then Dana’s worst proclivities are thrown into sharp relief.

I have wondered if Clint should be benched since that hit a few games back where he tried and failed to stand up, then continued to play. In the moment, I wondered if it was the start of a Shane Morris scenario. I’m glad that Skylar is more capable than I expected. For the sake of Clint’s health alone, Skylar should finish the season.

Yeah, and you got a good  look at the mobile QB last night, and it was good. I think that’s the appeal of Crest and not necessarily Chugunov and Sills. The concern is durability. More running means more run-ins with defenders. Howard has to move a lot because he’s green and small, but also because he can run. This is a tame take, but I’d like to hold a multiple-game sample and see if he stays healthy and efficient before I put my feet in the wet cement.

I lover you Doug! said:

Oh, and I think we all agree: Time to retire the WR middle-screen. Teams know it, they see it coming a mile away and they blow it up for a loss. Nice play for awhile, but everything has to end.

Right? It’s not me, right?

Nope. There’s a tell. Opponents have found it, but WVU dressed it up last night with different formations and even some play action and it still didn’t work.

Karl said:

The one positive from last night was Skyler Howard. He doesn’t stink after all. In fact, after seeing that performance, I’m feeling more optimistic towards next season. We now know we’ll have at least one good QB to compete for the position in camp, which wasn’t the case going into this season. It was so refreshing to see a guy extend some plays with his running ability again. Between he and Crest, it’s likely that will be an important part of the offense again next year.

One more time…

He was fine last night. He looked much better than he did at even his best point during the spring and summer. That’s encouraging.

Mack said:

Question regarding the “developmental practices” . . .

I’m sure this was clear but I probably missed it. I know they had one or two developmental practices during the bye week. Did Holgorsen say they actually have one developmental practice every week or did I just make that up in my own head?

They have what they call “Thursday Night Football,” which is a showcase for the developmental players. Howard had been really good recently, from what I was told.

Sammy said:

Four thoughts:

1) Mario Alford is fast. If that guy has any crease he’s gone.

2) Skyler Howard is better than Paul Millard, of that much I’m sure.

3) Why Dana didn’t kick the field goal I will never know.

4) We aren’t going to win this game, and #3 is a reason.

That No. 3 puzzled me, but Lambert looked bad on his two kicks going in that direction and Dana didn’t want to put him out there a third time. It’s great if it goes in, but I think we’re being generous thinking it’s a sure three points. My problem is beneath the surface: Did he not trust the defense like he didn’t trust the defense against Texas? Game and clock management problems persist, though.

The 25314 said:

Exactly. Undisciplined coaching. Things like running the ball with 1:30 remaining, inside the 10, and having to use one of your 3 timeouts, thereby requiring a recovery of an onside kick rather than having all 3 timeouts remaining and an outside chance even if you don’t recover the onside kick. He takes the timeout after the run – the next play Skylar Howard is sacked, and he DOESN’T take a timeout. 18 seconds run off the clock, while we have 2 timeouts remaining, and have to recover an onside kick anyway. Back to back plays, completely contradictory decision making regarding timeouts.

He has no plan when he’s on the sideline. No attention to detail. Just like the complete incapability of the coaches to teach one single punt returner how to make proper decisions. If you can’t make proper reasoned decisions as a coach, how can you teach it to your players?

There’s no pattern. There’s no consistency. There is rarely a moment when I think, “Well, obviously, he’ll (blank),” and I’m either confident or correct. I’m not a wizard, but I feel like four seasons in I should have a greater success rate. A lot of these things are easy to see and hard to understand.

tls62pa said:

Emphasis for offseason: Discipline. I’m good with where we are at as a program. It has improved throughout DH’s tenure, and that’s important. However, silly mistakes have been our downfall in each of our losses. We don’t hear about these issues with the top teams. This is what needs cleaned up for us to get over the hump. I think our schemes and talent are just fine. Time to get on that Bill Snyder level of discipline.

I think WVU’s lost for more and greater reasons than silly mistakes and discipline, but I think WVU could have done a lot better this season — won one or two of those and had an easier time in other wins — if those variables were on a slightly higher level. It matters. You get tired of hearing about it and of hearing the Snyder praise, but that consistency and reliability is probably the main reason he’s so revered in his fraternity. It’s not easy to do it with college kids, but he always has it. The admiration is as much jealousy as it is approval, I’ve always thought.

The 25301 said:

Four years in, how is Holgorsen any better than Stewart? Instead of almost finding ways to lose to bad teams, we’re now finding ways to lose to good teams. Stew was fired because the team was playing at a level that would have led to more losses against a better schedule. We’re now playing a better schedule, and we’re losing those games anyway. If this level of play was unacceptable 4 years ago, how is it okay today?

And don’t tell me depth. Depth has nothing to do with mental mistakes. You can teach a walk-on the decision making process of fielding a punt. Depth has nothing to do with your punter punting the wrong direction. Depth has nothing to do with passing up a FG on 4th and 7. Depth has nothing to do with a complete disregard for ball security.

We’re not being over powered or overwhelmed by speed. We’re making stupid mistakes. WVU has the talent to beat good teams. But, just like 2010, not the coaching.

I think that’s very fair because the complaints, the criticisms and the causes are similar. I’d ask you to think this through and not merely dismiss it because it involves Stewart and his reign. There are points within this, namely similar struggles and that though the opposition is better, WVU is more talented, too.

Dann said:

Caz,
If you didn’t change the number, but bought a new phone, and your bill is current; the texts would just be there waiting for you when you activate it.

Ideal, but incorrect. There’s a phone-to-phone app that would let me switch everything over, but you need to have a functioning touch screen to have that happen. I do not. I’ll have all my contacts and I already backed up my photos and files. Texts are a different animal. Believe me, I traveled all avenues on this one.

pknocker40 said:

Didn’t get the memo re: TFGD so disregard the frantic texts wondering who filled in on towel duty after Howard entered the game.

Logan Moore! Dude was one hit away from having the best senior night ever. 

Sammy said:

My other recollection from that 2012 game was I felt bad for Tavon Austin, who — as was the case several times that season — seemed to be playing a different kind of game than everyone else in terms of both talent and effort, but alas he was the only Mountaineer doing so. I remember him having some tough catches and a kick return touchdown, while everyone else seemed like they were sleepwalking.

I also remember it as the final straw of the camera passing over to Mr. RELAX as he frantically tried to make defensive calls. I believe it was after that game that he moved to the press box to “see the field better,” with rumors swirling that Patterson had taken over defensive playcalling. It also sealed the fate of Daron Roberts, as Collin Klein went 19/21 for 323 yards and 3 touchdowns.

According to the box score from that game Tyler Lockett had 9 catches for 194 yards and 2 touchdowns. Unfortunately he still plays for Kansas State. I remember his dad and uncle too, who both played WR at Kansas State back in the 1990s (for Snyder of course) and both got drafted.

Poor Bob Huggins and his rear view mirror-less life. The past can be soooooo educational. You read those three grafs and there’s one outcome you cannot mistake.

Patchy said:

One thing that struck me during KSU’s first visit was the tight phalanx of the ENTIRE KSU team as they ran on and off the field – pregame, halftime and after.

No hot dogs running loose and alone, skipping and sidestepping and pointing at the crowd (read: drawing attention to themselves first and foremost). It was a proper E Pluribus Unum that carried it over into the game.

I also remember WVU’s players trying to mix it up with KSU’s at midfield before the game and KSU paying no attention to it. None. The fastest or most talented or biggest teams change every season, but every season it seems KSU is the toughest team in the Big 12.

pknocker40 said:

Bill sure did accept losing his right to wear those sick bowl game windbreakers so I say let’s kick him while he’s down.

That’s the exception to what I said above. Snyder folded like a cheap ‘breaker. But just picture that conversation and the phone call from the Big 12 office to Snyd’s. Zero chance Bill’s the one who apologized before hanging up.

Drew said:

– NUTRITION
One meal per day from Taco Bell is the secret to eternal life.

True, apparently.

glibglub said:

I notice he doesn’t let his kids in on any of the immortality voodoo. Like he’s fooling anybody.

It’s there if they want it — Taco Bell is open 24/7. 

glibglub said:

The little-known #17 is “Incrementally siphon the life force of the young and vital as they sleep.”

Oh. Aside: What would 75-year-old Dana be like on the sideline? How would his teams behave? This is why I couldn’t sleep last night.

Fernando’s Hideaway said:

Hello, dahlings. I must say, for a man his age, Bill Snyder looks mahvelous. Absolutely mahvelous. How does he do it? I mean, the man was a great grandfather when Rudy Valentino was hitting it big. Whatever his secret, it’s mahvelous because as you know, MY credo is “It is better to look good than to feel good.” You know what I’m saying, and you know who you are.

Enjoy the weekend!