Welcome to the (236th!) Friday Feedback, which is a what more than a who and concerned with how instead of when. And when I get to the stadium tomorrow morning, that’s how I’ll approach the players who I think can turn WVU into what might be a better team than most people want to think.

Far be it from me to tell you to take a lot from the game tomorrow and the way its reported too seriously. How nonsensical is it? The defense has been the story the past two games — although, to be fair, I suppose the defense has been the story the past two seasons, right?

But that’s what you’re dealing with, so I’d advise you to tread lightly as you attempt to draw conclusions. I think some things can be weighed more heavily this year than last year, for certain, because last year’s spring game and the participants were at the mercy of players who were to arrive over the summer. This year’s spring roster is probably going to have just a few immediately notable additions in June and July and August.

Again I urge you to concern yourself with how instead of who and why instead of what. Example: We know Wendell Smallwood has been the guy this spring. It’s absolutely understandable to get a good look at him tomorrow — but we know he’s had a really nice run of form. Instead, let’s see how they use him. Is he a running back? Is he the first-team running back. Oh, he lined up at receiver? Well, was did he line up at slot or did he motion out from the backfield? Did he run routes or did he do simple stuff?

Hmm, the offensive line wasn’t all that? Well, did the guards dominate? Because they probably should. Did the defense overwhelm the tackles? Who were the tackles? What side did the play calls avoid? What side did the results favor? When were there issues? And why is that?

Something I really want to see: Third downs. WVU’s offense struggled there — and the red zone — last season and WVU’s defense couldn’t get off the field. This is the resistible force and the movable object. I expect both could be better, but I want to see how and I want to know why.

Apart from that? How similar are the play calls for Paul Millard and Skyler Howard? Did Dustin Garrison have a few good days or a really good spring? Is Jon Lewis a thing? Will the corners sink or swim in man-to-man? What does Tony Gibson show us, because did you catch that part where he mentioned a package with one guy with his hand in the turf and 10 guys standing up? And how many defensive players are cross-trained? I don’t expect to see many, but I also can’t yet believe WVU’s defense is so blessed with talent and depth that it can plug in and elevate backups at all spots without borrowing from others.

Oh. Attendance, too. I kind of feel like Dana Holgorsen and WVU are on a goodwill roll and that in a clever, covert sort of way the access to practice has worked wonderfully for the Mountaineers. There hasn’t been a lot to come out of camp, which means mostly good to great stories have emanated from the privacy. They’ve practiced in front of three live crowds and done somewhere between OK and pretty well every time, which is a credit to the team for sticking the landing. We have no idea what’s happened the other 11 times, and it’s wholly irrelevant because what people do know, as well as what they don’t know, figures to conspire and combine into something people want to see on a sunny Saturday.

Or not.

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, be cool.

netbros said:

These poor kids on defense who are now going into their third or fourth year probably don’t know which end is up

True. Imagine Jared Barber. He’s played-played for Jeff Casteel, Joe DeForest, Keith Patterson and Tony Gibson. Call it Barbacide.