Time For A Change: West Virginia's Coach Stewart Is Absolutely Right.

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West Virginia started the season with Coach Stewart saying "it's time for change". After the Mountaineers non-performance this past week in Tampa against the Bulls of South Florida, he is absolutely spot-on.

The changes needed continue to mount game after game.

Quarterback Jarrett Brown's season is finished in this reporters eyes. Since the hit he took in the Marshall contest, Jarrett has become ineffective and worst of all afraid to take a hit.  He has become way too predictable.  Roll left, roll right, no two or three step drops and pass, way to long to release the ball.  The offensive line is to be commended on the amount of time he is getting after each snap.  I really feel sorry for the Mountaineer receivers, can you imagine running a perfect route being wide open, look back only to see Brown hurrying a pass out of bounds, or tossing a 90 mile an hour heater 5 yards deep into the secondary.  I really believe Brown has to see a receiver open before he will release the ball, you and I both know that only works in high school, occasionally, not with the big boys. 

Oh, don't forget the numerous times this past Friday night he could have ran the ball for 5 to 10 yards but instead heave the ball downfield no where near an open receiver, remember the receivers had ran their route and been open about 10 seconds ago.  Jarrett Brown possesses the skill and qualities of a fantastic sand lot quarterback.  You know, the QB you played against in neighbor Phillips backyard.  The one who received the snap, immediately ran left, then right, then tossed the ball with all his might down to the middle of the field, every play was a "hail Mary".  In the huddle you were told go down 10 and out, or, do a 10 yard button-hook and take off, or the best of all, just take off I will hit you.  I am not trying to make a joke of Jarrett Brown or Mountaineer Football, it is, has been, and will always be my number one past-time.  I bleed the Mountaineer "Gold and Blue". But when I witness performances like this year and hear a Mountaineer head coach continually preach, "we are going to bring good ole smash mouth mountaineer football", it makes me sick to my stomach as much as the onset of the H1N1.

Coach "Stew" is "a good ole boy from West Virginia.  You know one of the "Hardees Morning Coffee Clubbers".  Way too nice to be a head coach at the Major College level.  It's one thing to "know football" and a whole different ball game to step up to be a Major College head football coach.  You've not only have to be a football genius, a play designer, but most importantly the team "psychiatrist".  There are over 50 young athletes to keep happy and keep their heads on straight, every day and every game.  The "Stew" approach is not working.  I'm getting that same sinking feeling of "doom", just like those Frank Cignitti years.

I have seen enough of Coach "Stew" giving high fives and pats on the back for missed tackles, blown assignments, and flat out Junior Varsity play.  Coach "Stew" needs to take a few tips on football team management 101 from this writers high school alma-mater football coach.  I realize there are more than enough asst. coaches to share the blame, but, I stick to "the buck stops here approach".

So far this season I have not seen a glimpse of the "good ole West Virginia smash mouth Football" that "Stew" praises so much.  West Virginia seems to have no game plan.  No plan on offense.  It's like plays are just called out of the blue or better yet there’s a chart numbered 1 thru 50 of offensive plays and West Virginia just goes down the line from 1 to 50, ignoring the game situation at hand.

Where did the Mountaineer "Fast Break" Offense attack go?, you know it's the one where bubble screens actually worked because the defense did not have time to get set each play.  Or those quick slants to our tight end would pick up 15 yards a clip.  (Do we even have a tight-end?).  Yea, his name is Tyler Urban and he's damn good when he gets the ball.  That lost offense I speak of is called the "two minute drill" and the Mountaineers made it famous by running it during different times throughout the game, sometimes, for quarters at a time.  

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