West Virginia Mailbag: On when the clock starts on Neal Brown, defensive changes and possible upsets (2024)

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What are the chances the James Madison game will be streamed on Wvsports.com?

Bobby, Fredericksburg, Va.

I passed along this question to Matt Wells, the senior associate athletics director who’s the go-to guy on all topics involving broadcasts, tickets and promotions. (He’s also the QB for his son’s 7-on-7 youth team.)

The university’s sports website will stream the Aug. 31 season opener against James Madison. That stream also will be available on the WVU Roku channel and Apple TV. However, the stream will be blacked out within the AT&T SportsNet footprint, which includes West Virginia, eastern Ohio, southwestern New York and much of Pennsylvania.

How much time does (football coach Neal) Brown start with on the clock to produce success? The fans will be ready to dump him after one season if he doesn’t make a bowl, like always, as is true anywhere, but I have a feeling that the administration has a bit more patience.

Thomas L., Morgantown, W.Va.

Athletics director Shane Lyons understands this would’ve been a rebuilding season had former coach Dana Holgorsen stayed. Imagine an eight-win team losing Will Grier, Gary Jennings, David Sills, Yodny Cajuste, Trevon Wesco, three D-linemen and David Long, the Big 12 defensive player of the year. (Holgorsen knew this year required a reset, putting him on the verge of losing contract leverage. That’s one of the reasons he left for Houston ahead of 2019 instead of 2018.)

Brown won’t be held accountable for some of the recruiting failures he inherited, or the academic misconduct that led to receiver Marcus Simms and safety Kenny Robinson leaving. They were the two most experienced players on each side of the ball, and their situations predate Brown’s arrival.

The cultural foundation Brown and his staff are laying resonates within the administration and within donor groups. Casual fans might not understand if the losses pile up this season, and that impatience comes with the territory. You always encounter a tweet that screams otherwise, but I don’t think the fan base is removed from realism. Remember: Brown started 4-8 at Troy before going on a three-year run of 10-plus wins.

At the time of Brown’s hiring in early January, I thought a bowl bid should be deemed a successful season. Considering the roster attrition of the subsequent months, even four or five wins might represent progress.

Any word on what the coaches think of this year’s defense? And will we see any major changes from what we have been used to seeing on the field?

Brian L.

For one thing, I’ve never heard defensive coaches be so complimentary of walk-ons. Linebacker Jake Abbott and safety Dante Bonamico drew raves this spring. Some of this speaks to a lack of defensive depth; it also reveals coaches wanting to highlight hungry guys who are doing things right off the field. Again, culture is important.

I’m intrigued to watch some scrimmage periods during preseason camp to see how defensive coordinator Vic Koenning’s six-man front varies from the 3-3 stack Tony Gibson ran the past five years. There are positional overlaps, but I sense we won’t see quite as much blitzing from West Virginia, which under Gibson gambled with zero coverage in an effort to heat up opposing QBs.

Last year’s defense got scorched in losing the final two regular-season games vs. Oklahoma State (45-41) and Oklahoma (59-56) — fans don’t need to be reminded that a win in either puts WVU in the Big 12 championship game. Gibson’s unit produced some high points: finishing 20th in forced turnovers, No. 6 nationally in tackles for loss and 37th in third-down stops. Those categorical successes were mitigated elsewhere though, such as finishing 95th in pass-efficiency defense, 104th in fourth-down defense, 93rd in red-zone stops, 74th in total defense and 67th in points allowed.

Koenning emphasizes having “backstops” on defense, a reference to limiting explosive plays. After West Virginia allowed 62 plays of 20-plus yards last season (ranking 75th nationally), there’s room for improvement, but the depth issues at safety makes you wonder about a proclivity for busted assignments.

I trust the climb and think this year could be rough, but there will be payoff in the future. How many wins does it take for year one of the Neal Brown era to be a success?

Chris F., Morgantown, W.Va.

Never been a fan of excuses, but Brown’s regime will need an infusion of talent and discipline before West Virginia challenges for a Big 12 title. I think the Mountaineers are at least two years away from competing for a spot in the league championship game. (Only once during Holgorsen’s seven Big 12 seasons did WVU go into the final weekend with a chance of being among the top two teams.)

So, aside from this season’s record, I think you should evaluate Brown in other areas: game-management skills, development of young players and, of course, how the final pieces of the 2020 recruiting class come together.

If quarterback Austin Kendall really did push for the starting job at Oklahoma last year, there’s no way he’s not the starter for us week 1, right?

Matt S., Ashburn, Va.

Ashburn, eh? I awarded a second-place Heisman Trophy vote to one of your town’s best athletes, Jonathan Allen. Now, to your question …

Speaking of the Heisman: Kendall has 25/1 odds of winning that bronze trophy (same as Alabama’s Jerry Judy, USC’s JT Daniel and Mizzou’s Kelly Bryant). Barring injury, Kendall is West Virginia’s opening-day starter.

Like Lincoln Riley did last year with Riley and Kyler Murray at OU, you can bet Brown will afford Jack Allison every chance to compete for the job. To that end, Brown has even thrown out a bone about that Camping World Bowl loss, saying it wasn’t fair to judge Allison’s performance with Simms, Jennings and Cajuste sitting out.

Ultimately, Kendall didn’t transfer to Morgantown to sit. He didn’t foresee a path to playing time at Oklahoma, but he recognized one at WVU. He’ll do what’s required to win the job, even though it won’t simply be handed to him.

Where does the team stand heading into JMU? Does Neal Brown know most of his starters or are we still shuffling stuff around a lot?

Jesse S., Arlington, Va.

Let’s proceed unit-by-unit, shall we?

On the offensive line, four spots look solidified (everything except Mike Brown at left guard). Among the receivers, T.J. Simmons is the only sure thing. Jovani Haskins is clearly the top tight end. The running backs room is so deep I think you’ll see some two-back sets.

On the other side, the main D-line competition is between home-state guys Reese Donahue and Dante Stills. Donahue is a team leader and effort guy who overcomes some physical limitations. Stills is explosive and possesses a high ceiling.

I think the starting linebackers are reflected in the depth chart (Dylan Tonkery, Josh Chandler and VanDarius Cowan). The cornerback rotation of Keith Washington, Hakeem Bailey and Dreshun Miller is decent. The safeties, quite frankly, are a mess.

It should be an informative month of preparation before the opener against James Madison, which returns 20 starters and figures to the FCS preseason favorite.

What team should be on upset watch this year when they meet up with the ‘Eers? Where is our biggest chance to surprise everyone?

Ashley M., Lakeland, Fla.

Upset candidate? Give me Texas, which during the past three seasons has lost eight times as the favorite. In three of those losses, the Longhorns were favored by double-digits:

• Favored by 12.5 points in loss at Maryland in 2018.

• Favored by 18 in home loss to Maryland (51-41) during coach Tom Herman’s debut in 2017.

• Favored by 23.5 in loss at Kansas (24-21) in 2016.

Texas and WVU meet Oct. 5 in Morgantown with both teams coming off a bye week. The Longhorns have Oklahoma up next in the Red River Showdown.

Which first year will be most similar to Neal Brown’s? (Don) Nehlen (6-6, transformative turn), Rich Rod (3-8, a major shift in style), Coach Stew (9-4, an attempt at continuity with disappointing results), or Dana (10-3, a shift in philosophy leading to immediate success)?

Brison H., Lexington, Ky.

Great question involving historical context.

Based on record alone, Brown’s debut season could resemble that of Rich Rodriguez. It’s not inconceivable that West Virginia could be a three- or four-win team this fall. That schedule stocked with 11 Power 5 opponents doesn’t afford many breathers.

Try this take on for size: When Holgorsen took over for Bill Stewart (a messy transition that had zero chance of working amicably), the change was meant to move WVU from good to great. Stew had won nine games for three straight years, each ending with the Mountaineers in so-so bowls, and athletic director Oliver Luck expected more.

Holgorsen essentially had the same track record in the Big 12 —two top-25 finishes in seven seasons, zero league titles, a 33-30 conference record. That’s the epitome of good-not-great, right? Long-term, Lyons and WVU fans should expect Brown to make West Virginia relevant in Big 12 championship races.

How much does it change the dynamics of the QB competition if Jarret Doege is given eligibility for this coming season by the NCAA? If I am seeing it right, doesn’t that put Jack Allison, Austin Kendall and Doege all with two seasons available and Trey Lowe with three? Kind of along those lines, lots of folks are big on Lowe. Where does that leave him with three guys in front of him with two years to play and the kid from Florida coming in right behind him?

Keith W.

My sense is Doege will sit out the season, so — and I’m extrapolating a lot here — he’ll compete to become Kendall’s backup in 2020.

No one in the know has referenced Allison transferring, but he likely would have the flexibility to leave as a grad transfer after this season if Kendall is entrenched as the starter. For Allison’s part, he said all the right things in spring, particularly that he was competing for the job and didn’t come here to sit the bench. He doesn’t sound like a kid who’s just happy to be a hanger-on at a Power 5 program.

Lowe’s future is linked to how much he develops as a reserve this fall. With four years of eligibility remaining, he has ample time to make his mark. By the way, I watched Garrett Greene throw at last Thursday’s camp in Morgantown: smallish frame but a plus-arm with nice accuracy.

Of the actual Big 12 contenders, who does WVU have the best chance of upsetting? Would love our version of Troy-LSU. Thanks!

Jason H., Arlington, Va.

See my Texas answer above.

The next week Iowa State comes to Milan Puskar, and because the Cyclones aren’t loaded with elite talent, I think West Virginia will have a chance against the Big 12’s third-place preseason pick.

How do you classify our defense? The media guide says multiple, and a lot of media outlets say 4-2-5, but it sure does look like a two-high safety 3-2-6 with a jack linebacker to me. Typically the first number is the number of downed linemen in the formation; which as a former big ugly I take pride in. But, especially after Koenning’s comments that the spear/will were the same position — one just plays the field, the other just plays the boundary — I lean toward it being a dime formation, which a lot of the Big 12 already runs. I know there’s not really an answer in today’s football as it depends too much on how the offense lines up, but it’s the summer. —

Caleb H., Shepherdstown, W.Va.

The summer is indeed a time ripe for what-ifs and contingency planning, though our inability to channel Nostradamus makes it tough. Could anyone have foreseen JoVanni Stewart playing linebacker at 5-foot-8 last season? Nope. But injuries forced Gibby to get creative.

The spear position (currently Stewart and Kwantel Raines) is definitely a coverage-based safety, making this a five-DB base defense. There might be overlap with the Spur position of the former scheme, but with less in-the-box.

I think you’ll usually see three true defensive linemen, with the Bandit or Will linebacker frequently walking up on the edge to present a four-man front at times. We even saw the Mike (Tonkery) doing this at times during spring practice. Whether that was an episode of cross-training or emblematic of Koenning trying to create confusion, we’ll determine after witnessing game action.

In long-yardage situations, the 3-2 alignment figures to be in play, though a lack of experienced safeties may give Koenning pause about playing a dime package.

It seems to me that the tight end, whether on the line or flexed out, will be a prominent part of our run and passing offense, what say you AT?

Chris, Follansbee, W. Va.

Jovani Haskins is a quality receiver for sure, and I think he could evolve into a 40- or 50-catch guy. (He caught 16 passes for 148 yards in 2018, compared to Wesco’s 26 for 366. Both caught a touchdown.)

If Haskins plays with more physicality, WVU can capitalize on multiple formations without substituting. Haskins told me he learned a lot from watching Wesco punish defenders last season, so I’m intrigued by whether his blocking becomes nastier. New tight ends coach Travis Trickett has made this an emphasis also.

What do you see for the three-year forecast for Neal Brown? How does this team get back to contention in the Big 12 and will Brown be here until the end of his contract? Thanks, love the work.

Andrew K.

Appreciate the compliment, Andrew. Wild supposition on my part, but a three-year progression along the lines of four, eight and 10 wins seems plausible for Brown.

His contract extends six years, which feels like an eternity. (By that juncture, we will have a new TV deal and possibly another round of conference realignment, so the tectonics could be shifting dramatically.)

I sense Brown can make West Virginia a destination job. The town suits his immediate family and even his extended one, and he’s already digging into facility improvements, fundraising and branding. Plus, if Lyons remains the AD for the long haul, their shared vision could portend a trusted partnership.

Brown has been respected at every stop, by the head coaches and the ADs under whom he served. Case in point: When reporters tried to press him on his relationship with Tommy Tuberville at Texas Tech, Brown was complimentary and respectful. “Coach Tuberville has been really good to me,” Brown said.

I know Tuberville wasn’t enthused about having an Air Raid offensive coordinator back then, but the administration demanded it. And Brown did such a reliable job, they co-existed. Brown doesn’t burn bridges, doesn’t snipe or back-bite. I’ve seen staffs where that discord was evident.

(Top photo: Joe Robbins / Getty Images)