It's a shame. I would really like to talk about this game with y'all. But y'all just refuse to believe the Mountaineers might be good this year or that your 2021 season might be partially due to a weak schedule.
I keep reminding people WVU was 6-6 last year, but should have been 8-4 or 9-3. The QB of the 2021 team, Jarett Doege, God bless his heart, transferred to Western Kentucky. Doege entered the portal again yesterday when couldn't win the starting job at Western KY.
Doege limited the Mountaineer offense to a handful of plays he could execute. The opposing defense didn't have to worry about Doege beating them deep or with his legs. 70% of the sacks the Mountaineers gave up last year were a product of Doege either moving into the sack or holding on the ball. The kid had heart, he was tough, but he was a terrible QB.
Dana Holgorsen left the roster gutted, especially at QB and OL. Neal Brown had the choice between two freshman (Greene and Crowder) and Doege. Crowder wasn't physically ready. Greene lacked experience playing QB having recently switched to football from baseball. Garrett is talented, and would have won the QB job except for the fact he couldn't read a defense and rarely ran the play called.
Greene would drop back, if his primary receiver was covered, he would take off. He has great wheels and a burst, but Brown was frustrated. Coaches tend to like QBs who run the play called.
So it was Doege. I know a guy who coaches for an ACC team. He's a native of WV, and a former Mountaineer. He told me the Mountaineers were easy to defend when Doege was the QB. The defense only had to worry about a 15 yard zone from the LoS. They could pack all 11 defenders in that 15 yard zone with confidence.
Doege is gone. JT Daniels is by far and away the starting QB. He's looked like pro in practice. He never misses a read, he never misses a throw, and his deep ball is always dropped in the basket.
Daniels is protected by an offensive line that features two Freshman All-Americans and two other guys with legitimate NFL talent. The problem last year, in addition to Doege, was youth and RT.
The RT tackle position is the only position up for grabs. The battle is between 3 talented kids Brandon Yates (r-so), Ja'Quay Hubbard (r-so), and the kid with the most talent Jordan White (r-fr).
I know y'all think WVU doesn't have anything behind Leddie Brown and Brown is gone. That's not true. Brown was the only healthy back for most of the season last year. Tony Mathis Jr. is the starter. Two of the kids behind him might have more talent.
I know y'all think the Mountaineers lost most of their receivers. They lost the guys who were problems in the locker room. The guys who openly created discontent over QB1. The receivers who stayed are the ones Brown wanted to stay. Bryce Wheaton, Sam James and Kaden Prather. Joining those guys are Cortez Braham, Jarel Williams, and Jeremiah Aaron. Prather is the best of them, but Braham is a freak with size and speed.
Daniels, as expected, has elevated the play of the wide receivers. It's amazing how much easier it is to play receiver when the QB can hit you in stride and put the ball in your hands.
Y'all shouldn't worry about the Mountaineer defense either. The Mountaineer defensive line features All American Dante Stills and goes 10 deep. That's 10 defensive linemen WVU is going to rotate throughout the game. That includes the freshman freak Asani Redwood who is thought to be the second coming of Bruce Irvin.
Lee Kpogba is a game changer at LB.
Last season the Mountaineers had the worst secondary in the Big 12, but they also had the best cover cornerback Charles Woods. Woods is back. Everyone else is gone. The rebuilt secondary features a combination of transfers and youngsters. They are all tall and extremely fast. FS Aubrey Burks (so) has the cover skills of a shutdown corner.
Y'all are expecting a 6-6 team. What you are getting is the team that was a FBS caliber QB away from being 9-3 while playing one of the toughest schedules in college football.
In 2022 the Mountaineers have a NFL caliber QB. The most talented QB to play at WVU. Let me repeat that... Daniels is the best QB to play for WVU.... better than Pat White, Will Grier, Geno smith. Marc Bulger, Major Harris, Hoss, etc.
That upgrade alone is worth +3 games.
But Neal Brown had a secret weapon. Ken Kendricks (owner of the Diamondbacks) and Oliver Luck setup the Country Roads Trust to provide WVU with the means to be competitive with NIL. Brown used the Country Roads Trust to to patch every hole they had in 2021. Brown didn't just patch the holes, he upgraded.
Fall camp has proven Brown spent the Trust's money wisely.
What Pitt is facing on September 1, 2022, is a team that expects to play in Dallas for the Big 12 championship.
As for the Brawl, it's been circled on the calendar all offseason. It's not just another game. It's the game the Mountaineers use to prove to the nation the program is a playoff contender.
So go ahead, make your jokes. Feel as confident as 2021 allows you to feel. You don't have much time left to crow.