After Further Review, ECU's Holtz Even More Impressed With Jarrett Brown

I really had to look twice when I saw the quote, conveniently stuffed between analysis during today's press conference of ECU's defensive performance against WVU and his preview of their upcoming game against UNC:

I told somebody after the game that I think I'd rather play Pat White than play Brown again.

I realize this is going to be fodder for those fans (all eleven of them) who were clamoring for JB to be playing over Pat White in the first place, but bear with me and think about that:  ECU's coach would rather play against the best player in WVU football history than the guy we currently have under center.  Now, I'm not an expert, but I feel like with an endorsement like that, it bodes well for JB's future this season.  In other words, he's legit.

Here's what the Skipper said in its entirety:

"Looking back and going through the film, I tip my hat to West Virginia and the job that team did. I was really impressed with Jarrett Brown. I was impressed during the game and I was even more impressed after sitting down and watching the film.

 

"I was impressed with his poise, strength, power, athletic ability and the way he threw the ball. I told somebody after the game that I think I'd rather play Pat White than play Brown again. Brown has so many weapons because he can run the ball and throw it very well, too. With Pat White, you didn't need to rush him as hard, but you had to corral him. If you don't rush Brown, he's going to sit back there and pick you apart. He was really impressive."

So, coach, is there anything you didn't like about Jarrett?  Maybe he didn't double-knot his shoelaces, or perhaps had the swoosh turned the wrong way on his Nike wristbands?  Then again when you're a self-proclaimed "faster version of Ben Roethlisberger" or basically an incarnation of "Tom Brady and Vince Young put together," what aren't you capable of?  Maybe time travel, but even that I wouldn't put past him. 

I do take issue with the Pat White comparision.  JB has looked good, but he hasn't had to single-handedly lead the team to victory against a great team on the national stage or bail the team out against a lesser opponent like Pat used to do.  I'm not saying he's not capable of it, I'm just saying that the comparison might be premature.  True, Pat wouldn't sit back and pick you apart.  Then again, he wasn't allowed to.  Instead, Rod forced him to make one read, then take off.  And from what I saw in the Tire Bowl last year, that decision was not based on any inability on the part of Pat to do the job.  And despite those instructions, Pat still won 4 bowl games and was named BE Offensive Player of the Year twice.  Not too shabby.

Back to JB.  What this comes down to is that this team has a variety of weapons, and JB has the means to get the ball into the hands of those weapons.  He is calm and poised, and can deliver an accurate throw where his receiver has a chance to make a catch and get upfield.  When a play breaks down, he can buy some time, or take off and burn you for a first down.  He has a top flight running back to take some heat off him.  He has a talented, yet inexperienced, offensive line to help keep him upright.  In sum, as long as these pieces continue to operate at the level they played against ECU, we could be in for a very special season.