TSM Coaching Approval Meter (Post-Pitt 2010)

We beat Pitt.

Yes: 1168
No: 2452
Total: 3620

I still believe we need to make a change on the offensive side of the ball. We did do something intelligent against Pitt which I am still finding hard to believe, that was power running using our POWER RUNNING BACKS. If Mullen could some how remember that and turn that into a center piece for what we are trying to do that could lead to some type of idenity when we have the ball. I am being a “glass is half full” guy right now and I am not sure why, maybe I am half asleep, maybe I’ve been roofied by Jonhnson and Mullen, I don’t know…….. beating the ass off of Pitt felt really good, but no it wasn’t enough to wash the taste out of my mouth for the last few years. If we could pound everyone on the rest of our schedule the way we handled Pitt I might be inclined to go into next year with a slightly different opinion, that would have to include a drumming of a BCS quality foe though (preferably VT) and that would require UCONN to choke one off to help us……

This week is a YES for me. I loved beating the tar out of Pitt at their place. That was the most complete game we’ve played in some time. We are also in position to win a share of the BE title (yawn!) and, with help, go to a BCS bowl. I’m not saying we have had a great season, or even lived up to our potential, but any season in which you go to a BCS bowl has to be considered a success in my book.

That being said, I am still frustrated with our offense and I am on board with those who think changes need to be made. The most frustrating thing about our offense is, as WVUIE put it, we’re equally capable of awesomeness and lameassery on any given play. Often times on consecutive plays. If I didn’t see signs of life from time to time, it would be a lot easier to just write off Mullen and move on. But no, he’s like that schizophrenic girlfriend you had in undergrad who would buy you presents one day, start a fight that night for no reason, give amazing make-up head, then go get drunk with her friends and make out with some random dude on the dance floor at Club Z. Eventually you just had to kick her to the curb but the head really was enjoyable sometimes.

I still said no. If we can keep playing at this level then maybe I will start voting yes. Consistency of excellence is what I want to see, not consistency of mediocrity.

I hope the hell UConn chokes, and we whip Rutgers cause I wanna go to a BCS bowl.

I have to vote yes. The record isn’t what I had hoped for, and the offense has been difficult to support in the past, however, it seems like the team is working better together, and rallying around each other. The victory over Pitt was a solid full team performance. And they did show in the second half, more than the first, that WVU has an offense.

The N.C. goal is out of reach, but with help a BCS berth and the Big East title are still options, as is a 10 win season.

I do think a shake up of the staff is needed at year end.

I like how we did a total team evaluation and started more of a power game, but I had to vote a no because of how long it took for the staff to realize it needed to make a change. With Noel getting hurt against LSU we should have started using Clarke and Alston more. But it was like we were obligated to give Noel the ball. I know he stuck around for another year but you don’t waste a season on trying to make your offense go around one particular guy, especially one that is injured. But they can move me over to a yes if we keep the mentality of the Pitt game from here on out.

hopefully we come out and throw the ball down the field, because when we do it works.

Am I supposed to be impressed about beating a 6-4 team?

We win, it is either not by enough points or we should have beaten that crappy team so I give them no credit. Every win is necessary to accomplish the teams goal. You can improve after every game no matter what.

We lose and everyone should be fired.

Just give some credit when your team does well. It is pretty awesome to be happy about beating your rival!

Based on the body of work. Losses to Syracuse and UConn, one a homecoming game, did it for me.

Clock management , no improvement since the Colorado game in Boulder.

Arm Crossing: . He sticks his hands under his pits . like Mary Catherine Gallagher.

We beat a hated rival by 25, on the road, and let’s not forget that Pitt had a lot to play for…they controlled their own destiny and could not match our level of play. To me, that is indicative of the team being properly prepared.

Of course, I am still a little concerned about the offense…5YS makes a good point that we are still a run-first team, it’s just a power-run, and I am still of the mind that we should be a pass-happy pro-set offense, with wrinkles of the spread, and power-I mixed in. (That’s my Tecmo Bowl analysis…). Regarding my concern: we did net 14 quick points off of about 44 yards of offense (our first drive had to go just 2 yards), and also some 3-and-out first-half drives left us in a major hole with regard to time-of-possession…those are negatives for the O, but also point to just how dominant our defense was in the game…

I spent Thanksgiving in Wisconsin at my in-laws (which had worried me, since I had only watched a WVU-Pitt game there once previously where the Mountaineers won) and I noticed, being a husband who has had to adopt the Green Bay Packers, that the Pack runs the ball with about the same efficiency as the Mountaineers – 3 carries for less than 3, and the maybe 1 carry for a first down, and yet the offense is incredibly prolific, because the attempt to run is all that matters, since it is based on play-action. I wish the Mountaineers would lean that way…of course, now there are only two games left. Here’s hoping we win both!

This is the first game we won the second half since i don’t know when. This mereley reflects that Wanny and Pitt are that bad. I sat and watched the game live wondering why we don’t get our guys in space becasue it is obvious we are faster. Then I wonder why not run right at them if they can’t stop it. while i am thinking these things we are running bs reserves and the slowest devloping running plays on record. Then i thought if we are fasster why not give geno the time and have tavon run out the coverage. I almost voted yes because we did those things in the second half but i am still scarred from marshall, syracuse, and uconn games. HCBS if you are reading this do the right thing and retire after the year and ride off into the sunset before we get a posse together and run you out of town.

BlueGoldNews message board poster “Mexman” is attempting to steal Dr. West’s signature move of intimating that Nick Saban is interested in the West Virginia job.

I can’t vote and I’m torn. I REALLY like the use of Alston as a big back with a little speed. That seems to me to be our future, but as has been pointed out here, none of us know what the hell we are talking about.

I’m still irritated by the what if’s of this season. What if we had gone to a more power running, play action look earlier, what if we catch the interceptions thrown in our chest, what if Lindamood doesn’t fall down and instead tackles Peterson or gets a block in the back on the return at LSU, what if we were 10-1 right now?

I think, I hope, Mullen is starting to figure out how to use what we have to be effective. I’m still a little nervous about the pass happy first halves and all run second halves. I like that Austin wants to stay outside for next year, I like the receiving corps we have coming back next year and I like that we seem to be improving as we close out the year.

I said this somewhere else here but I’ll say it again. If we win out, regardless of whether it’s a BCS or not, I’ll be happy-ish. I still think we should be having some “come to Jesus” meetings with the offensive staff and I still think the best case scenario is after we beat Rutgers Stewart announces his retirement and we get riled up for the bowl game and whip either VA Tech in the Orange Bowl or NC State in the Car Care Bowl sending Stew out in a blaze of glory.

Beating Pitt is always a top priority for me, and by 25 in their house is just sweet. Like Country Roads said this was probably the most complete game I’ve seen from the team. And that’s on both sides of the ball.

I like that we finally scored in all four quarters of the game. I like the heavy running attack we’re getting from Clarke and Alston. I don’t think our O line is playing anywhere near as good as we need them to play. I don’t think our special teams play is as good as it needs to be.

And finally, I’m willing to give Stewart one more season provided he does something about getting the offense and special teams straightened out.