How Neal Brown Can Right the Ship in 2023

(Photo by WVU Athletics) 

 

It appears as if Neal Brown is going to remain WVU’s head coach going into the 2023 season.

After much speculation, I have heard through a source that Brown will not be terminated despite a 3-6 record in 2022 (20-24 overall). Instead, the stipulation will be that Brown will have to replace his entire staff by choice of the university. Take that with a grain of salt, but I certainly believe it to be true.

However, this will not completely fix many of the holes that the Mountaineers will enter 2023 with. While Brown has been trying to build the program the right way, through solid recruiting in the high school ranks, it may be time for him to pull a page out of Dana Holgorsen’s playbook.

It is time to hit the transfer portal hard and often this offseason.

The Mountaineers need players that are able to play right away. It is nice to have a solid development system, yes, but Brown doesn’t have the luxury of waiting around for the youth on his roster to come around. He needs experience and he needs it now.

One position in particular is the secondary. West Virginia’s passing defense has been abysmal in 2022. Seemingly every quarterback they have faced this season (minus Grant Wells) has had an outstanding day against the boys in Gold and Blue. If this continues into next season, Brown will surely be relieved of his duties at that point.

Landing some key transfers in the secondary through way of the portal would be massive for Neal Brown. To accompany that, he also need to make it a point to let ShaDon Brown go first. The secondary is his unit, and he is apparently not up to the challenge of producing a good enough product.

Offensively, Brown needs to bring in some talent at receiver. Bryce Ford-Wheaton and Sam James both could potentially return next season, but they need some help. Adding depth to a receiving room that just appears to be so depleted would be huge for the offense.

The pieces will be available for WVU to add, they just have to go get them. No more JUCO or FCS players, add players from Power Five schools who are looking to compete right away.

 

Neal Brown’s job could likely depend on it.