Coach Neal Brown: “Trusting The Climb” A Message to Mountaineer Nation

This article is coming from a person who not only believes in head coach Neal Brown but, someone who went through the process with him for four years. I was an offensive lineman at Troy University while coach Neal Brown and the staff was there. During those times we had great success. Before the success we had to go through the gauntlet of hard times, really pushing ourselves as players and becoming more disciplined. The culture needed to change and it started from the inside the locker room. 

My Freshman year at Troy is a lot like it is right now for you, mountaineer nation. Some frustration, growing pains, just a lot of inconveniences. The big thing that Coach Brown and the staff stressed was to really get close to one another. Playing for your brother. To do that we spent a lot of time together, becoming a tight-knit group. Playing for something bigger than oneself. It is important to know that, even though this season has not been the best, taking shots the chin, just know a lot is changing more than you know. 

For us at Troy, we had to become more mentally tough to win those close games. So what the coaches did was challenge us constantly in mental toughness, pushing yourself just that extra inch to keep going and finish. Looking back on the 2015 season and also reflecting the 2016-2018 season and the only way we have three straight bowl victories, one conference championship, and back to back seasons defeating a power 5 team. It did not happen overnight, it started with the players buying in and trusting the process. My statement to the West Virginia players, if any decides to read this and if I can tell you anything, believe in what is going on. It might suck right now but this is shaping you guys right now to be a very successful program. 

Coach Brown stated after the game that they will build a successful program. He also talked about how much he appreciated the fans, and I promise you Mountaineer Nation no other coaching staff appreciates their fan base than these coaches. At Troy, our coaches really stressed being involved in the community. When we made it personal to build relationships with people in the community we then as individuals and as a team became closer. It no longer meant playing for just the team, but for the entire Troy community. 

Mountaineer Nation, coming from someone who really respects Coach Brown and his amazing coaching staff. All I can say is #TrustTheClimb. The cliche saying “If it was easy, everybody would do it”. All I can promise you is, this team will be a different team a year from now, and this season will be something to look back and make you appreciate the tough times. I am a bit biased about these coaches, given I played for them but, what I love about them and will stick up for them any day of the week is that they are the hardest working coaches in the country. 

-By: Zach Branner

Writer/Interviewer

Name: Will Grier

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 223 lbs

Date of Birth: 4/3/1995

School: West Virginia

Conference: Big 12

Recruiting Profile: 4 star recruit: #48 player,

#2 pro style quarterback (2014 class)

Class: Senior (University of Florida transfer)

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Throwing Accuracy: More often than not, Grier does a very good job placing his throws in the proper spots for receivers to not break their momentum. Can at times over grip the football which causes his throws to nose dive at a lower depth for receivers. I fear Grier may fall victim to the dreaded “small hands category” that draftologists love to harp on. Small hands or not, Will Grier checks off the most important quarterback criteria… accuracy.

Decision Making: This is where my concern for Grier begins. He can be what everyone would associate as being a gunslinger; believing that there is no throw that he can not make. He demonstrates an extreme trust in his receivers to make plays on 50/50 balls. And in the wide open Big 12 conference, where cornerback play is at a scarcity, it works out pretty frequently. However, he far too often settles for an ill advised throw instead of living to play another down.

Pocket Awareness/Poise: Very comfortable in the pocket, Grier demonstrates a cool demeanor to settle into progressions. Blessed with an ability to navigate, Will also shows a solid understanding of when to extend/escape the pocket. Even while on the run, he never looks unsure; always maintaining great body posture with good eye discipline down field.

Anticipation/Progression: Grier can be a victim of locking into the first read. He clearly understands where the weak spots in different coverages are, quickly snapping his eyes to the predetermined window. From time to time, when coverage rolls and changes the aiming points, Will makes some ill advised decisions to stick with the route concepts to the new look. He does show an ability to work through multiple reads when comfortable. Grier anticipates windows well, even when the pocket is extended and he is forced to adlib.

Mechanics: He does a great job establishes a solid throwing base even after resetting his platform. Even when forced out of comfortable positions, does a great job keeping his shoulders square so he has enough torque to make the necessary throws on the run. His actual throwing motion is somewhat awkward, having a long loop motion that you would think would make for a slower release. With a great snap and hip drive to his release point, Grier makes up for this concern with urgency in his release. His quick feet may be his most underrated attribute. This allows him to always get the ball out quickly and in rhythm, even when having to constantly reset. You can tell that he has been playing the position for awhile now with the attention to detail in drop tempo and balance.

Arm Talent: This is where you can fall in love with Will Grier. He has ability to throw from all different types of arm angles and platforms. He demonstrates the changing of arm speeds, including great touch to the intermediate/deep parts of the field. When on time and making sound decisions, Grier has the ability to make every type of throw to different depths of the field.

Arm Strength: Arm strength will forever be the most over hyped quarterback attribute to me when evaluating. There is something to be said about being able to fit balls in tight windows. This however, more often than not, makes up for poor timing/route progression. That being said, Grier has more than adequate enough arm strength to fit throws into the necessary windows. I would in no way list this at the top of Grier’s greatest attributes. He is a full effort thrower that relies on hip torque and proper mechanics to generate throw power.

Mobility/Escapability: More of a scrambler than runner, he shows a great ability to extend/break the pocket to keep plays alive. At times, he relies on this ability a bit too much. Defenses must maintain discipline against Grier to not allow him to hurt them with his legs. He has more than enough foot speed to hurt man coverage situations.

Summary/Pro Translation: With Justin Herbert returning for his senior season at Oregon, Will Grier has a big opportunity to vault himself a top what is an underwhelming quarterback class to say the least. There will be questions about decision making, physical stature (a very questionable 6’2” listing), and age (will be 24 years old as a rookie). However, Grier demonstrates the ability to make all the necessary throws and decisions in rhythm of the game. Quarterback success depends largely on situation they are drafted in. In the perfect world, Grier would be taken within the first few selections of the second round. Due to Grier’s mechanics/makeup I believe he will hear his name called in the first half of the 1st round of the 2019 NFL Draft, with the ability to start early. He projects for me as a long term above average starter, to a low end starting option. He may never be that “franchise quarterback” that can save a franchises’ fortunes, but in this weak quarterback class, someone will draft him to be.

Pro Comparison: Andy Dalton/Baker Mayfield

Career Stats/Highlights: 621 completions on 945 attempts, for 8,556 yards and 82 touchdowns. He also holds a career completion percentage of 65.7% with just 23 interceptions. Grier also posted 7 career rushing scores.

By Ryan Roberts