Why Can’t WVU Unleash Garrett Greene in Hurry-up Offense More Often?

Watching Garrett Greene lead West Virginia on an improbable comeback win over Kansas made fans wonder about something concerning the WVU offense. Why can’t the Mountaineers incorporate a hurry-up offense strategy that worked so well in the final minutes against the Jayhawks more throughout games?

Overall in the game, Garrett Greene only completed 15-of-30 passes for 295 yards. He also threw two interceptions. But after an up and down game throughout most of the day, a different Greene emerged in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

Once WVU fell behind 28-17 after Kansas added another score when play resumed following a long weather delay, Neal Brown put his offense in a hurry up mode throughout the rest of the game. The intensity and tempo increased and everything else became simplified. The poor decisions that have been present from Greece all season were no more and the offense seemed to find a rhythm.

Brown said after the game that he eventually told Greene to just take off if no one was open. Greene did just that, taking off for 87 rushing yards.

“I’d like him to check down more, but that’s not who he is right now.”

WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose

Greene has struggled to go through a full progression of reads on each play. He’s developed a tendency of relying on his favorite target Hudson Clement too much, often missing open targets like Traylon Ray or a Kole Taylor or even check down to Jahiem White or CJ Donaldson.

So since it appears Brown is coming to terms with the fact Greene may never be the efficient passer that he was hoping he would become all offseason, why doesn’t he just put Greene in this reduced high-tempo offense more often in an effort to put his quarterback in a position to succeed?

WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose

Well, Brown provided two main reasons why that’s easier said than done when asked that very question on Monday.

First, and perhaps the most important hinderance, Brown said going to a hurry-up offense more often would increase the pressure on the defense. That type of offensive style would lead to the defense being on the field more often, something that create a problem based on the defensive struggles to this point, most notably with the secondary.

“So if you do that all the time, you make it really really hard on your defense first of all.”

It’s clear Brown is simply not confident that his defense can be consistent enough and can handle more work right now.

And aside from the issues it would create on the other side of the ball, Brown also noted that opposing defenses would then start scheming for WVU differently and would prioritize trying to plan for a two-minute game plan, something he does not feel coaches are working on as much during their practices before playing the Mountaineers.

“If you are going to do that all of the time, then people are working that all of the time,” said Brown. “When people are going to line up and play us, that’s not the first thing they’re working on. They’re working on how they are going to play our run game concepts and how they’re going to play the quarterback run stuff. That’s the first things they’re thinking about. They probably get to the two-minute stuff later in the week.”

Like it or not, Brown’s points are valid. However, since Greene has been shaky at times this season and doesn’t appear close to as advertised throughout the offseason, a steady steam of a simple plan could be WVU’s best bet to get the most out of their electric leader.

Maybe a compromise needs to happen for Greene and the offense to truly reach their potential.

For a related story, Garrett Greene earned a major honor after leading WVU to comeback win.

WV Sports Now’s Mike Asti also offered his complete takeaways from West Virginia’s win over Kansas.