Scrimmage Recap
August 21, 2005 09:19 AM | General
August 21, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Saturday’s camp-ending scrimmage at Milan Puskar Stadium was just “average” in the eyes of West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez.
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| QB Pat White scored two touchdowns during Saturday's scrimmage, according to Coach Rich Rodriguez.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks |
“There was some good stuff, some bad stuff and some stuff in between,” said the fifth-year coach.
First the good: Redshirt freshmen quarterback Pat White played much better than his previous two scrimmages, according to the coach. Rodriguez said White ran for a long touchdown and passed for another. Media and the general public were not permitted to view the workout.
“Pat had a better day probably than last weekend,” Rodriguez said. “He played pretty well (Wednesday) but he was a little sharper today.”
Rodriguez says he’s seen something positive from the 6-foot-2-inch, 190-pound Mobile, Ala., native just about every day.
“He still makes mistakes but you’ve got to expect that because he’s a rookie,” Rodriguez said. “I’m getting a lot of confidence in him and I’m pleased with the way he’s performing and Adam (Bednarik) as well. When they make a mistake they know what it is right away and that’s one of the keys.
“That’s the fun part when they get to that stage,” he said.
Rodriguez noted that both Bednarik and third-string quarterback JR House also did some nice things during the scrimmage. Bednarik and White again alternated with the first group and House worked with the third offense.
Owen Schmitt scored a short touchdown and got a good portion of the work at tailback because Jason Colson, Pernell Williams and Jason Gwaltney were all sidelined with minor injuries.
As for the bad, nagging injuries and soft play were the two things that had Rodriguez fuming afterward.
“We had a lot of guys out today,” he said. “We’ve got some guys that are pretty tough and fight through some stuff and then we’ve got some guys that I just don’t know if they’re tough enough to play at this level – kind of soft.
“To me that’s disappointing,” he continued. “The guys either have to develop the toughness or they’ve got to go to another program where they don’t have to be as tough.”
Among the growing list of walking wounded were slot receiver Joe Hunter and defensive end Warren Young; Hunter banged up his wrist and Young hurt his foot.
Colson didn’t get much work because of a sore ankle and Williams was banged up from earlier this week. Gwaltney is still nursing a sprained ankle suffered in Wednesday’s scrimmage.
“Those guys are usually pretty tough but we’ve got a handful that I thought would be in the two-deep but now I can’t tell you because I don’t know if they’re tough enough,” Rodriguez said.
When pressed, the coach did give out a tentative two-deep although he said it was subject to change as early as Monday.
“I’ve got more questions about the two-deep now than I did (Friday),” he said. “I wanted it to clear up and it became cloudy. I counted up to 80-some guys we’re considering for the travel squad. Now it’s as many as 82 or as few as 50. I might have to get a smaller plane (for Syracuse).”
Still the biggest concern for Rodriguez is wide receiver.
“The two guys that look like they could be starters (Dwayne) Thompson and (Brandon) Myles both of them haven’t practiced in a couple of days,” he said.
Rodriguez says the three main candidates for the two outside receiver positions are Thompson, Myles and junior Rayshawn Bolden.
“Ray Bolden has some good days and some bad days but he’s not at a starter level right now,” Rodriguez said.
The four guys getting the closest look at the two slot-receiver positions are Darius Reynaud and Vaughn Rivers on one side, and Joe Hunter and true freshman Jeremy Bruce at the other. Bruce has been sidelined for the past week and his place has been taken by junior Travis McClintic.
True freshmen Darren Brownlee and Ryan Dawson are also still in contention.
“The two freshmen aren’t quite ready but they may be on the two-deep,” Rodriguez said. “There is not one that you can say, okay, he’s a guaranteed starter because Thompson and Myles aren’t practicing.”
The quarterback position is still in question with both Bednarik and White seeing time with the first group. House is working with the third group. If there were a game tomorrow Rodriguez says both Bednarik and White would play.
“That could change,” Rodriguez said. The coach noted that all three freshmen quarterbacks will be redshirted.
Rodriguez says the running back spot is still up for grabs between Colson, Williams and freshmen Gwaltney and Steve Slaton. Right now Colson and Williams are No. 1 and No. 1a. Owen Schmitt will also play some tailback
“Even one and two aren’t etched in stone yet,” Rodriguez said.
Schmitt is the starting fullback and Rodriguez says tight end Brad Palmer can play some fullback as well.
The offensive line is pretty set in the middle with guards Dan Mozes and Jeremy Sheffey working alongside center Jeremy Hines. Working behind Mozes at left guard is redshirt freshman Ryan Stancheck; behind Hines at center is redshirt freshman Mike Dent and behind Sheffey at right guard are senior Aaron Howell and redshirt freshman John Bradshaw.
Senior Garin Justice has been solid at right tackle and his backup is redshirt freshman Jake Figner. The left tackle position has become a little more of a concern with senior Travis Garrett hobbled with a foot injury and backup Chris Bassler shelved with a knee injury. Garrett was able to return for Saturday’s scrimmage and his backups are now junior Damien Crissey and Bradshaw.
Three players are battling it out for the top spot at tight end: senior Josh Bailey, junior Brad Palmer and sophomore Mike Villagrana.
“It’s kind of like a three-man rotation with those guys in there,” Rodriguez said.
Junior Adam Serena and redshirt freshman Sam Morrone are in the mix as well.
Defensively, Rodriguez hinted that many of those spots are more secure. The defensive line will probably be comprised of Craig Wilson, Ernest Hunter and Keilen Dykes. Backing up Wilson at defensive end is Florida transfer Johnny Dingle and Warren Young.
Working behind Hunter at nose is sophomore Pat Liebig and behind Dykes at the other defensive end position is sophomore Andrae Wright. Wilson can also play the nose.
“We’ve got about six or seven that we can work in there that we’re pretty comfortable with,” Rodriguez said.
The top three linebackers right now are senior Jeff Noechel and juniors Jay Henry and Kevin McLee. Working behind Noechel at strong linebacker are Bobby Hathaway and true freshman John Holmes. Sophomore Marc Magro and true freshman Reed Williams are behind Henry at middle linebacker and sophomore Mortty Ivy is McLee’s backup at weak linebacker.
Junior Eric Wicks is ahead of junior Akeem Jackson at spur safety, while seniors Mike Lorello and Jahmile Addae are entrenched at the other two safety spots. Behind Lorello at bandit safety is sophomore Ridwan Malik, whom Rodriguez says has played well this fall. Behind Addae at free safety is junior Abraham Jones and true freshman Quinton Andrews.
Anthony Mims has been solid at one corner spot and will be backed up by sophomore Larry Williams, while the other corner position is still up for grabs between senior Dee McCann and rising sophomore Antonio Lewis. Senior Thandi Smith will also see time at corner.
Phil Brady and Scott Kozlowski are still battling it out for punter, though Brady is slightly ahead. “That’s still pretty close,” Rodriguez said.
Pat McAfee has moved ahead in his pursuit of the starting placekicking job. McAfee will also kickoff.
The long snapper is junior Tim Lindsey and the holder is senior George Shehl.
The punt returners will either be Antonio Lewis, Vaughn Rivers or Anthony Mims, while the contenders for kickoff return are Lewis, Rivers and Steve Slaton.
“You may want to ask me again in about four days,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do. I’m more disappointed in the number of guys that are a little bit softer than we’re used to. That’s got to change and they know it. If you’re soft you kind of stick out around here. They know how we want to get after it.”
The team will take part in Fan Day activities scheduled to take place inside the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility at 1:30 pm. Fans will have an opportunity to meet the team and can collect autographs and photographs until 3:30.
The first day of the fall semester is Monday.
