Football: Coach Stewart/Player Quotes
August 12, 2008 03:10 PM | General
August 12, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Coach Bill Stewart and player quotes following Tuesday morning's practice:
Head Coach Bill Stewart
Today we had a shells practice with helmets and we went over situations. We worked on our kicking game and we didn’t let the older guys kick today, specifically so we could watch our young freshmen, and that was good to see. So, Pat McAfee didn’t take any reps, nor did the older punters or kickers.
We kicked the ball well but didn’t punt the ball well. So we have to work on that. In case something happens with our punters, we always want to have a back-up plan, and that’s what we worked on today. We put them in pressure situations, in the two-minute drill with the offense against the defense, and I thought that was a pretty good job.
We have a long way to go with punting but that’s why you have guys like Pat McAfee and Scott Kozlowski and Gregg Pugnetti here; they are all upperclassmen and they’ve done the routine.
I thought our defense did a nice job in the circuit drill today where we were working on stripping the ball, tackling and doing some things. It’s an effort, gut-drill and they like to come in and get after it which is cool to see.
Offensively, we worked very hard on pass protection, and I thought the offense did a tremendous job. We threw everything at them defensively blitz-wise and the offense did a nice job.
Again this morning, Pat (White) had a tremendous day stepping up, avoiding the rush, seeing the coverage and that was really good. There was good work on both sides and nice plays made by both. At the end, we had a very spirited two-minute drill and that was fun to see. We put pressure on them in all kinds of situations like we do every Tuesday and Thursday morning. We work with them to get three points. You always want seven but there are wants and needs in life, and you always want seven but in certain situations you need three. Today we needed three and we got it twice. The No. 1’s got three both times and the No. 2’s didn’t get it, which wasn’t good on the secondary’s part.
We had to put one (player) on the stadium steps this morning so we’re getting better. When we get to where we don’t have to put any on the stadium steps, and they do what we tell them to do, then we’ll be even better. It’s just a form of discipline and we will have discipline in this program. We’ve always had it, we will continue to have it, and I know we will have it in the future. That’s what makes Mountaineer football fun.
For a practice in shells, it’s still very good to see our offensive and defensive line work together and Pat (White) is rushing things and working on twists. It’s good for the skill guys on both sides of the ball to come out and work on blitzes; we had safety blitzes, corner blitzes and we were throwing everything at them. It was good to see they handled it pretty well.
This afternoon we’re going to go out and have a pretty intense practice. I promised them that and I never go back on my word; we will bang a little bit today. We will do a very fundamental practice early and then we will work on situational drills. We’re going to hit everyday this week and that’s what the second week of camp is all about. They are acclimated, their helmets are adjusted and their pads all fit, so now we bust them and put them in stressful situations and make sure that they respond in a matter that we think they need to in order to win a championship. That’s what we are practicing for everyday-to win a BIG EAST championship. They know that and that has been good. I feel really good about where we are right now, but we have a long way to go like every team in America does, and we’ll keep working and keep improving. We will keep working on situations that we think will help us win football games.
On the freshmen who may see playing time
Right now, offensively, I think Josh Jenkins might have a chance. On the tight end/fullback, I think Tyler Urban has a chance. I think Ricky Kovatch has a chance coming out of Ohio, and I think Ryan Clarke has a chance. As for running backs, we don’t have a backup running back other than Jock Sanders. We would put Jarrett (Brown) at quarterback and play Pat White at running back before I’m going to put someone in there that is going to fumble the football. Until those guys get better at what they’re supposed to do, there aren’t many freshmen playing running back, or junior college players playing running back. Those aren’t the rising superstars, those are just the ones that have stepped up to the plate, have taken the bat off their shoulder, and have done pretty well.
Defensively, I think Robert Sands has a chance to step up and play along the defensive line. The jury is still out there but Sands has done some nice things. Out in the corner, we’re hoping that Brandon Hogan will play. He will play a lot and hopefully a whole lot; there is still competition out there. I kicked Tyler Bitancut today because I wanted to see what he could do under fire and he will continue to kick some this week. We need to see where these freshmen are. Mark Rodgers might have a chance to play on all special teams-Ricky Kovatch and these types of players that can run fast. DJ Thomas might be on special teams. We have a tremendous amount of speed at West Virginia and we’re very blessed, so that would be a place for those guys to play. It’s very difficult to play as freshman unless you are a skilled guy at cornerback, receiver, maybe a defensive lineman at times, but it’s very hard to play safety and in the lines.
On Ricky Kovatch
He was a young man who had some scholarship offers, one to play on the I-A level, and we think he has a chance to be pretty good. He’s a guy out of Ohio who is a tough guy, who can run and can hit you. He’s about 235 pounds and you always have to wonder if there is another Owen Schmitt out there waiting, and maybe Ricky will be another success story like that. We hope so because it’s good for sports, good for America and good for everyday living. He approached us and Coach Mullen knew about him. He had some smaller college offers and we’re the one that gave him a chance. He’s a tremendous kid.
On punt returners
Certainly Ellis Lankster will be a punt returner. Jock Sanders will be a punt returner, Brandon Hogan and Quinton Andrews may have a chance. The kickoff return will be Noel (Devine), Jock (Sanders), Mark Rodgers, maybe DJ Thomas, and maybe Eddie Davis. We will just have to see who can take a hit.
On the quarterbacks
Pat (White) is really doing a good job. Pat White is seeing the field and seeing things that are really neat to see. He’s really doing a great job and he knows what he’s doing with the ball. If you blitz him, he knows where to go. He hits his spot and he is doing everything we ask of him. Jarrett (Brown) sees it and Bradley (Starks) sees it as well. They were smoking with five, seven, eight people coming at them, and the quarterbacks were right on it. That’s why yesterday I got mad at the defense; you have to get off blocks. Just because you get off blitzing, that doesn’t mean you are going to win. You still have to strain, get off blocks and play physical football. We can draw up every scheme in the defense. We don’t need plays, we need players that will do what they are called upon to do when the time comes.
On freshman Coley White
Coley White did a nice job today. We gave him some reps and he’s doing well and he’s learning. Every time I look around he’s got the script in his hand.
On Josh Jenkins
He is also doing well. His helmet comes off and he’s still going after it. Right now, we’re very strong along the offensive line and that’s a tremendous situation. The first back up behind Ryan Stanchek and Greg Isdaner would be Donny Barclay. He’s like Jarrett Brown, he’s good enough to play but he can’t get in the lineup. At right tackle, you have a heck of a battle going on.
On Jimmy Lewis
Jimmy Lewis will be on special teams. We had a punt drop in on him the other day and I challenged him. He about knocked Sammy Marrone out and Najae Goode out, and those are two of the toughest guys on our football team. Jimmy Lewis is a hitter and another success story. He was a heck of a Division II player up in Pennsylvania and he wanted to come down here. We’re tickled he is here and grateful he is here. He’ll play on special teams and you’ll see some helmets flying.
Player Quotes
Josh Jenkins
I’m enjoying being at West Virginia. The coaches are great and I’m learning from Jake Figner and it’s great to play behind him and watch what he does. He does a lot of things right. It’s really nice to be around Ryan Stanchek and Mike Dent because they are so good, and it’s good when you can learn from the best.
On playing right away as a freshman
There is a chance I might play this year, from the coaches’ point of view. There is a chance I won’t redshirt but there is also a chance that I will redshirt. I’m not going to worry about it either way because I’m a freshman. I want to play and no kid wants to sit out for the whole year but if not, if the coaches don’t think I’m ready, then that is there opinion. That’s why they are the coaches.
On Coach Johnson
He’s a great guy and he’s very smooth. You don’t find coaches like him very often because he isn’t a guy that will scream at you. He will definitely get his point across, don’t get me wrong, but he is a coach that will come up and teach you what you did wrong. He’s a great coach.
On his overall strength
I think I’m pretty strong compared to the rest of the guys but everyone is really strong out here. When you come into college, you have to come in here with some strength. I was up here all summer working out and I think it got me prepared for the season.
Bradley Starks
On taking reps in practice
I’m mostly at quarterback right now. I’m taking my time and running through my reads back at quarterback. I’m trying to get the fundamentals down but I’m keeping my wide receiver skills sharp at the same time. I took the No. 2 reps for the last couple practices because of Jarrett (Brown) situation and we’re working on getting him back on the field. I have to keep working and keep competing because everyday someone is fighting for a job. That is pushing one another and that makes us better as a team also.
On playing both quarterback and wide reciever
Coach will throw me in to run the play (at wide receiver) and he expects me to know it just like all of the other wide receivers. Just because I’m back at quarterback doesn’t mean I don’t have to study. I have to study my wide receiver blocking and all of those techniques at wide receiver.
On his running skills
Being at wide receiver, before period 1 we’re running and we never stop running periods 1 – 24. When you go through two straight weeks of that, then there is nothing you can’t outrun.
On the team’s depth at wide reciever
I think we have the depth and everything in time will tell. We’re going to be fine and we’re going to be fine down the long road. We’re going to come together and stick it out and do what we have to do.
Coley White
It has been a good learning experience. The coaches have been working on my mechanics and that’s a good thing because I need to work on those. The team is looking good.
On playing with his brother Pat White
It’s hard because he’s harder on me out there than the coaches are, so it’s hard playing with him. I learn a lot out there from just watching him because he’s a mirror image. When we’re going through our drills, I watch him to see how he does it. We worked on my passing mechanics, on drills, and reading the defense and plays over the summer and I learned a lot. He sat down with me before the season and he’s helping me out. I’m just trying to learn from him.
Toughest thing so far
The speed of the game is a lot quicker. I can’t run through defenses. I have to really sit there and read. The plays are different but once you learn them, they are pretty easy. I’m learning the plays and looking at the defense and choosing which read is correct.
On Coach Mullen
I like him a lot. He’s a good coach and he takes time and works with me, and all of the quarterbacks.
On choosing West Virginia
Pat wasn’t a big factor at all. It came down to the head coach and the quarterback coach, and I really like them both here.
Brandon Hogan
On playing defense
It was a little awkward because I have never played cornerback before and coach asked me. I played safety in high school a little bit and when we played passing teams, I played safety. I wasn’t sure about it but I wanted to give it a shot and to give it a try.
On his first practices at his new position
It was awkward and it felt really weird. I had to get the feel for it and get used to it, but I’m getting more comfortable day by day. I have to work on my defense and my technique.
Knowing that when you are a receiver, you don’t want to get touched when you are running your routes has helped me on defense. On defense, you want to get your hands on the receiver and we want to mess them up and re-route them. I know that was one thing I hated when I was a receiver so I just try to use that.
It’s a lot of learning and a lot of watching, trying to get my technique down. At first it was weird being on the other side of the ball. But I’m starting to feel more comfortable each day.
