Football: Day Eight Player/Coach Quotes
August 09, 2008 07:04 PM | General
August 9, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Coach Bill Stewart and player quotes following Saturday afternoon's practice:
Head Coach Bill Stewart
On today’s scrimmage
We took 35 snaps with the one offense and one defense, 31 snaps with the two offense and two defense. We had some great situational play, and we also had some not-so-good situational play, but what we had was a lot of rousing pass-popping, and I thought that was really good.
The guys ran to the ball and there were some big plays on both sides of the ball. It has been a great weekend.
We started on the 35-yard line, and I saw some good things. We tried to get movement going. The defense stopped us in the beginning, but then Pat (White) took the offense down the field and scored, and I thought that was good. I don’t know what we’re going to do about one of our tailbacks, second team who is trying to get the position goes in and fumbles first play. The other guy, on a swing pass, he fumbled. That can’t happen. The day was over for the one guy, and the other guy came back and made a couple good plays, but we will not hesitate to play Jock Sanders as our second tailback, I can tell you that right now.
We backed up from the -2, and what we’re trying to do is acquire field position. So what we do is give them two first downs and try to get the ball to the 25-yard line. What I saw, was a big play from Pat White to Tyler Urban, and I’ll tell you what- he will press Will Johnson for playing time. He’s a tight end/full back and that was a big-time catch for an 18-year old man. He is going to be a good one so that was really nice to see.
The best part of the day was when we put the pups out there-the threes and fours. I was really pleased to see Coley White out there, and Mike Poitier go in there and play a little bit. I saw Josh Jenkins have a guy over there almost into the stadium blocking, and it was like a mad dog in the meat house; he was really going after it, and it was fun to see that. Those young men had 11 snaps, and they have been waiting for that, so that was good.
After that we came back and worked on third downs. Defense won that one against the No. 1’s, the two offense won against the No. 2 defense and there were some big plays there. Then we went ‘NASCAR’ kicking. We put the ball on the near hash, whatever hash is nearest your bench no matter what side of the field you are on. No time is left on the clock and right before the half or right at the end of the game with no timeouts and no time. We run the play and then send in our hurry up field goal unit. We call that NASCAR. Then at the far hash, it’s the same situation. Then we put the ball on the goal line, and there were great plays on both sides of the ball. I was really pleased with the No. 1 defense, because they got nasty. Mountaineer No. 1 defense got real nasty, and it was good to see that-they were banging pretty good. We had two point plays and there were good things there too today.
What I saw out there today was good leadership. I thought the guys competed very hard. They have been going after this, and it’s there fifth practice in three days, and they are going after it so that was good. It’s a tough game played by tough people, and the Mountaineers right now are playing pretty tough.
On the camp’s schedule
I told them, we play the half. Next week, we’re going to get up to where we can play the second half. After that, our scrimmage on the 16th and once school begins on the 18th, what we’ll do then is start getting ready for Villanova. That is how we’re going to do it. We have one more week until classes begin. Those who are injured will not leave this building. Those who need work will not leave this building. This is football 101, and we are going to spend all next week with football.
On Jarrett Brown
He had a slight twinge, and we didn’t want to take any chances. His legs are tired, he’s been running a lot, and it’s not anything bad, just tired legs. He needs more fluids so we were precautionary today.
On Bradley Starks
Bradley Starks needed to play, and we don’t have any hesitation at playing No. 14 at quarterback. I thought he stepped up in the pocket and make a couple nice plays. Brad Starks is a natural, and I’m hoping that he can be the starting slot/wide out guy, be a little bit of both, and then be the third quarterback-that’s the plan. It was good for him to play and now he knows that he’ll be thrown into that situation.
On having a BIG EAST officiating crew present
We had a BIG EAST crew, and we are blessed and honored to have them here today. That was really special. They were telling some of the guys this is what you’re doing and this is why we’re doing this, and that was really neat.
On the freshmen
Tyler Urban stepped up and (Terence) Kerns made a few good runs. Defensively, No. 28, (Robert) Sands, keeps showing us a lot, and I really like him a lot. He is a true freshman. On the offensive line, Josh Jenkins looks pretty special. Now, what he’ll do I don’t know. As for the receivers, Ryan Nehlen caught a nice slant route and made a big-time catch for a touchdown. The freshmen are trying to get their feet wet. Right now, they only know where this building is and the Residence Inn and that’s all they need to know about Morgantown. Ryan Clarke is packing an extra suitcase, and we’re slimming him down ever so slowly. He’ll get it off and that guy is a freight train. Coley White did some nice things, and he made a pretty nice pass today.
On the redshirts
We’re not talking to them for one more week about who is being redshirted until after the scrimmage on the 16th, we’ll sit down and make some calculated decisions about what’s best for the program.
On injured players
We’re trying to get Ryan Stanchek and Will Johnson back next week. We know what they can do, and Jarrett (Brown) will be fine. He could have gone back in and played, and he wanted to go back in to play but we wanted Bradley to work anyway so it worked out.
Nate Sowers
On today’s scrimmage
It went well. We still have a lot of work to do, like Coach Stew said and I know I have a lot of work to do. I’m still getting used to the defense, but I feel better and that is what camp is all about.
On toughest adjustment
Probably tackling, because I haven’t tackled in three years, since high school. That has been the biggest thing, and I’m still working on that. As a safety, you have to concentrate on open-field tackling because you’re the last line.
On being comfortable in his position
It’s still a work in progress, but I get more comfortable by the day. I just have to keep working and hopefully something good will happen.
On trying to learn his position last fall
I got an overview. During the season, we already had everything in so it was not a teaching thing, but I tried to pick up little things here and there and I tried to learn general concepts. I learned a lot from film and from (Ryan) Mundy and those guys. This spring was a lot better for me, and I’m still learning.
JT Thomas
On today’s scrimmage
Around here we don’t like to give up touchdowns so one touchdown is a little too much.
Use of a tight end
Oh yeah. We have things we have to work on here and there on defense. I don’t know if there are a lot of tight ends who can catch a pass.
On Terrence Kerns
He’s good. He is built like a man and will bring another threat to our offense. It will be a nice change-up for Noel Devine. He’s a great player and this year will be great for him.
Offense vs. Defense
I would say the offense had a little better day today, because there are just a lot of little things that you don’t see, but I know we can do better. With time, we’ll become more experienced, and we’ll gel together and become a better defense.
Jock Sanders
On today’s scrimmage
We all come out here and work hard everyday and in our meetings, I focus on both positions and not just one thing for one position because I’ll play both positions.
I’m comfortable with both, and I’m just trying to catch a lot of balls and learn a lot. I want to bring more to the offense this year.
Experience on offense
Everyone who comes out of high school wants to show what they have. Noel and I came out last year, and we showed what we had, and we’re trying to improve on that for this year.
