Football: Coach and Player Quotes
August 13, 2009 12:23 PM | General
August 13, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Quotes from coach Bill Stewart and selected players on day six of fall training camp.
Coach Bill Stewart
Opening statement:
Today, a situational practice. It was a nice two hours, in and out. We worked on a blitz situation on both sides of the ball. Very good teaching. We only went through a scramble drill in case breakdowns do occur. Then we worked on the two minute drill. This afternoon, we’re going to go out and put pads on and continue building their repertoire.
On how the offense performed during the two-minute drill:
The offense did not do very well, but the defense did. We had a couple big plays offensively, but it wasn’t what we needed it to be. Group two did okay against the two’s.
On doing more two-minute drills:
If done properly, I would like to see more two-minute drills. My first time as a head coach, we did three-a-days for a week. That probably wasn’t too smart. Like Bear Bryant said, and I’m not anywhere near him, he said that’s all we knew as coaches – two-a-days and kicking. What happened was production of scoring and youngsters beating each other up. I would like to see more two-a-days.
On filling the day with practice:
In one-a-days, we have a lift on one side of the ball. Let’s say offense lifts, defense meets for an hour and 15 minutes. They switch, so that’s two hours and 30 minutes. By the time you get down and back, that’s a three-hour block. It’s a good meeting or walk-through, then I have a 30-minute special teams walk every day, whether it’s punt or a kick off. We don’t want them on their feet. I liked today’s practice. I like to go out, get something accomplished, as I said the three phases are very well orchestrated, and that’s the way to do it. Then, go out in the afternoon and bang and get tough again.
Learning things when two-a-days start:
When you have a two-a-days, it’s a little faster because you don’t have as much saturation time with film. You have to do it on the field, come in, watch the film, and then hit the next practice and do the same thing and have your night meetings as preparation for the next day. What you learn is the overload principle. You throw everything at them on both sides of the ball from practice one through five, which is what I have always done and I like that. Now, you find out who can retain. Retention is a big key, particularly for young players. You’re finding out people who will not make the same mistake twice. You find out about the mental make-up of the player.
Physically, you have to watch them. As I said earlier, we used to beat them up in the old days. I was beat up and we beat them up as coaches – that’s all we knew at the time. I’d like to think that the old school was tougher. I think we’re just wiser now.
On offense being installed now:
It’s all installed. There will be wrinkles. If we see someone do something on film, down the road, we can go back to maybe what was introduced during a certain phase or concept. It’s all about concepts. Once you learn the concept, then you can go back to the equation.
On offense being different from last year:
We’ve tweaked it and the guys know what they’re doing. The young men have retained. Spring practice has helped the guys as well as the summer. The summer is what’s changed football, these guys staying all summer and it’s been good. They do it themselves. We’ve added and implemented some things too.
On Eugene Smith:
He’s doing both practices today. He didn’t do the entire practice, but he did some team stuff. The scouting he did, the two-minute drill he did and the scramble he did.
Navigating through misinformation on potential players:
We go watch them if we can do that. If we can go watch youngsters play, then we do. For instance, the 1100 club made it possible for coach David Lockwood to go see, in season, cornerbacks practice and/or play. We watch tape on them too. If you’re offered a scholarship at West Virginia University, you have to pass the 10-men test. Nine coaches watch you and then the head one watches you. We watch every guy. We come in here very, very early. During dead period, we will put four hours a day to watch prospects. We’ll do that the entire week. Every morning, prior to spring football, we’ll come in here for four hours and do film on recruiting.
On how Josh Taylor’s improved:
He’s shown toughness. He’s shown he is a Mountaineer football player. I talk to these guys and tell them to put their cell phones away, tell your girlfriends you’ll see them after camp. Josh Taylor listens and that weighs very heavily in my thinking. He does exactly what he’s supposed to do when he’s told to do it and he does it in a disciplined manner. And he’s become our No. 2 nose guard; therefore he’s earned the right to be considered for a scholarship.
Mark Rodgers
Assessment of practice:
It’s going pretty good. Everybody is coming together as a team.
Depth at running back:
The competition level is good. We are all competing for positions. Everybody just has to stay on top of their game to keep their spot. I’m working pretty hard. You have to fight everyone off of you. You just have to know your position and what you have to do.
On speed at running back:
We have a lot of speed. The coaches knew what they were recruiting. We are all little guys at running back, but we have speed.
Noel Devine
On speed and depth at running back:
We have great depth in the backfield. The depth give us a chance to have a break between reps. We don’t have to pound it as much. Mark (Rodgers) and I are kind of like veterans, so we’re just teaching the younger guys.
On difficulty with two-minute drills:
There are no excuses. We just have to come out and play better. It’s our first time doing the two-minute drill, but we have to improve off of our mistakes, like getting lined up, knowing the down and how much yardage we need to gain. The more practice we get, the better.
Jarrett Brown
On getting Noel Devine more involved as a receiver:
I think my receivers outside, with Jock Sanders on the inside, they’ll take care of that. When I finally get to Noel, that means everything downfield is covered. There will also be some plays for him.
On difficulty with two-minute drills:
When you install something at first, you’re not used to it. We are going to go back and fix it and do those things better. You have to look at your offense in a different perspective. Your reads are going to be a lot quicker and you don’t want to take sacks or lose yards. You want to just manage the clock.
