Football: Head Coach Bill Stewart Quotes
August 19, 2009 06:59 PM | General
August 19, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Quotes from coach Bill Stewart after practice 13 of fall training camp.
Opening statements
We had another hot practice today and ran about 110 plays. We ran about 50 with the one’s, 40 with the two’s and almost with 20 with the young guys.
We hit short yardage hard, and I thought we did a really nice job with the two- minute drill on both sides of the ball.
We have come a long way, and we have a long way to go. I think we have a football team that competes and a football team that is trying to play as tough and as hard as they can.
On Tevita Finau
I hear things like you all do. At this point, Tevita Finau is not here. I hope that he will be here, and when and if he does get here, you will see me smile.
On shuffling the offensive front
We are shuffling both the one’s and the two’s at every position. We have a lot of guys that can play, particularly defense. So the offensive line is just like every other position, there is competition, and it is open to everyone.
On the center position
Competition is at its best. Joey Madsen got to run some today with the first group more than he has in the past, and we will know tonight, after we look at the film, how he played. That is not to say anything bad about Eric Jobe; we are interchanging other positions as well.
Eric Jobe can play guard, and that has been discussed. The inside three need to be able to roll.
He (Madsen) is a tough guy, and I like tough guys. He is an effort guy, and he is straining pretty well. As long as you strain, play hard and know your assignments, you are going to play football at West Virginia.
I think he (Josh Jenkins) could play center, but we need him at left guard. He is talented enough too. Big Jeff Braun is talented enough to play center as well. They are young, and they making mistake, but they are giving great effort. I think those three are pretty interchangeable.
On the defense
We had a nice pick from Guesly Dervil at the end of the scrimmage today and there was a fumble early. The defense is doing well. They are attacking and playing physical.
On Ryan Clarke
His ankle is good. It is not a high ankle sprain so he will be back on Monday.
On Shawne Alston
I was very pleased with him today. I hope he shows you all on Saturday what he showed us today. He ran hard. For a freshman, he is doing really well.
On other players in red
Eain Smith has a deep bruise in his quad, and he will be okay. Bradley Starks tightened up his groin, after we let the young guys in, so we didn’t want to cause any problems with that.
On Geno Smith
I see a young man with great pocket presence that has a lot ability to hang in there. I see a kid that is really coming on and does a nice job.
Coley (White) played some a quarterback. We gave Coley all of the reps in the spring. This week and early in camp, they were told that Geno would get the same look, and then we would go from there. I like what I see in Geno, but I would like to wait till after Saturday to see about that second spot.
On Tavon Austin’s playing time this season
He has a lot of guys that he has to beat out. Tavon Austin is absolutely electrifying, and he is a fun guy. I heard the defensive coaches talking today, when he gets hit, he bounces right back up and is going to the huddle or the next formation.
On Jordan Roberts
He is going to see some time on special teams. He is on our kickoff, punt block and our kickoff return teams, and he ran the ball well today. I like Jordan Roberts and his nitch will be special teams, and then when he gets on the travel team, we will work him into the rotation. He has great placement.
On the kicking situation
Tyler Bitancurt kicked the ball well today, and Josh Lider has been kicking the ball well. We have a tremendous battle going on. We have to get the punting game a little better, but it is coming.
Josh Lider’s hang time has been around 3.9, and the ball has been anywhere from the three, four, five, six, seven, and I can live with that. He kicks the ball about four seconds, on the numbers, almost every time.
On the possibility of having two place kickers
I will do whatever it takes to win the game. We have talked about that. One might be the field goal guy and then the other may be the kickoff guy.
Josh Lider does a great job on pooch punting. Scott Kozlowski may be our punter, but Lider may be our pooch punter. Some guys can pooch punt and some guys can’t. We are working hard on that. The kicking game is getting better, but we are going to keep working on it.
On kickoff returns
Right now, the guys I really trust on returns are Jock Sanders and Brandon Hogan. Nate Sowers would be with Hogan, and Tavon Austin with Sanders. I really trust Sowers and Hogan. I know they will catch the ball, run the ball, make one move and hit it north like they are supposed to do.
On the BIG EAST gaining Champs Sports Bowl
I think all Mountaineer fans should be very pleased, because that will be an exciting game. I am very pleased with that arrangement.
