By MSNsportsNET.com
August 22, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.- West Virginia University coach Bill Stewart Post Scrimmage Quotes from the final day of fall training.
Opening Statements
I felt like our football team has worked very hard and I am really proud of them. I told them that after the scrimmage. There is a survivor mode, and a get-better mode. I really feel that our guys took the get-better mode and I am pleased with that.
We had a 90 plus play scrimmage today. You saw a lot of movement and competition out there.
I am a little worried about this football team right now because we have distractions coming on us. What does that mean? That means that you have 19, 18 and even some 17 year old freshmen away from home for the first time. Now we have classes, advisors, dorms, eight o’clock classes and getting acclimated to Morgantown with 20,000-plus students to deal with. It is all distractions.
There are also positives to build on. The positive thing is that they are still in this state of hitting. We haven’t talked about hitting, we haven’t wanted to hit, but this has been a very physical camp. Now we have time for our bodies to heal.
The foundation is in – it was set these last two weeks. They had 18 practices. Most were grueling and most were tough. Even when we were in shorts and shoulder pads, they were tough. That is the Mountaineer way. That is the West Virginia way.
Now it is up to the polishing and finishing. The finishers are going to have to commit. Who are the finishers? It is the coaching staff, the seniors and the guys that have been in the arena. We have to finish the product and fine tone everything.
Competition is going to really pick up this week. I am going to find out who can do the mental part. I’ve seen who can do the physical part. Penalties like holding in the redzone. Unbelievable. I’m not pleased at all with that. Three holding penalties in the redzone takes you out of scoring. Facemasks by a defensive player in the redzone, David Lockwood, Steve Dunlap or Jeff Casteel haven’t taught that. They did that because they were being lazy. I am going to find out who is mentally tough this week. Physically, we found out who is going to hit. Now I am going to find out who can conduct themselves in the Mountaineer manor.
On Injuries
Jeff Braun got his neck twitched and he didn’t know if he could protect himself. He is going to be just fine. It was in the first victory drill, the blocking plus tackling.
If we played today, Sidney (Glover), Reed Williams, Selvish Capers and Scooter Berry would all play. All were in blue because they can play.
On Cleaning up too Many Penalties
We clean it up with mental toughness. I know we will hit, know we will play hard and I know we will compete. It is all mental and seeing if they want to strain a little bit longer. If they don’t strain this week then I will find someone who will.
On the Offensive Line
I saw toughness from them today. I saw mental weakness, holding a little bit, but I saw toughness. We got after the ball.
On Tavon Austin
He did a nice job today. I have a whole host of guys that will get the ball before him right now.
On Geno Smith and the Quarterbacks.
I thought he did a nice job recovering from that pick. Right now, if we were playing, I would say that Smith stepped up pretty well. That is why he took some snaps with the one’s.
Coley White did some nice things today. He had a zip on the ball. I saw him block on the reverse and I saw him lead the team. He had a nice day.
If we played today, Geno Smith would be in the number two spot.
(Bradley) Starks will be taking minimal snaps in practice, just to keep him tweaked.
On Dropping Passes
If it is a dropped pass, my theory is to come right back at them with the same ball to get the receiver back on track.
On the Kicking Game
Kicking field goals for us will be Tyler Bitancurt, with Josh Lider a very close second. Both have done very well on kickoffs too. Punting right now would be Scott Kozlowski and Greg Pugnetti. Snapping is Cody Nutter with Jeremy Kash. The holder is Kash with Carmen Connolly. I feel ok with all of those guys.
On the Freshman Class
At this point I can’t tell you who will and won’t play. We will just have to wait and see. We have good players and I don’t want to throw them out there just yet.
On Redzone Offense
We were eighth in the country in redzone defense last season; I think our offense did a good job today, as did the defense. We went down and had 11 plays each and our offense did pretty well.
On Eligibility Issues
The Eligibility Center has some of those guys under review right now because stuff didn’t get in from their high schools until late. I do not anticipate any problems.
On Jarrett Brown
I think he knows the total package. Now, we will reduce to that to win football games. I think that Jarrett has been pretty sharp.
On Tyler Urban
He has done a very nice job. He has caught the ball well this spring and this camp. I think he is going to be a rising name. He has that chance and we are very glad we have him as a tight end.
