Player/Coaches Media Session: Baylor
October 14, 2014 03:35 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Select members of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Assistant coach (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) Tony Gibson
On redshirt senior linebacker Wes Tonkery playing at a high level
Yeah he is, but it was kind of disappointing Saturday, considering he played his worst game thus far. He knows that. He was exposed in his space a few times, and they were cut blocking him. Some of that stuff I am not so sure was on the up and up, but it is what it is.
On facing offenses that continues to spread the defense out
You always try to control what they are doing and how they are doing it. Right now, we are facing another animal as far as that goes. They are going to spread you from sideline to sideline. We just have to get better at space, and that’s easy to say, but when you are used to playing in the back, stopping the run and going out on wide outs it gets difficult. Some other guys may have to step up and do some things. You will see some different people on the field at times against these guys (Baylor).
On if the key to the defense is keeping the Baylor receivers in front
You have to try to do that, but also try to create some pressure on them at certain times. You have to watch what you do and how you do it because, if not, they will blow the scoreboard up on you.
Assistant coach (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks) Shannon Dawson
On the difference between a high scoring game and a normal game
I think you have to have tunnel vision and take what they are giving you. Obviously, we have to take shots by the nature of their defense, and we have to throw the ball vertical, but that can’t be all that you do, because your percentages are going to go down when you are taking shots. At some points, it is like a tennis match. We might go out there, and it might be a defensive battle. You never know what the overall game is going to be like. All you can do is control what you are able to control on your end. We are going to go out there on Saturday and try to execute. Obviously, the game plan is different from week to week, and philosophy is different from week to week, so we will see.
On mentally preparing the players for a back and forth offensive match-up against Baylor
I think it is more about us then about anybody we play that day. If it is like last week, and they play cover two, then we better adjust and run the ball, and do some things other than what we did in the first half. If they come out and play cover zero, then we just have to take advantage of whatever the defense gives us. I think it is more about focusing on what we do and what we see more than anything else.
Redshirt senior quarterback Clint Trickett
On competing against another top-five team on the year
I know we played two top-five teams before, but I would like to win one now. It is our third one, and not many teams get to play three top-five teams in the season, so it just shows how deep the Big 12 Conference is. I think it is one of the deepest conferences, if not the deepest conference in the country. It is just another chance for us.
On what the team has taken from the Alabama and Oklahoma game
The first one was kind of a surprise for everyone. We were able to hang in there, but we probably should’ve won that game if we converted on a couple more third downs, and done some things in the fourth quarter. In Oklahoma, we came out and did what we did in the first half, and in the second half they had our number, and we had to make adjustments to that. We are a better team now and more complete. We just need to give it our best on Saturday against Baylor.
On playing one of the toughest schedules in the country
I would say so. It depends on how you want to judge it. One can say yes and the other can say no. It’s not the easiest one that’s for sure.
On looking forward to Baylor playing man coverage
Absolutely, and I think all of our guys are. I think the team is more confident individually, so when they do go man each one’s playing style does take over.
Sophomore running back Wendell Smallwood
On fulfilling former running back Charles Sims’ role
I feel like I am getting better, and I feel as if I am playing my own style. I am starting to fall back in love with the running back position, and then they move me to receiver so it’s all fun. I like to do everything.
On his style of play
I would like to be like Charles Sims, but I would like to put my own spin on it.
On playing two different positions
I have to know signs and plays, and I have been able to adjust to it all especially playing behind Charles (Sims) last year. He showed me a lot of it.
Junior wide receiver Jordan Thompson
On Baylor playing man coverage
Every receivers’ dream is to have a defense play man, because it’s one-on-one routes. We are definitely looking forward to the challenge of Baylor’s defense playing man coverage.
On having Texas Tech letting go of a comfortable lead
There is no such thing as a comfortable lead, especially with all the high-power offenses in the Big 12 Conference. People will generally quit when you get behind a certain amount of points, but this team didn’t quit. We believed that we were going to win the game.
Sophomore cornerback Daryl Worley
On being rusty throughout the Texas Tech game
If anything, I felt like I wasn’t playing with the level of confidence that I left with two weeks ago. That just came from the amount of snaps that I missed from practices.
On Baylor’s quarterback Bryce Petty ability
I think he makes smart decisions. He doesn’t have as many turnovers, and he throws directly to his reads. He makes decisions, and he makes them quick, so you definitely have to be on top of your game if you want to take the ball away from him.
On Baylor’s receiving corps
They have a lot of different combinations of receivers that allows them to be a great receiving corps, and I think what caps it all off is that they all have speed.
On if there is a intimidation factor going up against a top-five team
No, as a defense we feel as if we can play against anyone in the country. Based on the training we had in the offseason and what we are showing out there on the field, it is time to take it to the next level.
Junior Safety KJ Dillon
On the challenges of Baylor’s offense
They are fast and explosive. We have to stop the run, stop the pass and stop Bryce Petty. It’s that simple.
On his interception against Texas Tech
I am glad that I got my first one out of the way, but I have to get more.
On facing the small wide receivers in the Big 12
They are just so fast, and they can do everything. They are quick and fast with the ball, so we just have to get our hands on them and slow them down.
On the way Baylor runs their offense
We haven’t heard anything so far. We know that we have to stop them, because they are quick and can score easily. We have to play our game and do our job in order to stop them.
Redshirt junior linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski
On redshirt senior linebacker Wes Tonkery improvements
The biggest thing is him staying healthy. He has had shoulder injuries and knee injuries, so that’s the biggest thing. I like to see him on the field. He has been here for a year longer than I have, and we both played safety when I first got here so we have been together since then. He’s a great player and the biggest thing is him staying healthy this year so he can be out there on the field.
On the intimidation factor with playing a top-five team like Baylor
We have opened up against two top-five teams earlier in the season, so it’s something that we have seen. We have seen the best of the best, so it is just another game to us.
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