Player/Coaches Media Session: Oklahoma State
October 21, 2014 05:09 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Select members of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Assistant coach (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) Tony Gibson
On being named Coordinator of the Week
It’s a tribute to the kids. I didn’t go out there and lineup to take a snap, and if I would’ve it would not have been good. I am just proud of these kids, and where they are at now. I am proud of the staff as a whole for getting these guys ready. I can’t take credit for any of that. It’s been a group effort from all of our staff and the players. They went out and executed the game plan and won the football game.
On executing the overall game plan week in and week out
I think what you have to look at is, when I make a call and say play base, front and coverage our kids are definitely going to play that way. They knew how aggressive I wanted to be and our coaches wanted them to be. Coach Holgorsen told those kids early on in the week, and they went out and were determined to play more physical and with a lot of effort. They got after it, and that’s exactly what they did. Their confidence grew as the week went on, and we had a great week of practice.
On if the key to winning against Oklahoma State is attacking the quarterback
We have to make sure that we pressure the quarterback and get a lot of people around him to affect the throw. We need to disrupt the timing of the offense, and that’s where we were effective on last Saturday’s game. I would expect the same kind of play this upcoming week.
Assistant coach (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks) Shannon Dawson
On redshirt senior quarterback Clint Trickett’s consistency
I think it helps to have 10 guys around you that are extremely consistent. Quarterbacks are a deep ended position. He is playing extremely well, but when things aren’t going well as a quarterback you are inconsistent a lot of the times and that has to do with everything – not just one thing. We have 11 guys out there that are performing fairly consistent, and it shows individually at certain positions and as a whole.
On Clint Trickett’s differences from last year to this year
I think he is making good decisions. Everything we do at the quarterback position is about where you are putting the ball in play at. A lot of it is run game, and a lot of it is run game and call and throw it on the perimeter. Just seeing leverage, and seeing it quickly is impressive, because it is not always a subtle box. I think that his overall knowledge of what we want him to do, seeing leverage and putting the ball in play is good. That’s why his completion percentage is up. He is accurate with the ball. His pocket presence and the way he goes about getting the ball out on time is good.
Junior safety Karl Joseph
On playing closer to the line of scrimmage and attacking the run game more
The defensive scheme is different. I am able to do a lot of different things, so I like playing that position. I like doing everything, so whatever they tell me to do I am going to do it.
On the defense playing enthusiastic and physical right now
It is the chemistry we have in the locker room and outside of football. Coach Gibby (Coach Tony Gibson) is just a fun coach to play for, and we are always out there having fun every Saturday.
On the input that the players have with coach Gibson
Every time we come to the sideline either coach Gibby or coach Deforest is asking everybody what happened out there. I think it is good that we have that kind of players and coaches relationship. It shows that they trust us, and that we are able to tell them what we see out there to put us in the position to make plays.
Senior defensive lineman Shaquille Riddick
On digesting the outcome of the Baylor game
It’s been digested. We kind of moved on from the win, and are getting ready for Oklahoma State right now.
On if the key to winning against Oklahoma State is attacking the quarterback
It’s going to be the same thing this week. If you look at it, the key to every game in this conference is getting to the quarterback. It is a game changing thing, and that’s what we are going to continue to do.
On looking at Oklahoma State film
We started looking at film yesterday, and they have given up a few sacks. We plan to build on that momentum and do what we can do throughout the week.
Redshirt senior quarterback Clint Trickett
On competing in the Baylor game with the 24 hour bug
It was rough. The day before was a little rough. I don’t know what happened because it kind of just came out of nowhere. I haven’t had a lot of sleep, and my body felt drained and exhausted. I had to get an IV at halftime. That is all the adversity I could want in a game.
On watching the game film from the Oklahoma State game last year
I watched it in the summer, but I haven’t watched it this year, because I have been watching more recent film. They are completely different, personnel wise, considering they lost almost everyone. They have the same coordinator, but I’m sure they are all ready to make plays.
On his overall consistency week in and week out
It helps when you have two good wide receivers out there, and more than two with a good running back and an offensive line. We are not bad offensively, and its really starting to show that we are one of the top offense’s in the country, and we have players that make it a lot easier for me.
Redshirt junior tight end Cody Clay
On developing the mentality of playing a more physical game
That whole mentality comes from confidence, and that’s something that we have this year that we honestly did not have last year. It is really important, and that is something we preached (having confidence) the whole offseason. It just comes from practice and preparation – like coach Holgorsen said last week that it was our best week of practice, and I can agree with that.
On the spread offense
It comes from confidence. Catching balls and throwing perfect passes is all confidence. If you are doubting yourself you can not do either one, and that (confidence) is just something that we have right now.
On the run game
We can definitely run the ball right now. The run game is something that is helping out our air raid, if you will, and we need to keep doing that.
Gold-Blue Spring Festival Fan Recap
Sunday, April 19
John Neider | April 18
Saturday, April 18
Coach Zac Alley | April 18
Saturday, April 18
Coach Rich Rodriguez | April 18
Saturday, April 18
