Player/Coaches Media Session: ISU
November 25, 2014 04:59 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Select members of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, at the Milan Puskar Center.
Assistant Coach (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks) Shannon Dawson
On Skyler Howard
Execution wise I thought he went out there and did well. The biggest thing was that he gave us a spark. He re-energized us and put us back in contention to try and win the game, I thought he did a really good job.
On the game plan for Iowa State
Defensively, they’re a lot like Kansas State and TCU. They’re a defense that you know is going to line up, play hard, and play sound. We just have to execute and take care of the ball, that’s probably true every game, and I probably sound like a broken record but you can go back through every game and pin-point exactly where things went wrong.
On ball security
I was just talking to Coach Gibson when we were eating lunch and I was telling him that I have never seen a group that has this much trouble with ball security. I understand the ball getting hit, but it’s not just that. My brother’s eight year old can turn and hand the ball off to his five year old brother 100 percent of the time. I will go to my grave with zero answer as to why we can’t execute that.
Assistant Coach (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) Tony Gibson
On not being able to get to Kansas State’s quarterback defensively
They were maxed protected. They were keeping their backs and tight ends in to protect. We were trying to bring pressure and bring it from just about everywhere, but we just couldn’t get to him. Credit to those guys. That was the first time all year we weren’t able to apply pressure and get the ball out quick. It’s going to happen in football, but, again, the positive stuff that we did was great. We held them to one yard rushing and made them one dimensional, and we couldn’t stop that which is disappointing.
On Iowa State’s offensive line
They do a great job. Their starting left tackle is a freshman. It is his first year playing right now, but he is getting better as the season goes on. Their center is really good. He was honorable mention in the Big 12, and he is a great player. Their right tackle has played in a lot of games. We are going to have our work cut out for us. We have to get after them, and do some things to disrupt their timing and put as much heat on them as we can.
On redshirt junior Shaq Petteway progress thus far
Shaq has been playing every other series the last couple of games. It started at Texas Tech. He is getting better every week, and I think he trusts his knee enough now, coming off the injury a year ago. Right now he is playing his best football, and is confident in what he is doing and our scheme. I just love the way he plays, and he deserves it. I just see him every week getting better and better.
Redshirt junior defensive lineman Kyle Rose
On Iowa State’s offensive scheme
They like to throw a lot of bubble screens. They do a lot of screens. The quarterback can run. They are going to use him in some draws. They are higher tempo than their previous offensive schemes.
On Kansas State’s offensive scheme and rushing the quarterback
They schemed well for us. They slid the protection the right way. They maxed protected in a lot of plays. We didn’t rush a lot, but with rushing three defensive linemen you need to get home with those guys and you have to sack the quarterback with three. We just have to do a better job straining. That is something we have been working on these past couple of days. Straining to get to the quarterback and just having that want to get that sack. I think that is more of a mentality than in our defensive schemes.
On if the team has gotten over the Kansas State game
Absolutely, you have to have a short term memory in college football because everybody is good. You cannot let one loss turn into two, so as soon as the game was over we regrouped. We have to beat Iowa State and we have a lot of things to play for, and a lot things to be thankful for.
Junior safety Karl Joseph
On the last regular-season game
It has been a fast year. I felt like it flew by, and just a couple of weeks ago we were playing Alabama. Now, we are starting to get ready for the bowl game and finishing off our last regular-season game, but it definitely went by quick.
On the difference between winning and losing games
This game means a lot to us. The seniors definitely all want to go out with a win in their last regular-season game, so we are going to go out and finish it for those guys. We don’t want to just lay down and give up, because we took a couple of losses so we are definitely going to come back fighting these last two games. We have to do it for all of us.
Junior Linebacker Nick Kwiatkowski
On the importance of getting pressure on Iowa State’s quarterback
Going in to any game it’s important to get pressure, if you give anyone time to throw they can pick you apart, it doesn’t matter who it is. We need to make quick decisions.
On Iowa State’s ability to protect the quarterback
They’re good up front. They have athletes so it’s going to be important to get to the quarterback.
On practicing during Thanksgiving week
It’s a little different with there not being class, but it’s good to get in here and start practicing early and get the blood flowing. I like it, it gives me a chance to get out of the house and get in here and get my work done.
On what is left to play for this season
There is still a lot to play for, we want to finish as strong as possible. We want to send our seniors out the right way.
Redshirt senior offensive lineman Mark Glowinski
On the seniors and their final regular-season game
We are just trying to put forth our best effort. For some guys it might be their last game, but we just have to give our best effort.
On life after WVU football
I have been putting more time into it. We had a couple days off to think about it, but I would really like to continue with football after West Virginia. Hopefully, I can continue. I am going to give my best effort as much as I can until it’s my last opportunity.
The difference between Clint Trickett and Skylar Howard
I don’t know if there is really a difference. They are two different quarterbacks, and they play two different types of game. Skyler (Howard) can really move around a bit more. I can’t really think of anything off of the top of my head.
Sophomore Wide Receiver Daikiel Shorts
On the offense with Skyler Howard
When he got in nothing really changed. The offense just kept going and he threw me some targets and I tried to help the team out.
On having a mobile quarterback
We still run the same routes, our coaches always tell us to keep the play alive so if I see him scrambling I may go up the field or come back to the ball and try to make something happen.
On being more involved with the offense later in the game
I have a good connection with both quarterbacks. The reps from practice just carried over into the game. They were just throwing it to me, and I was just trying to catch it and help us out.
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