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Players and Assistant Coaches Media Session
November 10, 2015 05:28 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University assistant coaches and select members of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Assistant coach (defensive coordinator/linebackers) Tony Gibson
On the Texas offense
The last four weeks has been pass first. This is a whole different enemy. They like to get big, play fullbacks, run the football and use tight ends for blocking. They have big backs. One is 215-pounds and the other is about 240. It’s a whole different system for us to get ready for and simulate in practice.
On Texas redshirt freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard
He’s very elusive. He’s fast and has good hips. He can get away from you. We have had problems the past few weeks, so we’re going to have to make sure that we contain him. We need to get a lot of guys around him and tackle him.
On Texas’ offensive distribution and balance
I don’t think they’ll throw it as much as they run it, but they’ll mix it up. Last year if you go back and look they had a nice game plan going against us. They were running it on third down and doing what they needed to do in order to move the sticks. Late in the second half, they had some big plays against us in the run game. They hit us on a couple of unbalanced sets. We adjusted and did some things, but we were on our heels early in the 2nd quarter, and we couldn’t come back.
On WVU’s morale improvement after the win over Texas Tech
We had a good day on Sunday. We took them out and had a lot more lively practice than we have had in a while. It feels good to get back on the winning side.
Assistant coach (defensive line) Bruce Tall
On Texas running game, including the depth and talent
They’re big and strong. They have big play potential, so they will hit it downhill, which is something you haven’t really seen much. We have seen more zone type of running, as opposed to guys just hitting it downhill like they run the power game.
On the key for WVU coming out on top versus Texas
We have to re-establish the line of scrimmage. We have to be the ones to control the line of scrimmage. We have to be very active and shut down the run game.
On redshirt senior linebacker Isaiah Bruce converting from linebacker to defensive end
He keeps getting better each week. Obviously, he’s going to get into some situations where he’s going to be undersized a little bit, but he’s a big linebacker, so it’s not by much. His quickness makes up for that.
On putting pressure on the quarterback
You would like to contain them better. I think we had him running around, but just like everyone else, you get frustrated when you don’t trap them in there and keep them down. We have to get them down. We talk about it in our meetings. It’s unacceptable not to get them sacked. Everybody’s frustrated when we don’t get them down.
Assistant coach (offensive line) Ron Crook
On the WVU offensive line improving on tackles for loss and sacks allowed
We talk a lot about it. I think that stuff has improved. I’ll be honest with you, I don’t sit and look at a lot of the national stats. However, I know that we have improved our percentage on sacks. At one point this season, our sacks percentage per pass plays called, we were up around 8 percent. Right now, we are down to around 6 percent, so we have improved. I haven’t done that study for tackles for loss. Yes, it is something that we talk a lot about and how to eliminate it. A lot of it is coming up with a game plan and executing it. We have to make sure we’re on the right people.
On what he looks at on a stat sheet
I look at where we are at with rushing and where we are at with total offense. I usually look at scoring offense. I couldn’t tell you where we’re at an hour after I look at them, but I do look at them just to know where we are and where we’re getting better.
On if balance is the key
As an offensive line coach, you’re always looking at what you’re doing rushing wise. I have a pretty good idea of where we’re at for sacks, but it’s something you want to keep in mind and watch. After the game is over, there’s not a whole lot you can do about it. I use them for reference moving forward.
Assistant head coach (wide receivers) Lonnie Galloway
On finding improvement in the WVU passing game
We need to consistently make plays. That’s the biggest thing. The last few games we have had what I call true drops. (Freshman wide receiver) Jovon (Durante) had two against TCU. Some of those catches were tough catches, but that’s why you’re out there. We need to be consistent and there for (junior quarterback) Skyler (Howard). When it’s time for you to make a play, you need to make a play. Ninety percent of the time you don’t have the football.
On the youth of the WVU wide receivers
We are young, but we are going into our ninth game. They’re young, but they’ve been catching the football for a long time. That was the biggest thing from me to them this past weekend. Relax and play. Go out there and do what you’ve been doing your whole life. Catching the ball is the easy part, especially when you’re alone.
Senior wide receiver Jordan Thompson
On the talent of Texas
Being from Texas, I know their pipelines of recruiting. They have a lot of talent on that team. They might be young, but they’re very talented. It’s certainly an edge with all the depth that they have. We need to use our experience to combat their youth.
On an added incentive to get a win over Texas being a Texas native
It’s definitely an added incentive. Being victorious over Texas schools is an incentive. Nevertheless, we’re going to have a great game. We’re going to go out there and be ready to play at noon.
On finding consistency in the WVU passing game
I don’t think there’s really a missing link. In the past, we haven’t had great running backs like we have in (junior running back) Wendell (Smallwood) and (redshirt junior running back) Rushel (Shell). Those two guys really run the ball. Wendell (Smallwood) is having a tremendous year this year compared to his sophomore year. With that being said and with (junior running back) Wendell (Smallwood) running the ball the way he is, we’re going to take what the defense is giving us. The defense is giving us the run game. We’re going to run it down their throats. That’s probably the only difference from the past. We have a better running back.
Junior quarterback Skyler Howard
On relying on the passing game versus Texas
We do a lot of different things on defense, and we’re going to be moving around a lot. They’re going to bring a lot of pressure, but we see that every day in practice, so I think we will be prepared for it. It’s something that I think we do well against.
On playing with a chip on his shoulder while playing against Texas
Initially, I thought that this would be the game that you would circle, but really it’s about us right now. West Virginia against West Virginia on offense, at least. In these games, we have kind of shot ourselves in the foot, whether it’s missed opportunities or penalties. I think we shoot ourselves in the foot a lot. I think that if we play our game and focus on what we need to focus on then we will be successful.
On taking on Texas’ aggressiveness
We see that a lot in practice with our defense. It’s a factor every week. We obviously need to improve on that and our numbers from the last few games. But again, just playing our game and taking what the defense gives us.
On the mood versus Texas
It’s big. Every game is big as always. We talk about it every week. Personally, like I said, it’s West Virginia against West Virginia. If we focus on what we need to focus on and focus on really executing our stuff, then I don’t see us being stopped. I think we shot ourselves in the foot multiple times.
Redshirt senior defensive lineman Kyle Rose
On defending Texas junior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes’ power run
We will have some guys in the box. They run the ball pretty well. We will watch their blocking skills today and see how they do up front. They have a good offensive line. They have a talented group up there, so it’ll be a good challenge for us, and we’re excited for it.
On the win over Texas Tech
To win in the Big 12 is hard. Anytime you get a win like that at home, it is a good confidence booster, especially going into this week. We have a big test at home because these guys got us last year. They didn’t have a very good performance from us, so they’re going to get our best this weekend.
On senior running back Johnathan Gray
(Senior running back) John Gray was a five star recruit coming out of high school. He’s been a good back for them. We just have to tackle low. Something that we have been working on this week is getting back to the basics, which is tackling low, blocking and making plays. That’s what we’re going to try to do.
On their previous games versus Texas
It’s hard to remember specific moments of games. We’re ready to go for this weekend and that’s all we care about.
On sophomore running back D’Onta Foreman
Honestly, they are dynamic in a lot of positions. We haven’t really watched much film yet today. On Tuesday’s we watch film and put in a game plan. We see what they do well at and what they don’t do well at. That is where we need to attack them at. I think today we’re going to watch film and sit down with coach and he will put the game plan in.
Redshirt senior linebacker Nick Kwitakoski
On whether playing Texas Tech provides an advantage on WVU for the Texas game
Yeah, definitely. It allows us more time to know what to expect.
On what needs to change from the last two years in order to beat Texas this year
It’s hard to talk about two years ago, but last year, the team didn’t have any kind of spark that we normally have. Overall, defensively, we have to do our job and make plays.
On whether or not the running game is something WVU needs to focus on versus Texas
Yeah, definitely. Their team likes to line up and try to get man-on-man coverage for yardage. I can definitely see it being a heavy running game. We have to run straight down hill and try to get after it.
On senior running back Johnathan Gray
He’s a powerful guy. He gets down the field. They have a number of solid players like that. No matter who is in the game, you have to play solid football.
Senior safety KJ Dillon
On keeping WVU motivated
Everybody likes winning. If you don’t like winning, you’re in the wrong sport. That’s what I keep on preaching. If we want to win this is what we have to do and how we have to act. It’s raining today, and I know I’ll go in that locker room and some guys will say they don’t want to practice. If that’s the case, I’ll start snapping to get everyone’s head in the right place. You need to find an excuse to win.
On what it would mean to get WVU’s first win over Texas in Morgantown
It would be great. I remember two years ago, I played probably one of the best games I’ve ever played here. I played so hard that I ended up having to go to the hospital after the game. That night means so much to me because of what I went through that night. I’m trying to do the same thing this game, except I do not want to go to the hospital. I want to go out there and win.
Sophomore safety Dravon Askew-Henry
On the offensive philosophy of Texas as opposed to other teams in the Big 12
I would say it’s kind of different. We have been playing pass first offensives in the past week, and now, Texas is all about the run. Coming into this game we really have to tackle well and get ready for the run.
On how much the Texas Tech win meant for the WVU defense
I think it reenergized the defense because that was a pretty good offense. I feel like we stepped up to the challenge that game. It will for sure give us confidence going into the back end of the schedule.
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