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Players and Assistant Coaches Media Session
October 11, 2016 06:37 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University football coaching staff and members of the WVU football team met with the media on Tuesday, October 11, 2016, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Associate Head Coach (Defensive Coordinator/ Linebackers) Tony Gibson
On Texas Tech junior quarterback Patrick Mahomes II
He’s a really good player. He understands the offense. He understands getting rid of the ball. He puts it in the right place at the right time. He lets his wideouts work for him, and when he wants to throw it over the top he can do that as well. He is so big, you have guys falling off of him, and he keeps plays alive.
On if he has seen anything in the Texas Tech offense that he can exploit
I haven’t found it yet, and I have been watching for about 10 or 11 days since we have finished the K-State game, but it’s rough.
On if they will blitz or stay back in coverage more against Texas Tech
Pick your poison. If you blitz him and he catches you in it, he has one-on-one matchups. Last year, watching what we did to them a year ago, we were probably 60-40, dropping out and 40 percent of the time we brought some kind of pressure. Again, you have to watch because they will hurt you. What we did well a year ago is that our red zone defense was pretty good as far as holding them to some field goals, we got a turnover in the red zone, those are the things that helped us. We didn’t let them get off to a fast start, that’s the difference with them at home and on the road. At home, I think coach told me a stat this morning that they are scoring a touchdown every 11 plays,m that’s not real comforting.
On how important it is to stop Texas Tech on third downs
It’s very big. We have to try to limit possessions and limit snaps, and that’s how you do that. You have to get off the field. A couple of years ago, they went for it on fourth down a few times, they got a couple and we stopped them a couple of times. Last year, they went for it on fourth down three times and converted two of the three. He’s a gambler too, he is going to take his chances on third down and try to keep his offense out there. We have to do a great job on critical downs.
Assistant Coach (Defensive Line) Bruce Tall
On getting to the quarterback is a point of emphasis this week
Yeah, you have to keep him off balance. He moves really well in the pocket. He has great vision downfield. He will press you and stress you, because he will throw from any point. He doesn’t have to just sit in the pocket, he moves all around.
On rotating defensive linemen more due to the amount of plays that Texas Tech runs
We have been playing anywhere from five to six guys. The most we have played in a game is seven, so I would say that our goal is to play between six and seven, like all games. This whole league is like this, so our goal is to start getting these guys prepared and ready to play. I would like to put in between six and seven guys.
On the difference between Texas Tech’s offense and other offenses in the Big 12
They have the same runs that everyone else has so it’s very similar and there is a lot of carryover from game to game and from team to team. They obviously have more wrinkles that they can do, they have a very talented quarterback who can really do a lot of different things that I don’t know if everyone can do what he can do.
Assistant Coach (Defense/Special Teams) Mark Scott
On who is next up for kickoffs
(Freshman kicker/punter) Jonn Young. He’s got a great leg. In terms of location, depth and hang time, everything. He’s looking good. We’ll continue to improve on his consistency and just get him as comfortable as possible because he’s that next man up.
On his main focus during the off week
Trying to get the kickers back to 100 percent and lighten the load a little bit on them to where they feel really good coming into this week, and just continue to look at ourselves and get ourselves better, while kind of introducing Texas Tech. We don’t want to obsess over an opponent for two straight weeks. It will kind of be in one ear and out the other by the time game rolls around. We did some things to really look at ourselves and what we can do to improve, while giving them a little taste of what our opponents going to do. Obviously, that rams up to that moving forward to this week. We want to take that to really focus on ourselves and just introduce the opponent, so they’re familiar with it come Tuesday, Wednesday.
On what he wants to sure up during kickoff returns and coverage
Kickoff return, that’s something that really changes week-to-week, just based on different schemes. I don’t think we’ve seen the same scheme two weeks in a row, in terms of where they align, where they’re kicking the ball, where they’re moving around to and what lane assignments there are. Just continue to work on identifying who we need to block and getting better at technique. I think that’s the biggest thing. Again, there’s not a ton of different coaching points, it’s really a technique thing and we worked that hard last week. Introducing Texas Tech, again, another different scheme that we haven’t seen in terms of what they do. So getting them comfortable with that. In terms of kickoff, it starts with the kick, having great ball placement, kicking deep, short, pooch kicks, whatever we’re going to do, but getting the right hang time and the right ball location, and then having our guys fit certain block and certain returns how they need to fit it. So we want to, based on where we’re kicking, it’s going to change up how we block and how we fit things. So get those guys cleaned up on that and have them playing fast and playing physical, and the biggest thing, again, is the first play of defense we need to get off blocks and get to the returner
Assistant Coach (Offensive Coordinator/Fullbacks-Tight Ends) Joe Wickline
On how he approaches games where the opponent tends to score 50+ points per game.
Well, you have to know who you’re playing, your personnel, and you have to score one more point than they have. At the end of the day, it’s our job to put our guys in a place to do what’s necessary to achieve that goal. When you play games like that, it’s like a roller coaster, you strap in, and there’s highs and lows, and you’re behind and you’re ahead, and a lot of times, it doesn’t matter. What matters is what happens on that last drive in the fourth quarter, and where you’re at. We need to be good at what we do, we need to be better at what we do than what they do. You have to know who you’re playing and what the situation is.
On how to approach a game when each team takes 100+ snaps
I hate to sound bland on this, but you really have to go back to what we talked about in the Missouri game. We have to be the best football team West Virginia can be. As long as we are the best that we can be and we continue to get better, then we’re going to say that has to be good enough. We understand our opponent (Texas Tech) and we respect our opponent. It’s going to be a good game, our guys are challenged, and we look forward to it.
On if it is comforting that the team can play in several different styles
Being balanced and being two dimensional is important in a lot of ways. It keeps the defense off balance, being balanced in tempo, balanced in running game, passing game, it helps us in a lot of ways. I think that’s what we try to establish as best as we can. If they take one away, we have to be smart enough to go to the next one.
Assistant Coach (Offensive Line) Ron Crook
On if he likes the progression of the offensive line through the first four games
I like the direction the offense is going, the way the O-line is going. We’ve talked a lot about it, we need to find a way to score more points. What I see is guys playing hard, guys communicating, guys working together, playing together. We’re continuing to evolve with our rotation, and hopefully it’s going to continue to evolve and continue to improve. Especially last week during the off week it was all about us and improving technique and improving fundamentals and kind of getting back to basics. Now, obviously, we’re back into game plan mode and those kinds of things. I’m happy with where we are, where we’ve come. We have a long way to go to continue to have success
On what is keeping the offense from scoring more points
There are several different things; losing our execution, turnovers down close (to the goal line). One time we went for it on fourth down, and again, lack of execution. We missed a field goal, which hurt us. It’s a number of things, but the bottom line is, its things we can improve on.
On if the opponents snap count affects the line’s rotation
I don’t really get concerned with what the opponent’s offense is going to do. I’ve made no secrets since being here about wanting to play a lot of people, get a lot of guys out there, and again we’re continuing to evolve, and continuing to work in that direction, and hopefully this week we’ll be able to get that done. I’ll say that the more snaps that we take offensively, the more I want to play other people.
Assistant Coach (Running Back) Ja’Juan Seider
On mixing freshman running back Kennedy McKoy in
I think it’s going to naturally happen because we’re going to play more snaps. Being in the Big 12 where there’s a lot of offense, things are going to balance themselves out. We’re going to need him to play in situations, and he’s right where I need him to be. He’s going to be in on a different package where he’s going to see the field, and he’s going to make the most of it. I believe in that kid, and I think his time is now too.
On playing both of the running backs at the same time
At some point they will both be on the field; it all depends, especially if (freshman running back) Kennedy (McKoy) is playing. You’re going to see two backs on the field at some point. It worked for us the last two years. We’ve been very effective running against this team, and that’s something we hang our hat on. You never know what the carries are going to be, how many yards there are going to be. For us to win this game we have to run the ball better. I’m sure they’ll try to do a good job at trying to stop the run. We’ve been very effective running the ball on them the last couple of years. I think they start right there trying to outnumber in the box, and then if they do, then we have to win on the perimeter with our receivers and quarterback.
Senior Quarterback Skyler Howard
On Texas Tech’s defense
That is one thing that I was going to say, is that they are getting better on defense. People always like to talk about their offense and how you are going to need to outscore them, but their defense has really stepped it up this year. A lot more in the past years that I have seen. Up front they are a lot stronger. They move around faster, a lot more effort than last year.
On the off week
It was great. We are getting ready for the eight-week stretch. I was fortunate to go home, see my family, see my little brother Clay, my grandparents and just get my mind right for the next eight weeks.
On playing in towns that football is the main focus
Yeah, it makes for a good atmosphere, definitely. I think they like to throw the tortillas out and the waffles when it’s a morning game. It’s just a part of their thing, just like we do our stuff here. It’s a good atmosphere. That’s the type of atmosphere that you want to play in. You don’t want to go to a Texas high school football game, which is probably like a small college, but the atmosphere is really great.
On if players are aware of the traditions that other schools have
We are aware because we get hit in the back of the helmet with a tortilla. I kind of want to pick one up and eat it. I don’t see many tortillas up here. We are aware of it, but it doesn’t affect the game at all.
Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver Shelton Gibson
On if offense feels more pressure when the other team can score a lot of points
It just makes us work harder in practice. We know we are going up against a team that can put up points. Our defense should stop that. I believe our defense could hold them to 10 points. Going over there against their receivers, that’s who is scoring most of the points over there, right? The corners that we go against, I see it every single day, and they are pretty good. They are out there working, just like we are.
On what has stopped them from scoring so many points
I guess it is just scoring more in practice. This week, and I am speaking for myself, when I catch the ball, no matter if I get touched or anything, I’m running to the end zone no matter where I am. Just to know that I am going to score more this week. Hopefully people recognize it and do the same thing also. That’s what we need to do to get to the end zone more.
On if the offense lacks something
We don’t lack anything, it’s just simple. We need to score more. We need to get to the end zone. When we are in the red zone we need to get in the end zone every single time and be 100 percent. When we are back at the other one-yard line, we need to march it down 99 yards.
Senior Wide Receiver Daikiel Shorts Jr.
On how he feels about off weeks
I thought it was good. We got a chance to get our bodies back and work on some things that we had to fix up, just getting in the right frame of mind for this eight-week stretch. Our bye week was set up pretty weird this year, but you never know, it might be for the better. We’ll see. We just have to stay focused and keep our bodies healthy.
On not having enough point production
We don’t know the reason right now, we have to focus on that. Especially when we get in the red zone, we have to get touchdowns and not settle for field goals. We’ll take our points, but we need to score more touchdowns.
On what he has been working on
Just timing with (senior quarterback) Skyler (Howard) and being on the same page. Everyone understands they have to fix the defensive line especially as receivers, just working on things that we need to correct.
On Texas Tech defense
Their defensive backs are pretty good. They are long and fast, so that will be a good challenge for us. We’ll see on Saturday.
On winning one on one matchups
As receivers we have to get open, help out (senior quarterback) Skyler (Howard), our line and coaches. Let them gain their trust in us and make some plays.
Redshirt Senior Linebacker Justin Arndt
On Texas Tech scoring so many points this season
Some of those teams, like Arizona State, they were just going back and forth. If you do that consistently you obviously have a good offense, and there is a reason why they are putting up those numbers. Sometimes the defenses aren’t as good maybe, but they can put up numbers, and K-State, they were supposedly the number one Big 12 defense, and they easily put up numbers on them too. It’s something that they can do.
On stopping Texas Tech on third down
Stopping them on third downs every game is huge. You want to get off the field and you want to get off the field early. That’s the big thing about offenses like this because they will tempo you, they will get you moving. That’s the big thing to slow them down offensively, so they can’t tempo you as much and getting off the field on third down will really help that.
On if he has ever seen an offense like Texas Tech
All of the Big 12 teams run similar styles of offense, like ours. The tempo of it is much like Missouri, they will get to the line quick and throw a screen pass, run the ball, and throw down field. That is one thing that we have to be prepared for and one thing that we have seen in the first game.
Redshirt Junior Linebacker Al-Rasheed Benton
On the atmosphere in Lubbock on game day
That’s the biggest thing I remember, as soon as they kicked off tortillas went flying everywhere. It was a great atmosphere, the fans were really into it. I think they’ll play a big factor in the game, the fans, and getting involved in the play of the team. Other than that, it’s football, it’s another football field, 100 yards by what, 53 and a third? It’s a great atmosphere, and I can’t wait or Saturday.
On how Lubbock treats football almost the same was as fans in Morgantown
I haven’t had much time to go around in Lubbock, but from what I’ve seen I don’t think there’s a whole lot to do, and the things they do have to do they’re very passionate about and one of those is football. I wouldn’t say it’s like here. Nothing is like here. No place I’ve been is like Morgantown, but they have a great atmosphere, the fans are really into it, and I know they’ll be ready to get them pumped up for the game.
On what going up against Patrick Mahomes II and Texas Tech’s offense is going to be like for him
For me, it’s another opportunity to prove ourselves. Like we’ve been saying the last couple of years and the last couple of games, nobody shows us a lot of respect. Just the fact that people will pull up and say how it’s a great opportunity for us to play this type of offense, and this type of quarterback, well look at the type of players that we have on defense as well. I think that’s the biggest thing for us is the opportunity to prove ourselves time and time again and showing everyone that we can play ball.
Redshirt Freshman Linebacker David Long
On what makes Texas Tech Quarterback Patrick Mahomes II so hard to stop
They work hard after the play, they have a lot of athletes, they’re just a good team all around. It’s going to be a good game.
On what it means to him to get the starting job
It means a lot, I’ve been working a long time. I am more comfortable now, I know what I have to do.
On how what he brings to the table matches up with Texas Tech
They sling the ball more so I’m athletic enough to get out and drop in the holes and make it more difficult for the quarterback. That’s where I can help.
On how much more important it is to practice pursuing the quarterback before facing Mahomes
We have to get after it more in practice because in pass games you don’t really have much pressure, but this is a game where we have to make him uncomfortable in the pocket, to make bad decisions, so we have to get after him.
Redshirt senior safety Jarrod Harper
On Texas Tech junior quarterback Patrick Mahomes II getting better
Just from looking at, as far as a film standpoint and being able to watch the game on Saturday, he’s definitely making more plays on his feet and extending the plays because he’s rolling out and finding open receivers down the field. So, I think he looks a little better than what he did last year.
On what he thinks has made Tech junior quarterback Patrick Mahomes II tough to stop for other teams so far this season
I think it’s just the up-tempo style offense that they run. As much as they throw the ball each game, they throw the ball a lot; I think it just comes down to that. The fast tempo and fast pace.
On the mission of trying to slow Texas Tech down
That’s definitely part of the game plan, I’m sure. Just to limit the big plays that they get. You watch film and they live on the big play and they are always getting big plays. So as far as what we have to do, we have to limit the big plays and make plays whenever we get a chance to make plays.
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