MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University football coaching staff and members of the WVU football team met with the media on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Associate Head Coach (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) Tony Gibson
On redshirt senior cornerback Rasul Douglas’s maturity on the team
He’s a kid that, I’ve said to him multiple times over the last few weeks, but, he’s a guy when we recruited him, we were counting on him last year to be a special player. Some stuff got held up academically, so he got here late, 10 days out before our first game, and just never really got into the swing of things. Obviously this offseason has helped him a bunch, and he’s playing at a very high level right now. We’re extremely pleased with him, he works, studies film, he’s putting up numbers right now that we haven’t seen in a long time.
On Oklahoma redshirt junior quarterback Baker Mayfield’s performance recently
Yeah, he’s very confident, and he has a lot of weapons around him that help him. He’s a special kid, he’s a competitor, you can just tell by watching him on film how much he competes. His drive, distributes the ball well, takes care of it and doesn’t have a lot of turnovers. He’s a good player.
On Oklahoma redshirt junior quarterback Baker Mayfield’s ability to make plays
You’re always concerned with a quarterback who will keep the play alive and who always has eyes down field. He can hurt you both ways, throwing it once he escapes the pocket, but he can also tuck it and run. Some guys can get away and they look to throw, he’s very good at doing both. It’s hard to tell, do you blitz him, do you make him throw the ball quick, do you sit back and drop eight in coverage and give him plenty of time? You just have to see how the game is going and what’s working for us.
Assistant Coach (Safeties) Matt Caponi
On Oklahoma’s offense
Yes absolutely, they’re solid all the way around, they’ve got playmakers all over the field and you can’t concentrate on one thing, stopping the run or stopping the pass, because they do a really good job. Very, very good, athletic quarterback who is just as tough as they come and he makes plays and just makes things happen. He’s done a great job and obviously (redshirt senior wide receiver) (Dede) Westbrook has had a great year and they’ve got a two-headed monster in the backfield with (redshirt sophomore running back) (Joe) Mixon and (junior running back) (Samaje) Perine so it’s definitely our toughest challenge so far.
On what stresses the safeties most in this situation
The deep ball. They’re going to take their chances, and when they see man coverage they’ll check the certain routes. We have to be ready for it, we have to do a great job in man coverage and getting hands on these wideouts and try to eliminate that big play. We know what we’re going to get, so I think from that standpoint it’s being great in man coverage and doing certain things that we do in zone coverage and training them to be able to see the offensive line, play action pass as opposed to run game and getting after them.
On the balance between getting too focused and not focused enough
It’s just another game. It’s a big game because it’s the next game. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, where we’re playing, or what time we’re playing. Our guys do a great job of preparing each week whether it’s week one or week 10, so just keep our focus, go through the same routine, do what we do and I’m sure they may prepare a little bit extra on their own this week just knowing it’s Oklahoma, who they haven’t had a chance to beat yet since we’ve entered the Big 12. It’s a big game because it’s the next game, but we’re not going to change anything we do preparation wise. Just keep the guys dialed in just the same that we’ve done from the beginning of the season September 3rd, Missouri, until now.
Assistant Coach (Cornerbacks) Blue Adams
On Oklahoma redshirt senior wide receiver Dede Westbrook
I can’t sleep at night. This Westbrook guy is a good player, good player. Good at changing direction, good acceleration, good deceleration. Good route runner, good speed. I think this will be a good test for us.
On preparing for Oklahoma
We kind of did it both ways. Some weeks we’ve gone with matchups, other weeks we’ve gone just right and left and let whoever comes to us, come to us. I think as of right now I can’t say which we would do right now, but we’ll get something done.
On how the players react to preparing for Oklahoma
Today will be the first work day that we are seeing these guys, so I would imagine we are going to accept the challenge, understand what’s on the tape, and go from there.
Assistant Coach (Offensive Coordinator/Fullbacks-Tight Ends) Joe Wickline
On what the offense needs to work on to be more consistent
The biggest thing is just focus. Once it gets late in the season it is one thing or the other. It’s a big game, it’s this, it’s that, it’s on the road. I just think it is a matter of us focusing and truly embracing that this is a series of one-game series. Let’s just take this game, where we are at in time, live in the moment and clear the things up that we are good at, understand where we are not good and just continue to get better as an offense.
On how the young guys have stepped up when they are needed
Really well, that is to be expected. Its next man up, it’s not like we have a corner on the market, everybody out there is going through injuries and has bumps and bruises and are having to replace guys. Look at our roster, guys are moving and younger guys are having to play, that’s all a part of our game. They have done a nice job.
On how the offense was successful even with four turnovers against Texas
Our defense played really well. Our defense and (Assistant Coach (Defense/Special Teams) coach (Mark) (Scott) on special teams were two teams of the three that dominated. It’s very apparent to anyone that watched the game, they stood up, and football goes that way sometimes, if one side is not doing well. But that game is over and it’s Tuesday and I would rather talk about this Saturday, I am all into the Sooners. To answer your question, basically, we are a team, we play like a team and when one part is not doing well then the other part takes up for it.
Assistant Coach (Running Backs) Ja’Juan Seider
On being ready to play freshman running back Martell Pettaway
He was ready, he was ready. If something would’ve happened to (freshman running back) Kennedy (McKoy) he would’ve had to play. It was that close and he was prepared. We did a good job of keeping Kennedy fresh even with 25 carries, doing some stuff with (redshirt junior tight end/fullback) Eli (Elijah Wellman) and (senior quarterback) Skyler (Howard), just taking pressure off him and not motion around as much and just sit him in the backfield and six man protect so he didn’t go far. We did a good job keeping him fresh and you know. Hell, what happened, and it helped too, when you get two, three and outs in the second quarter, you have no possessions so he was going to stay fresh so that kind of helped, it was negative help but it helps, so just things like that.
On wanting to pull a players’ redshirt at game nine
It’s tough, but our job is to win. We’re playing for something that hasn’t been done since we’ve been in the Big 12 and that whole room gets it. That kid (freshman running back Martell Pettaway) was the first one we met with a week ago, he said ‘coach I’m ready, whatever you need me to do I’m ready.’ He practiced his tail off last week. I had no problem playing him. If I could’ve saved him, I was going to save him, which we were able to do. If he went in the game I wouldn’t have flinched one bit because I said it before, he’s a kid that was ready to play too if he didn’t get nicked up early in camp. That was a kid who was mature for his age and his body is built to play so he was ready to go if we needed to.
On putting redshirt senior running back Rushel Shell III in the game last week
Well, he did some stuff Friday. He moved around better and then, sometimes medication helps, makes you feel better than what you do. I just never felt comfortable with him making cuts early. But part of that game, when I was watching, and if I’m not comfortable, I’m not going to throw you in, because in that situation with (junior running back) (Justin) (Crawford) when he fumbled, I was going to put Russ (Rushel Shell) in and I grabbed myself back and said, ‘No he isn’t ready’ which I probably should’ve went back with (freshman running back) Kennedy (McKoy) but I felt Crawford was ready at that moment, he looked good Friday, and he looked good in warmups. I thought he actually did pretty well minus the fumble.
Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers) Tyron Carrier
On which game film you show of Oklahoma’s defense
Show them the defense that played Iowa State. We played Baylor, we played TCU, we played (Texas) Tech. Not a lot of film to watch. So yeah, we have our work cut out for us. Those guys are young and are playing with a lot of passion right now, which I feel like when my guys were kind of lacking, those guys are really playing with a lot of passion. It’s kind of hard to play an emotional, passionate team. Those two losses were probably the best thing to happen to those guys because now they’re so different. They care about everything. They fly around. They’re passionate about everything they do.
On Oklahoma redshirt senior wide receiver Dede Westbrook
He’s the best in the Big 12. The guy is fast. He knows how to keep his leverage, he never gets too close to a defender. Great at shooting hands down. Gets out of his breaks pretty well, a hand catcher, no body catches, and always making big plays. That’s everything you want. He’s a really good receiver.
On Oklahoma’s linebackers
Those guys are just athletic across the board. Their linebackers are 6-2 or somewhere in there and can move like a DB (defensive back). So we have our work cut out, man. This is probably the biggest challenge this year. You know the best thing that happened to us was playing Texas before because, they were really good also. So it was more of a good thing that we played Texas first so we can get prepared for OU.
Senior Quarterback Skyler Howard
On if he can compare Oklahoma’s defense to any of the defenses that he has faced this year
Talent wise, they are like Texas. They recruit well, they replace well, even though they lost a lot of guys they are still playing a lot of good ball over there. That’s the one that sticks out to me.
On how to avoid interceptions while still making big plays
Don’t force it, move on, play the next play. Go through your second read, your third read, don’t just hang on and try to force it.
On the importance of the running game
There are a lot of factors that go into winning games and if you want to win up front and you establish the line of scrimmage, obviously you are going to be running the ball well. I think that’s where it starts, obviously the decision-making on my part plays a huge role.
On what Texas Tech, Ohio State and Houston did to Oklahoma that other offenses didn’t do
Made the routine plays. Routine plays turn into big plays. What they do at Texas Tech is kind of unconventional. (Texas Tech Quarterback) Pat (Patrick) Mahomes (II) is just slinging it around, that is where they found their success. Ours is going to be just playing our game, taking what they give us. We are preparing just like we do every week, taking it one game at a time and same thing I have been saying, it doesn’t matter who we play, where we play, what time we are playing, we are preparing to win the same.
Senior Offensive Lineman Tyler Orlosky
On how the team is approaching the Oklahoma game given the implications
We take it on day at a time. It’s an important game because it’s the next game for us. I’ve been here a long time, 0-4 against Oklahoma, obviously you want to win this game and it’ll set you up for the rest of the season, finish out strong, and hopefully we do.
On if it’s harder for the young guys to approach Saturday night games with the same mentality as any other game
I think so. I think sometimes they get caught up in the eight o’clock national spotlight game. Obviously this game could help determine the Big 12 champion. I think that’s one of those things you have to stop worrying about and just worry about what you do each day in practice. Take it one day at a time and be ready at game time.
On if he likes 8:00 P.M. games
I don’t prefer eight o’clock kicks. Obviously it kind of limits what I’m able to do after the game. It’s a great opportunity we have, an eight o’clock game on ABC and in front of the entire country. I think it’s going to be a good game.
Senior Wide Receiver Daikiel Shorts Jr.
On if the game against Oklahoma is just another game
Oklahoma is a very good team, we’re definitely looking forward to it, especially being a night game. Both teams have done well so far this season, so we’re definitely looking forward to it.
On how the offense can get more consistent
We just have to get back to what we’re used to doing. Just going out there and having fun, instead of worrying, we have to execute, but we try to put too much pressure on ourselves to score, which isn’t a bad thing, we need to score points, but if we have fun we’ll go out there and score and do what we need to do.
On if it takes more than one guy to make the run game effective
Sometimes it might, but you never know. Last game, (freshman running back) Kennedy (McKoy) was back there and he got most of the carriers, and he did a great job and he got it going for us. It’s whoever has the hot hand that night. It’s good to have two, but all you need is one.
Redshirt Senior Cornerback Maurice Fleming
On redshirt senior wide receiver Dede Westbrook
Just a great playmaker and he’s a great contributor to the team.
On how to handle the pressure of being in the college football playoff race
I mean, still just being able to take it one game at a time, one day at a time. Just finish out the season strong and we’ll see how it goes from there.
On if the team believes that they have a shot in the college football playoff race
Most definitely, we have a lot of seniors this year and this may be the last game we ever play as far as football, especially collegiate football, so this year we have to finish out with a bang.
On the relationship between all the players
It’s just a brotherhood, on and off the field. On the field, you don’t want to let your teammates down. It’s very emotional, it’s a violent game but you have to do what you have to do. You have to sacrifice your body sometimes and that’s what you have to do, it’s part of it.
On the Saturday night game in Morgantown
At the end of the day we just want to win. Just have fun and let our hair down and be comfortable and just play.
Redshirt Junior Kicker Mike Molina
On what it meant to him to make a field goal from more than 40 yards
It felt pretty good, to come out and to finally hit a field goal that’s pretty far. At the same time, I knew I could do it the whole time, it’s just now I’ve finally actually hit it. It felt pretty good to actually finally do it. At the same time, it’s just another field goal.
On how hitting a long field goal impacts his confidence
It definitely helps, it means you’re still perfect for the day, you still have the confidence to keep going for the rest of the game. You definitely always want to start with a make instead of a miss. It definitely helped in the long term of the game. It means that I am still doing pretty well.
On if he could point out a reason he was missing on long field goals during the season
I could go back and look at them, but it’s just little things. I may have just been, a couple of the kicks, too excited to go out there and hit it. I got it corrected and kicked it in the net, came back and made the next one. I’m glad I did it, but it’s just something that I have to keep going off of.
