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Offensive Media Session
December 25, 2016 02:56 PM | Football
Orlando, Fla. - West Virginia University Offensive Coordinator Joe Wickline and members of the WVU football team met with the media on Sunday, December 25, 2016, at Kroy Crofoot Field at The First Academy.
Assistant Coach (Offensive Coordinator/ Fullbacks-Tight Ends) Joe Wickline
Challenges of Miami’s Defense
They are really well coached. (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) Coach (Manny) Diaz and the coaching staff, new staff, have put a bunch of new things in. You can tell they have bought in and are on board. They are very sound in gap control. They do a great job of stopping the run. They have some guys who can put a bunch of pressure on you and their pressure packages are good. They are playing a lot of people. You can tell they’re not just one deep. The key to that is there is not a big drop off. They have a lot of good players. They do a nice job coaching. Schematically, they are an even front and an odd front and all on the map. It’s going to be a challenge for our guys and we’re looking forward to it.
On having seven underclassmen on defense – playing on this big of a stage – Is it too big for them
I’m from down here and I understand how people work down here. It’s a big stage for the state. Their recruiting base and who they have to draw from, it’s unbelievable. Miami actually speaks for itself. When you’re at the end of the year versus the beginning of the year, it’s totally different. Now, you’re talking about guys who have played, they been through the ups, been through the middle of the year and adjusted some things and of course at the end of the year, they have caught on fire and know what they are doing. They are no longer freshmen or they are no longer young guys. Their guys who have been there and they’ve done that. They actually had another month or so to prepare. So, it’s no longer an issue.
On what has impressed you the most about the leadership and play of senior quarterback Skyler Howard
He been really consistent. Through the ups and downs, preseason and obviously had a good run and had some bad things happen to us, overall, he stayed the course. He’s a leader and cares about the football team. He really cares about winning. It really bothers him when he doesn’t play well. He makes adjustments and moves on to the next thing. He’s matured and I think obviously has had his best year.
On senior quarterback Skyler Howard having displayed the characteristics you have seen in a good quarterback over your career
There are a lot of teams out there each year. You start them each year with who is going to be the best and who is going to be that. It’s going to start off with who has an experienced quarterback. That’s how it started off with us. He’s a guy who has done the deal, he’s had some peeps and doubters. He accepts that and he’s taken those on as challenges. He’s a tough guy, he’s gritty, gets it done and cares about the football team.
Senior Quarterback Skyler Howard
On if he has noticed that his statistics are similar to Miami junior quarterback Brad Kaaya’s
I haven’t no. I haven’t looked at anything of that nature. I don’t even look at my own stats, much less another quarterback’s stats. I am just worried about getting win number 11.
On Head Coach Dana Holgorsen fitting the scheme to his players
Yeah, that is what coach Holgorsen does, he takes his players and he builds a scheme around them. That’s what I like. We have evolved since I have gotten here, in the pass game, run game everything in between we have evolved around our players and that is why we are so great at everything we do.
On Miami’s defense being similar to Kansas State’s
The front seven are really strong. That is one thing that they are going to zone pressure you. They feel like they can get to you by playing zone behind it. They fly around too. Great players, great young guys in the backers, they fly around.
On Miami disguising blitzes
They disguise it well, definitely. They do a lot of different things. They do some things that we have never seen before, because we are used to teams manning us up and then bringing pressure. This kind of pressure is different than what we have seen. We can’t rely strictly on man routes; we have to execute our plays and get the ball into play.
On Miami switching defensive fronts in the game
Yeah, depending on the situation. They remind me of a lot of the Big 12 teams on third down, getting that nickel defender in there and switching things up in the back end.
On what stands out when he thinks of his relationship with senior wide receiver Daikiel Shorts Jr.
Just how consistent he is and how we have the same goals. Ever since we have been here we have had the same goals of coming here, winning some ball games and using this experience to get successful in life. We have talked about that since day one. We mesh on that level, as far as coming out here. We have the same motivations; he is a consistent guy that is going to work. He is a consistent receiver that will make the catch on third down, strong hands. I will remember him as my brother.
On it being his last game as a Mountaineer
It feels bittersweet. A little bit of both. It feels like this is the end but then again I am just ready to enjoy it with these guys one last time.
Redshirt Senior Offensive Lineman Tyler Orlosky
On if he has seen film of Miami
Yeah, I watched some film, Mandatory film. We watched it so we have a good idea of what they are going to do. They are a young team, they are an athletic team so they are going to try to blitz us a lot. I don’t think they are going to play us head up. They are going to try to scheme us and (Miami head) coach (Mark) Richt does a good job of putting them in a good position.
On reading the Miami defense
It’s going to be difficult, because they don’t do what normal teams do. They don’t really give away blitzes, they do a good job of hiding them with the safeties. Usually the safeties tell you everything but they do a good job of hiding the safeties. We need to work on noticing things and hopefully get on the right page.
On developing his relationship with senior quarterback Skyler Howard
It means a lot. It means a lot with all of your teammates, not just one individual. Being here for five years, you are with these guys for five years. Look, you are spending Christmas with each other. It means a lot, we are a family and to go out with a win with them would mean a lot.
On his experience at the Russell Athletic Bowl
This is definitely top two, obviously I have only been to four. This is one of the top two that I have been to, it is right up there with the Cactus Bowl last year. It was a great time and so is Orlando, these guys do a really good job of putting the bowl on for us, and we are excited to be here.
Senior Wide Receiver Daikiel Shorts Jr.
On if it is frustrating that the opposing defenses concentrate on him
I wouldn’t say that it is frustrating. If they concentrate on me that just opens things up for the outside. That is why (redshirt junior wide receiver) Shelton (Gibson) has been having big games and (redshirt junior wide receiver) Ka’Raun (White) before he got injured and now (freshman wide receiver) Marcus (Simms). We just have to look at the film and whatever works we work, if it is intermediate, or it is deep routes. If it works, we do it.
On taking advantage of the holes in the defensive zone
On certain plays, that is what I do. If they give me the middle, then I take it and if I have to keep going then I keep going. Just certain things that (senior quarterback) Skyler (Howard) and I talk about, it might be before the game or on the sidelines during the game. We just try to get on the same page and make it happen.
On it being his last game as a Mountaineer
It actually hasn’t yet. It will probably settle in on game day when we run out onto the field. Even senior night it didn’t feel like anything. It still doesn’t feel like it but we will see you know that stuff always pops up.
On if he is leaving the program in better shape than he came in with
Definitely, my freshman year we went 4-8 and that was a terrible season. To go 10-2 this year and hopefully get 11 wins feels pretty good. Especially for not only myself but the rest of the seniors and all of the underclassman having them come into next year with a winning season. That will be pretty good for them.
On where Miami’s defense is vulnerable
They are a fast defense. They are physical, they get to the ball. We just need to take advantage of our opportunities. When our number is called we have to make that play. If they are coming up trying to stop the run, receivers need to step up, not only catching the ball and running routes but blocking as well. Blocking is going to be a huge part of the game. (Assistant coach/ Receivers) coach (Tyron) Carrier has put a lot on us so we have been working on that, but we will be fine.
Redshirt Junior Tight End/ Fullback Elijah Wellman
On preparing for Miami’s defense
They are a good defense. Coach always said and I have said this before, respect your opponent and what they have done throughout the season. That’s what we are doing with this opponent, we aren’t treating them as anyone else, we need to go out there and do our thing and worry about what we are doing, that is how we are going to attack it.
On the practices this week
Practice has been awesome so far. We have been coming out here, getting our work done, there is beautiful weather. It’s not super cold like it is in Morgantown. Everyone is running around, having a good time out here and getting our work done.
On if Miami’s ability to stop the run adds pressure on him to make the right block
A little bit. They have a good run defense, and we know that. Like I said, if we go out there and do our own thing and worry about what we are doing in our game plan we will be alright.
On how much the team can add or change to catch the opponent off-guard
It plays a little part. They didn’t play any of the opponents that we played throughout the year and the same goes for us to them. You see some different things maybe but nothing too far from what we have been doing. You can maybe throw a few wrinkles in there but nothing too much.
On his relationship with senior quarterback Skyler Howard
He is one of my good buddies. He is a gamer, he goes out there and plays. Tough kid, super tough kid and I have a close relationship with him and a good friendship. That is coming to an end now but there is always the next chapter in your life and that is what he is going to take on.
On reaching the 11 win milestone this season
We are all looking for that 11th, there has only been five teams in the history of Mountaineer football to do that. That’s our goal, we are not finished; we have one more game, and we are going to attack it just like the first 10 wins that we have.
On peaking at the right time in the bowl season
We have had some good practices this week so peaking would be nice at this point, but we will see when we get out there.
On having a healthy backfield
We are going to hit the ground running, everyone is healthy and that is huge. If you take a drive off a guy and put another fresh body in there and in a couple of plays if he needs a break you can put some more fresh legs in there. That is kind of a weapon, all four of those backs have played and showed what they can do. All of them have had 100 yard games. That is a weapon in itself, we have four guys that are doing the same thing that everyone else is doing.
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