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Assistant Coaches and Players Media Session
April 23, 2016 06:23 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 Saturday, April 23, following the spring game at the Greenbrier.
Assistant coach/defensive coordinator/linebackers Tony Gibson
On having the spring game at the Greenbrier
It’s great. The people have been great here. The hotels and security have been great. Everyone that had their hands in this have been great. It’s a great atmosphere for our guys. It’s something different. Again, touching the southern part of the state is great. We want to give back to our fans a little bit, and we were excited to do that. I am from down here, so it is good to be back. I hope we continue to do it this way.
On redshirt senior linebacker Sean Walters’ hit on redshirt sophomore quarterback William Crest Jr.
It brought (redshirt senior linebacker) Sean (Walters) off the edge. He thought it was going to be a draw. They were running the ball with (redshirt sophomore quarterback William) Crest. That’s what he told me at least. I don’t think he did it intentionally. He felt bad about it, but that was really the first time all spring. It’s tough with quarterbacks in white jerseys, whether they are going to run the ball or throw the ball. We don’t ever want to hit our quarterbacks in the pocket. He feels bad about it, but he thought it was going to be a quarterback draw.
On if it was a targeting call
The official talked to him. He probably would’ve been ejected.
On who has progressed the most thus far
(Redshirt senior linebacker) Justin Arndt. (Redshirt senior linebacker) Sean Walters. (Junior safety) Dravon (Askew-Henry) and (junior safety) Jeremy Tyler are getting better. If I had to choose one guy, (redshirt senior cornerback) Nana (Kyeremeh) has been playing really well throughout the spring. He made some big plays today. It’s really hard to choose one guy. Collectively, we are getting better. We just have to continue to do just that.
Redshirt senior cornerback Nana Kyeremeh
On if he had a chance to guard freshman wide receiver Marcus Simms in the open field Not really. I am usually on the opposite side, so I never really went up against him. From what I seen from film, he can fly. He can definitely run. He is really shifty, so you have to get your hands on him and stay over top of him.
On how sophomore wide receiver Gary Jennings differs from redshirt junior wide receiver Shelton Gibson
He’s fast, but he uses his body. He is good with body control. He knows how to use his body, so he can make a play. He is strong. He lets his hands do the most of the work.
On sophomore wide receiver Gary Jennings injury
He came out pretty strong. I am just happy that he is healthy. He can definitely help us in the future.
On if he thinks sophomore wide receiver Gary Jennings can run away from him
He can definitely out run us. If I made that play, then I wouldn’t have to worry about chasing him.
On if he feels a sense of ownership over the cornerbacks
Yes. I have been here the longest. I was actually talking to the corners before the game, and I was the only corner that has played in a spring game. It blew my mind, so I just had to make plays. I wanted to bring the guys with me. I don’t want them to make the same mistakes I made. I want to be better as a group overall.
Redshirt junior safety Shane Commodore
On his overall thoughts of the secondary’s performance today
I thought we played well. (Redshirt senior cornerback) Antonio (Crawford) had a pick. A couple other players made some players, but there were things that we have to work on. We keep getting better every day.
On what was working out there that allowed them to be so successful today
We just go out there and do what we do. The coaches will put us in the right situation to make plays.
On if he stepped up this spring
I am just trying to do my part and show that I can go out there and play during a game. I want to earn more playing time and become a part of the defense. I want to make a difference in the game.
On what he saw during the interceptions
The one ball was a little short, and I had to come back to it. I was lucky enough to have it tipped right to me with the other one.
Junior safety Jeremy Tyler
On how the defense moves past the talks of Karl Joseph, KJ Dillon and Daryl Worley not being on the team
We will probably be just as good as last year’s team. We keep working. We work every day. Every day is a work day. The sky is the limit with this team.
On what the team has taken from practice going into the spring game
We have improved. We were prepared to take control of the game going into today. We just have to keep working and pushing through situations. The sky is the limit for us.
Redshirt junior tight end/full back Elijah Wellman
On if this is something he enjoys
I want to be a leader. I am a guy who has a say on the team, and it is definitely a joy for me to go in there and work my butt off with my teammates. I want to lead by example and pull guys along with me that want to work hard and get better.
On his touchdown today and if he feels like he is more a part of the offense near the goal line
It is a possibility. You never know with play calling. You can call a different play, and it has nothing to do with me. If the play is called, then I will do my best to get in there and do what I can. Absolutely.
On how he has seen his weight room work transfer into on the field success
Absolutely. I am finishing blocks and contacts. I do a lot of network. It’s really simmered down, and things have been a little bit easier. Once you get stronger and bigger, things get a little bit easier.
Redshirt senior offensive lineman Tyler Orlosky
On comparing freshman running back Kennedy McKoy to Wendell Smallwood
Being here for five years, not many times do you have a freshman come in here and pick up the offense. Our offense is very simple, but you don’t pick it up that fast, especially a running back. He was able to do that, and Wendell (Smallwood) was able to do that as well. Wendell (Smallwood) played as a true freshman, and he has the same type of attitude. He comes in and works hard every day. That’s all you can ask for from a young kid.
On freshman running back Kennedy McKoy’s explosiveness
He can get out of the backfield pretty fast. He does a good job with that. He has to work a little bit with communication, but that’s just him being a freshman. I think he will be pretty good for us this upcoming year.
On what the offensive line needs to improve on heading into the fall
Consistency. We scrimmaged two times prior to today, and we have to be consistent. We have to come out like we did today every day. That is the biggest thing right now.
On if the offensive line is better than last year
I think so. I think once we combine everyone, we have 90 starts among the five or six of us that have a job. I think that helps a lot. We are all used to playing next to each other, and that will help us down the road this season.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Shelton Gibson
On what he thinks freshman wide receiver Marcus Simms brings to the table
When I watch (freshman wide receiver) Marcus (Simms), I see myself when I was younger. He’s young, and he is out there playing. He is so fast. Right now, he doesn’t know how to control his speed, but is going to be an awesome player.
On what he has seen from freshman quarterback Cody Saunders
Honestly, (freshman quarterback) Cody (Saunders) has one of the best deep balls I have ever seen. I always tell him that I like to see his deep balls in practice. They are so pretty in the air. He’s coming along.
On deep plays at the wide receiver position
I just don’t want to be a deep threat. That’s a part of my game that you can take out. I don’t want that. I want to be used everywhere on the field.
Senior quarterback Skyler Howard
On his main message to the younger quarterbacks throughout the afternoon
They have to keep pushing. You can’t get gun shy. I was telling everyone to operate and move the chains. You don’t want to go three and out. You have to keep operating and keep firing. You have to have confidence back there. Those guys battled back.
On the differences between his first spring game to his last spring game
It’s night and day, as it should be. I am going into my senior year. I understand exactly what coach Holgorsen is saying from the sideline. I know what the defense is running, and I know what plays are good against it. You have to be able to manage. When stuff breaks down, you have to know what to do with the ball and when to do it.
On the receivers playing against WVU’s secondary
It’s great. They got one on us. It wasn’t bad, but we have to eliminate that. We can’t have that, but the receivers are playing great. All the receivers have confidence and are making plays downfield. It’s hard to tell how they are doing, but we are putting the ball in there.
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