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Players Media Session
August 10, 2016 04:07 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Select members of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Wednesday, August 10, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Redshirt senior offensive lineman Tyler Orlosky
On the relationship between the center and the quarterback
It’s crucial. Obviously those two guys are the only two guys who touch the ball every play. The center has to be able to get the snap back to him, and the quarterback has to be able to handle the snap and go through his reads and trust that the center has called the right blocks and everything. It plays a major role in the offense.
On how it’s developed over the last few years between him and senior quarterback Skyler Howard
It has definitely got better. Obviously the first year was a work in progress and we’ve gotten better and better throughout the two years that he’s been back there behind me. It’s obviously a work in progress as with everything we do, but I think we’re on the right track.
On senior quarterback Skyler Howard growing with communication
It’s gotten a lot better. You have to have trust between the receivers, the coaches and the offensive linemen. You have a guy who you can build that trust around and helps the offense out a lot and helps someone else out with their positions.
On blocking the voices out around him
It’s pretty easy. You don’t really pay attention to it. I don’t read newspapers. I don’t read the news. I don’t really care what people have to say, so it’s pretty simple for me to block that stuff out and allow that not to be a distraction for me.
On his personal expectations
I don’t really have any personal expectations. My expectations for this team is to win the Big 12 Championship and play in a good bowl game.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Shelton Gibson
On working on catching the ball more efficiently
Just way more jugs machine and coming back to the ball. Having it go really, really, really, really fast. If I can catch the real fast ones from the jugs machine, than I can catch the easy ones coming from (senior quarterback) Skyler (Howard).
On learning route running from assistant coach wide receivers Tryon Carrier
Yeah, its pad height. Even though he’s shorter than everyone, but it’s about pad height, getting low, coming in out of the break - 1, 2, out of the break, 1, 2, out of the break, 1, 2, out of the break. Before I could do, 1, 2, 3, 4, out of the break and the corner would be on me, so I’m trying to emphasize doing, 1, 2 out of the break.
On if being faster than everyone in high school has been a curse in college
Definitely. I would just blow past people all the time, so when I got here I thought I could do that also. Being with (Head) Coach (Dana) Holgorsen, is teaching me more how I can’t run past everyone. I have to use my technique, and I’m getting better at my technique.
Senior wide receiver Daikiel Shorts Jr.
On what’s made him effective in the red zone
Just studying film and being patient down there. It’s a different speed of the game. Also, just getting that timing with (senior quarterback) Skyler (Howard) down there. We still need to work on that.
On the speed in the red zone
I would say more slower and more patient because like you said you can’t stretch the field. There’s only so far you can go.
On if physicality comes into play
Oh yeah, definitely. That definitely helps.
On sophomore wide receiver Jovon Durante
Oh, when Jovon (Durante) is next to me, he stretches the field. He’s a fast kid. He runs good routes, so it definitely puts more stress on the defense when we go four wide.
On if he thinks of himself as an underrated receiver
I just try to go in and do what I can do. Help the team out, make some plays, and make more routine plays. Coach has been preaching a lot about that, and give (senior quarterback) Skyler (Howard) a blanket and someone he can trust.
On working on getting the yards after the catch
Just catching the ball and getting up field, making someone miss or breaking some tackles. I’ve been working on that all camp. I just try to continue to do that as we go through camp and get ready for the season and make some big plays.
Sophomore wide receiver Gary Jennings
On being a dependable punt returner
It’s all about making the right calls and just judging the ball correctly. Also, making the right decision and being able to make the smart decision because it’s a very important position. Coach (Dana) Holgorsen refers to it as the hardest position on the field, and I think it is as well because that ball isn’t just going straight up and down, it’s moving around in the air. It’s very important for field position as well.
On tracking a punt in the air
It varies game to game because of wind conditions, lights and different stuff. It’s an art.
On catching the football
As a receiver you could always work on catching the football. Over the years you just catch hundreds and hundreds of balls because that’s your job to catch footballs.
On his decision on picking West Virginia
That process was a great process as far as overall recruiting and what not. I was really excited about coming here, and I still am excited to be here. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
On redshirt junior wide receiver Shelton Gibson
He’s a very fast player. He makes big plays, and he is a big play guy.
On the offense this year
I think this offense this year has the potential to be very great. I can’t wait to see how we are going to do this year. It’s going to be really fun.
Redshirt senior safety Jarrod Harper
On development of younger players
The younger players are really looking good. One that really sticks out to me at safety so far is (redshirt sophomore safety) Toyous (Avery). He’s flying around, making plays.
The younger players are really looking good. One that really sticks out to me at safety so far is (redshirt sophomore safety) Toyous (Avery). He’s flying around, making plays.
On advice for the younger player’s
One piece of advice playing in the Big 12, you have to get ready for the up-tempo offense. The speed of the game is a lot different compared to other conferences. That’s just one piece of advice to give to the younger guys. If you get out there and you’re in the situation just get ready to go. Don’t think, just play, just react and just fly around.
One piece of advice playing in the Big 12, you have to get ready for the up-tempo offense. The speed of the game is a lot different compared to other conferences. That’s just one piece of advice to give to the younger guys. If you get out there and you’re in the situation just get ready to go. Don’t think, just play, just react and just fly around.
On running nickel packages during practice
Just getting in some more speed guys on the field to cover down. That’s really it. Just a little something, something to throw at their offense to change it up. Get some backers off the wide outs, and get some fast guys in there to cover.
Just getting in some more speed guys on the field to cover down. That’s really it. Just a little something, something to throw at their offense to change it up. Get some backers off the wide outs, and get some fast guys in there to cover.
On his comfortability in the Big 12
Each year you keep getting more comfortable, more comfortable with the speed of the game, more comfortable with the tempo and how fast they’re going to come at you. That’s one thing I noticed this year, it’s really slowing down a lot. I know I’ve said that in the past, but coming into my senior year and being in the Big 12, playing against fast guys, it’s really slowed down. That’s one thing that has really helped me. I’m out there flying around reading stuff about what happened in the past.
Each year you keep getting more comfortable, more comfortable with the speed of the game, more comfortable with the tempo and how fast they’re going to come at you. That’s one thing I noticed this year, it’s really slowing down a lot. I know I’ve said that in the past, but coming into my senior year and being in the Big 12, playing against fast guys, it’s really slowed down. That’s one thing that has really helped me. I’m out there flying around reading stuff about what happened in the past.
On assisting with the new players
The older guys can always assist with that. In the film room just helping younger guys, walk them through it. Outside on the practice field some guys have questions, just being that ear for them. Listening and telling them what they have to do in certain situations. What they have to see, and what they have to be able to see and read. Read fast and pick up stuff. Just helping and really being an extra coach out on the field as well as a player too.
The older guys can always assist with that. In the film room just helping younger guys, walk them through it. Outside on the practice field some guys have questions, just being that ear for them. Listening and telling them what they have to do in certain situations. What they have to see, and what they have to be able to see and read. Read fast and pick up stuff. Just helping and really being an extra coach out on the field as well as a player too.
Senior safety Jeremy Tyler
On switching to the spur position from bandit
I don’t have any difficulties moving to the spur position because I just want to be on the field and to give my defense the best chance when I’m in the game. So whatever I have to do to make the defense better, then that’s what I’m going to do.
On if it’s a difficult move to make
It’s not a difficult responsibility. I’m used to it. It’s familiar to me. I’ve seen it before throughout my years here, so moving to that spot, it wouldn’t be new to me. I think it’s a good move.
On the other spur players
They’re doing well. They’re picking up very quickly. (Junior safety) Kyzir (White) just came in and stepped foot on campus. I’ve been very impressed on how he’s handled his situation, and how he’s been going out there and working every day. As the older guys, they just have to keep reminding him what the drops you have to take, what you have to look at, read your keys and just try to help him on that.
On if it’s hard to learn the defense
No sir, it’s very easy. As the safeties, I think the safeties are kind of similar to each other. As the bandit you roll into the post and as the spur you’re more likely to be in the box.
On if he likes the spur or bandit position better
It doesn’t really matter. The bandit gives you more room to free run, to move around. The spur you’re kind of right there by the linebackers and your man coverage is not likely for you to be in the post.
Redshirt senior linebacker Sean Walters
On the defense’s improvements in camp
I think it was just being out there and being too over excited sometimes and actually the mental part of it was like trying to get back into midst of things. Once we started to settle down and got going, we started to watch film more and correct our mistakes. We got rolling. We still have a long way to go from September 3, but we are on the track.
On senior defensive lineman Darrien Howard
Darrien (Howard) is going to be a monster this year. I just feel like he’s pretty much been in the system for quite a while so he knows what’s expected. He’s just going out there every day and working hard and his work ethic shows.
On being focused on the Will position
Right now, I’m trying to master it to the best of my knowledge of what I can do out there at the Will, but if it comes down to it I don’t care. If it’s special teams, I don’t care if it’s anything. I just want to go out there and play.
On rotating at linebacker
It’s mostly in and out sometimes. The three we are planning with now is (redshirt junior linebacker) Al (-Rasheed Benton) and (redshirt senior linebacker) (Justin) Arndt. I’m getting really comfortable with them, even with (junior linebacker) Xavier (Preston) or whoever. It doesn’t matter. It’s just a heavy rotation. Right now there is no depth chart set, so we’re just going out there trying to get a feel for the best 11. Just seeing what each other can do and how each other can fit in this position and that position. That’s basically what it comes down to, but like I said this is all up to coach (Associate head coach defensive coordinator/linebackers) (Tony) Gibby (Gibson). I’m pretty sure he going to pick the best 11 out there.
Redshirt junior linebacker Al-Rasheed Benton
On if backups at the linebacker position are starting to contribute
I think a lot of those guys have been making a lot of plays and have been really getting in and really understanding what the defense needs of them. (Freshman linebacker) Logan Thimons is doing a really good job, (freshman linebacker) Brendan Ferns, like you said, and (redshirt junior linebacker) Hodari (Christian III), is doing a really good job. I’m happy with the progress that those guys have made and we have a few more practices and they keep getting better and better. They just keep getting better and better.
I think a lot of those guys have been making a lot of plays and have been really getting in and really understanding what the defense needs of them. (Freshman linebacker) Logan Thimons is doing a really good job, (freshman linebacker) Brendan Ferns, like you said, and (redshirt junior linebacker) Hodari (Christian III), is doing a really good job. I’m happy with the progress that those guys have made and we have a few more practices and they keep getting better and better. They just keep getting better and better.
On competitions at both outside linebacker positions
I think what it does for our linebacker room as a whole is it gives us a little bit of diversity. One series I’ll go out there and it will be (redshirt senior linebacker) (Justin) Arndt and (redshirt senior linebacker) Sean (Walters) next to me and the next series it will be (redshirt freshman linebacker) David (Long) and (junior linebacker) Xavier (Preston). I think that’s working really well for us. Everyone can get in and mesh with whoever is out there, and I think that will be a big thing we will need this year because those guys are going to have to play some. Some guys are going to be in some series, some guys aren’t, so I think we are all jelling as a room, to be honest. I like it. I like where we are going with it.
On rotating players at the linebacker position
I think we are getting to the point where now where it’s plugging in the same guy. We are getting to the point now where everybody is understanding what everybody is supposed to be doing and how the defense is supposed to flow so when the guys get in there, there is no drop-off or when (redshirt senior linebacker) (Justin) Arndt gets back in there is no pick up. It’s the same thing, the same plays being made with every group that’s in. I think that’s going to be something that bodes well for us, when everybody can get in and make those plays no matter who we have next to us, who is beside of us. We all have that trust each other, whoever (associate head coach (defensive coordinator/linebackers) (Tony) Gibby (Gibson) puts out there we know they are going to make the plays and it’s been working well for us so far. We are just going to keep getting better and better with it.
On being the only person that has a start on the linebacking corps
I don’t think it makes a difference. Like I said before, I still have stuff that I have been working on this offseason. I have one start, so what. I still haven’t really proven anything, I still have a lot to prove, we still have a lot to prove as a room. We have been working too, not necessarily to prove everyone wrong but to prove to the ones that believe in us right.
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