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Players Media Session - August 6
August 06, 2016 02:39 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Select members of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Saturday, August 6, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Redshirt senior linebacker Justin Arndt
On getting reps in camp
Making the most of what you get, especially for the younger guys. Being able to compete with each other, the more individuals you have, there aren’t that many reps going around on gameday. We are competing now to push each other to get better each and every day and just making the guy next to you better.
On if earning a starting role is a motivation during fall camp
I take a lot of things as motivation and that is one of them. I think all of us take motivation from being in the shadow of (Nick) Kwit (Kwiatkoski), (Jared) Barber and Shaq (Pettaway) and not being able to be out there as much. Just coming in as a walk-on, people always underestimated me, and I thrive on it, I love it. It just makes you a better player.
On rotating the linebacker throughout the game
You could always see that with the Big 12. They have hot-based offenses, even last year they were rotating some, but people get tired because of the nature of the game. You have teams like Baylor and TCU that play you and push the pace, you are going to wear down a little bit. It's a long season so you never know it's up to Coach Gibby (Tony Gibson) in the long haul.
On being from West Virginia and playing for WVU
I think it's just awesome. Going home and having all this support back home. People just say ‘hey this and that’ about playing this year. It really gets you excited come first game and games after that. Just being about to make the hometown proud and the rest of the state proud. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Redshirt junior offensive lineman Kyle Bosch
On coach Joe Wickline technique’s with coach Ron Crook
It's a little bit of both. It's more two sets of eyes and he's introduced a lot, but he's adapted our scheme and he's refined it to what he knows best. He's got a lot of experience and he's a very intelligent guy, so he's very helpful in our room having another set of eyes.
On having two offensive line coaches
I’m not really surprised more teams don't do it because coaches and teams think they can do it with one. But Coach (Dana) Holgorsen is smart enough to know that you have a bunch of tight ends, young tackles and offensive line. It is better to have two sets of eyes instead of one. I think it's very important to have as many people with as much knowledge as possible giving their feedback and coaching us up.
On the identity of the offensive line this year
We are going to be more balanced this year in my opinion. That same grit that we had last year with coming off the ball and getting yardage. Making holes for the running back is still going to continue to progress as the season goes on.
On the running backs behind Rushel Shell
All of our running backs have been lights out this year. It's really reassuring to us as an offensive line because no matter who they put back there, they switch it up on a daily basis. You could have a kid that just got here in the huddle with us that is still running his tail off. So it's been a learning experience for everyone. It's what camps all about, ironing out and seeing who's going to be the best back, back there. (Rushel) Shell has done a great job. Kennedy (McKoy) does a great job; they all do a great job.
Senior defensive linemen Darrien Howard
On being a senior
It doesn’t really change my mentality much, I still have a lot to work on and a lot to fight for, and basically prove that I didn’t get this starting job by default. I have to prove that I earned that spot by working every day, showing that I deserve to be out there. I’m not just out there because there’s nobody else to put out there, but showing and proving that I deserve it. I feel like nothing is really given to you. I feel like regardless or not of where I am now, I still have a lot to work on. I have to keep getting better every day to show I deserve that job.
On being the middle of the defensive line
The guy in the middle is very important. He’s the anchor of the defense and without that guy in the middle holding up, the defense really doesn’t work – run game or pass.
The guy in the middle is very important. He’s the anchor of the defense and without that guy in the middle holding up, the defense really doesn’t work – run game or pass.
On moving to a lineman role
I initially thought I was going to be a linebacker, but how things were going, I did everything I could to get on the field. With the position I’m in I’m used to working lateral, working double teams, so it’s not much of a change really.
On learning from former WVU defensive lineman Kyle Rose
I learned a lot from Kyle. He was like a big brother to me. I’m pretty athletic, but my technique wasn’t always right and he was always the one helping me with my technique. The technique is the most important part because without the technique you get yourself in a bind you can’t get out of. He helped me with hand placement, my feet and how to take on double teams.
I learned a lot from Kyle. He was like a big brother to me. I’m pretty athletic, but my technique wasn’t always right and he was always the one helping me with my technique. The technique is the most important part because without the technique you get yourself in a bind you can’t get out of. He helped me with hand placement, my feet and how to take on double teams.
Senior quarterback Skyler Howard
On how the offensive plays are progressing in camp
We’re still installing. We’ve installed a lot, a lot of carryover from spring, but I think for these younger guys I think it’s good to go over everything from day one and really just keep installing and keep adding to the playbook. We’re chipping away, adding more and more each day, so yeah we’re still in the installation mode.
On the veterans’ focus and taking notes
My focus is to note, take every little note that they’re taking and don’t take anything for granted. If I know already what coach is saying, or keep your eyes here when this happens, put your eyes here, I’m going to go ahead and write that down even though I already know it. I’m going to write that down just so it’s fresh on my mind. When you’re writing things down, I feel like you’re going to do a lot better. My notes are really full just as (teammates’) are. I’m not taking anything for granted. Not missing any little detail because as a quarterback, one little mistake can cost you the game.
On wide receiver Gary Jennings
He’s always been physical, always been really strong, but now he’s taken his mental game to another level. He’s seeing those holes a lot faster, using his hands in routes and developing as a fulltime, inside, outside, wherever we need him as receiver. He had the confidence from the Cactus Bowl and carried it over to the spring, and it has carried over to the summer. Confidence is everything I feel like. He’s becoming a complete receiver.
Redshirt junior kicker Mike Molina
On Josh Lambert’s suspension
Nothing really changed for me. I heard the news and I just kind of went about the same daily routines I’ve been doing. I just train a little bit harder now that I have a little bit more motivation I guess. I mean really nothing’s changed; I have been doing the same thing for three years, going on four. I’ve actually had the same holder and same snapper for two years now, so nothing’s really changed. Now that I know that I’m going to be the man for the first three games, I just have to step up.
On Josh Lambert’s perspective of the suspension and how he’s taken a coach-like role
I mean it’s great. Josh (Lambert) has always helped me out since I’ve been here. He’s a great guy. He’s always helped me out with little things, like he’ll see something that coach doesn’t and help me correct it. He’ll take me to the side and we’ll do some drills sometimes. But now having him like that (acting as an assistant coach), he’s done even more. It’s great having Josh, it’s just like you said it’s like having another coach.
On making this a permanent position, as opposed to filling in
I am just worried about game one right now. It’s kick by kick, so you can’t look at multiple kicks in the future or games down the line you just have to go about the next week.
On balancing kickoffs and taking over Josh’s role
I love doing kickoffs and I always felt like it’s been my strong suit ever since I started kicking. I think I could still handle kick offs regardless.
On having big shoes to fill
I don’t think about that. Josh (Lambert) is a great kicker and everything and there’s big expectations, so I’m just trying to be me and just got to go out there and do what I do. We will find out September 3rd.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Ka’Raun White
On this year’s camp vs. last year’s camp
My stamina is a lot better and I can move at a much faster pace. My speed is a lot better. I have just been working in the offseason to get my stamina right, learning the plays and everything like that so everything is coming along pretty well.
On what he hopes to improve on during camp
Speed and route running, I was working a little bit on that in the offseason. Being more consistent with catching the ball – using the tennis ball machine, work on catching the ball, watching different videos like one-on-one coverages and seeing what I can do to help change up my routes.
On if he and his brother Kyzir White help each other
We do that and then after practice, we’ll watch film together to see what we did right and wrong and try to fix and help each other out with that. I just told him everything’s a lot faster and you just have to get used to that. He pulled me to the side and was like “Ka’Raun you were right, everything is faster,” but he’s getting the hang of it pretty well and he’s looking good.
On the wide receivers vs. cornerbacks competition
It makes us better. We are going at it 24/7, so we are running all day. They try to key on our little release moves and stuff, so when we work with Coach (Tyron) Carrier he gives us drills to do to help us with that and have us win one-on-one drills more.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Shelton Gibson
On fall camp so far
I don’t have time for mistakes. Right now, I would say this is the best camp I’ve had since I’ve been here. I’m getting better with my short routes and my short game, so that’s a good thing.
On the competition between wide receivers and cornerbacks
Every day they bring it. I would honestly say that the corners and safeties bring the energy. They bring the energy on us, we bring the energy on them, and we’re getting better every single day.
On his confidence
When I got here my confidence went down a little bit, but it’s getting back up. I watch everyone’s highlights from their junior and senior years, you can see their confidence go up.
On wide receivers coach Tyron Carrier
I still watch his routes all of the time because he does everything right.
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