Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
Assistant Coaches and Players Media Session
December 22, 2017 04:32 PM | Football
FRISCO, Texas - West Virginia University assistant coaches and select members of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Friday, Dec. 22, 2017, at the Ford Center.
Associate Head Coach (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) Tony Gibson
On what the defense tries to accomplish here that they haven't been able to accomplish
Right now, just fine-tuning the game plan. That is our biggest key right now, is just to get these guys going. Full-speed reps, make it short, sweet and just make sure we are all on the same page.
On how much of the game plan he will change based on Utah's quarterback decision
Yeah, we are still going to prepare for both and be ready. Again, (Tyler) Huntley is more of a runner; (Troy) Williams is more of a thrower. We will do a good mixture the next couple of days.
On if he tells the players who he is expecting to see
No, we are rolling right now with (Tyler) Huntley is going to be the guy. That's our mindset, we will see when the ball kicks.
On if tackling is a concern
It's always a concern in a bowl game when you have this long of a layoff. The thing that we have done a good job of though, is we have had them in pads every day and tried to get a tackling circuit in and tried to go live on your feet against the offense to get the speed of the game. We will continue to do that again today, tomorrow and get ready.
Assistant Coach (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks) Jake Spavital
On how the bowl preparation is coming along
The preparation is going well. We got all of our work in; it was a good mock week of having everything pretty much put in before we got on the plane. These next few practices are going to be just polishing up and making sure of the continuity and the timing is going to be fine with everybody else. They are actually pretty excited. Once they pulled up to this facility they got a little more energy to practice, which I am fired up for them having a little more excitement playing in a place like this.
On if the game plan he puts together in Morgantown changes at all in these practices
No, a lot of the work has already been done back in Morgantown. Here, there are still some discussions to be had, we are going to be throwing more looks at the guys because they are a multiple front. They will be moving in and out of three down fronts to bear to four down fronts to over-unders, all sorts of things up front. There will be some good conversations with some of these plays just to make sure we are all on the same page and that we are going to execute these plays in a certain look. Mainly, it is just to get acclimated, get running around and make sure that we have the right mindset. The game plan, the scheme is in, it is more of a mentality of this point moving forward.
On if he has seen redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Chugunov's understanding of the offense improve
I have. The one thing that I applaud Chris for is, when we were out on the road recruiting and we weren't in the facility, he was actually getting the receivers out there and running routes with them and starting to build some continuity because you throw with (redshirt junior quarterback) Will Grier the entire year, there is a lot of unknowns between each other. Throughout the course of this past month, they have been starting to work things out and you are starting to see that through his practice as well.
Junior Wide Receiver David Sills V
On how the timing with redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Chugunov can improve
It's just reps. Getting as many reps as you can with the quarterback throwing to you. He knows where you are going to be in your route. That's really the biggest thing. It's not something that can happen overnight, it just happens from the hard work that you put in and continued time when you are developing that chemistry with each other. That is what you really try to gain these couple of weeks before the bowl game. We have gotten a lot better timing, a lot better understanding, especially in one-on-ones and stuff. You will see today, just the timing of where I am going to make my break or where the other receivers are going to make their break. Really, when the defense is out there, that is the timing that we try to get, because routes on air, if you can throw it, you should be pretty good at it. It's really when the defenders get out there and working against press coverage and how that adjusts the route and everything.
On where the communication is with redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Chugunov
It's been going well with Chugs, just working on what he is seeing out there. Trying to get on the same page with him. He does a great job out there of getting us into the right play. He has grown over that since we have had the last game and going into the bowl prep. Like I said earlier, taking command of the offense. He has really done a good job of that and getting us into the right play.
On it being his first bowl game since he caught the game-winning touchdown in the Cactus Bowl
I really haven't given it much thought, with that bowl game or anything. We are just attacking this game as any other game. It is obviously a bowl game so we have a little more time to prepare. We have been working hard in these several weeks before the game. We are ready to get out there and play again.
Redshirt Senior Wide Receiver Ka'Raun White
On if he has thought at all about having three practices left at WVU
No, not really. I have lost track of the days so far. I know it is about to end real soon.
On if he gets emotional at all about it being his last game
No, not so much. Senior day I did a little bit because of coach (Director, Strength and Conditioning) Mike (Joseph), but I'm not too emotional right now. Maybe after the game a little bit or during the game.
On his comfort level with redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Chugunov
It has gotten a lot better so far. A few things still aren't there yet, but hopefully with these few days we have left we can work on that a little bit. For the most part, I would say it is there.
Redshirt Sophomore Linebacker David Long Jr.
On difficulty of preparing for two quarterbacks
Not really hard. They are both athletes. we will bring the same game plan to both of them.
On what he has seen from Utah's quarterbacks
In my personal opinion, I think one (Tyler) Huntley is a better runner and three (Troy) Williams is a better thrower than the other one. We are probably going to see a bunch of throws.
On if there was anyone on the defense that stepped up in the locker room after the loss to Oklahoma
Not that I can remember, honestly. If anyone it was coach (Associate Head Coach (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) (Tony) Gibby (Gibson). We were all pretty disappointed in our play, but we knew we couldn't hold our heads down and let that be the defining point of our season. Tuesday, we have to leave alright.
Senior Safety Kyzir White
On how the defense moves past the performance against Oklahoma
Just let that game go and look forward to this one and come out and play hard. Be physical and try to dominate.
On what jumps out at him when watching film on Utah
They are physical. They are real physical team. Up front they are big and they have good skill players.
On what Utah tries to do on offense
It is just a bunch of different things. Once they find something that works they just stick with it.
On Utah's two quarterbacks
They like to run a lot. They are athletic and they try to get their skill guys in space.
Associate Head Coach (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) Tony Gibson
On what the defense tries to accomplish here that they haven't been able to accomplish
Right now, just fine-tuning the game plan. That is our biggest key right now, is just to get these guys going. Full-speed reps, make it short, sweet and just make sure we are all on the same page.
On how much of the game plan he will change based on Utah's quarterback decision
Yeah, we are still going to prepare for both and be ready. Again, (Tyler) Huntley is more of a runner; (Troy) Williams is more of a thrower. We will do a good mixture the next couple of days.
On if he tells the players who he is expecting to see
No, we are rolling right now with (Tyler) Huntley is going to be the guy. That's our mindset, we will see when the ball kicks.
On if tackling is a concern
It's always a concern in a bowl game when you have this long of a layoff. The thing that we have done a good job of though, is we have had them in pads every day and tried to get a tackling circuit in and tried to go live on your feet against the offense to get the speed of the game. We will continue to do that again today, tomorrow and get ready.
Assistant Coach (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks) Jake Spavital
On how the bowl preparation is coming along
The preparation is going well. We got all of our work in; it was a good mock week of having everything pretty much put in before we got on the plane. These next few practices are going to be just polishing up and making sure of the continuity and the timing is going to be fine with everybody else. They are actually pretty excited. Once they pulled up to this facility they got a little more energy to practice, which I am fired up for them having a little more excitement playing in a place like this.
On if the game plan he puts together in Morgantown changes at all in these practices
No, a lot of the work has already been done back in Morgantown. Here, there are still some discussions to be had, we are going to be throwing more looks at the guys because they are a multiple front. They will be moving in and out of three down fronts to bear to four down fronts to over-unders, all sorts of things up front. There will be some good conversations with some of these plays just to make sure we are all on the same page and that we are going to execute these plays in a certain look. Mainly, it is just to get acclimated, get running around and make sure that we have the right mindset. The game plan, the scheme is in, it is more of a mentality of this point moving forward.
On if he has seen redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Chugunov's understanding of the offense improve
I have. The one thing that I applaud Chris for is, when we were out on the road recruiting and we weren't in the facility, he was actually getting the receivers out there and running routes with them and starting to build some continuity because you throw with (redshirt junior quarterback) Will Grier the entire year, there is a lot of unknowns between each other. Throughout the course of this past month, they have been starting to work things out and you are starting to see that through his practice as well.
Junior Wide Receiver David Sills V
On how the timing with redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Chugunov can improve
It's just reps. Getting as many reps as you can with the quarterback throwing to you. He knows where you are going to be in your route. That's really the biggest thing. It's not something that can happen overnight, it just happens from the hard work that you put in and continued time when you are developing that chemistry with each other. That is what you really try to gain these couple of weeks before the bowl game. We have gotten a lot better timing, a lot better understanding, especially in one-on-ones and stuff. You will see today, just the timing of where I am going to make my break or where the other receivers are going to make their break. Really, when the defense is out there, that is the timing that we try to get, because routes on air, if you can throw it, you should be pretty good at it. It's really when the defenders get out there and working against press coverage and how that adjusts the route and everything.
On where the communication is with redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Chugunov
It's been going well with Chugs, just working on what he is seeing out there. Trying to get on the same page with him. He does a great job out there of getting us into the right play. He has grown over that since we have had the last game and going into the bowl prep. Like I said earlier, taking command of the offense. He has really done a good job of that and getting us into the right play.
On it being his first bowl game since he caught the game-winning touchdown in the Cactus Bowl
I really haven't given it much thought, with that bowl game or anything. We are just attacking this game as any other game. It is obviously a bowl game so we have a little more time to prepare. We have been working hard in these several weeks before the game. We are ready to get out there and play again.
Redshirt Senior Wide Receiver Ka'Raun White
On if he has thought at all about having three practices left at WVU
No, not really. I have lost track of the days so far. I know it is about to end real soon.
On if he gets emotional at all about it being his last game
No, not so much. Senior day I did a little bit because of coach (Director, Strength and Conditioning) Mike (Joseph), but I'm not too emotional right now. Maybe after the game a little bit or during the game.
On his comfort level with redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Chugunov
It has gotten a lot better so far. A few things still aren't there yet, but hopefully with these few days we have left we can work on that a little bit. For the most part, I would say it is there.
Redshirt Sophomore Linebacker David Long Jr.
On difficulty of preparing for two quarterbacks
Not really hard. They are both athletes. we will bring the same game plan to both of them.
On what he has seen from Utah's quarterbacks
In my personal opinion, I think one (Tyler) Huntley is a better runner and three (Troy) Williams is a better thrower than the other one. We are probably going to see a bunch of throws.
On if there was anyone on the defense that stepped up in the locker room after the loss to Oklahoma
Not that I can remember, honestly. If anyone it was coach (Associate Head Coach (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) (Tony) Gibby (Gibson). We were all pretty disappointed in our play, but we knew we couldn't hold our heads down and let that be the defining point of our season. Tuesday, we have to leave alright.
Senior Safety Kyzir White
On how the defense moves past the performance against Oklahoma
Just let that game go and look forward to this one and come out and play hard. Be physical and try to dominate.
On what jumps out at him when watching film on Utah
They are physical. They are real physical team. Up front they are big and they have good skill players.
On what Utah tries to do on offense
It is just a bunch of different things. Once they find something that works they just stick with it.
On Utah's two quarterbacks
They like to run a lot. They are athletic and they try to get their skill guys in space.
Players Mentioned
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