Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
Coach Neal Brown Press Conference
March 23, 2019 02:51 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University football coach Neal Brown addressed members of the media on Saturday, March 23, at the Milan Puskar Center Weight Room.
Opening Statement
It was the first day in the stadium. It was the first day with pads on. It was sloppy, but it was to be expected. It was the first time we had anyone on the team have pads on since the bowl game. Our practice habits have to be better; on the ground too much. We have to learn to practice, stay off the ground. We should be really efficient. We didn't tackle today. We were just a thud tempo. We have to be more efficient in our practice. We ran over today, as you all know. You were sitting here waiting on us. We have to be efficient. I still liked our energy. I liked our enthusiasm. I think we have to do a better job preparing for practices. This was the third straight day of install, and I thought it showed. We have to do a better job as coaches, getting them ready, and the players have to do a better job on their own of getting ready. With that, I'll open it up to questions.
On the team executing drills
I just didn't think we moved really well. It was the first time we had them do anything in the morning. I thought we were sluggish during the meeting. We were sluggish during our walk-through periods, and I just didn't think we moved around very well. Maybe, that has a little bit to do with going in the stadium. It was a little bit of a different routine from the first two days, but I just think we didn't move around as well today like we did the previous two.
On how far away the team is from getting them where he wants them to be at practice
I don't really have a starting point, so it's hard for me. This is the first time I have seen these guys in pads, so I don't really have an answer to that yet. Today wasn't good enough, but like I told them, we had some really strong individual efforts. Today wasn't good enough as a whole but not totally surprising. A lot of times, even with veteran teams, the first day you put them in pads, especially in the spring, sometimes it is sloppy, so it takes a little bit getting used to. I'm not totally surprised, but we have to be better.
On what individual performances stood out to him
I thought (redshirt senior offensive lineman Colton) McKivitz has had today and the first two days, he and (redshirt junior offensive lineman Josh) Sills both. I'm excited about both those guys from a leadership standpoint as well. Defensively, (sophomore linebacker) Josh Chandler is a guy that has stood out. I thought that (junior safety Derrek) Pitts (Jr.) and (junior safety Kenny) Robinson (Jr.) both practice with a lot of energy. Assignment wise, they are not where they need to be, but effort and energy, they are really bringing something to the defense right now. We have to get them better assignment wise, and I think we will. It'll come.
On redshirt junior offensive lineman Chase Behrndt at the center position
Both he and (redshirt freshman Briason) Mays are getting reps with the one's at center right now. I think it is time for Chase. I think he has been a part-time player. He played well at some points during his career, but I think it is time to turn the page. He has leadership skills. He is snapping the ball well so far. I don't think we had an error, but as soon as I say this, it'll be bad. But we haven't had an error at the gun snap. Both those guys have locked in a really good competition there.
On how much he changes the first team throughout practice
We are trying, but we don't have a depth chart yet. The one's and two's are really fluid. The offense is always going to be behind your defense at this point, especially throwing the ball, because your timing is off. We are rotating a bunch of different quarterbacks. The quarterbacks and receivers don't have very good timing right now, so it's a little sloppy in that regard.
On what he sees from the defense
I thought there was some good and bad on both sides. The defense had a really good one-on-one period. We have to do a better job at rushing the passer, but like I said, they are learning. I don't know if I will have a really good answer with where we are at until after we scrimmage the first time. We have a lot of work to do, and I know that is evident.
On assignments
Today, we kind of hit. We installed for three consecutive days, probably more offensively than defensively. The guys were overwhelmed a little bit, but some of that is because we haven't done as good of a job preparing away from here as we need to. Defensively, same thing. We just have to get used to terminology and signals.
On what is the expectation for player homework this time of year
Here's what it is about, it's no different from being in class. It's about when you are in the position meeting, you treat it like a classroom. You take notes, and you look at your notes. They have access. They have iPads. We have film available, usually about an hour after practice, and they can go back and watch all their clips. It's really about studying, preparing and not repeating mistakes. I'm OK if they mess it up. I'm good. You all have heard me say that on the video. I want to fail up. I feel like failure allows you to grow, but you shouldn't have repeated things, especially consecutively in practice or back-to-back days.
On what he sees out of the quarterback position
Some of it was because we were moving receives around, but we weren't as good as we needed to be at quarterback today. A lot of it is hard for a quarterback. When you are rotating in, they are never getting more than four reps right now, so we are in the middle of this competition, but we weren't as good as we needed to be today.
On if he misses two-a-days
Do I miss two-a-days? Yeah. If they'd let us get 30 practices in, I would feel a lot better about it. We are getting the most that we can done in the time frame that the NCAA allows us. Like I said, here's the deal, we have the rest of spring, 12 practices, or whatever it is. We have all summer. Twenty-five practices in the fall. We are going to get where we need to be.
On redshirt junior linebacker Brendan Ferns status
He has not been medically cleared right now.
On evaluating players
It's about technique. I told our players and our staff, at this point in the spring, fundamentals are more important to me than scheme. I always write on the board, fundamentals greater than sign and scheme. That's where we are at. We film everything. We evaluate their technique. Technique and effort are the most important things to me right now. The scheme piece, we have a lot in on both sides. I think the more we rep it, the better they are going to get at it, but probably the most frustrating for me today was that our practice habits have to get better. We have some older guys that have practiced a lot of football, and we were just on the ground. Just show it to them on video. They understand. If they are on the ground, they know they are wrong. If you are not in position to make a play, you shouldn't be diving. They are learning.
Opening Statement
It was the first day in the stadium. It was the first day with pads on. It was sloppy, but it was to be expected. It was the first time we had anyone on the team have pads on since the bowl game. Our practice habits have to be better; on the ground too much. We have to learn to practice, stay off the ground. We should be really efficient. We didn't tackle today. We were just a thud tempo. We have to be more efficient in our practice. We ran over today, as you all know. You were sitting here waiting on us. We have to be efficient. I still liked our energy. I liked our enthusiasm. I think we have to do a better job preparing for practices. This was the third straight day of install, and I thought it showed. We have to do a better job as coaches, getting them ready, and the players have to do a better job on their own of getting ready. With that, I'll open it up to questions.
On the team executing drills
I just didn't think we moved really well. It was the first time we had them do anything in the morning. I thought we were sluggish during the meeting. We were sluggish during our walk-through periods, and I just didn't think we moved around very well. Maybe, that has a little bit to do with going in the stadium. It was a little bit of a different routine from the first two days, but I just think we didn't move around as well today like we did the previous two.
On how far away the team is from getting them where he wants them to be at practice
I don't really have a starting point, so it's hard for me. This is the first time I have seen these guys in pads, so I don't really have an answer to that yet. Today wasn't good enough, but like I told them, we had some really strong individual efforts. Today wasn't good enough as a whole but not totally surprising. A lot of times, even with veteran teams, the first day you put them in pads, especially in the spring, sometimes it is sloppy, so it takes a little bit getting used to. I'm not totally surprised, but we have to be better.
On what individual performances stood out to him
I thought (redshirt senior offensive lineman Colton) McKivitz has had today and the first two days, he and (redshirt junior offensive lineman Josh) Sills both. I'm excited about both those guys from a leadership standpoint as well. Defensively, (sophomore linebacker) Josh Chandler is a guy that has stood out. I thought that (junior safety Derrek) Pitts (Jr.) and (junior safety Kenny) Robinson (Jr.) both practice with a lot of energy. Assignment wise, they are not where they need to be, but effort and energy, they are really bringing something to the defense right now. We have to get them better assignment wise, and I think we will. It'll come.
On redshirt junior offensive lineman Chase Behrndt at the center position
Both he and (redshirt freshman Briason) Mays are getting reps with the one's at center right now. I think it is time for Chase. I think he has been a part-time player. He played well at some points during his career, but I think it is time to turn the page. He has leadership skills. He is snapping the ball well so far. I don't think we had an error, but as soon as I say this, it'll be bad. But we haven't had an error at the gun snap. Both those guys have locked in a really good competition there.
On how much he changes the first team throughout practice
We are trying, but we don't have a depth chart yet. The one's and two's are really fluid. The offense is always going to be behind your defense at this point, especially throwing the ball, because your timing is off. We are rotating a bunch of different quarterbacks. The quarterbacks and receivers don't have very good timing right now, so it's a little sloppy in that regard.
On what he sees from the defense
I thought there was some good and bad on both sides. The defense had a really good one-on-one period. We have to do a better job at rushing the passer, but like I said, they are learning. I don't know if I will have a really good answer with where we are at until after we scrimmage the first time. We have a lot of work to do, and I know that is evident.
On assignments
Today, we kind of hit. We installed for three consecutive days, probably more offensively than defensively. The guys were overwhelmed a little bit, but some of that is because we haven't done as good of a job preparing away from here as we need to. Defensively, same thing. We just have to get used to terminology and signals.
On what is the expectation for player homework this time of year
Here's what it is about, it's no different from being in class. It's about when you are in the position meeting, you treat it like a classroom. You take notes, and you look at your notes. They have access. They have iPads. We have film available, usually about an hour after practice, and they can go back and watch all their clips. It's really about studying, preparing and not repeating mistakes. I'm OK if they mess it up. I'm good. You all have heard me say that on the video. I want to fail up. I feel like failure allows you to grow, but you shouldn't have repeated things, especially consecutively in practice or back-to-back days.
On what he sees out of the quarterback position
Some of it was because we were moving receives around, but we weren't as good as we needed to be at quarterback today. A lot of it is hard for a quarterback. When you are rotating in, they are never getting more than four reps right now, so we are in the middle of this competition, but we weren't as good as we needed to be today.
On if he misses two-a-days
Do I miss two-a-days? Yeah. If they'd let us get 30 practices in, I would feel a lot better about it. We are getting the most that we can done in the time frame that the NCAA allows us. Like I said, here's the deal, we have the rest of spring, 12 practices, or whatever it is. We have all summer. Twenty-five practices in the fall. We are going to get where we need to be.
On redshirt junior linebacker Brendan Ferns status
He has not been medically cleared right now.
On evaluating players
It's about technique. I told our players and our staff, at this point in the spring, fundamentals are more important to me than scheme. I always write on the board, fundamentals greater than sign and scheme. That's where we are at. We film everything. We evaluate their technique. Technique and effort are the most important things to me right now. The scheme piece, we have a lot in on both sides. I think the more we rep it, the better they are going to get at it, but probably the most frustrating for me today was that our practice habits have to get better. We have some older guys that have practiced a lot of football, and we were just on the ground. Just show it to them on video. They understand. If they are on the ground, they know they are wrong. If you are not in position to make a play, you shouldn't be diving. They are learning.
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Football
LB
/ FootballRich Rodriguez | Dec. 3
Wednesday, December 03
Reid Carrico | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
Jeff Weimer | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
Rich Rodriguez | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
