Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
Coach Neal Brown Press Conference
March 26, 2019 08:34 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University football coach Neal Brown addressed members of the media on Tuesday, March 26, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Opening Statement
It was the first day in full pads today; I thought our guys responded well. We did not practice very well, I told you that right after the practice. But after watching the film, I thought our effort was good on Saturday. I think part of it is, as coaches, we probably got a little ahead of ourselves on the install and probably put too much from a schematic phase in on Saturday, which caused our guys to play a little slow, and it got a little sloppy.
I thought today was much better. The guys were excited. I like this group, and I said this before at the same podium, it's because we have really good energy. I think when you come out to the first 25-30 minutes of practice, you see that. We have good energy, guys like to compete. We have some work to do. I told our guys this, and I mean it when I tell them, I have no idea when we're going to be great, but we're going to be great. It's not an 'if' to me, it's a 'when'. We're going to be great, I'm just not sure when. But I like this group.
On if the team hit today and its overall physicality
Yeah, I thought today we did. This was probably our most physical day we've had so far. I think you have to in the spring. We started off with some good fundamental drills, working some hands inside. The game, so much, is played with leverage, and so much of that leverage is playing with your hands inside, so we did a lot of that. We did some tackle and run-after-catch drills, because I think that's something we have to get better at as offensive skill players is run after catch and being able to set your moves up. And we have to be able to tackle in space, especially in this league. We did a couple of run periods, really for the first time, and we were physical. I think there's some good and some bad. I think we have to get used to playing with our hands on both sides of the ball, especially up front, and we have to learn how to play lower. We're playing a little high right now.
On any position changes of note
(Redshirt senior defensive lineman Quondarius Qualls) is playing down at defensive end. It's the same thing I was talking about in our pre-spring deal. He's playing our five technique right now, and he's doing a good job. He had a good day on Saturday, I don't know how he did today, but I thought on Saturday he had a good day.
On redshirt freshman safety Kwantel Raines
Raines is playing our Will/Spear. They are very similar. So, sometimes he's playing both of those spots. I think he played a little bit of both today. I wasn't down there the whole time. (Assistant) Coach (tight ends/inside receivers) (Travis) Trickett is gone, so I'm having to fill in for him, so I wasn't down on the defensive side as much. Coach Trickett went back to Atlanta; he's waiting on baby No. 3. That's more important than spring ball No. 4.
On how the quarterbacks threw today
Better. I thought it was better. The passing game is so much timing, and, today, I thought we were in the right spots more. We did not throw the ball very well on Saturday, and part of that was because it was cold and windy. Well, guess what? We're going to have some cold and windy games. So, they have to be able to play through that and throw the ball through that. But I thought today was better. All three of those kids, I thought, had their best day today.
On what makes him confident that this team will be great
Here's what I think: I like our attitude, I think our effort is good, and if we can do a really good job of coaching technique and put our guys in a place to be successful, then I feel like it. To me, it's not if, it's just when. We weren't great today, I can tell you that. But we're going to be. I'm not sure when that's going to be, but I have full faith in our staff and in our guys that we have on our team that, at some point, we're going to be great. I just can't tell you when.
On when the first spring scrimmage will be
I think we'll do some full tackle on Saturday, whether it's going to be a full scrimmage or not, I think it's to be determined. We're thin at some spots, so a lot of it is going to be what the depth looks like. But we will tackle some on Saturday, for sure.
On Saturday's practice structure
On Saturday, we'll have at least – I don't want to give a play count, I was going to give a play count, but I don't want to do that until we practice on Thursday – but, yeah, we're going to let them play. We'll clear the coaches off the field, we'll play situational football, tackle to the ground, the whole deal.
On who stood out today
I'm not dodging it, but that's a really hard question until I watch. You all have been out there, you have seen a whole practice. We're moving around a lot. I thought (junior defensive lineman) Darius Stills made several plays in the backfield today. I thought (redshirt junior linebacker) Zach Sandwisch did some good things defensively on the front there. (Redshirt junior linebacker) (Dylan) Tonkery has been really steady, consistent. I don't know if I can say a better word about somebody than consistent, and Tonk has been really consistent. (Junior safety) Kenny Robinson (Jr.) made some plays, I thought he did a good job communicating defensively. Offensively, it looked to me like (senior running back) (Martell) Pettaway bounced back. He was a little bit not himself on Saturday, and I thought he bounced back and did some good things. (Redshirt junior tight end) Jovani Haskins made a couple of plays down the field, and I thought all three quarterbacks were significantly better than they were on Saturday. That's just off the top of my head.
On if he has located each quarterback's strengths yet
No, not yet. I'm not sure we'll know that until the end of spring when we go back and really evaluate them in full. When you have three guys that are really competing, you have to divide up the reps, and we're not overly deep at wideout as far as numbers are concerned right now, so it's tough on them, because they're not getting as many reps as they normally would. So, we have to figure out a way to be able to save the wide receivers' legs and tight ends' legs, but, at the same time, get the quarterbacks the reps they need.
On how to develop experience in the wide receiver group
We just have to let them play. You're right on it. We just have to let them play. I think that, early through four practices, (redshirt freshman) Bryce Wheaton has done some things. He looks like a redshirt freshman at time, and he has to grow. (Redshirt freshman) Randy Fields (Jr.), I've been really pleased with him. We've moved him around a bunch. (Redshirt freshman) Sam James has shown some flashes. Those guys are redshirted. (Redshirt junior Isaiah) Esdale had a really good day on Saturday. So, they just have to play. I think (Junior) Tevin Bush, and I should have said him sticking out, he's a guy that I've been impressed with through four (practices). He competes, loves to play, he's made a ton of big plays. He had a couple of long touchdowns today. They just have to play. Outside of a couple guys, we don't have a lot of experience in that room, and so, they just have to play. They have to play, and they have to get some timing with the quarterbacks.
On senior wide receiver Marcus Simms
He's just been limited a little bit with an injury. He's been limited.
On the running backs being the most prepared unit
I still believe that. (Junior Kennedy) McKoy will put on shoulder pads for the first time; what is today? Tuesday? He'll put on shoulder pads on Thursday. He had a really good day today in some of the seven-on-seven stuff we did and half-line pass. I thought he did a good job. (Redshirt sophomore Alec) Sinkfield has stood out. I thought he a nice day last Thursday and on Saturday as well. He looked sharp today, and (sophomore) Leddie Brown is getting better as well, and I already talked about (junior Martell) Pettaway. So, I am. I think that's a group that I've been impressed with. I like their work ethic, I like their demeanor. As I said here, we have to figure out some ways to play two of them at one time.
On redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Taijh Alston
He's good. He's been getting some reps with the one's. He has some ball get off, he's strong. He's playing a little heavier, which he needed to, so he's getting used to that. But again, I think he's come in and been about the right things. He's worked. I know (assistant athletics director/head coach for football strength and conditioning) Mike Joseph and his staff have really been impressed with him in the strength and conditioning. I like him a lot.
On rotating the quarterback at the holder position
That's a work in progress. (Redshirt junior) Jack Allison's done a nice job though. Nobody really talks about that. We lose our starting punter, but we also lose the starting holder, so that's a big deal. We're just trying to work our quarterbacks back there. Nobody handles the ball more than the quarterbacks. So, Jack did it some in high school, he has some experience. (Redshirt freshman) Trey (Lowe III) has not done it. We haven't asked (redshirt junior) Austin (Kendall) to do it, because he's had a knee injury in the past. We don't want to get him down there and get him in that position. But Jack has done a nice job, and we're working some the punters there as well.
On if he's used a quarterback as a holder in the past
Yeah, we've tried to. It helps you in the fake. It slows down the rush some if you have a quarterback holding. Plus, when you talk about a guy that handles the ball, you're going to have some clutch kicks, and you feel good about having a quarterback back there when it's down tight.
On if he is working on any fundamentals with the quarterbacks
I think that, from a fundamental standpoint, what we're trying to do is we're trying to get our drops. I think we have to get better at our drops. We have to get better at moving outside the pocket and keeping plays alive. I think those are two things we kind of focused on today, and we'll focus on them Thursday as well.
On perfecting drop backs has to do more with a feeling or footwork
The passing game is so much timing, like we talked about early. So, it's getting our drops timed up and trusting our drops and trusting the receivers are going to be in the right spot. Then, when plays break down, we did more team 11-on-11 stuff today, and it has to be 11-on-11 reps. You get into seven-on-seven or in the winter when they're throwing by themselves, they don't have a whole lot of bodies around them. All of a sudden, when you get in 11-on-11, now there's bodies around them, and you have to work, you have to get outside the pocket. So, it's just about reps.
On if he pleased with the defensive line unit
Yeah, I think we're a work in progress. I do. I think they play really hard, and I think they want to be coached. Those are two things that really stick out to me, and I think (assistant coach – defensive line) Jordan Lesley would echo those comments. So, (junior) Darius (Stills), (freshman) Dante (Stills) has done some nice things as well. (Senior) Reese (Donahue) has been steady. (Redshirt sophomore) Taijh Alston, I talked about him earlier. Those are some guys that just write off, really stick out. I'll say this, (redshirt freshman) Tyrese Allen's getting better too. Redshirt guy, I think he's getting better.
On if he's ever coached brothers in the same position group
That's a good question. I've had a couple sets of twins, but they've been at different positions, not in the same room. I don't want to tell you yes or no, because I'd really have to think about that. But not right off, not right off. I really haven't.
On if he plans on adding a 15th day to his spring practice schedule
Not yet. What we've done in the past is we've used that 15th day to prepare them for summer workouts when the coaches can't be involved. So, I just want to kind of see, towards that last week, where we are. You get 34 days, so I have some cushion there on the back end,
On if redshirt sophomore Taijh Alston has a target weight this offseason
Not really. We're just trying to get him bigger, and it's really just because the tackles are so much bigger, honestly, than what he went against in junior college. So, (assistant athletics director/head coach for football strength and conditioning) Mike (Joseph) and those guys had some target goals going into the fall camp. But he has some mini goals as we go. I've just been pleased with him from the get go. Everything's new coming into January. Geographically, it's a different place, a much bigger school, all those types of things. And he's been really hungry, and he's answered every challenge we've had for him.
Opening Statement
It was the first day in full pads today; I thought our guys responded well. We did not practice very well, I told you that right after the practice. But after watching the film, I thought our effort was good on Saturday. I think part of it is, as coaches, we probably got a little ahead of ourselves on the install and probably put too much from a schematic phase in on Saturday, which caused our guys to play a little slow, and it got a little sloppy.
I thought today was much better. The guys were excited. I like this group, and I said this before at the same podium, it's because we have really good energy. I think when you come out to the first 25-30 minutes of practice, you see that. We have good energy, guys like to compete. We have some work to do. I told our guys this, and I mean it when I tell them, I have no idea when we're going to be great, but we're going to be great. It's not an 'if' to me, it's a 'when'. We're going to be great, I'm just not sure when. But I like this group.
On if the team hit today and its overall physicality
Yeah, I thought today we did. This was probably our most physical day we've had so far. I think you have to in the spring. We started off with some good fundamental drills, working some hands inside. The game, so much, is played with leverage, and so much of that leverage is playing with your hands inside, so we did a lot of that. We did some tackle and run-after-catch drills, because I think that's something we have to get better at as offensive skill players is run after catch and being able to set your moves up. And we have to be able to tackle in space, especially in this league. We did a couple of run periods, really for the first time, and we were physical. I think there's some good and some bad. I think we have to get used to playing with our hands on both sides of the ball, especially up front, and we have to learn how to play lower. We're playing a little high right now.
On any position changes of note
(Redshirt senior defensive lineman Quondarius Qualls) is playing down at defensive end. It's the same thing I was talking about in our pre-spring deal. He's playing our five technique right now, and he's doing a good job. He had a good day on Saturday, I don't know how he did today, but I thought on Saturday he had a good day.
On redshirt freshman safety Kwantel Raines
Raines is playing our Will/Spear. They are very similar. So, sometimes he's playing both of those spots. I think he played a little bit of both today. I wasn't down there the whole time. (Assistant) Coach (tight ends/inside receivers) (Travis) Trickett is gone, so I'm having to fill in for him, so I wasn't down on the defensive side as much. Coach Trickett went back to Atlanta; he's waiting on baby No. 3. That's more important than spring ball No. 4.
On how the quarterbacks threw today
Better. I thought it was better. The passing game is so much timing, and, today, I thought we were in the right spots more. We did not throw the ball very well on Saturday, and part of that was because it was cold and windy. Well, guess what? We're going to have some cold and windy games. So, they have to be able to play through that and throw the ball through that. But I thought today was better. All three of those kids, I thought, had their best day today.
On what makes him confident that this team will be great
Here's what I think: I like our attitude, I think our effort is good, and if we can do a really good job of coaching technique and put our guys in a place to be successful, then I feel like it. To me, it's not if, it's just when. We weren't great today, I can tell you that. But we're going to be. I'm not sure when that's going to be, but I have full faith in our staff and in our guys that we have on our team that, at some point, we're going to be great. I just can't tell you when.
On when the first spring scrimmage will be
I think we'll do some full tackle on Saturday, whether it's going to be a full scrimmage or not, I think it's to be determined. We're thin at some spots, so a lot of it is going to be what the depth looks like. But we will tackle some on Saturday, for sure.
On Saturday's practice structure
On Saturday, we'll have at least – I don't want to give a play count, I was going to give a play count, but I don't want to do that until we practice on Thursday – but, yeah, we're going to let them play. We'll clear the coaches off the field, we'll play situational football, tackle to the ground, the whole deal.
On who stood out today
I'm not dodging it, but that's a really hard question until I watch. You all have been out there, you have seen a whole practice. We're moving around a lot. I thought (junior defensive lineman) Darius Stills made several plays in the backfield today. I thought (redshirt junior linebacker) Zach Sandwisch did some good things defensively on the front there. (Redshirt junior linebacker) (Dylan) Tonkery has been really steady, consistent. I don't know if I can say a better word about somebody than consistent, and Tonk has been really consistent. (Junior safety) Kenny Robinson (Jr.) made some plays, I thought he did a good job communicating defensively. Offensively, it looked to me like (senior running back) (Martell) Pettaway bounced back. He was a little bit not himself on Saturday, and I thought he bounced back and did some good things. (Redshirt junior tight end) Jovani Haskins made a couple of plays down the field, and I thought all three quarterbacks were significantly better than they were on Saturday. That's just off the top of my head.
On if he has located each quarterback's strengths yet
No, not yet. I'm not sure we'll know that until the end of spring when we go back and really evaluate them in full. When you have three guys that are really competing, you have to divide up the reps, and we're not overly deep at wideout as far as numbers are concerned right now, so it's tough on them, because they're not getting as many reps as they normally would. So, we have to figure out a way to be able to save the wide receivers' legs and tight ends' legs, but, at the same time, get the quarterbacks the reps they need.
On how to develop experience in the wide receiver group
We just have to let them play. You're right on it. We just have to let them play. I think that, early through four practices, (redshirt freshman) Bryce Wheaton has done some things. He looks like a redshirt freshman at time, and he has to grow. (Redshirt freshman) Randy Fields (Jr.), I've been really pleased with him. We've moved him around a bunch. (Redshirt freshman) Sam James has shown some flashes. Those guys are redshirted. (Redshirt junior Isaiah) Esdale had a really good day on Saturday. So, they just have to play. I think (Junior) Tevin Bush, and I should have said him sticking out, he's a guy that I've been impressed with through four (practices). He competes, loves to play, he's made a ton of big plays. He had a couple of long touchdowns today. They just have to play. Outside of a couple guys, we don't have a lot of experience in that room, and so, they just have to play. They have to play, and they have to get some timing with the quarterbacks.
On senior wide receiver Marcus Simms
He's just been limited a little bit with an injury. He's been limited.
On the running backs being the most prepared unit
I still believe that. (Junior Kennedy) McKoy will put on shoulder pads for the first time; what is today? Tuesday? He'll put on shoulder pads on Thursday. He had a really good day today in some of the seven-on-seven stuff we did and half-line pass. I thought he did a good job. (Redshirt sophomore Alec) Sinkfield has stood out. I thought he a nice day last Thursday and on Saturday as well. He looked sharp today, and (sophomore) Leddie Brown is getting better as well, and I already talked about (junior Martell) Pettaway. So, I am. I think that's a group that I've been impressed with. I like their work ethic, I like their demeanor. As I said here, we have to figure out some ways to play two of them at one time.
On redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Taijh Alston
He's good. He's been getting some reps with the one's. He has some ball get off, he's strong. He's playing a little heavier, which he needed to, so he's getting used to that. But again, I think he's come in and been about the right things. He's worked. I know (assistant athletics director/head coach for football strength and conditioning) Mike Joseph and his staff have really been impressed with him in the strength and conditioning. I like him a lot.
On rotating the quarterback at the holder position
That's a work in progress. (Redshirt junior) Jack Allison's done a nice job though. Nobody really talks about that. We lose our starting punter, but we also lose the starting holder, so that's a big deal. We're just trying to work our quarterbacks back there. Nobody handles the ball more than the quarterbacks. So, Jack did it some in high school, he has some experience. (Redshirt freshman) Trey (Lowe III) has not done it. We haven't asked (redshirt junior) Austin (Kendall) to do it, because he's had a knee injury in the past. We don't want to get him down there and get him in that position. But Jack has done a nice job, and we're working some the punters there as well.
On if he's used a quarterback as a holder in the past
Yeah, we've tried to. It helps you in the fake. It slows down the rush some if you have a quarterback holding. Plus, when you talk about a guy that handles the ball, you're going to have some clutch kicks, and you feel good about having a quarterback back there when it's down tight.
On if he is working on any fundamentals with the quarterbacks
I think that, from a fundamental standpoint, what we're trying to do is we're trying to get our drops. I think we have to get better at our drops. We have to get better at moving outside the pocket and keeping plays alive. I think those are two things we kind of focused on today, and we'll focus on them Thursday as well.
On perfecting drop backs has to do more with a feeling or footwork
The passing game is so much timing, like we talked about early. So, it's getting our drops timed up and trusting our drops and trusting the receivers are going to be in the right spot. Then, when plays break down, we did more team 11-on-11 stuff today, and it has to be 11-on-11 reps. You get into seven-on-seven or in the winter when they're throwing by themselves, they don't have a whole lot of bodies around them. All of a sudden, when you get in 11-on-11, now there's bodies around them, and you have to work, you have to get outside the pocket. So, it's just about reps.
On if he pleased with the defensive line unit
Yeah, I think we're a work in progress. I do. I think they play really hard, and I think they want to be coached. Those are two things that really stick out to me, and I think (assistant coach – defensive line) Jordan Lesley would echo those comments. So, (junior) Darius (Stills), (freshman) Dante (Stills) has done some nice things as well. (Senior) Reese (Donahue) has been steady. (Redshirt sophomore) Taijh Alston, I talked about him earlier. Those are some guys that just write off, really stick out. I'll say this, (redshirt freshman) Tyrese Allen's getting better too. Redshirt guy, I think he's getting better.
On if he's ever coached brothers in the same position group
That's a good question. I've had a couple sets of twins, but they've been at different positions, not in the same room. I don't want to tell you yes or no, because I'd really have to think about that. But not right off, not right off. I really haven't.
On if he plans on adding a 15th day to his spring practice schedule
Not yet. What we've done in the past is we've used that 15th day to prepare them for summer workouts when the coaches can't be involved. So, I just want to kind of see, towards that last week, where we are. You get 34 days, so I have some cushion there on the back end,
On if redshirt sophomore Taijh Alston has a target weight this offseason
Not really. We're just trying to get him bigger, and it's really just because the tackles are so much bigger, honestly, than what he went against in junior college. So, (assistant athletics director/head coach for football strength and conditioning) Mike (Joseph) and those guys had some target goals going into the fall camp. But he has some mini goals as we go. I've just been pleased with him from the get go. Everything's new coming into January. Geographically, it's a different place, a much bigger school, all those types of things. And he's been really hungry, and he's answered every challenge we've had for him.
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