Photo by: Kaitlyn Cole
Despite The Changes, It’s Still Football To Washington Jr.
March 27, 2019 02:21 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A new coaching staff means a new scheme for the West Virginia University football players.
And while many of the offensive concepts the Mountaineers were taught under former coach Dana Holgorsen are still applicable in Neal Brown's system, on the defensive side of the ball it's a different story.
The 3-3 stack scheme they once played for Tony Gibson has now been replaced by the 4-2-5 look new defensive coordinator Vic Koenning prefers to run. That's the defense Virginia Tech has become known for under longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster and the defense Gary Patterson has used so successfully through the years at TCU.
For most of the defensive guys lined up near the football, it's really an apples-to-oranges difference in what they're being asked to do. But for the players on the outside, such as senior cornerback Keith Washington Jr., the change is not quite so profound.
He's still going to be out on an island at times covering some of the fastest wide receivers in the country in the Big 12.
"It's all football and we've got to learn multiple defenses no matter where you're at," Washington Jr. said after last Saturday's practice. "I love the scheme, and every day we're learning the scheme so we're just trying to perfect it.
"For the most part everything stays the same with your eyes and feet. The stances and a few things have changed from last year," Washington Jr. added, though refusing to divulge what new wisdom cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae is imparting that former coach Doug Belk didn't.
Washington Jr. said he likes Addae, a former WVU defensive back who once played for Rich Rodriguez.
"He's my guy. He's my defensive back coach, and he's taught me some new things that I didn't know previously so I'm working towards getting better," Washington said.
Last year, Washington really emerged in the Texas Tech victory in Lubbock, Texas, when he earned his first start for the Mountaineers. Keith made the play of the game when he intercepted Jett Duffey's fourth-quarter pass at midfield and returned it 51 yards for a touchdown.
Washington Jr.'s pick six stopped a Red Raider rally in its tracks and gave the Mountaineers enough breathing room to hold on for a 42-34 victory.
The Prattville, Alabama, resident also picked off passes against Baylor and Oklahoma State and finished the season with 40 tackles, 2 ½ tackles for losses and nine pass breakups to earn Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors.
It was an outstanding first season for Washington Jr., who came to WVU from Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Mississippi.
Washington Jr.'s college career actually began at Michigan where he spent one season there, lettering as a member of the Wolverines' special teams. He initially went to Michigan as a dual-threat quarterback before switching to defense, so he's become accustomed to using his pivot foot.
"I'm very comfortable," he said. "The past few weeks I've spent with this new coaching staff we've developed a relationship, and I feel like we're headed in the right direction."
Washington Jr. has nothing but praise for his new coach Neal Brown, even though he remains grateful to Holgorsen for giving him the opportunity to come to West Virginia University and resume his Power 5 football career.
"He's a very energetic guy," Washington said of Brown. "He's very detailed, and I like that about him. Everything we do from walking into the building with no hats on to paying attention in the meeting room is very detailed."
What strikes Washington Jr. most about Brown is how organized his practices are.
"It's very, very different structured as far as how practice goes," he admitted. "There is a lot of fast-paced tempo, then go slow for two periods and back to fast-paced."
Washington Jr. admits it's been helpful that the new coaches were familiar with him from his days at Prattville High where he was a two-time Montgomery Advertiser Player of the Year.
He completed nearly 60 percent of his pass attempts and accounted for more than 2,900 yards from scrimmage and 37 touchdowns during his senior season there, earning offers from many schools, including one from Brown when he was at Troy.
"They were just down the road and a bunch of those guys recruited me while I was at Prattville," noted Washington Jr., adding he's not surprised they ended up coaching him at West Virginia.
"That's football. You've got guys that you went to camps with or coaches that you know who are all over the country," he said.
As for this year's team, Washington Jr. said his goal is to battle and compete every day. Ven though David Sills V and Gary Jennings Jr. are moving on to NFL careers, he's got another talented set of wide receivers he's got to cover every day.
Washington Jr. said youngsters Sam James and Bryce Wheaton are really beginning to emerge as playmakers. And of course, senior speedster Marcus Simms is still around, too.
"Those are some of the guys standing out in my mind right now, but there are other guys that are making progress and getting better every day, too," Washington concluded.
And while many of the offensive concepts the Mountaineers were taught under former coach Dana Holgorsen are still applicable in Neal Brown's system, on the defensive side of the ball it's a different story.
The 3-3 stack scheme they once played for Tony Gibson has now been replaced by the 4-2-5 look new defensive coordinator Vic Koenning prefers to run. That's the defense Virginia Tech has become known for under longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster and the defense Gary Patterson has used so successfully through the years at TCU.
For most of the defensive guys lined up near the football, it's really an apples-to-oranges difference in what they're being asked to do. But for the players on the outside, such as senior cornerback Keith Washington Jr., the change is not quite so profound.
He's still going to be out on an island at times covering some of the fastest wide receivers in the country in the Big 12.
"It's all football and we've got to learn multiple defenses no matter where you're at," Washington Jr. said after last Saturday's practice. "I love the scheme, and every day we're learning the scheme so we're just trying to perfect it.
"For the most part everything stays the same with your eyes and feet. The stances and a few things have changed from last year," Washington Jr. added, though refusing to divulge what new wisdom cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae is imparting that former coach Doug Belk didn't.
Washington Jr. said he likes Addae, a former WVU defensive back who once played for Rich Rodriguez.
"He's my guy. He's my defensive back coach, and he's taught me some new things that I didn't know previously so I'm working towards getting better," Washington said.
Last year, Washington really emerged in the Texas Tech victory in Lubbock, Texas, when he earned his first start for the Mountaineers. Keith made the play of the game when he intercepted Jett Duffey's fourth-quarter pass at midfield and returned it 51 yards for a touchdown.
Washington Jr.'s pick six stopped a Red Raider rally in its tracks and gave the Mountaineers enough breathing room to hold on for a 42-34 victory.
The Prattville, Alabama, resident also picked off passes against Baylor and Oklahoma State and finished the season with 40 tackles, 2 ½ tackles for losses and nine pass breakups to earn Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors.
It was an outstanding first season for Washington Jr., who came to WVU from Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Mississippi.
Washington Jr.'s college career actually began at Michigan where he spent one season there, lettering as a member of the Wolverines' special teams. He initially went to Michigan as a dual-threat quarterback before switching to defense, so he's become accustomed to using his pivot foot.
"I'm very comfortable," he said. "The past few weeks I've spent with this new coaching staff we've developed a relationship, and I feel like we're headed in the right direction."
Washington Jr. has nothing but praise for his new coach Neal Brown, even though he remains grateful to Holgorsen for giving him the opportunity to come to West Virginia University and resume his Power 5 football career.
"He's a very energetic guy," Washington said of Brown. "He's very detailed, and I like that about him. Everything we do from walking into the building with no hats on to paying attention in the meeting room is very detailed."
What strikes Washington Jr. most about Brown is how organized his practices are.
"It's very, very different structured as far as how practice goes," he admitted. "There is a lot of fast-paced tempo, then go slow for two periods and back to fast-paced."
Washington Jr. admits it's been helpful that the new coaches were familiar with him from his days at Prattville High where he was a two-time Montgomery Advertiser Player of the Year.
He completed nearly 60 percent of his pass attempts and accounted for more than 2,900 yards from scrimmage and 37 touchdowns during his senior season there, earning offers from many schools, including one from Brown when he was at Troy.
"They were just down the road and a bunch of those guys recruited me while I was at Prattville," noted Washington Jr., adding he's not surprised they ended up coaching him at West Virginia.
"That's football. You've got guys that you went to camps with or coaches that you know who are all over the country," he said.
As for this year's team, Washington Jr. said his goal is to battle and compete every day. Ven though David Sills V and Gary Jennings Jr. are moving on to NFL careers, he's got another talented set of wide receivers he's got to cover every day.
Washington Jr. said youngsters Sam James and Bryce Wheaton are really beginning to emerge as playmakers. And of course, senior speedster Marcus Simms is still around, too.
"Those are some of the guys standing out in my mind right now, but there are other guys that are making progress and getting better every day, too," Washington concluded.
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