Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
Assistant Coaches Media Session
April 08, 2019 02:32 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University offensive and defensive assistant coaches met with the media on Monday, April 8, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Assistant Coach (Defensive Secondary) Jahmile Addae
On getting guys to play with energy
Well, the one thing that we know is football is a hair-on-fire, excitement-playing-type game. So with that being said, the one thing we want to do is make sure our guys, especially in the situations where they're going to start practice in a team group or start something where they are competing against another guy, you want to make sure they enter with the right juice, with the right temperament. So, Coach (Neal Brown) does a few things pre-practice-wise, and even within practice, that cultivates that energy and that type of environment that we want as a coaching staff. Sometimes it's the coaches actually leading it. But, nevertheless, it's been really fun, as I've said, and we've had a bunch of buy-in from the guys, which is awesome.
On getting ready for the spring game
Every week has been super important. I think this week is probably the most important just because it's the next week, and it's another opportunity for us to get better and continue to grow our guys. Up until now, they've been doing that, they've been handling that quite well in terms of taking coaching and trying to get it done. Now, we have to take it from trying to get it done to actually getting it done. That's what this week is going to be all about, attention to detail and executing your job.
On if it feels like a game week
I like to think during spring ball, every practice, every day because it's so limited, is treated as though it's a game. Guys are fighting for jobs, guys are fighting to prove themselves, and for that, most of it has been treated as though it's a game-type process. With that being said, the guys have had that focus and that energy for the most part.
On working with defensive coordinator Vic Koenning
To be honest, it's been awesome working with Vic, because Vic, although he has a mindset on how he wants to do things, he's also very, very open to having conversation and not holding back feelings about what conversation he's had. I think that creates growth, not only as a staff but even as a football team. There's been a lot of integration in terms of teaching. Obviously, we play off each other being the cornerbacks and the safeties. Whether it's meetings, whether it's walkthrough time, we do a lot of joint work that allows the guys to still hear what each other is doing and how it fits in the puzzle.
On if the cornerback position changes from one defense to another
I wish it was that simple out there on that island, but if you take that approach, it can get really bad, really fast. But there are definite differences with what we're doing now as opposed to the past.
Assistant Coach (Defensive Line) Jordan Lesley
On the difference between playing inside and outside on the defensive line
Some of the things they do are extremely similar, and some of the things they do are night-and-day different. I think when you look at your depth chart, if you have to move guys or you start picking who moves where, I think you have to look at the guy who can do both. If he can do one and not the other, then it's really not fair to ask him to jump in there, mainly the (defensive) end and three (technique). A three technique does some things inside that take a little bit more power, strength; a lot of things that maybe some of your edge guys don't have. So, a three can bump out in this defense and play five (technique) much easier than a five can bump in and play three. If you have a guy that can do both, that's great, and I hope we do in the future. But I think it really depends on the guy.
On if there is any player who could play inside and outside right now
That's really a fall evaluation, and we haven't really done it a whole lot. The very few things we've done in the spring install allow us to see that. I think if you look at it on paper, (redshirt sophomore defensive lineman) Taijh Alston would be a guy that could get in there and do that and be third-down rush guy on the inside to create a little bit of a mismatch. But we're not even going to touch into that in the spring. So, to be honest with you, we don't know.
On if redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Taijh Alston is built to play both inside and outside
Right, he's built for that position. You know how people term different positions. I heard somebody say the other day (he's) like a 4-3-3 technique. He's a traditional, five-technique defensive end. He has great length, he has great athleticism. But he's a strong kid, which is going to allow him to get in there at a three technique or a four and do some things, if we even do that. That's way, way down the road.
On utilizing players where they fit best
It goes back to anytime you ask a guy to do something that doesn't allow him to be successful, in my opinion, is bad coaching. So, (redshirt sophomore defensive lineman) Taijh (Alston) is a guy that has some tremendous skills, and we have to utilize that the best way, which is for him to be successful, not only with what we want to do but what he likes to do. So far, he's done a great job with it.
On if redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Taijh Alston's is at the right size for where he's being asked to play
Yeah, he's pretty close. There's a fine line a lot of times with that position where you can get too heavy. You can get a little sluggish, you can lose that first step, and we don't want him to do that. But also, it never hurts to be stronger. Anytime you get stronger, you're probably going to get a little bigger. We have to be careful, but he's pretty close.
Assistant Coach (Quarterbacks) Sean Reagan
On how he coaches quarterbacks to cut down turnovers
It's the reps. It goes back to what we talk about in here every week. It's the timing with the wideouts. It's the mental reps that they get. Like you see us at practice (with) all our quarterbacks, if they're not taking a live rep, they're right behind the other quarterback or the offense taking a mental rep. When they buy into that every single day, they're getting just as many reps as the guy who's getting a live rep. They're just looking and triggering where they think the ball should go, and the more we can do that, and the more that they can throw to these wideouts, the more the timing's going to get better. Now, we can get to focusing on protecting the ball on each one of those reps.
On rotating quarterbacks during games
Basically, what we've done in the past at Troy is the backup quarterback played at least in the four nonconference games. That's what we did at Troy. Will we do that here? I don't know, but we have done that in the past, and that's to get the guy some game-time experience. Outside of (redshirt junior) Jack (Allison), and Jack played the bowl game, (redshirt junior) Austin (Kendall) hasn't played a collegiate game, really. (Redshirt freshman) Trey's (Lowe III) played a couple snaps. So, as far playing experience, we don't have any other than Jack in one game. So, you have to build that as the season goes, just in case something bad happens.
On using a different quarterback during short-yardage and red-zone situations
It just depends. If he's not ready, then we're not going to put him in and kill his confidence, because the kid has to be ready to go in. So, whoever the backup is, if they're not ready, then maybe we don't play them. But if he's ready to get some action, then yeah. I think it's a good idea to maybe play him a drive in a game to get that game-time experience.
On redshirt freshman quarterback Trent Jackson's performance during Saturday's scrimmage
I tell you, I was really pleased with Trent. That's really the most action he's gotten in 11-on-11 throughout the entire spring, and I thought he handled himself really well. I thought he was really good with his eyes. He takes notes in meetings. He loves the game. We can tell how much time they watch film when they're not on the field with what we call the 360. He watches a ton of film. He's intelligent when it comes to football. He's learning, and I thought he handled the scrimmage really well. I think he had 13 or 14 snaps and only had three minuses, and really, that was knit-picky on carrying out some fakes and stuff.
On who he's coached that benefitted the most from taking mental reps in practice
I don't know if there is really one to point out, but it was engraved for so long at Troy. You go back to when Coach (Neal) Brown was the O.C. (offensive coordinator) there, and I think they were doing it before when Tony Franklin was the O.C. there. So, it's just been instilled so long that, when a new quarterback came in, it just became part of a habit. Now, we're having to train that habit here, and sometimes, they may take a play off. But we catch it on film (and say), 'Look, you took a play off. That's a minus.' We grade those guys on the back, too. When they buy in 100 percent, that's going help them in the long run, and things will start paying off.
Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs Chad Scott
On how the running back group has improved since last week
Specifically, winning in space, winning one-on-one battles, breaking tackles, making guys miss. It's getting more than what's been blocked up front. And also, from a protection standpoint, we're improving.
On if he's treating this week like a game week
It's still spring ball, because we still need to continue to work on the fundamentals and the little things to make everything go. Last week, we had quite a few unblocked defenders go free, so this week we'll improve on that. We just want to continue to work the fundamentals and techniques and communication, so we can continue to get better.
On what he can assess from the spring game
We'll treat it just like a scrimmage, to be honest with you. We're still going to evaluate every snap they take, so it's a normal scrimmage situation. I know it's the spring game, but we'll treat it just like a scrimmage situation and let the team get evaluated just like they would any given Saturday.
On how he likes to manage workload among running backs
Well, in a scrimmage situation in spring ball, you just want everyone to get reps and get a feel for it, so you can see what guys can do. It's my first time working with them. But as the season goes, you'd like to have one guy that's 'the guy', and another guy that can be right there with him, and a third guy that's almost like a role player. You want those top two guys can get going and get a rhythm at the running back spot. When you're just coming in and out of series and not necessarily getting full work, it's tough to get going.
On what he's seen from the running back group so far
I think all of those guys are capable of being that 20-plus-carry guy. Some have shown they've been able to do it. Obviously, (senior running back) Kennedy (McKoy) has done it in the past, (senior running back) Martell (Pettaway) has done it in the past, the two young guys, (sophomore running back) Leddie (Brown) and (redshirt sophomore running back Alec) Sink (Sinkfield) haven't done it before they're younger guys. But I think we have a couple guys that have the ability to do it. Right now, we're just trying to get a feel for them and see who can do what, who's better at what, who can protect and run effectively, who can make plays in space, all that right now.
Assistant Coach/Special Teams Coordinator (Inside Linebackers) Blake Seiler
On how important this week is for the team
It's huge. This is the last week of spring ball. After this week, you can't put the pads on anymore. We're do a lot of lifting and running and some drill work in the summer, but you can't have balls, and you can't have pads on, and we all know that's real football. There's only so much you can get done in underwear, as I call it. So, I think these next three practices and then the spring game, there's a lot of work that needs to be accomplished.
On if the intensity will be ramped up this week
We're going to maximize these next three days of actual practice. I'd say it's not like a normal game, where you start tapering off towards the end of the week on a normal game week. We're not going to do that this week.
On what familiar he was with defensive coordinator Vic Koenning's defensive scheme before arriving at WVU
I was familiar with a lot of the terminology. It's similar to what Vic did at Kansas State when I was with him, which has helped me with my learning curve, and that's another reason why Vic felt comfortable with bringing me in. A lot of the names are the same; they are playing some techniques a little bit different than what we were 10 years ago now. He's evolved a little bit with some things you have to do with the offenses that you see. All in all, it's not a whole lot different to what it was 10 years ago.
On how he thinks this defense will stack up to Big 12 offenses
I think there's a lot of good elements to it. You can see that spread offense is not just in the Big 12 anymore, it's permeating throughout college football, and even the NFL level. I think there's a lot of good things that are unique that will help us, especially looking at it from my perspective, a guy that has been here for a decade defending all of that. And you also look at the league, too, offensively, it's changing a little bit. There are a lot of spread guys that are now out of the league. (Kliff) Kingsbury is gone, Art Briles is not here anymore, Dana Holgorsen is not here anymore. But a lot of those principles are still the same, it's just maybe you're dealing with of a spread plus pro style. I think people are trying to be more multiple than they have in the past.
On how he likes to rotate linebackers
I think for a linebacker, it really depends, because that guy is trusted to make so many calls. It's not as much like when I coached (defensive) line. The D-line is truly about keeping them fresh and rotating them in and out, so that way you can have pass rushers in the fourth quarter. With linebacker, I think it's important to be fresh, but it's more important that you have the right field general out there to make those calls. In my experience, there's only been a few guys that've had the knowledge base to do that. Hopefully, you have more than that but that hasn't been the case very often with me where I've been.
Assistant Coach (Tight Ends/Inside Receivers) Travis Trickett
On his newborn baby
I'm just seeing what I can see on FaceTime right now. She's still down there. So, we have the game this Saturday, and we have recruiting right after that, but that weekend I won't recruit. Easter weekend, I'm just going to stay in Atlanta.
On Neal Brown's perceptions of the tight end position
I think it has changed a little bit since he's doing some more things that he's probably always wanted to do, and he hasn't had the body type to do it. Because it is hard to find the body types that are 6-4, 6-5, 245 pounds, 255 pounds, that can run decently, control their body, and catch the ball. Right now, we are experimenting with what our guys can do and maybe what they need to improve on and what we need to get better at. So, that is right now, the phase we are in spring ball-wise is just really evaluating what our guys can do and doing more things than what we have seen on film down there, because we have the body types to do it here.
On cross-training with assistant coach (wide receivers) Xavier Dye
Absolutely, we actually do a lot of group-individual, if that makes sense. You're doing some things that cross-train among all skills positions. Every coach, not only me (but), Xavier, coach (Sean) Reagan, coach (Chad) Scott, we are all getting hands on with these guys and you try to buy fundamentals for everybody. So, some guys you say, 'We are really going to work on fundamentals', but we really try to do fundamentals every day. We communicate very well, make sure what we are not getting in this period we make sure to get this. There will be days I need to really work with the tight ends on something, I'll send the inside receivers to coach Dye. If there are some things that I'm going to be doing, then he may send a couple guys to me, and say, 'Hey, make sure we cover this.' That's what you get when you have a staff of really good guys that have no egos and those things. All we are worried about is winning for West Virginia. There is a lot of crossover training, like with the tight ends, they have to be able to play on the ball, two-point stance, and split out, where the slot receivers just have to split out, so you have to try to mirror up and take advantage of whatever I do with them, the tight ends could take advantage of, and then whatever I need to focus in on football stuff that doesn't really apply to the slot receivers, they can go with coach Dye, and then we always marry it up. 'Alright, I need this, this, and this. When does this fit into your schedule, during the practice schedule?' He'll make sure he will work around it. We work very well together.
On the flexibility of the inside and outside receivers
I always mess with them because I have the inside receivers in my room, I say, 'We have the hardest job' and I always give them a little bone on this one. The outside receivers, they just say right and left. So, they go, 'You go to the right side, and you go to the left side.' We have to move all over the field, and we are the motion guy and all that. I told our guys it's a compliment, because the more you can do, the better, but you have to do it well. In this offense, what is neat about coach Brown's offense, it has a place for every guy. Whether you are a small guy (or) a big guy on the inside, it really has a piece (for everyone) – not every offense has a spot for that kind of guy. If you're a tight end that's maybe not the biggest guy, you're more of an H-Back, or if you're a guy that can do all of it, or you're an on-ball guy. There's a lot of flexibility here, and that really helps with recruiting, too, and allows you to take the best available as well.
Assistant Coach (Defensive Secondary) Jahmile Addae
On getting guys to play with energy
Well, the one thing that we know is football is a hair-on-fire, excitement-playing-type game. So with that being said, the one thing we want to do is make sure our guys, especially in the situations where they're going to start practice in a team group or start something where they are competing against another guy, you want to make sure they enter with the right juice, with the right temperament. So, Coach (Neal Brown) does a few things pre-practice-wise, and even within practice, that cultivates that energy and that type of environment that we want as a coaching staff. Sometimes it's the coaches actually leading it. But, nevertheless, it's been really fun, as I've said, and we've had a bunch of buy-in from the guys, which is awesome.
On getting ready for the spring game
Every week has been super important. I think this week is probably the most important just because it's the next week, and it's another opportunity for us to get better and continue to grow our guys. Up until now, they've been doing that, they've been handling that quite well in terms of taking coaching and trying to get it done. Now, we have to take it from trying to get it done to actually getting it done. That's what this week is going to be all about, attention to detail and executing your job.
On if it feels like a game week
I like to think during spring ball, every practice, every day because it's so limited, is treated as though it's a game. Guys are fighting for jobs, guys are fighting to prove themselves, and for that, most of it has been treated as though it's a game-type process. With that being said, the guys have had that focus and that energy for the most part.
On working with defensive coordinator Vic Koenning
To be honest, it's been awesome working with Vic, because Vic, although he has a mindset on how he wants to do things, he's also very, very open to having conversation and not holding back feelings about what conversation he's had. I think that creates growth, not only as a staff but even as a football team. There's been a lot of integration in terms of teaching. Obviously, we play off each other being the cornerbacks and the safeties. Whether it's meetings, whether it's walkthrough time, we do a lot of joint work that allows the guys to still hear what each other is doing and how it fits in the puzzle.
On if the cornerback position changes from one defense to another
I wish it was that simple out there on that island, but if you take that approach, it can get really bad, really fast. But there are definite differences with what we're doing now as opposed to the past.
Assistant Coach (Defensive Line) Jordan Lesley
On the difference between playing inside and outside on the defensive line
Some of the things they do are extremely similar, and some of the things they do are night-and-day different. I think when you look at your depth chart, if you have to move guys or you start picking who moves where, I think you have to look at the guy who can do both. If he can do one and not the other, then it's really not fair to ask him to jump in there, mainly the (defensive) end and three (technique). A three technique does some things inside that take a little bit more power, strength; a lot of things that maybe some of your edge guys don't have. So, a three can bump out in this defense and play five (technique) much easier than a five can bump in and play three. If you have a guy that can do both, that's great, and I hope we do in the future. But I think it really depends on the guy.
On if there is any player who could play inside and outside right now
That's really a fall evaluation, and we haven't really done it a whole lot. The very few things we've done in the spring install allow us to see that. I think if you look at it on paper, (redshirt sophomore defensive lineman) Taijh Alston would be a guy that could get in there and do that and be third-down rush guy on the inside to create a little bit of a mismatch. But we're not even going to touch into that in the spring. So, to be honest with you, we don't know.
On if redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Taijh Alston is built to play both inside and outside
Right, he's built for that position. You know how people term different positions. I heard somebody say the other day (he's) like a 4-3-3 technique. He's a traditional, five-technique defensive end. He has great length, he has great athleticism. But he's a strong kid, which is going to allow him to get in there at a three technique or a four and do some things, if we even do that. That's way, way down the road.
On utilizing players where they fit best
It goes back to anytime you ask a guy to do something that doesn't allow him to be successful, in my opinion, is bad coaching. So, (redshirt sophomore defensive lineman) Taijh (Alston) is a guy that has some tremendous skills, and we have to utilize that the best way, which is for him to be successful, not only with what we want to do but what he likes to do. So far, he's done a great job with it.
On if redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Taijh Alston's is at the right size for where he's being asked to play
Yeah, he's pretty close. There's a fine line a lot of times with that position where you can get too heavy. You can get a little sluggish, you can lose that first step, and we don't want him to do that. But also, it never hurts to be stronger. Anytime you get stronger, you're probably going to get a little bigger. We have to be careful, but he's pretty close.
Assistant Coach (Quarterbacks) Sean Reagan
On how he coaches quarterbacks to cut down turnovers
It's the reps. It goes back to what we talk about in here every week. It's the timing with the wideouts. It's the mental reps that they get. Like you see us at practice (with) all our quarterbacks, if they're not taking a live rep, they're right behind the other quarterback or the offense taking a mental rep. When they buy into that every single day, they're getting just as many reps as the guy who's getting a live rep. They're just looking and triggering where they think the ball should go, and the more we can do that, and the more that they can throw to these wideouts, the more the timing's going to get better. Now, we can get to focusing on protecting the ball on each one of those reps.
On rotating quarterbacks during games
Basically, what we've done in the past at Troy is the backup quarterback played at least in the four nonconference games. That's what we did at Troy. Will we do that here? I don't know, but we have done that in the past, and that's to get the guy some game-time experience. Outside of (redshirt junior) Jack (Allison), and Jack played the bowl game, (redshirt junior) Austin (Kendall) hasn't played a collegiate game, really. (Redshirt freshman) Trey's (Lowe III) played a couple snaps. So, as far playing experience, we don't have any other than Jack in one game. So, you have to build that as the season goes, just in case something bad happens.
On using a different quarterback during short-yardage and red-zone situations
It just depends. If he's not ready, then we're not going to put him in and kill his confidence, because the kid has to be ready to go in. So, whoever the backup is, if they're not ready, then maybe we don't play them. But if he's ready to get some action, then yeah. I think it's a good idea to maybe play him a drive in a game to get that game-time experience.
On redshirt freshman quarterback Trent Jackson's performance during Saturday's scrimmage
I tell you, I was really pleased with Trent. That's really the most action he's gotten in 11-on-11 throughout the entire spring, and I thought he handled himself really well. I thought he was really good with his eyes. He takes notes in meetings. He loves the game. We can tell how much time they watch film when they're not on the field with what we call the 360. He watches a ton of film. He's intelligent when it comes to football. He's learning, and I thought he handled the scrimmage really well. I think he had 13 or 14 snaps and only had three minuses, and really, that was knit-picky on carrying out some fakes and stuff.
On who he's coached that benefitted the most from taking mental reps in practice
I don't know if there is really one to point out, but it was engraved for so long at Troy. You go back to when Coach (Neal) Brown was the O.C. (offensive coordinator) there, and I think they were doing it before when Tony Franklin was the O.C. there. So, it's just been instilled so long that, when a new quarterback came in, it just became part of a habit. Now, we're having to train that habit here, and sometimes, they may take a play off. But we catch it on film (and say), 'Look, you took a play off. That's a minus.' We grade those guys on the back, too. When they buy in 100 percent, that's going help them in the long run, and things will start paying off.
Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs Chad Scott
On how the running back group has improved since last week
Specifically, winning in space, winning one-on-one battles, breaking tackles, making guys miss. It's getting more than what's been blocked up front. And also, from a protection standpoint, we're improving.
On if he's treating this week like a game week
It's still spring ball, because we still need to continue to work on the fundamentals and the little things to make everything go. Last week, we had quite a few unblocked defenders go free, so this week we'll improve on that. We just want to continue to work the fundamentals and techniques and communication, so we can continue to get better.
On what he can assess from the spring game
We'll treat it just like a scrimmage, to be honest with you. We're still going to evaluate every snap they take, so it's a normal scrimmage situation. I know it's the spring game, but we'll treat it just like a scrimmage situation and let the team get evaluated just like they would any given Saturday.
On how he likes to manage workload among running backs
Well, in a scrimmage situation in spring ball, you just want everyone to get reps and get a feel for it, so you can see what guys can do. It's my first time working with them. But as the season goes, you'd like to have one guy that's 'the guy', and another guy that can be right there with him, and a third guy that's almost like a role player. You want those top two guys can get going and get a rhythm at the running back spot. When you're just coming in and out of series and not necessarily getting full work, it's tough to get going.
On what he's seen from the running back group so far
I think all of those guys are capable of being that 20-plus-carry guy. Some have shown they've been able to do it. Obviously, (senior running back) Kennedy (McKoy) has done it in the past, (senior running back) Martell (Pettaway) has done it in the past, the two young guys, (sophomore running back) Leddie (Brown) and (redshirt sophomore running back Alec) Sink (Sinkfield) haven't done it before they're younger guys. But I think we have a couple guys that have the ability to do it. Right now, we're just trying to get a feel for them and see who can do what, who's better at what, who can protect and run effectively, who can make plays in space, all that right now.
Assistant Coach/Special Teams Coordinator (Inside Linebackers) Blake Seiler
On how important this week is for the team
It's huge. This is the last week of spring ball. After this week, you can't put the pads on anymore. We're do a lot of lifting and running and some drill work in the summer, but you can't have balls, and you can't have pads on, and we all know that's real football. There's only so much you can get done in underwear, as I call it. So, I think these next three practices and then the spring game, there's a lot of work that needs to be accomplished.
On if the intensity will be ramped up this week
We're going to maximize these next three days of actual practice. I'd say it's not like a normal game, where you start tapering off towards the end of the week on a normal game week. We're not going to do that this week.
On what familiar he was with defensive coordinator Vic Koenning's defensive scheme before arriving at WVU
I was familiar with a lot of the terminology. It's similar to what Vic did at Kansas State when I was with him, which has helped me with my learning curve, and that's another reason why Vic felt comfortable with bringing me in. A lot of the names are the same; they are playing some techniques a little bit different than what we were 10 years ago now. He's evolved a little bit with some things you have to do with the offenses that you see. All in all, it's not a whole lot different to what it was 10 years ago.
On how he thinks this defense will stack up to Big 12 offenses
I think there's a lot of good elements to it. You can see that spread offense is not just in the Big 12 anymore, it's permeating throughout college football, and even the NFL level. I think there's a lot of good things that are unique that will help us, especially looking at it from my perspective, a guy that has been here for a decade defending all of that. And you also look at the league, too, offensively, it's changing a little bit. There are a lot of spread guys that are now out of the league. (Kliff) Kingsbury is gone, Art Briles is not here anymore, Dana Holgorsen is not here anymore. But a lot of those principles are still the same, it's just maybe you're dealing with of a spread plus pro style. I think people are trying to be more multiple than they have in the past.
On how he likes to rotate linebackers
I think for a linebacker, it really depends, because that guy is trusted to make so many calls. It's not as much like when I coached (defensive) line. The D-line is truly about keeping them fresh and rotating them in and out, so that way you can have pass rushers in the fourth quarter. With linebacker, I think it's important to be fresh, but it's more important that you have the right field general out there to make those calls. In my experience, there's only been a few guys that've had the knowledge base to do that. Hopefully, you have more than that but that hasn't been the case very often with me where I've been.
Assistant Coach (Tight Ends/Inside Receivers) Travis Trickett
On his newborn baby
I'm just seeing what I can see on FaceTime right now. She's still down there. So, we have the game this Saturday, and we have recruiting right after that, but that weekend I won't recruit. Easter weekend, I'm just going to stay in Atlanta.
On Neal Brown's perceptions of the tight end position
I think it has changed a little bit since he's doing some more things that he's probably always wanted to do, and he hasn't had the body type to do it. Because it is hard to find the body types that are 6-4, 6-5, 245 pounds, 255 pounds, that can run decently, control their body, and catch the ball. Right now, we are experimenting with what our guys can do and maybe what they need to improve on and what we need to get better at. So, that is right now, the phase we are in spring ball-wise is just really evaluating what our guys can do and doing more things than what we have seen on film down there, because we have the body types to do it here.
On cross-training with assistant coach (wide receivers) Xavier Dye
Absolutely, we actually do a lot of group-individual, if that makes sense. You're doing some things that cross-train among all skills positions. Every coach, not only me (but), Xavier, coach (Sean) Reagan, coach (Chad) Scott, we are all getting hands on with these guys and you try to buy fundamentals for everybody. So, some guys you say, 'We are really going to work on fundamentals', but we really try to do fundamentals every day. We communicate very well, make sure what we are not getting in this period we make sure to get this. There will be days I need to really work with the tight ends on something, I'll send the inside receivers to coach Dye. If there are some things that I'm going to be doing, then he may send a couple guys to me, and say, 'Hey, make sure we cover this.' That's what you get when you have a staff of really good guys that have no egos and those things. All we are worried about is winning for West Virginia. There is a lot of crossover training, like with the tight ends, they have to be able to play on the ball, two-point stance, and split out, where the slot receivers just have to split out, so you have to try to mirror up and take advantage of whatever I do with them, the tight ends could take advantage of, and then whatever I need to focus in on football stuff that doesn't really apply to the slot receivers, they can go with coach Dye, and then we always marry it up. 'Alright, I need this, this, and this. When does this fit into your schedule, during the practice schedule?' He'll make sure he will work around it. We work very well together.
On the flexibility of the inside and outside receivers
I always mess with them because I have the inside receivers in my room, I say, 'We have the hardest job' and I always give them a little bone on this one. The outside receivers, they just say right and left. So, they go, 'You go to the right side, and you go to the left side.' We have to move all over the field, and we are the motion guy and all that. I told our guys it's a compliment, because the more you can do, the better, but you have to do it well. In this offense, what is neat about coach Brown's offense, it has a place for every guy. Whether you are a small guy (or) a big guy on the inside, it really has a piece (for everyone) – not every offense has a spot for that kind of guy. If you're a tight end that's maybe not the biggest guy, you're more of an H-Back, or if you're a guy that can do all of it, or you're an on-ball guy. There's a lot of flexibility here, and that really helps with recruiting, too, and allows you to take the best available as well.
Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
QB
/ FootballNate Gabriel | April 8
Wednesday, April 08
Coach Rod West | April 8
Wednesday, April 08
Coach Rich Rodriguez | April 8
Wednesday, April 08
Ryan Ward | April 6
Monday, April 06
