Photo by: Caleb Saunders
Football Spring Work to Conclude This Year With Gold-Blue Game on April 24
March 04, 2021 06:39 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia football coach Neal Brown held a virtual media session with media this afternoon to preview spring practice, which will get a later start than anticipated because of some COVID issues his team experienced during winter workouts in early February.
Because of that, he said he will extend the winter program for at least another week and possibly two. "The winter program is going well. I like the progress we're making," he said.
The third-year coach highlighted all three phases during his half-hour session with media earlier today. Defensively, he said a lot of production is returning from one of the best units in the country last year.
"The focus this spring for our defense is how we can get our best players on the field at the same time," Brown noted. "We are really going to push some growth for some guys. (Defensive lineman) Akheem Mesidor had a really good freshman year, and we need to get him to where he can play inside and outside.
"(Outside linebacker) Josh Chandler-Semedo needs to be able to play both linebacker positions. (Safety) Tykee Smith, who has played at a high level, we want to get him some experience playing at the deep safety as well."
Brown is also anxious to take a longer look at some younger players who shined last year during the developmental portions of practice. He specifically mentioned bandits Lanell Carr and Taurus Simmons and Bluefield defensive lineman Sean Martin. All three have excelled during winter workouts.
Other young defensive players Brown singled out were linebacker James Thomas and cornerbacks Jackie Matthews and Daryl Porter Jr.
"(Corner) is a position of need," he said.
Offensively, West Virginia also returns a lot of production, including 1,000-yard rusher Leddie Brown. Neal Brown believes the offense took a step forward last year and needs to take an even bigger step this season.
West Virginia averaged 26.5 points and 412.6 yards per game in 2020, compared to 20.6 points and 321.9 yards per game in 2019.
"I felt like defensively in '19 we were about average, and we went to pretty good. Offensively, we went from poor in '19 to about average, and now we need to take that next step," he admitted. "We've got to continue to improve our run game, and we've got to focus on increasing our explosive plays."
Brown said situational work will be a big component of what they do this spring, specifically the red zone area of the field. He thought his team struggled at times in what he calls the "fringe areas" just outside the red zone.
"In the games we lost we struggled there," Brown said.
The coach said he's anxious to see what Virginia Tech transfer Doug Nester can bring to West Virginia's offensive line. At 6-foot-6, 330, Nester adds sorely needed size, power and experience to an offensive line that struggled at times to control the line of scrimmage last year.
The in-state product from Spring Valley High product played 19 games in two seasons with the Hokies.
"I'm excited to see Doug Nester, a guy that's ready to come in and compete at a position of need," Brown said. "(Sophomore) Jordan White has had a really good offseason going through our developmental program back in the fall. I think he's ready to be a factor up front."
Guys who played sparingly last year but could see increased roles this season include running backs A'Varius Sparrow and Tony Mathis Jr., and wide receiver Sam Brown.
Those guys will need to establish themselves this spring because there are some really talented players arriving this summer in the 2021 recruiting class.
Brown is also eager to see what quarterback Garrett Greene can do with a full spring ahead of him. The talented youngster got two spring football practices in last year before COVID-19 shut down the country, and he's been basically playing catch-up ever since.
"We have three scholarship quarterbacks and (Greene is) going to get a lot of work, and he's had a productive offseason as well," Brown said.
Special teams will also be worth watching.
There will be a long snapping battle between J.P. Hadley and Austin Brinkman as well as a field goal competition this spring.
Brown also wants more consistency punting the football and improved production from the return teams. West Virginia's punt returners averaged just 5 yards per return last season, and Brown thought some kickoffs were blocked well enough for longer returns.
"We've got to be more productive returning it and punt return, we've got to be better as a unit," he said.
Brown also wants to build a menu of players on all four special teams units heading into the summer.
He also mentioned that he's pleased with the eight early enrollees now working out with the team: quarterback Will Crowder, tight end Treylan Davis, defensive lineman Brayden Dudley, athlete Davis Mallinger, wide receiver Kaden Prather, defensive lineman Edward Vesterinen, tight end Victor Wikstrom and defensive back Andrew Wilson-Lamp.
These guys are part of a 16-player December signing class that many onlookers believe could be West Virginia's most fertile talent haul in years.
"I appreciate how they've attacked not only the workouts, but what we're asking them to do from a culture standpoint," Brown said.
The coach is also excited about his two new defensive staff additions, ShaDon Brown and A.J. Jackson. Brown, one of four Browns involved with Mountaineer football this year, will serve as co-defensive coordinator with Jordan Lesley and coach the defensive backs while Jackson will oversee the Mountaineer defensive line.
"I'm really proud to have them be a part of our program," Neal Brown said. "I think they are going to be great additions in all phases. I think they really fit in as far as developing our guys."
Spring work will conclude with the annual Gold-Blue Game on Saturday, April 24.
Because of that, he said he will extend the winter program for at least another week and possibly two. "The winter program is going well. I like the progress we're making," he said.
The third-year coach highlighted all three phases during his half-hour session with media earlier today. Defensively, he said a lot of production is returning from one of the best units in the country last year.
"The focus this spring for our defense is how we can get our best players on the field at the same time," Brown noted. "We are really going to push some growth for some guys. (Defensive lineman) Akheem Mesidor had a really good freshman year, and we need to get him to where he can play inside and outside.
"(Outside linebacker) Josh Chandler-Semedo needs to be able to play both linebacker positions. (Safety) Tykee Smith, who has played at a high level, we want to get him some experience playing at the deep safety as well."
Brown is also anxious to take a longer look at some younger players who shined last year during the developmental portions of practice. He specifically mentioned bandits Lanell Carr and Taurus Simmons and Bluefield defensive lineman Sean Martin. All three have excelled during winter workouts.
Other young defensive players Brown singled out were linebacker James Thomas and cornerbacks Jackie Matthews and Daryl Porter Jr.
"(Corner) is a position of need," he said.
Offensively, West Virginia also returns a lot of production, including 1,000-yard rusher Leddie Brown. Neal Brown believes the offense took a step forward last year and needs to take an even bigger step this season.
West Virginia averaged 26.5 points and 412.6 yards per game in 2020, compared to 20.6 points and 321.9 yards per game in 2019.
"I felt like defensively in '19 we were about average, and we went to pretty good. Offensively, we went from poor in '19 to about average, and now we need to take that next step," he admitted. "We've got to continue to improve our run game, and we've got to focus on increasing our explosive plays."
Brown said situational work will be a big component of what they do this spring, specifically the red zone area of the field. He thought his team struggled at times in what he calls the "fringe areas" just outside the red zone.
"In the games we lost we struggled there," Brown said.
The coach said he's anxious to see what Virginia Tech transfer Doug Nester can bring to West Virginia's offensive line. At 6-foot-6, 330, Nester adds sorely needed size, power and experience to an offensive line that struggled at times to control the line of scrimmage last year.
The in-state product from Spring Valley High product played 19 games in two seasons with the Hokies.
"I'm excited to see Doug Nester, a guy that's ready to come in and compete at a position of need," Brown said. "(Sophomore) Jordan White has had a really good offseason going through our developmental program back in the fall. I think he's ready to be a factor up front."
Guys who played sparingly last year but could see increased roles this season include running backs A'Varius Sparrow and Tony Mathis Jr., and wide receiver Sam Brown.
Those guys will need to establish themselves this spring because there are some really talented players arriving this summer in the 2021 recruiting class.
Brown is also eager to see what quarterback Garrett Greene can do with a full spring ahead of him. The talented youngster got two spring football practices in last year before COVID-19 shut down the country, and he's been basically playing catch-up ever since.
"We have three scholarship quarterbacks and (Greene is) going to get a lot of work, and he's had a productive offseason as well," Brown said.
Special teams will also be worth watching.
There will be a long snapping battle between J.P. Hadley and Austin Brinkman as well as a field goal competition this spring.
Brown also wants more consistency punting the football and improved production from the return teams. West Virginia's punt returners averaged just 5 yards per return last season, and Brown thought some kickoffs were blocked well enough for longer returns.
"We've got to be more productive returning it and punt return, we've got to be better as a unit," he said.
Brown also wants to build a menu of players on all four special teams units heading into the summer.
He also mentioned that he's pleased with the eight early enrollees now working out with the team: quarterback Will Crowder, tight end Treylan Davis, defensive lineman Brayden Dudley, athlete Davis Mallinger, wide receiver Kaden Prather, defensive lineman Edward Vesterinen, tight end Victor Wikstrom and defensive back Andrew Wilson-Lamp.
These guys are part of a 16-player December signing class that many onlookers believe could be West Virginia's most fertile talent haul in years.
"I appreciate how they've attacked not only the workouts, but what we're asking them to do from a culture standpoint," Brown said.
The coach is also excited about his two new defensive staff additions, ShaDon Brown and A.J. Jackson. Brown, one of four Browns involved with Mountaineer football this year, will serve as co-defensive coordinator with Jordan Lesley and coach the defensive backs while Jackson will oversee the Mountaineer defensive line.
"I'm really proud to have them be a part of our program," Neal Brown said. "I think they are going to be great additions in all phases. I think they really fit in as far as developing our guys."
Spring work will conclude with the annual Gold-Blue Game on Saturday, April 24.
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