Neal Brown Recaps Thursday Morning’s Practice
April 06, 2023 03:30 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia coach Neal Brown said he was pleased with this morning's "spirited practice" that began on the Steve Antoline Family Practice Field before concluding in the Caperton Indoor Practice Facility.
Today's work included a lot of 11-on-11 teamwork. Brown indicated the opening-half drives and two-minute, end-of-game scenarios were dominated by the defense.
The offense did its best work during the red zone period when it scored multiple touchdowns, and the controlled first-down period and pass-game stuff. Brown said there was some good and bad with his two quarterbacks Garrett Greene and Nicco Marchiol this morning.
"We didn't make good decisions in the two-minute situations, which is not unexpected, but we've got to coach those, get them on tape and get those corrected," he pointed out.
The coach began this afternoon's remarks singling out the play of the Mountaineer secondary.
"I thought the secondary had a good day," he said. "Aubrey Burks had several open field tackles and Jacolby Spells had his best day of the spring making a couple of nice plays on the ball."
Spells made an interception in the end zone and Brown thought Kent State transfer Montre Miller's practice this morning was his best of the spring. He also mentioned Buffalo transfer Keyshawn Cobb.
"It wasn't all positive, but those guys are making some plays and making strides," Brown noted. "A lot of the practices to this point has been to put them into situations that are going to challenge them."
Linebacker Lee Kpogba stood out among the linebackers, playing well against the run. Brown continues to see the Winston-Salem, North Carolina, resident making strides this spring.
"Year two for a junior college player is when guys make a big jump and you are starting to see some of that with Lee," Brown said.
Junior defensive tackle Sean Martin performed well in the stadium last Saturday and he continued his fine play in back-to-back practices this week. Brown noted the work put forth by Mike Lockhart and Hammond Russell IV as well.
"We're putting a lot on those two guys right now and I'm pleased with how they've progressed," he said.
Offensively, Brown said left tackle Wyatt Milum was held out of today's practice with a minor ailment and center Zach Frazier's work continues to be limited. Senior Doug Nester took a lot of the reps at tackle today and Brown has been pleased with Brandon Yates' versatility.
The junior is getting work at center, guard and tackle.
"(Yates has) had a really good spring up to this point," Brown said. "It speaks to his football intelligence that he's been in there at center, and I'm encouraged at what he's given us at guard at this point, too."
Devin Carter performed well at wide receiver and Kent State transfer Ja'Shaun Poke had his best practice this morning.
"We got (Poke) the ball and he looked fast," Brown said. "I thought he did some really natural things in the return game during that period."
Tight ends Kole Taylor and Will Dixon were singled out by Brown, as well as Georgia State transfer Michael Hayes at place kicker.
He is locked in a battle with junior Danny King to become Casey Legg's replacement.
"We're getting a lot of reps," he said. "The first seven days, we did group work and fundamentals, and really since then it's been a lot of 11-on-11.
"Spring is about working schematics and figuring out some things, maybe some new and different, but it's also about people and who is (developing)," he concluded.
Brown said his players will have the weekend off for Easter break and will return to campus for Monday meetings and then resume spring practice next Tuesday.
The team's next scrimmage inside the stadium will take place on Saturday, April 15, and then the final scrimmage will be the Gold-Blue Spring Game on Saturday, April 22.
Today's work included a lot of 11-on-11 teamwork. Brown indicated the opening-half drives and two-minute, end-of-game scenarios were dominated by the defense.
The offense did its best work during the red zone period when it scored multiple touchdowns, and the controlled first-down period and pass-game stuff. Brown said there was some good and bad with his two quarterbacks Garrett Greene and Nicco Marchiol this morning.
"We didn't make good decisions in the two-minute situations, which is not unexpected, but we've got to coach those, get them on tape and get those corrected," he pointed out.
The coach began this afternoon's remarks singling out the play of the Mountaineer secondary.
"I thought the secondary had a good day," he said. "Aubrey Burks had several open field tackles and Jacolby Spells had his best day of the spring making a couple of nice plays on the ball."
Spells made an interception in the end zone and Brown thought Kent State transfer Montre Miller's practice this morning was his best of the spring. He also mentioned Buffalo transfer Keyshawn Cobb.
"It wasn't all positive, but those guys are making some plays and making strides," Brown noted. "A lot of the practices to this point has been to put them into situations that are going to challenge them."
Linebacker Lee Kpogba stood out among the linebackers, playing well against the run. Brown continues to see the Winston-Salem, North Carolina, resident making strides this spring.
"Year two for a junior college player is when guys make a big jump and you are starting to see some of that with Lee," Brown said.
Junior defensive tackle Sean Martin performed well in the stadium last Saturday and he continued his fine play in back-to-back practices this week. Brown noted the work put forth by Mike Lockhart and Hammond Russell IV as well.
"We're putting a lot on those two guys right now and I'm pleased with how they've progressed," he said.
Offensively, Brown said left tackle Wyatt Milum was held out of today's practice with a minor ailment and center Zach Frazier's work continues to be limited. Senior Doug Nester took a lot of the reps at tackle today and Brown has been pleased with Brandon Yates' versatility.
The junior is getting work at center, guard and tackle.
"(Yates has) had a really good spring up to this point," Brown said. "It speaks to his football intelligence that he's been in there at center, and I'm encouraged at what he's given us at guard at this point, too."
Devin Carter performed well at wide receiver and Kent State transfer Ja'Shaun Poke had his best practice this morning.
"We got (Poke) the ball and he looked fast," Brown said. "I thought he did some really natural things in the return game during that period."
Tight ends Kole Taylor and Will Dixon were singled out by Brown, as well as Georgia State transfer Michael Hayes at place kicker.
He is locked in a battle with junior Danny King to become Casey Legg's replacement.
"We're getting a lot of reps," he said. "The first seven days, we did group work and fundamentals, and really since then it's been a lot of 11-on-11.
"Spring is about working schematics and figuring out some things, maybe some new and different, but it's also about people and who is (developing)," he concluded.
Brown said his players will have the weekend off for Easter break and will return to campus for Monday meetings and then resume spring practice next Tuesday.
The team's next scrimmage inside the stadium will take place on Saturday, April 15, and then the final scrimmage will be the Gold-Blue Spring Game on Saturday, April 22.
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