Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
Matt Moore’s Message to Brandon Yates – Be Brandon Yates
April 08, 2024 03:15 PM | Football, Blog
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Matt Moore's message this year to Brandon Yates? Be Brandon Yates.
The Middletown, Delaware, resident has the unenviable task of replacing three-year team captain and multiple-time All-American Zach Frazier, considered among the best centers to ever play at West Virginia University.
Later this month, Frazier is expected to be a high draft pick in the NFL Draft, so Yates being Yates has been Moore's approach with the soon-to-be senior.
"Go be you," Moore said last week. "There are some things Yates does that are better than what Frazier did. He's not quite as powerful and the wrestler and grappler, but he's very athletic."
Moore said he won't sit Yates down in front of a screen and show him tape of the two for comparison purposes.
"But there are some technique and fundamental things that Frazier did a great job of and (Yates) has learned from him. He knows he's filling some big shoes, but he's ready to do it," Moore said. "He did a good job in the bowl game, and he's had a really good spring so far.
Yates said he's now had enough experience at the position backing up Frazier last year and playing in the Duke's Mayo Bowl victory over North Carolina to get deeper into the intricacies of the position.
"When I first started doing center, it was like 100-level classes and general knowledge type stuff and now it's time to get into those 300-level classes and really start to get past that certain point and looking at the bigger picture," Yates explained.
That entails stepping up his game to become the team leader required of the center position. Frazier's leadership skills really evolved during his four seasons playing at WVU, so Yates is going to have to accelerate that aspect of his game.
"Going into this role, it has stepped up my game another level because I know I have to go in and fill those shoes," he said. "Also, I've got to be a leader in that room, so that kicked up my game another level. I had a great offseason based on that because I had to change my mentality. I had to be a leader in the room and follow his shoes so we don't miss a beat. I don't have time to be going backwards; it has to always be going forward."
Yates was asked to compare his style of play to Frazier's. His answer was telling.
"Me and Zach play completely different ways," Yates said. "He's a wrestling kind of guy and I'm more of an athletic, get-around, stretch kind of guy, but seeing how he works and the things he does, you kind of build that work ethic and bounce off the things he did.
"He was really good with his hands because he has a wrestling background so when he grabs people, he's able to control that body weight and bring them in and keep them tight," Yates added. "I'm trying to put that into my game and try and improve upon that. His hands are so strong, and he's able to do things not a lot of guys in this draft class can do."
That means Yates must be conscious where his hands are during every single rep.
"I'm still trying to get better at it. If you are conscious of it, I think you will be able to do it," he said.
Yates has plenty of experience playing guard and tackle. He started 21 games at left tackle over two seasons before moving to right tackle two years ago. Last year, he was the team's Swiss Army knife starting games at left and right guard while backing up Frazier at center.
On the final offensive possession of the game against Baylor, Yates alertly ran onto the field when Frazier hopped off with a broken leg and helped the team march to the winning score. He said that situation is practiced during the season.
"We do mock games, 'Zach goes down, get in there!' We practice situations like that and every practice I worked center, so I was doing the same things Zach was doing throughout the week," Yates noted. "That whole week, I was doing things at right guard, left guard and center, so when anybody goes down, I was ready.
"I was probably 20 yards down the field and then I saw Zach go down, so I immediately started running down because I knew I had to come in," Yates said.
"Every team session he was going guard, center and out," Moore said. "I was constantly working him to where he would run in during the middle of a play and he knew he was going to center for three, guard for three and then come out. It just worked out that it was the middle of a drive and he had to go in. He ran onto the field, and there we went. It seems like we were geniuses right now, but it's been the other way a couple of times, too."
Moore said pro scouts have told Yates his natural position is center, which made the switch easy to sell.
He's also got a guy who has played significant snaps at the position, including the bowl game against a North Carolina team that was at full strength up front. The Mountaineers managed to rush for 164 yards and post 392 yards of total offense against the Tar Heels with Yates at center.
"It's not like I'm taking a guy who has never played the position and am putting him there," Moore admitted. "From a mental standpoint, he's done a really good job making the line calls, and it's really just teaching him to take his preparation a step further because that's what all centers have to do, just like a quarterback.
"He's got to be here before everybody and stay after everybody and make sure he understands what we're seeing," Moore said. "He's got to understand what are the giveaways from the defense? That's the part I've got to teach him more than anything."
Yates believes fans won't be able to detect much of a difference from last year's line play to this year. WVU must also replace starting right tackle Doug Nester.
"I think it's the same because we still have the same type of identity and nothing changes. We are still going to go out there and be physical, but we are going to be able to unleash our playbook a little bit more and do a lot more things to get guys loose, but I think we are still going to have our physical mentality," he said. "That just comes with our identity in the room."
Yates added, "We have developed with each other, and we are a close-knit group. We go out there and work together and do extra workouts together. We trust each other more so the guy next to me I trust him to do his job so I can go 100%. If I make a mistake my guy is going to pick me up 100%."
Beyond Yates, Moore said sophomore Landen Livingston and redshirt freshman Cooper Young are backup candidates, while tackles Wyatt Milum and Nick Malone are also snapping.
Moore has everyone on the roster take snaps before practice and wants to have four guys capable of always doing it.
"I'm always trying to have an answer at center because that's the one position you don't have somebody ready you can really get into trouble if you have two guys go down," he explained.
Overall, Moore is confident he's got enough quality players in the program to maintain what the offensive line established last year spearheading an attack that has gained more than 140 yards on the ground for 15 straight games dating back to 2022.
"It's always hard when you lose two guys who are leaders, but I think these guys are doing a really good job stepping up. Milum, Yates, Malone and (Ja'Quay) Hubbard have had great offseasons and have set the standard in the weight room.
"I had seven guys who started last year (including injured Tomas Rimac), and I've got five of those seven back," Moore said. "We're still a veteran group as far as knowing what to do, and I've got guys who can play multiple positions. I expect it to be a reload, although maybe a little bit of a different style of play."
West Virginia wrapped up spring practice No. 7 earlier today on the Steve Antoline Family Practice Field. The Mountaineers have practices scheduled for Wednesday and Friday this week with coach Neal Brown slated to visit with the media following Friday's workout.
The Middletown, Delaware, resident has the unenviable task of replacing three-year team captain and multiple-time All-American Zach Frazier, considered among the best centers to ever play at West Virginia University.
Later this month, Frazier is expected to be a high draft pick in the NFL Draft, so Yates being Yates has been Moore's approach with the soon-to-be senior.
"Go be you," Moore said last week. "There are some things Yates does that are better than what Frazier did. He's not quite as powerful and the wrestler and grappler, but he's very athletic."
Moore said he won't sit Yates down in front of a screen and show him tape of the two for comparison purposes.
"But there are some technique and fundamental things that Frazier did a great job of and (Yates) has learned from him. He knows he's filling some big shoes, but he's ready to do it," Moore said. "He did a good job in the bowl game, and he's had a really good spring so far.
Yates said he's now had enough experience at the position backing up Frazier last year and playing in the Duke's Mayo Bowl victory over North Carolina to get deeper into the intricacies of the position.
"When I first started doing center, it was like 100-level classes and general knowledge type stuff and now it's time to get into those 300-level classes and really start to get past that certain point and looking at the bigger picture," Yates explained.
That entails stepping up his game to become the team leader required of the center position. Frazier's leadership skills really evolved during his four seasons playing at WVU, so Yates is going to have to accelerate that aspect of his game.
"Going into this role, it has stepped up my game another level because I know I have to go in and fill those shoes," he said. "Also, I've got to be a leader in that room, so that kicked up my game another level. I had a great offseason based on that because I had to change my mentality. I had to be a leader in the room and follow his shoes so we don't miss a beat. I don't have time to be going backwards; it has to always be going forward."
Yates was asked to compare his style of play to Frazier's. His answer was telling.
"Me and Zach play completely different ways," Yates said. "He's a wrestling kind of guy and I'm more of an athletic, get-around, stretch kind of guy, but seeing how he works and the things he does, you kind of build that work ethic and bounce off the things he did.
"He was really good with his hands because he has a wrestling background so when he grabs people, he's able to control that body weight and bring them in and keep them tight," Yates added. "I'm trying to put that into my game and try and improve upon that. His hands are so strong, and he's able to do things not a lot of guys in this draft class can do."
That means Yates must be conscious where his hands are during every single rep.
"I'm still trying to get better at it. If you are conscious of it, I think you will be able to do it," he said.
Yates has plenty of experience playing guard and tackle. He started 21 games at left tackle over two seasons before moving to right tackle two years ago. Last year, he was the team's Swiss Army knife starting games at left and right guard while backing up Frazier at center.
On the final offensive possession of the game against Baylor, Yates alertly ran onto the field when Frazier hopped off with a broken leg and helped the team march to the winning score. He said that situation is practiced during the season.
"We do mock games, 'Zach goes down, get in there!' We practice situations like that and every practice I worked center, so I was doing the same things Zach was doing throughout the week," Yates noted. "That whole week, I was doing things at right guard, left guard and center, so when anybody goes down, I was ready.
"I was probably 20 yards down the field and then I saw Zach go down, so I immediately started running down because I knew I had to come in," Yates said.
"Every team session he was going guard, center and out," Moore said. "I was constantly working him to where he would run in during the middle of a play and he knew he was going to center for three, guard for three and then come out. It just worked out that it was the middle of a drive and he had to go in. He ran onto the field, and there we went. It seems like we were geniuses right now, but it's been the other way a couple of times, too."
Moore said pro scouts have told Yates his natural position is center, which made the switch easy to sell.
He's also got a guy who has played significant snaps at the position, including the bowl game against a North Carolina team that was at full strength up front. The Mountaineers managed to rush for 164 yards and post 392 yards of total offense against the Tar Heels with Yates at center.
"It's not like I'm taking a guy who has never played the position and am putting him there," Moore admitted. "From a mental standpoint, he's done a really good job making the line calls, and it's really just teaching him to take his preparation a step further because that's what all centers have to do, just like a quarterback.
"He's got to be here before everybody and stay after everybody and make sure he understands what we're seeing," Moore said. "He's got to understand what are the giveaways from the defense? That's the part I've got to teach him more than anything."
Yates believes fans won't be able to detect much of a difference from last year's line play to this year. WVU must also replace starting right tackle Doug Nester.
"I think it's the same because we still have the same type of identity and nothing changes. We are still going to go out there and be physical, but we are going to be able to unleash our playbook a little bit more and do a lot more things to get guys loose, but I think we are still going to have our physical mentality," he said. "That just comes with our identity in the room."
Yates added, "We have developed with each other, and we are a close-knit group. We go out there and work together and do extra workouts together. We trust each other more so the guy next to me I trust him to do his job so I can go 100%. If I make a mistake my guy is going to pick me up 100%."
Beyond Yates, Moore said sophomore Landen Livingston and redshirt freshman Cooper Young are backup candidates, while tackles Wyatt Milum and Nick Malone are also snapping.
Moore has everyone on the roster take snaps before practice and wants to have four guys capable of always doing it.
"I'm always trying to have an answer at center because that's the one position you don't have somebody ready you can really get into trouble if you have two guys go down," he explained.
Overall, Moore is confident he's got enough quality players in the program to maintain what the offensive line established last year spearheading an attack that has gained more than 140 yards on the ground for 15 straight games dating back to 2022.
"It's always hard when you lose two guys who are leaders, but I think these guys are doing a really good job stepping up. Milum, Yates, Malone and (Ja'Quay) Hubbard have had great offseasons and have set the standard in the weight room.
"I had seven guys who started last year (including injured Tomas Rimac), and I've got five of those seven back," Moore said. "We're still a veteran group as far as knowing what to do, and I've got guys who can play multiple positions. I expect it to be a reload, although maybe a little bit of a different style of play."
West Virginia wrapped up spring practice No. 7 earlier today on the Steve Antoline Family Practice Field. The Mountaineers have practices scheduled for Wednesday and Friday this week with coach Neal Brown slated to visit with the media following Friday's workout.
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