Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
Saturday Scrimmage Recap
August 17, 2024 05:45 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Saturday's scrimmage inside Milan Puskar Stadium was a mixed bag, according to West Virginia coach Neal Brown.
The Mountaineers got in a little more than 100 plays with a Big 12 officiating crew on hand, working on all aspects of team play over the course of three hours this afternoon.
West Virginia worked goal line, opening drives, red zone, backed up, third- and fourth-down situational work and special teams, Brown said afterward.
"We got a lot of really good video," Brown noted. "I wasn't real fired up about some of it, but I thought some individuals really showed up and I thought there were some disappointing things in it as well. Really, the last three practices we've kind of been trending upward and today we just weren't at our best.
"I can make excuses for them but I'm not. We have to be better than we were today," he said.
Quarterback Garrett Greene worked the first two series with the ones before getting the rest of the afternoon off. Starting left tackle Wyatt Milum and starting safety Aubrey Burks also got limited work today by design.
Brown highlighted each aspect of play, starting with special teams work. He said he thought kicker Michael Hayes hit his kickoffs really well and Hudson Clement shined on kickoff return.
"Right now, if we played today, he would be our kickoff returner," Brown said. "He's really trending in the right way, and he hit a big one today in a kickoff return drill, so that was exciting to see."
Preston Fox continues to perform consistently on punt return and Brown believes he's capable of becoming an All-Big 12-type performer in that role.
He felt punting today lacked consistency.
"That's really our whole punt team," he said.
Defensively, the coach thought the unit began the scrimmage strong but fell off later in the scrimmage.
"Some guys got tired because we played those guys a bunch of snaps because we wanted to. I think it's really important for us, especially at the safety position, to find out who is going to step up there," he said. "We need to play cleaner. We missed some tackles in space and that's also a combination of having some good offensive skill guys.
"I thought our D-line was effective today. I thought we did a good job using our hands and created some (tackles for losses)," he added.
Offensively, with backups Nicco Marchiol and Ryder Burton seeing most of the action leading the ones and twos, Brown thought things got better as the scrimmage progressed, particularly the run game.
Jaylen Anderson, battling freshmen Trae'von Dunbar and Diore Hubbard for the No. 3 running back spot, broke free for a long touchdown run. Those three got most of the carries once Jahiem White and CJ Donaldson Jr. got their early work completed.
"Again, it was not clean enough for a veteran group. We've got a bunch of guys that have played a lot of football," he said. "Nicco came in and got a lot of quality reps with the ones, which we wanted to do, so that was good."
Among tight ends, another position seeking clarity at the No. 3 spot, Brown thought freshman Jack Sammarco has performed well blocking in the run game and came up with a big reception this afternoon.
Among the younger quarterbacks, Brown said true freshman Khalil Wilkins struggled at the outset but improved as the day wore on.
"He's talented, but it's going to take him a little time," Brown said. "We're going to have to have some patience, but he can really run, and he's got a quick release and a strong arm."
The staff used tablets for the first time today and Brown admitted there were some issues with the new technology that is being introduced by the Big 12 this season.
"It's no different than any technology, when it works it's great and when it doesn't it's a pain," Brown said. "I've got a deal at my house that controls the TV and the sound and it's great until the power goes off. Then, you've got to reset it, and I'm illiterate with my hands, so I have to call somebody to fix it."
Members of the 1891 Club Elite Mountaineers were in town observing today's scrimmage and many of them stayed afterward to listen to Brown's post-practice remarks in the team room.
No activities are planned for Sunday and the team will resume practicing on Monday and Tuesday leading into its mock game on Wednesday, which is also the first day of fall classes.
Brown said exclusive Penn State prep begins on Thursday.
"Fall camp is about the whole season, all 12 games," he said. "We've got to get our guys ready for all 12 games, so you do a lot that maybe you are not going to use until week seven or eight, but you introduce it in the spring and fall camp, so the guys are familiar with it.
"Then, once you get into your game-prep mode, then you narrow everything down and you concentrate on getting repetitions versus different looks with the plays you are going to run, or the calls you are going to have on defense," Brown added.
In the meantime, he said the coaching staff will evaluate today's game tape and begin the process of narrowing things down to determine a two-deep roster for the opener against eighth-ranked Penn State on Saturday, Aug. 31 at Milan Puskar Stadium.
"Two weeks from today we will be sitting here postgame and truthfully, after today, I'm glad we've got it," Brown said, adding, "it wasn't awful, but the expectations here are high, and it's a daily standard."
The Mountaineers got in a little more than 100 plays with a Big 12 officiating crew on hand, working on all aspects of team play over the course of three hours this afternoon.
West Virginia worked goal line, opening drives, red zone, backed up, third- and fourth-down situational work and special teams, Brown said afterward.
"We got a lot of really good video," Brown noted. "I wasn't real fired up about some of it, but I thought some individuals really showed up and I thought there were some disappointing things in it as well. Really, the last three practices we've kind of been trending upward and today we just weren't at our best.
"I can make excuses for them but I'm not. We have to be better than we were today," he said.
Quarterback Garrett Greene worked the first two series with the ones before getting the rest of the afternoon off. Starting left tackle Wyatt Milum and starting safety Aubrey Burks also got limited work today by design.
Brown highlighted each aspect of play, starting with special teams work. He said he thought kicker Michael Hayes hit his kickoffs really well and Hudson Clement shined on kickoff return.
"Right now, if we played today, he would be our kickoff returner," Brown said. "He's really trending in the right way, and he hit a big one today in a kickoff return drill, so that was exciting to see."
Preston Fox continues to perform consistently on punt return and Brown believes he's capable of becoming an All-Big 12-type performer in that role.
He felt punting today lacked consistency.
"That's really our whole punt team," he said.
Defensively, the coach thought the unit began the scrimmage strong but fell off later in the scrimmage.
"Some guys got tired because we played those guys a bunch of snaps because we wanted to. I think it's really important for us, especially at the safety position, to find out who is going to step up there," he said. "We need to play cleaner. We missed some tackles in space and that's also a combination of having some good offensive skill guys.
"I thought our D-line was effective today. I thought we did a good job using our hands and created some (tackles for losses)," he added.
Offensively, with backups Nicco Marchiol and Ryder Burton seeing most of the action leading the ones and twos, Brown thought things got better as the scrimmage progressed, particularly the run game.
Jaylen Anderson, battling freshmen Trae'von Dunbar and Diore Hubbard for the No. 3 running back spot, broke free for a long touchdown run. Those three got most of the carries once Jahiem White and CJ Donaldson Jr. got their early work completed.
"Again, it was not clean enough for a veteran group. We've got a bunch of guys that have played a lot of football," he said. "Nicco came in and got a lot of quality reps with the ones, which we wanted to do, so that was good."
Among tight ends, another position seeking clarity at the No. 3 spot, Brown thought freshman Jack Sammarco has performed well blocking in the run game and came up with a big reception this afternoon.
Among the younger quarterbacks, Brown said true freshman Khalil Wilkins struggled at the outset but improved as the day wore on.
"He's talented, but it's going to take him a little time," Brown said. "We're going to have to have some patience, but he can really run, and he's got a quick release and a strong arm."
The staff used tablets for the first time today and Brown admitted there were some issues with the new technology that is being introduced by the Big 12 this season.
"It's no different than any technology, when it works it's great and when it doesn't it's a pain," Brown said. "I've got a deal at my house that controls the TV and the sound and it's great until the power goes off. Then, you've got to reset it, and I'm illiterate with my hands, so I have to call somebody to fix it."
Members of the 1891 Club Elite Mountaineers were in town observing today's scrimmage and many of them stayed afterward to listen to Brown's post-practice remarks in the team room.
No activities are planned for Sunday and the team will resume practicing on Monday and Tuesday leading into its mock game on Wednesday, which is also the first day of fall classes.
Brown said exclusive Penn State prep begins on Thursday.
"Fall camp is about the whole season, all 12 games," he said. "We've got to get our guys ready for all 12 games, so you do a lot that maybe you are not going to use until week seven or eight, but you introduce it in the spring and fall camp, so the guys are familiar with it.
"Then, once you get into your game-prep mode, then you narrow everything down and you concentrate on getting repetitions versus different looks with the plays you are going to run, or the calls you are going to have on defense," Brown added.
In the meantime, he said the coaching staff will evaluate today's game tape and begin the process of narrowing things down to determine a two-deep roster for the opener against eighth-ranked Penn State on Saturday, Aug. 31 at Milan Puskar Stadium.
"Two weeks from today we will be sitting here postgame and truthfully, after today, I'm glad we've got it," Brown said, adding, "it wasn't awful, but the expectations here are high, and it's a daily standard."
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