Mountaineers Conduct Light Wednesday Afternoon Practice
August 07, 2024 05:43 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia conducted a light practice up on the Steve Antoline Family Practice Field in helmets and spider pads early Wednesday afternoon.
Today's schedule included lots of fundamental work following Tuesday morning's fully padded practice inside the stadium. Members of the media were permitted an hour window to watch today's work.
Coach Neal Brown said afterward that there are no on-field activities planned for Thursday with a moderate practice slated on Friday leading into Saturday's closed scrimmage under the lights inside Milan Puskar Stadium.
"This was a low (intensity) practice for us," he explained. "We did a lot of red zone and kind of light box work without a lot of banging to try and limit the running on the skill guys.
"Situationally, we've been intention about working red zone from about the 15 to the 6 on both sides of the ball," Brown said. "That was the fifth time in seven practices we've really worked the red zone and it's really a point of emphasis for us. Offensively, we've done a lot of good things, but we've got to score more touchdowns down there. Defensively, we've got to get some takeaways and make people kick down there."
Brown's intention on Saturday evening is to put his guys through game-like conditions for the first time during camp.
"We are going to treat that as game-like as possible," he said.
The coach was asked following today's practice about the progress being made in the passing game on both sides of the ball.
"Defensively, we have more able-bodies and I've been really impressed with our two corners (Ayden Garnes and Garnett Hollis Jr.)," he said. "We've been moving (safety) Aubrey (Burks) around playing spear and high safety for us. Those have kind of been the main guys and Anthony Wilson, who did not practice today, he's made a really big step for us. Now, we need some other guys to step up."
On the flip side, Brown said he likes his wide receiver group.
"I think all those guys who were here with us last year have made a definitive step," he said. "You can see that Preston Fox is a lot stronger.
"Traylon Ray, Rodney Gallagher III and Hudson Clement are following kind of a natural progression and then (Oklahoma State transfer) Jaden Bray and (Mississippi State transfer) Justin Robinson are going to add an element for us. They've just got to learn what to do for us and how we play. And then (true freshman Ric'Darious) Farmer. He's elite with the ball in his hands and we've got to find a way to use him."
Practice visitors today included former Mountaineer players Tanner Russell and Matt McCullough. Russell, a Princeton native, is now living in Wheeling while McCullough said he's now living in Bridgeport after growing up in Parkersburg.
Russell was a member of the 2000 Music City Bowl champions while McCullough was a backup kicker for the Mountaineers playing on coach Rich Rodriguez's first two Mountaineer teams in 2001 and 2002.
Today's schedule included lots of fundamental work following Tuesday morning's fully padded practice inside the stadium. Members of the media were permitted an hour window to watch today's work.
Coach Neal Brown said afterward that there are no on-field activities planned for Thursday with a moderate practice slated on Friday leading into Saturday's closed scrimmage under the lights inside Milan Puskar Stadium.
"This was a low (intensity) practice for us," he explained. "We did a lot of red zone and kind of light box work without a lot of banging to try and limit the running on the skill guys.
"Situationally, we've been intention about working red zone from about the 15 to the 6 on both sides of the ball," Brown said. "That was the fifth time in seven practices we've really worked the red zone and it's really a point of emphasis for us. Offensively, we've done a lot of good things, but we've got to score more touchdowns down there. Defensively, we've got to get some takeaways and make people kick down there."
Brown's intention on Saturday evening is to put his guys through game-like conditions for the first time during camp.
"We are going to treat that as game-like as possible," he said.
The coach was asked following today's practice about the progress being made in the passing game on both sides of the ball.
"Defensively, we have more able-bodies and I've been really impressed with our two corners (Ayden Garnes and Garnett Hollis Jr.)," he said. "We've been moving (safety) Aubrey (Burks) around playing spear and high safety for us. Those have kind of been the main guys and Anthony Wilson, who did not practice today, he's made a really big step for us. Now, we need some other guys to step up."
On the flip side, Brown said he likes his wide receiver group.
"I think all those guys who were here with us last year have made a definitive step," he said. "You can see that Preston Fox is a lot stronger.
"Traylon Ray, Rodney Gallagher III and Hudson Clement are following kind of a natural progression and then (Oklahoma State transfer) Jaden Bray and (Mississippi State transfer) Justin Robinson are going to add an element for us. They've just got to learn what to do for us and how we play. And then (true freshman Ric'Darious) Farmer. He's elite with the ball in his hands and we've got to find a way to use him."
Practice visitors today included former Mountaineer players Tanner Russell and Matt McCullough. Russell, a Princeton native, is now living in Wheeling while McCullough said he's now living in Bridgeport after growing up in Parkersburg.
Russell was a member of the 2000 Music City Bowl champions while McCullough was a backup kicker for the Mountaineers playing on coach Rich Rodriguez's first two Mountaineer teams in 2001 and 2002.
Players Mentioned
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