-Offensive coordinator Joe Wickline said that he is comfortable with the offensive line he has because they have some depth. They have been through battles and are older and they are in the process of developing a third guard, third tackle and a second center that can play when needed and will challenge the starters in order to push them and make the unit better.
-Wickline said he’s seen some physicality out of his tight ends so far and overall they measure up to what he is used to seeing around the Big 12 Conference. I asked him specifically if the tight end position would be used this season in regards to expanding the role and getting more passing plays involved and Wickline told me that it’s definitely something that is in the playbook but it will depend on how it produces. He said that if you’re reaching for balance, throwing the ball to the tight end needs to be a part of that.
-Wickline says West Virginia is just about through the install of their offense this spring. Wickline says him and the staff are starting to really see how different concepts fit and look from play to play. He says it won't be until a little bit later in the process, probably the summer, until West Virginia knows if they'll be a run-first or pass-first team this season. The one really good thing is that Wickline says the offense hasn't taken any steps back.
-Out of curiosity and given the history between Wickline and Holgorsen, I asked Wickline whether or not he felt comfortable going to Holgorsen regarding suggestions about the offense. Wickline told me that he does and that their working relationship is very similar to what it was before. He says the only difference is that since Holgorsen is the head coach now, that when Holgorsen says something is a dumb idea, Wickline drops it.
-Asked about sophomore tight end Michael Ferns and Wickline said he is a great guy and is very flexible as he can play on the front end on the line attached and can play in the backfield. He can go out for routes, run and block but he has seen a lot that he likes so far out of him.
- Graduate Assistant Michael Burchett is handling the quarterbacks again and he said that right now Skyler Howard knows he is the starter and he is playing like it. He’s done a good job of showing he is the guy and really taking the leadership bull by the horns.
-The biggest focus for senior quarterback Skyler Howard this off-season has been with his footwork and right now it’s been a complete 180 from a season ago according to Burchett. That’s with slowing down his footwork in the pocket and getting more comfortable there. They spent time going back and re-teaching one step and three step drops and eliminating wasted movement in the pocket because at times he was all over the place last year. Last year it was obvious that his feet and his demeanor affected his throws at time and that hasn’t been the case. It all started during bowl practice and that has only completely carried over as it continues.
-Burchett told me that right now redshirt freshman Chris Chugunov is just now starting to understand just how much freedom he really has at the quarterback spot in the West Virginia offense. He is a smart kid that is getting confidence but it’s still a work in progress with getting the unit into the right play and with all the various checks. He’s understood what they want to do but it’s the process of actually going through it and that is always a slow progression in order to get familiarity in the offense.
-The biggest difference for Burchett himself is that Dana Holgorsen has spent time with the wide receivers this spring so he has been working more with the unit by himself.
-Asked Burchett the plan for both sophomores David Sills and William Crest and he told me that right now they are going to hop around because they are running low at wide receiver and running back. They are using them in a different capacity in order to put the ball in their hands.
-Defensive assistant Mark Scott told me that the plan is to definitely use the expertise that Tyron Carrier has in the return game during the summer and in the fall. He is providing some input now such as being back with the kickoff and punt return teams, but because it’s so late in the process he really won’t be able to have as much of an impact this spring. They plan on sitting down and breaking down film together in order to get on the same page there.
-The returners right now will be Gary Jennings on the punt return team but some others such as Marcus Simms, William Crest and Shelton Gibson has gotten work there too. Scott told me that Jennings has been catching punts one handed and doing it well. On kickoff returns Gibson, Simms, Jennings, Kennedy McKoy and even Ka’Raun White has gotten work there this spring. Obviously there are some names that aren’t with the team right now that will add to that depth.
-Scott said that nothing has really changed without Josh Lambert kicking this spring outside the fact that there isn’t as much depth which means they have to scale back the volume of what they do. They are doing limited special teams work to keep the kickers fresh.
-Asked him specifically about Mike Molina, the kicker filling in for Lambert, and he told me that he has a very strong leg and he has probably the fastest leg swing on the team. They just have to clean up some technique things in order to make him more consistent.
-Cornerbacks coach Blue Adams told me that right now he isn’t focused on a depth chart at all or pegging players into certain spots. He is really just focusing on technique and when they have the opportunity to make plays they do it. Once they get the new players in the summer, they will start the process of narrowing things down and putting players into spots but right now it’s all about reps.
-Adams told me that senior Antonio Crawford has shown good ball skills but he is still looking for something out of his group. He did say that he is exactly where he needs them to be he just needs them to do it on a more consistent basis.
-Offensive line coach Ron Crook told me that last year for redshirt sophomore Yodny Cajuste was a lot of learning and trying to understand what he needed to do and now there is a lot less thinking when he’s out there as he is a year older. He never had a negative attitude last year, but had to really learn to play through soreness and the physical nature of a full season. Right now there is no question that Cajuste is the starting left tackle and will be until somebody takes it from him.
-Crook told me that Rob Dowdy continues to improve up front and same can be said with redshirt freshman Colton McKivitz, who ran with the first team today. They are much like Cajuste where they have the athleticism and the tools but they still have to learn what they need to do and gaining the strength needed to play at the college level.
-The plan this spring is to continue to shuffle the offensive linemen between the different teams in order to gain confidence in the players beside of them regardless who that is.
-Sophomore David Sills said his ultimate goal is still to play quarterback at West Virginia and he is working hard to do that but in the meantime he is willing to step in and help the team anyway he can and continue to play wide receiver. Sills told me that he never expected that his first college touchdown would come as a receiver, but he’s come a long way as a wide receiver and worked on being better there. At quarterback he continues to fix things as well and has worked on his throwing motion.
-Wide receiver Daikiel Shorts is dealing with some on and off the field adjustments this spring. Not only did Shorts lose the only position coach he's known for three years with Lonnie Galloway leaving for Louisville, but his roommates for three years, Wendell Smallwood and Daryl Worley are onto the NFL. Shorts says it's really odd not to have both Smallwood and Worley around because the three of them hung out just about every day. Shorts says Worley will call him and want to talk but Shorts says he gets busy between school and practice and that Worley forgets that. Shorts did make a point to say he was happy for both his friends that they were going on to achieve their dreams of playing in the NFL. As far as roommates go, Shorts is now living with David Sills.
-So far, Shorts is impressed with new receivers coach Tyron Carrier. Shorts says he likes Carrier's personality and has some instant credibility because he played for Dana Holgorsen, played for Kliff Kingsbury and coached with Art Briles. Shorts that Carrier's resume speaks for itself.
-In the time between Galloway's departure and Carrier's hire, Holgorsen actually coached the receivers position group. Shorts said he really learned a lot from Holgorsen and that enjoyed that experience of hands-on work with him. Holgorsen taught and worked with Shorts about how to get open and improvise on routes if something isn't there. Shorts said he really appreciated learning some of that from the head coach so he knows exactly how Holgorsen wants it done.
-Carrier spoke with media members for the first time on Saturday morning too. Carrier says after his playing days at University of Houston, when he went onto the CFL, he realized how well Holgorsen and Kingsbury taught him as a player. Carrier says as a player Holgorsen taught him how to stay consistent regardless of how much success he had. Carrier recalled after a game when he caught for 200 yards, Holgorsen spent the film session showing him how he could have had more yards. Carrier says he's going to instill the same drive in his players.
-Now this is Carrier's first full time gig as a coach, but he is confident his experience as a player will help coach well at West Virginia. Carrier, who spent last fall as a grad assistant at Baylor said: "Playing for Dana (Holgorsen) and working for Art (Briles), that's the top of the line." Carrier added that the only difference between West Virginia's offense and Baylor's offense is that Baylor's offense is more vertical.
-Carrier says one thing he will stress with his players is to make the quarterback as comfortable as possible. Carrier says he explained to his players the relationship he had with Case Keenum at Houston. Carrier believes that if West Virginia receivers can be trusted to make catches regardless of where Skyler Howard puts the football, that more and more opportunities will come their way.
-Linebacker Sean Walters has always played special teams as he's sat behind Nick Kwiatkoski, Jared Barber and Shaq Petteway at linebacker, but now he's working with the ones at linebacker and in a position to be a starter come fall. Walters says he'll still play on special teams, but his goal has always been to eventually start at linebacker.
-Walters, who's now a fifth-year senior, says he never considered leaving West Virginia just for an opportunity to get on the field faster somewhere else. Walters says he's always wanted to stick with the plan so he could start for West Virginia. He says it was frustrating at times because he wanted to play linebacker but realized as long as he was contributing on special teams and still impacting the game that one day he eventually could start as long as he continued to work.
-Walters is part of a group that have all waited their turn which also includes Xavier Preston and Al-Rasheed Benton. Personality wise Preston says him Walters and Benton are probably a little different compared to Kwiatkoski, Barber and Petteway. He says the three new linebackers are probably a little more animated. Preston says he's a big trash talker.
-Wickline said he’s seen some physicality out of his tight ends so far and overall they measure up to what he is used to seeing around the Big 12 Conference. I asked him specifically if the tight end position would be used this season in regards to expanding the role and getting more passing plays involved and Wickline told me that it’s definitely something that is in the playbook but it will depend on how it produces. He said that if you’re reaching for balance, throwing the ball to the tight end needs to be a part of that.
-Wickline says West Virginia is just about through the install of their offense this spring. Wickline says him and the staff are starting to really see how different concepts fit and look from play to play. He says it won't be until a little bit later in the process, probably the summer, until West Virginia knows if they'll be a run-first or pass-first team this season. The one really good thing is that Wickline says the offense hasn't taken any steps back.
-Out of curiosity and given the history between Wickline and Holgorsen, I asked Wickline whether or not he felt comfortable going to Holgorsen regarding suggestions about the offense. Wickline told me that he does and that their working relationship is very similar to what it was before. He says the only difference is that since Holgorsen is the head coach now, that when Holgorsen says something is a dumb idea, Wickline drops it.
-Asked about sophomore tight end Michael Ferns and Wickline said he is a great guy and is very flexible as he can play on the front end on the line attached and can play in the backfield. He can go out for routes, run and block but he has seen a lot that he likes so far out of him.
- Graduate Assistant Michael Burchett is handling the quarterbacks again and he said that right now Skyler Howard knows he is the starter and he is playing like it. He’s done a good job of showing he is the guy and really taking the leadership bull by the horns.
-The biggest focus for senior quarterback Skyler Howard this off-season has been with his footwork and right now it’s been a complete 180 from a season ago according to Burchett. That’s with slowing down his footwork in the pocket and getting more comfortable there. They spent time going back and re-teaching one step and three step drops and eliminating wasted movement in the pocket because at times he was all over the place last year. Last year it was obvious that his feet and his demeanor affected his throws at time and that hasn’t been the case. It all started during bowl practice and that has only completely carried over as it continues.
-Burchett told me that right now redshirt freshman Chris Chugunov is just now starting to understand just how much freedom he really has at the quarterback spot in the West Virginia offense. He is a smart kid that is getting confidence but it’s still a work in progress with getting the unit into the right play and with all the various checks. He’s understood what they want to do but it’s the process of actually going through it and that is always a slow progression in order to get familiarity in the offense.
-The biggest difference for Burchett himself is that Dana Holgorsen has spent time with the wide receivers this spring so he has been working more with the unit by himself.
-Asked Burchett the plan for both sophomores David Sills and William Crest and he told me that right now they are going to hop around because they are running low at wide receiver and running back. They are using them in a different capacity in order to put the ball in their hands.
-Defensive assistant Mark Scott told me that the plan is to definitely use the expertise that Tyron Carrier has in the return game during the summer and in the fall. He is providing some input now such as being back with the kickoff and punt return teams, but because it’s so late in the process he really won’t be able to have as much of an impact this spring. They plan on sitting down and breaking down film together in order to get on the same page there.
-The returners right now will be Gary Jennings on the punt return team but some others such as Marcus Simms, William Crest and Shelton Gibson has gotten work there too. Scott told me that Jennings has been catching punts one handed and doing it well. On kickoff returns Gibson, Simms, Jennings, Kennedy McKoy and even Ka’Raun White has gotten work there this spring. Obviously there are some names that aren’t with the team right now that will add to that depth.
-Scott said that nothing has really changed without Josh Lambert kicking this spring outside the fact that there isn’t as much depth which means they have to scale back the volume of what they do. They are doing limited special teams work to keep the kickers fresh.
-Asked him specifically about Mike Molina, the kicker filling in for Lambert, and he told me that he has a very strong leg and he has probably the fastest leg swing on the team. They just have to clean up some technique things in order to make him more consistent.
-Cornerbacks coach Blue Adams told me that right now he isn’t focused on a depth chart at all or pegging players into certain spots. He is really just focusing on technique and when they have the opportunity to make plays they do it. Once they get the new players in the summer, they will start the process of narrowing things down and putting players into spots but right now it’s all about reps.
-Adams told me that senior Antonio Crawford has shown good ball skills but he is still looking for something out of his group. He did say that he is exactly where he needs them to be he just needs them to do it on a more consistent basis.
-Offensive line coach Ron Crook told me that last year for redshirt sophomore Yodny Cajuste was a lot of learning and trying to understand what he needed to do and now there is a lot less thinking when he’s out there as he is a year older. He never had a negative attitude last year, but had to really learn to play through soreness and the physical nature of a full season. Right now there is no question that Cajuste is the starting left tackle and will be until somebody takes it from him.
-Crook told me that Rob Dowdy continues to improve up front and same can be said with redshirt freshman Colton McKivitz, who ran with the first team today. They are much like Cajuste where they have the athleticism and the tools but they still have to learn what they need to do and gaining the strength needed to play at the college level.
-The plan this spring is to continue to shuffle the offensive linemen between the different teams in order to gain confidence in the players beside of them regardless who that is.
-Sophomore David Sills said his ultimate goal is still to play quarterback at West Virginia and he is working hard to do that but in the meantime he is willing to step in and help the team anyway he can and continue to play wide receiver. Sills told me that he never expected that his first college touchdown would come as a receiver, but he’s come a long way as a wide receiver and worked on being better there. At quarterback he continues to fix things as well and has worked on his throwing motion.
-Wide receiver Daikiel Shorts is dealing with some on and off the field adjustments this spring. Not only did Shorts lose the only position coach he's known for three years with Lonnie Galloway leaving for Louisville, but his roommates for three years, Wendell Smallwood and Daryl Worley are onto the NFL. Shorts says it's really odd not to have both Smallwood and Worley around because the three of them hung out just about every day. Shorts says Worley will call him and want to talk but Shorts says he gets busy between school and practice and that Worley forgets that. Shorts did make a point to say he was happy for both his friends that they were going on to achieve their dreams of playing in the NFL. As far as roommates go, Shorts is now living with David Sills.
-So far, Shorts is impressed with new receivers coach Tyron Carrier. Shorts says he likes Carrier's personality and has some instant credibility because he played for Dana Holgorsen, played for Kliff Kingsbury and coached with Art Briles. Shorts that Carrier's resume speaks for itself.
-In the time between Galloway's departure and Carrier's hire, Holgorsen actually coached the receivers position group. Shorts said he really learned a lot from Holgorsen and that enjoyed that experience of hands-on work with him. Holgorsen taught and worked with Shorts about how to get open and improvise on routes if something isn't there. Shorts said he really appreciated learning some of that from the head coach so he knows exactly how Holgorsen wants it done.
-Carrier spoke with media members for the first time on Saturday morning too. Carrier says after his playing days at University of Houston, when he went onto the CFL, he realized how well Holgorsen and Kingsbury taught him as a player. Carrier says as a player Holgorsen taught him how to stay consistent regardless of how much success he had. Carrier recalled after a game when he caught for 200 yards, Holgorsen spent the film session showing him how he could have had more yards. Carrier says he's going to instill the same drive in his players.
-Now this is Carrier's first full time gig as a coach, but he is confident his experience as a player will help coach well at West Virginia. Carrier, who spent last fall as a grad assistant at Baylor said: "Playing for Dana (Holgorsen) and working for Art (Briles), that's the top of the line." Carrier added that the only difference between West Virginia's offense and Baylor's offense is that Baylor's offense is more vertical.
-Carrier says one thing he will stress with his players is to make the quarterback as comfortable as possible. Carrier says he explained to his players the relationship he had with Case Keenum at Houston. Carrier believes that if West Virginia receivers can be trusted to make catches regardless of where Skyler Howard puts the football, that more and more opportunities will come their way.
-Linebacker Sean Walters has always played special teams as he's sat behind Nick Kwiatkoski, Jared Barber and Shaq Petteway at linebacker, but now he's working with the ones at linebacker and in a position to be a starter come fall. Walters says he'll still play on special teams, but his goal has always been to eventually start at linebacker.
-Walters, who's now a fifth-year senior, says he never considered leaving West Virginia just for an opportunity to get on the field faster somewhere else. Walters says he's always wanted to stick with the plan so he could start for West Virginia. He says it was frustrating at times because he wanted to play linebacker but realized as long as he was contributing on special teams and still impacting the game that one day he eventually could start as long as he continued to work.
-Walters is part of a group that have all waited their turn which also includes Xavier Preston and Al-Rasheed Benton. Personality wise Preston says him Walters and Benton are probably a little different compared to Kwiatkoski, Barber and Petteway. He says the three new linebackers are probably a little more animated. Preston says he's a big trash talker.
