--West Virginia defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley said it's more of a 40,000 foot view not having a position to coach but the important thing for him is the voice and the reassurance from him on how things are expected to be done. He is able to touch every part of the defense in meetings, practice and anything outside of a team period. It is good for the relationship side of things and it reaffirms what they're trying to get better and do.
--Lesley won't concentrate on one room over another but he will float around to all the rooms. He is playing catch up with Victor Cabral and that's where he is getting him up to speed but he isn't worried about that long term with him due to his success.
--Lesley has known Victor Cabral for a long time and they coached and recruited against each other in the Sun Belt. As a position recruiter in the first few years of your career, you're really out there trying to find an edge. What stuck out to him is anytime he was out somewhere trying to find an edge, he was there. He had to fight against him in recruiting a lot and he's been around him a lot on the grass in camps and clinics. He brings a lot of energy and a lot of production in an area they need improvement. It was the perfect hire.
--Lesley knows some guys that do something similar to floating around and he will pick their brains after spring and self scout. Everybody in the defensive staff room has been in a coaching, teaching or recruiting environment which is something he wanted to know. Having those guys in those roles like Tre Bell as an analyst is big.
--Ayden Garnes is a guy they really got a good look at and is a skill set they need because he's long and can really run. He can play the ball in the air. Ty French his production speaks for itself and he has a motor and his jets off the edge is something they needed. TJ Jackson is a guy that is extremely explosive and the two kids from Northwestern he doesn't know as much but they are promising skill set wise. TJ Crandall can really, really run and can play the ball in the air. Reid Carrico has really impressed Lesley with how he works and understands the position. It's a skill set that should really help them. They've gotten faster with the additions. Elijah Kinsler, ONi Onwuka and Nate Gabriel are going to be really good players. The secondary Zae Jennings is one you have to say woah way more than giddy up because he only knows one speed. Israel Boyce should also provide quality depth and the more they develop the more they'll help.
--Lesley said the pieces are there in the defensive backfield. The second or third year guys are the ones they will be counting on to make leaps.
--The defensive line is something they have continued to build. That is something over the last three years AJ Jackson has taken a done a nice job. There are some young pieces in there that can really help them early. Corey McIntyre has shown a lot of promise and if he develops in his second year he can really help them.
--Lesley puts a lot of stock in short area quickness for most of the positions on defense outside cornerbacks. If you're running 40s in a game you're not very good. Pro agility, 5-10-5 drills and cone drills are some of the things they put an emphasis. He is watching for the burst of speed out of a change of direction which is a much more important evaluation although he doesn't want to devalue how important speed is. He believes this team is a lot faster.
--Asani Redwood has to miss the spring, but Lesley said that's not a big deal because he would rather him be available when it matters. He does everything that is asked out of him in rehab and once you throw him back into that boat if he performs well they'll be fine up front when he gets back.
--Jordan Jackson plays corner, Josiah Jackson plays safety.
--Offensive coordinator Chad Scott thought things were really smooth today and played clean ball.
--Jaden Bray is explosive and can catch the ball really well and plays hard. He flashed today and has had a phenomenal off-season. Clay Ash has worked hard and Jack Sammarco has worked hard. Some of the young guys in the program.
--Being the offensive coordinator allowed Chad Scott to be patient and put guys in position to make plays and find different ways to get the ball in playmakers hands. He sees the game a whole lot more differently and he isn't running up and down the sidelines as much. He is giving suggestions in the run game and pass game and adjustments. It allowed the game to slow down a lot more to see the game from every position's view. Seeing the defense and adjustments for wide receivers and tight ends has allowed him to learn a lot more.
--It's different not having Zach Frazier in that room. Coach Matt Moore has done a good job rotating guys and being versatile and moving the pieces around so that helps with the communication. It's a big void that Frazier isn't there with his presence and physicality but they have to move forward. Nobody is going to be Frazier, but Brandon Yates is ready to step in and fill that role.
--Scott wants to see the wide receiver room take the next step and with the expectations upon them they want to win the one on one battles. They want to consistently win against man and press coverage.
---The next step for Jahiem White is to become an every down back. He has to work on pass pro recognition, he can pick it up and cut block but he has to recognize it like he does carrying the football. If he can become a three down back by recognizing the different looks he will be on a different level. The more experienced he becomes the better he'll get at it but he has to continue to film study and has to take the next step of putting himself in the shoes of others playing to recognize things.
--CJ Donaldson is very minimal this spring with no contact. Jahiem White and Jaylen Anderson are the only two scholarship backs they have. The best thing about Anderson was his self awareness. He was really aware of the way he played, practiced and prepared and he understood he had to put his best foot forward from a consistency standpoint. He's very aware of that and Scott has been very honest with him. He wanted to hang around because he wanted to put his best foot forward. He focus is practicing fast and today he did that. He's had the best off-season since he's been here.
--The wide receiver room is way more confident and they are stronger. The wide receivers got a lot more explosive and they were intentional about that. Rodney Gallagher took a big step this off-season and he did a good job running routes and getting open in practice today. He can get open now on his technique and he's special with the ball in his hands.
--Nicco Marchiol did very well today. He made a throw to EJ Horton where he looked at the coverage and the grass the decision told him to throw the ball and it looked like a scary throw and it was a phenomenal one that was the right decision. Those are the little things that show improvement. He made another tight window throw to Hudson Clement.
--Johnny Williams is going to be special. He is athletic, tough, physical and has long arms. He is highly intelligent and engaged.
--It's allows them to get better, they need Will Dixon to take the next step. Treylan Davis is good for them. He got lined up properly and knows what to do.
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--Lesley won't concentrate on one room over another but he will float around to all the rooms. He is playing catch up with Victor Cabral and that's where he is getting him up to speed but he isn't worried about that long term with him due to his success.
--Lesley has known Victor Cabral for a long time and they coached and recruited against each other in the Sun Belt. As a position recruiter in the first few years of your career, you're really out there trying to find an edge. What stuck out to him is anytime he was out somewhere trying to find an edge, he was there. He had to fight against him in recruiting a lot and he's been around him a lot on the grass in camps and clinics. He brings a lot of energy and a lot of production in an area they need improvement. It was the perfect hire.
--Lesley knows some guys that do something similar to floating around and he will pick their brains after spring and self scout. Everybody in the defensive staff room has been in a coaching, teaching or recruiting environment which is something he wanted to know. Having those guys in those roles like Tre Bell as an analyst is big.
--Ayden Garnes is a guy they really got a good look at and is a skill set they need because he's long and can really run. He can play the ball in the air. Ty French his production speaks for itself and he has a motor and his jets off the edge is something they needed. TJ Jackson is a guy that is extremely explosive and the two kids from Northwestern he doesn't know as much but they are promising skill set wise. TJ Crandall can really, really run and can play the ball in the air. Reid Carrico has really impressed Lesley with how he works and understands the position. It's a skill set that should really help them. They've gotten faster with the additions. Elijah Kinsler, ONi Onwuka and Nate Gabriel are going to be really good players. The secondary Zae Jennings is one you have to say woah way more than giddy up because he only knows one speed. Israel Boyce should also provide quality depth and the more they develop the more they'll help.
--Lesley said the pieces are there in the defensive backfield. The second or third year guys are the ones they will be counting on to make leaps.
--The defensive line is something they have continued to build. That is something over the last three years AJ Jackson has taken a done a nice job. There are some young pieces in there that can really help them early. Corey McIntyre has shown a lot of promise and if he develops in his second year he can really help them.
--Lesley puts a lot of stock in short area quickness for most of the positions on defense outside cornerbacks. If you're running 40s in a game you're not very good. Pro agility, 5-10-5 drills and cone drills are some of the things they put an emphasis. He is watching for the burst of speed out of a change of direction which is a much more important evaluation although he doesn't want to devalue how important speed is. He believes this team is a lot faster.
--Asani Redwood has to miss the spring, but Lesley said that's not a big deal because he would rather him be available when it matters. He does everything that is asked out of him in rehab and once you throw him back into that boat if he performs well they'll be fine up front when he gets back.
--Jordan Jackson plays corner, Josiah Jackson plays safety.
--Offensive coordinator Chad Scott thought things were really smooth today and played clean ball.
--Jaden Bray is explosive and can catch the ball really well and plays hard. He flashed today and has had a phenomenal off-season. Clay Ash has worked hard and Jack Sammarco has worked hard. Some of the young guys in the program.
--Being the offensive coordinator allowed Chad Scott to be patient and put guys in position to make plays and find different ways to get the ball in playmakers hands. He sees the game a whole lot more differently and he isn't running up and down the sidelines as much. He is giving suggestions in the run game and pass game and adjustments. It allowed the game to slow down a lot more to see the game from every position's view. Seeing the defense and adjustments for wide receivers and tight ends has allowed him to learn a lot more.
--It's different not having Zach Frazier in that room. Coach Matt Moore has done a good job rotating guys and being versatile and moving the pieces around so that helps with the communication. It's a big void that Frazier isn't there with his presence and physicality but they have to move forward. Nobody is going to be Frazier, but Brandon Yates is ready to step in and fill that role.
--Scott wants to see the wide receiver room take the next step and with the expectations upon them they want to win the one on one battles. They want to consistently win against man and press coverage.
---The next step for Jahiem White is to become an every down back. He has to work on pass pro recognition, he can pick it up and cut block but he has to recognize it like he does carrying the football. If he can become a three down back by recognizing the different looks he will be on a different level. The more experienced he becomes the better he'll get at it but he has to continue to film study and has to take the next step of putting himself in the shoes of others playing to recognize things.
--CJ Donaldson is very minimal this spring with no contact. Jahiem White and Jaylen Anderson are the only two scholarship backs they have. The best thing about Anderson was his self awareness. He was really aware of the way he played, practiced and prepared and he understood he had to put his best foot forward from a consistency standpoint. He's very aware of that and Scott has been very honest with him. He wanted to hang around because he wanted to put his best foot forward. He focus is practicing fast and today he did that. He's had the best off-season since he's been here.
--The wide receiver room is way more confident and they are stronger. The wide receivers got a lot more explosive and they were intentional about that. Rodney Gallagher took a big step this off-season and he did a good job running routes and getting open in practice today. He can get open now on his technique and he's special with the ball in his hands.
--Nicco Marchiol did very well today. He made a throw to EJ Horton where he looked at the coverage and the grass the decision told him to throw the ball and it looked like a scary throw and it was a phenomenal one that was the right decision. Those are the little things that show improvement. He made another tight window throw to Hudson Clement.
--Johnny Williams is going to be special. He is athletic, tough, physical and has long arms. He is highly intelligent and engaged.
--It's allows them to get better, they need Will Dixon to take the next step. Treylan Davis is good for them. He got lined up properly and knows what to do.
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