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WVSPORTS.COM West Virginia head coach Neal Brown Press Conference Summary - Kansas

Keenan Cummings

Fact Based and Wonderful
Staff
Sep 16, 2007
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--West Virginia head coach Neal Brown he put out that video Sunday to say what he needed to say. Offensively, they ran the ball really well. Had over 100 rusher and JT Daniels was sharp for the first game and they made quite a very explosive plays. They didn't catch the ball well enough. They dropped like six balls in the game and he minimized that. They have to clean up some protection issues up front and some of that is because they are really good. They stopped the run on defense and got good pressure on the quarterback. They have to tackle better especially late. They had some alignment issues which some of that is the looks that they gave them and they allowed too many explosive passes. Special teams they blocked a punt, had good kickoff coverage but have to get better with decision making in the return game. Coming out of the game, they have a chance to be a good football team.

--Kansas is 1-0, it starts with the fact they are well-coached. Have a lot of respect for Lance Leipold and what he has done. They are disciplined and they don't beat themselves. They are playing with a lot of confidence and they should because of how they have played over the last four games. Brown thinks at the end of the year it will be one of the most improved teams. They are multiple and do a lot of motions and shifts. They are a different team with Jalon Daniels at quarterback. He's an accurate passer that can run. Running back room is as deep as anybody in the Big 12. They are four deep with legitimate upper end Big 12 running backs. Four-down front defensively, Kenny Logan is a standout at safety. He is sharp and they've really improved at cornerback. Linebacker they've added a couple transfers and have improved. They go 7-deep on the defensive line and Lonnie Phelps the transfer is impressive.

--It's a fundamental deal with tackling. It's been a strength for three years, so they'll get back to work on it. A lot of it is just being in position. Have to keep eyes up and wrap up. In the red zone it was a pad leverage deal.

--Eddie Vesterinen just plays super hard and is relentless. He's a fun guy to coach. He's gotten progressively better and has been intentional about learning football. He plays with low pads and uses his hands well, while he doesn't stay blocked. He has a great second effort and is going to continue to play.

--Really don't know just yet, Charles Woods got hurt in the game and doesn't have an update right now. Jordan White is moving around and is probable. Tirek Austin-Cave will be questionable. Jalen Thornton was out and is around a week away.

--CJ Donaldson was able to continue to play the way he did in fall camp. You're always hesitant to put it on a young player early on, but his role will continue to grow. He played well and some of it was timing. He is decisive and he doesn't stop his feet. He had one bad run where he fell down, but he was productive. He did a great job in pass protection. If they went back they would have played him more later. One of the concerns was pass protection, but he picked up No. 7 two different times and one of them was a big time collision.

--It hurts not having Wes McCormick in the first half. They'll just have to get some other guys ready. The thing about injuries or targeting is one person's bad luck is an opportunity for others. They do feel like they have more athleticism at cornerback. Malachi Ruffin has played corner, Mumu Bin-Wahad played at a really good high school football, Andrew Wilson-Lamp can play and Jacolby Spells.

--JT Daniels was even keel and really good in-game. He loved the interview he did after the game. He threw the ball really well and they dropped six balls for 100 yards. He'll only continue to build.

--ShaDon Brown had a plan at cornerback inserting Mumu Bin-Wahad into the game. It's a gut feel as far as who goes into the game. If Charles can't go there will have a full fledged competition to see who steps into that role. Tuesday and Wednesday's practice will determine who will play.

--Greg Burks handles the officials in the Big 12. He does a good job, the game is extremely hard to officiate. His issues in the game was there were two plays that went to replay and on their last scoring drive they threw the ball to the tight end they called it a catch on the field and let it stand. To Brown it looked like the ball hit the ground. The ball that Reese Smith caught you can see it hit the ground so either both of them are catches or none of them are catches. He was frustrated because he wants to know what was said on replay.

--It's a point of emphasis to simulate snaps. It is bad for the game and it's officiated in different leagues differently. They did get it and it wasn't an issue after it was put to rest.

--It was a long game against Pittsburgh. There were a lot of eye balls watching it.

--Mike O'Laughlin only practiced with contact for 10-12 days. First couple plays were ugly but he improved as he went. Anytime you run the ball against a team of that quality up front it means your tight ends had a good day.

--Dante Stills had the best football game of his career. He was mentally in the game, it was the best shape he has been in and he looked like we expected it to look like. The statistics don't always tell the story. He created opportunities for other guys to make plays.

--What it came down to was those five offensive linemen had the best camp. Jordan White's consistency throughout gave him the opportunity to play and Doug Nester's lateral agility has improved and let him play on the edge.

--Offensively they snapped the ball quite a bit. They called 80 snaps, and they got plenty of time in the rotation. Jeremiah Aaron missed some camp time but they want to get him in the rotation. Cortez Braham they want him to continue to have a bigger role.
 
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