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WVSPORTS.COM West Virginia head coach Neal Brown press conference summary

Keenan Cummings

Fact Based and Wonderful
Staff
Sep 16, 2007
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--West Virginia head coach Neal Brown said they just finished practice 9 and everybody is pissed because you're doing the same things over and over again. This is the most important week they just had 50 plays and will go hard this week and have another 50-60 play scrimmage. It's about finding where they're at. It's going to be a tough week but he is excited.

--Defensively overall they did a good job lining up especially defensively. Getting to the ball and straining deal. There was a couple off with the twos but they are almost there with the ball but they aren't quite where they need to be. When they go to tackle situations they need to do a good job running their feet. They're not easing into this thing. If you don't run your feet on contact into those backs at Penn State it's going to be a long day. The defensive line is doing better but they're a group that's going to be by committee. They are deeper and are going to play 9-11 guys up there and they're going to roll them. They have to be playing with pad level and working with their hands. Linebacker is a work in progress. Every practice they are stressing the defense at linebacker to get them ready. And on offense, how can they put the most stress on the quarterbacks? Andrew Wilson-Lamp and Beanie Bishop made plays at cornerback and Anthony Wilson did at safety.

--Nicco had some good plays and Garrett Greene was solid in his decision making. Jaylen Anderson made some plays and Jaheim White was better without the ball. He did a better job and Justin Johnson was really consistent. Johnson has been the most consistent there in fall camp. They focused on the run game in the scrimmage and didn't throw it a ton. Traylon Ray was the leading wide receiver and is doing a lot of good things. Preston Fox and Hudson Clement also had some big plays.

--Johnny Williams is going to be a player on the offensive line. They'd love to redshirt him, Nick Malone continues to progress. Brandon Yates or Ja'Quay Hubbard have a lot of experience. Bryce Biggs is a guy that is coming on but they need Sully Weidman and Mo Hamilton to make a step.

--On special teams, they went one and twos and tried to put their best units out there. Kickoff team they put next best kickoff return to get some good on good work. First time Saturday they did their first 11 on 11 full out blocking but the kickers had a good day. Beanie Bishop and Jaheim White were solid at returner and Preston Fox and Bishop also stood out on punt return.

--It's still to be determined it depends on how big of a gap there is too.

--Tray Lathan had a great day today and made a big step on Saturday. He played wide receiver on high school. Size, speed, length he's those things. He needs repetitions. He had a pix six in the team drill today and a nice stop on a run play. Pleased with his progress but he needs to get ready to go fast.

--Pick a weekend, first weekend or during the second week and back-to-back practices for a joint practice. You could bring anybody within your region but it needs to be a coaching staff you have trust in because of sharing and they can practice the right way. It benefits everybody but especially a young kid that is going to play. They practice 25-times against each other. It's all about level of issues. Right now, the hot topics they're trying to figure out is transfer portal and NIL. All the competition points and items those are on the back burner.

--Next Monday Brown will have a better answer on wide receivers. They're trying to get some guys ready.

--Asani Redwood is making positive gains and is ahead of schedule. He's such a young player they're not going to play him until he's ready. Sean Martin they aren't concerned about for game one and Davis Mallinger just has to get stronger.

--It separates. This is where the separation happens this week.

--The timing of trying to get your performance peak that's hard. As far as the mental component they've got a good handle on that.

--The challenge is when you know the players, they go on a normal routine. They know today they're here they have a break in the afternoon and come back in the evening and same thing tomorrow but they can see the light at the end of the tunnel with students coming back and classes starting. When you know they are starting to drift you better be at your best and it's about continuously challenging them to not just get through it but to get better.

--You have to work tackling like you do everything else. Tackled twice last week and got better from day one to day two and will continue to make improvement.

--They understand that this week is hard and Monday, Tuesday and Thursday will be the biggest workloads of the camp. They understand this is the peak and it comes back and then they'll push it up during game week.

--West Virginia has four or five players joining when the roster expands. They need a left footed punter and a snapper.
 
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