WVU Players and Assistant Coaches Media Session
October 13, 2015
Baylor Week
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (October 13, 2015) – West Virginia University assistant coaches and select members of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Assistant coach (defensive coordinator/linebackers) Tony Gibson
On WVU’s confidence after two tough losses
It’s good right now. We’re not hitting the panic button by any means. We had a really good practice and some good meetings yesterday. We gave them Sunday off, and I think we went out last night and had a good practice. We’re excited to go play Baylor.
On how WVU played defensively against Oklahoma State
I’m really proud of the way we played. We played physical. We played hard. There were not a lot of loafs, so I’m pleased with it. Obviously, we could have done some things better, but its football. They’re on scholarship, too. They have guys that can make plays. We’re not in panic mode by any means.
On how WVU performed well against Baylor last season
We rattled the quarterback. That was the key to it. Our kids were working hard, making plays and the ball bounced our way. Looking at it, there were a couple throws that looked close at times, but after studying it a little bit more, we took a lot of chances, and they couldn’t execute.
On Baylor’s talented wide receiver group
They’re really good. They’re averaging 725 yards a game and 64 points. In 23 years of coaching, I’ve never seen anything like that. I think somebody wrote that there were 800 total yards between both teams in our game last week, so they’re averaging about what both offenses put up in 190 plays. It’s a different kind of deal.
On if WVU has to blitz Baylor to be successful
Yeah. It’s the only chance you have. They try to spread you sideline-to-sideline, and if you play zone coverage, your linebackers are in a run-pass conflict. They’re going to pick you apart, whether it has to do with running the ball, throwing the ball or trying to stretch guys into their zone. There are too many holes in a defense. Is it every snap? No, but pick and choose the right moments, hopefully, we can guess right. I wish we can play with 14 guys. It will help us a little bit more.
Assistant coach (defense/special teams) Mark Scott
On freshman wide receiver Jovon Durante having a bunch of chances in the kick return game
He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands. He has a different level, where if sometimes guys have angles on him, he can really burst through that gap and beat those guys. We have to do a great job. We’ve been good in our blocking up front with being able to identify and adjust. We just have to hold onto our blocks for a hair longer, and we have to be able to finish in every phase of our return game. We had a couple looks on our punt return game as well. If we take care of one guy or the one that (freshman wide receiver) Gary (Jennings) bobbled and muffed. It’s him and the long snapper, and if he gets to the field, there is nothing but green grass. We’re doing some good things, but we need everything to come together on one snap and not have one breakdown here and one breakdown there.
On freshman wide receiver Gary Jennings and senior safety KJ Dillon being interchangeable and how you determine who goes on
It just depends. A lot of it is how many snaps (senior safety) KJ (Dillon) has played. With everything we do with (senior safety) KJ (Dillon) in man coverage, blitzing and playing down inside the block, he can be a little bit worn out, whether it’s physically or mentally. At that time we want to get (freshman wide receiver) Gary (Jennings) in the game. If it’s early in the game and (senior safety) KJ (Dillon) feels good, and we‘re comfortable with him being back there, then he feels more comfortable. He knows when he’s at his best and when he’s not. He’s comfortable enough with us to let us know. He’ll give us a pat on the head or something like that. There’s good communication there, but there’s also good communication with us for up in the box to down on the field. ‘Hey how long has this drive been. Let’s get him out, and put (freshman wide receiver) Gary (Jennings) in. He’s fresher, physically and mentally.
Assistant coach (running backs) Ja’Juan Seider
On redshirt freshman running back Donte Thomas-Williams progression in practice
We’re going to see. It has been a big week for (redshirt freshman running back) Donte (Thomas-Williams), and he’s starting to hit his stride. He’s starting to focus in more. He’s starting to dedicate himself more. He was young. He’s starting to trust himself, and he is starting to trust what we’re doing here. It’s a big week of practice for him, because we have to develop a guy. We’re one play away from being down to one guy, and he’s starting to see it. We have to develop a guy. It isn’t from a lack of trying. He has to push himself, and I think he’s starting to come around.
On what worked well last season against Baylor
The attitude. We are in the same situation last year that we were in this year. We are 3-2 going into this game. It’s an attitude not to back down. I have told the kids, and I think (head coach) Dana (Holgorsen) has done a great job with these guys. We are a good football team. If we don’t turn the ball over, we might be sitting at 5-0 instead of 3-2. That’s the bottom line. We were in both of those games. There is no excuse for it. Hats off to both of those teams, because they beat us because it was close, but we are a really good football team. We have to get our kids to keep believing that.
On ball security
Turnovers are going to happen, and you hate that they happen. It wasn’t a punch out with (redshirt junior running back) Rushel (Shell). It was strip. He had the ball. He felt strong with the ball. At that time, you have to have two hands on the ball. He thought he had enough time to crease it. There was a big hole there, and he hit it. Then it fell off. He just has to take care of the ball. There is nothing wrong with a five yard run. I looked at the film 10 times when (junior running back) Wendell (Smallwood), and I still don’t see how the ball came out. I don’t know if (redshirt junior defensive end Abe) Ogbah put his hand on the ball, because he was about to score. The safety ran into the referee. There was nobody there. The ball just came out. I wish I had an explanation for it. We work on that every day. It is not something I am going to harp on. Those guys have been pretty good with the ball. All we can do is keep working. You hate that it happens, because we took points off the board. That might have been the difference in the ball game.
Assistant coach (offensive line) Ron Crook
On picking up the blitz against Baylor
That will be pretty important. It’s just like every week.
On the team’s confidence level after the past couple of weeks
I think we all see that we have some issues that have to be corrected. We went out and played a really good second half. We felt that the second quarter was good, even though we started off slow offensively. We had close to 500 yards. I don’t know the exact numbers. We had close to 250 yards rushing against a pretty damn good defense. We feel like we can do a lot of good things offensively, but we have to continue to improve and correct mistakes, so we don’t run into those issues again.
On how the offensive line did so well against Baylor last year
I think we went out and played physical. We didn’t get caught up in the game. We played our game. We continued to run the ball well throughout the course of the game. It wasn’t here and there. We ran it well. We protected our quarterback. Our guys made plays last year, bottom line. There was a lot of plays to be made, and our guys made them.
On the No. 1 thing that stands out to him on tape with the offensive line
With us, it’s simply about moving forward. Our guys are doing well in the run game, and we improved in pass protection this week. We have to improve in both areas if we want to have a shot this weekend.
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Shelton Gibson
On Baylor’s defense
They’re physical, just like last year. They play the same kind of scheme as last year.
On eliminating the turnovers
We are putting more minutes toward ball security in practice and making sure that we aren’t just going through the motions. There are four different drills. We have a wide receiver drill, where you catch and rip through, but you have the ball up high. Then there is another one with a running back going through about 10 defenders. There also is one where you walk with the ball to make sure it’s high and tight.
On overcoming slow starts on the offense
Practice. We have to come out fast in practice in whatever we do, whether it’s during ball security drills or whatever. We have to go through it all in practice.
Junior wide receiver Daikiel Shorts Jr.
On what the wide receivers can do to relieve pressure off junior quarterback Skyler Howard
Obviously, we have to make more plays, get out there and get open. We have to make him feel more comfortable from the beginning of the game, so as it goes on, he’s more comfortable looking for us downfield and getting the ball to us.
On WVU’s offense as a unit needing to cohere
As an offense, we definitely need to come together as a unit. As receivers, we need to do everything in our power to make sure that we’re running routes hard, blocking properly and getting downfield. We have to do what we have to do.
On Baylor’s Defense
They have a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball. They play basically how they played last year. They blitz. They play a lot of man coverage, and they force you to make plays and get open. We were successful on that last year, and we have to do the same thing this year. We have to make plays.
On how the receivers practice ball security
We drill it a lot. We do it at the start of practice and at the end. (Head coach Dana) Holgorsen preaches ball security a lot. We have to take care of the ball, whether we’re catching it or running downfield with it high and tight. We’re trying to take it a little more serious, because we want to prevent turnovers. That is a very big part of the game.
On expecting Baylor’s best
I’m expecting them to want to play us as much as we want to play them. I’m sure they’re wanting revenge, and we have to be ready.
Junior quarterback Skyler Howard
On what he takes from the last game moving forward
Ball security is the number one thing right now. We are moving the ball, and we are putting up numbers as an offense. We just have to continue to put an emphasis on taking care of the ball.
On going back to play a game in his home state of Texas
It’s just another week to get better and play football game. I’m not looking forward to it being in Texas or anything like that. It’s more about going out there and executing.
On the improvement in the timing aspect in the passing game
It’s constantly improving.
On if he is more comfortable with one particular receiver in the passing game right now
The trust is obviously with one, but we have guys that can make plays. We just need a few more to step up and really win on one-on-one situations.
On exploiting the Baylor secondary
They have some veteran guys back there, but they are definitely going to test us. We are going to be ready for that.
On senior safety KJ Dillon
On blitzing the Baylor offense
I think we can blitz, but out main focus is slowing down their playmakers. We want to affect the quarterback and make him uneasy, but we do want to stop their playmakers, which is their running back and receivers.
On watching the film from last year’s game against Baylor
I never look back. I always go forward.
On Baylor wanting revenge from last year’s game
They want blood. We want a war. They can get whatever they want.
On what Baylor’s wide receiving core brings to the table
They can make plays without the ball. You know how they are. They are special kids. They are fast, and they can catch. They can make plays, because they have a quarterback that can get the ball out to them.
On redshirt senior linebacker Jarrod Harper going out against Baylor for the first time
He better strap on his seat belt and get ready to play. It’s all green lights with them.
Redshirt senior linebacker Jared Barber
On him looking at Baylor’s offense
Obviously, they have had a pretty good offense the past of couple years. It’s really fast tempo. They are big upfront. They have a good quarterback, and they have a good running back. I really can’t pick out one thing because they are good at all things. Just overall, they have a really good offense.
On if he’s surprised on how well they’re running the ball this year
I think their tempo really helps with that. They get people off guard. They line up so fast. Obviously, (junior running back) Shock Linwood is a really good running back, and their left tackle (senior offensive tackle Spencer Drango) is a preseason All-American. They have done a pretty good job with those guys up front and him running the ball.
On practice lining up this week because they move so fast
Yes. We definitely have to practice our tempo. We handled it pretty well with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, but Baylor is a different type of team with its speed and tempo. We’ll practice that for sure.
Junior cornerback Daryl Worley
On the difference of not having senior safety Karl Joseph out there
That’s not something we like to worry about because three’s still 11 people out there on that field, whether (senior safety) Karl (Joseph) is out there or not. He played a big part in our scheme. He was the heart of our defense, but that’s not something we like to harp on.
On Baylor’s offense overall
That goes with more film study that we do this week. We haven’t jumped that far into these guys yet. They are a great offense as you see. They put points up every week. They put up a lot of numbers week-in and week-out. That’s just something we have to prepare for and get our defense ready for.
On last year’s game and what was the key
I’m not sure. I know our fans played a big part. They came into a very different environment. That might have played a key part. We tried to play with a lot of effort and enthusiasm.
On last year’s game leaving a bad taste in Baylor’s mouth
Definitely. Anytime you lose to a team, you’re looking forward to beating them the following year. We look at it as though every team that we play against is trying to beat us, because we may have beaten them whether we have or have not. They’re all out to get blood.
October 13, 2015
Baylor Week
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (October 13, 2015) – West Virginia University assistant coaches and select members of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Assistant coach (defensive coordinator/linebackers) Tony Gibson
On WVU’s confidence after two tough losses
It’s good right now. We’re not hitting the panic button by any means. We had a really good practice and some good meetings yesterday. We gave them Sunday off, and I think we went out last night and had a good practice. We’re excited to go play Baylor.
On how WVU played defensively against Oklahoma State
I’m really proud of the way we played. We played physical. We played hard. There were not a lot of loafs, so I’m pleased with it. Obviously, we could have done some things better, but its football. They’re on scholarship, too. They have guys that can make plays. We’re not in panic mode by any means.
On how WVU performed well against Baylor last season
We rattled the quarterback. That was the key to it. Our kids were working hard, making plays and the ball bounced our way. Looking at it, there were a couple throws that looked close at times, but after studying it a little bit more, we took a lot of chances, and they couldn’t execute.
On Baylor’s talented wide receiver group
They’re really good. They’re averaging 725 yards a game and 64 points. In 23 years of coaching, I’ve never seen anything like that. I think somebody wrote that there were 800 total yards between both teams in our game last week, so they’re averaging about what both offenses put up in 190 plays. It’s a different kind of deal.
On if WVU has to blitz Baylor to be successful
Yeah. It’s the only chance you have. They try to spread you sideline-to-sideline, and if you play zone coverage, your linebackers are in a run-pass conflict. They’re going to pick you apart, whether it has to do with running the ball, throwing the ball or trying to stretch guys into their zone. There are too many holes in a defense. Is it every snap? No, but pick and choose the right moments, hopefully, we can guess right. I wish we can play with 14 guys. It will help us a little bit more.
Assistant coach (defense/special teams) Mark Scott
On freshman wide receiver Jovon Durante having a bunch of chances in the kick return game
He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands. He has a different level, where if sometimes guys have angles on him, he can really burst through that gap and beat those guys. We have to do a great job. We’ve been good in our blocking up front with being able to identify and adjust. We just have to hold onto our blocks for a hair longer, and we have to be able to finish in every phase of our return game. We had a couple looks on our punt return game as well. If we take care of one guy or the one that (freshman wide receiver) Gary (Jennings) bobbled and muffed. It’s him and the long snapper, and if he gets to the field, there is nothing but green grass. We’re doing some good things, but we need everything to come together on one snap and not have one breakdown here and one breakdown there.
On freshman wide receiver Gary Jennings and senior safety KJ Dillon being interchangeable and how you determine who goes on
It just depends. A lot of it is how many snaps (senior safety) KJ (Dillon) has played. With everything we do with (senior safety) KJ (Dillon) in man coverage, blitzing and playing down inside the block, he can be a little bit worn out, whether it’s physically or mentally. At that time we want to get (freshman wide receiver) Gary (Jennings) in the game. If it’s early in the game and (senior safety) KJ (Dillon) feels good, and we‘re comfortable with him being back there, then he feels more comfortable. He knows when he’s at his best and when he’s not. He’s comfortable enough with us to let us know. He’ll give us a pat on the head or something like that. There’s good communication there, but there’s also good communication with us for up in the box to down on the field. ‘Hey how long has this drive been. Let’s get him out, and put (freshman wide receiver) Gary (Jennings) in. He’s fresher, physically and mentally.
Assistant coach (running backs) Ja’Juan Seider
On redshirt freshman running back Donte Thomas-Williams progression in practice
We’re going to see. It has been a big week for (redshirt freshman running back) Donte (Thomas-Williams), and he’s starting to hit his stride. He’s starting to focus in more. He’s starting to dedicate himself more. He was young. He’s starting to trust himself, and he is starting to trust what we’re doing here. It’s a big week of practice for him, because we have to develop a guy. We’re one play away from being down to one guy, and he’s starting to see it. We have to develop a guy. It isn’t from a lack of trying. He has to push himself, and I think he’s starting to come around.
On what worked well last season against Baylor
The attitude. We are in the same situation last year that we were in this year. We are 3-2 going into this game. It’s an attitude not to back down. I have told the kids, and I think (head coach) Dana (Holgorsen) has done a great job with these guys. We are a good football team. If we don’t turn the ball over, we might be sitting at 5-0 instead of 3-2. That’s the bottom line. We were in both of those games. There is no excuse for it. Hats off to both of those teams, because they beat us because it was close, but we are a really good football team. We have to get our kids to keep believing that.
On ball security
Turnovers are going to happen, and you hate that they happen. It wasn’t a punch out with (redshirt junior running back) Rushel (Shell). It was strip. He had the ball. He felt strong with the ball. At that time, you have to have two hands on the ball. He thought he had enough time to crease it. There was a big hole there, and he hit it. Then it fell off. He just has to take care of the ball. There is nothing wrong with a five yard run. I looked at the film 10 times when (junior running back) Wendell (Smallwood), and I still don’t see how the ball came out. I don’t know if (redshirt junior defensive end Abe) Ogbah put his hand on the ball, because he was about to score. The safety ran into the referee. There was nobody there. The ball just came out. I wish I had an explanation for it. We work on that every day. It is not something I am going to harp on. Those guys have been pretty good with the ball. All we can do is keep working. You hate that it happens, because we took points off the board. That might have been the difference in the ball game.
Assistant coach (offensive line) Ron Crook
On picking up the blitz against Baylor
That will be pretty important. It’s just like every week.
On the team’s confidence level after the past couple of weeks
I think we all see that we have some issues that have to be corrected. We went out and played a really good second half. We felt that the second quarter was good, even though we started off slow offensively. We had close to 500 yards. I don’t know the exact numbers. We had close to 250 yards rushing against a pretty damn good defense. We feel like we can do a lot of good things offensively, but we have to continue to improve and correct mistakes, so we don’t run into those issues again.
On how the offensive line did so well against Baylor last year
I think we went out and played physical. We didn’t get caught up in the game. We played our game. We continued to run the ball well throughout the course of the game. It wasn’t here and there. We ran it well. We protected our quarterback. Our guys made plays last year, bottom line. There was a lot of plays to be made, and our guys made them.
On the No. 1 thing that stands out to him on tape with the offensive line
With us, it’s simply about moving forward. Our guys are doing well in the run game, and we improved in pass protection this week. We have to improve in both areas if we want to have a shot this weekend.
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Shelton Gibson
On Baylor’s defense
They’re physical, just like last year. They play the same kind of scheme as last year.
On eliminating the turnovers
We are putting more minutes toward ball security in practice and making sure that we aren’t just going through the motions. There are four different drills. We have a wide receiver drill, where you catch and rip through, but you have the ball up high. Then there is another one with a running back going through about 10 defenders. There also is one where you walk with the ball to make sure it’s high and tight.
On overcoming slow starts on the offense
Practice. We have to come out fast in practice in whatever we do, whether it’s during ball security drills or whatever. We have to go through it all in practice.
Junior wide receiver Daikiel Shorts Jr.
On what the wide receivers can do to relieve pressure off junior quarterback Skyler Howard
Obviously, we have to make more plays, get out there and get open. We have to make him feel more comfortable from the beginning of the game, so as it goes on, he’s more comfortable looking for us downfield and getting the ball to us.
On WVU’s offense as a unit needing to cohere
As an offense, we definitely need to come together as a unit. As receivers, we need to do everything in our power to make sure that we’re running routes hard, blocking properly and getting downfield. We have to do what we have to do.
On Baylor’s Defense
They have a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball. They play basically how they played last year. They blitz. They play a lot of man coverage, and they force you to make plays and get open. We were successful on that last year, and we have to do the same thing this year. We have to make plays.
On how the receivers practice ball security
We drill it a lot. We do it at the start of practice and at the end. (Head coach Dana) Holgorsen preaches ball security a lot. We have to take care of the ball, whether we’re catching it or running downfield with it high and tight. We’re trying to take it a little more serious, because we want to prevent turnovers. That is a very big part of the game.
On expecting Baylor’s best
I’m expecting them to want to play us as much as we want to play them. I’m sure they’re wanting revenge, and we have to be ready.
Junior quarterback Skyler Howard
On what he takes from the last game moving forward
Ball security is the number one thing right now. We are moving the ball, and we are putting up numbers as an offense. We just have to continue to put an emphasis on taking care of the ball.
On going back to play a game in his home state of Texas
It’s just another week to get better and play football game. I’m not looking forward to it being in Texas or anything like that. It’s more about going out there and executing.
On the improvement in the timing aspect in the passing game
It’s constantly improving.
On if he is more comfortable with one particular receiver in the passing game right now
The trust is obviously with one, but we have guys that can make plays. We just need a few more to step up and really win on one-on-one situations.
On exploiting the Baylor secondary
They have some veteran guys back there, but they are definitely going to test us. We are going to be ready for that.
On senior safety KJ Dillon
On blitzing the Baylor offense
I think we can blitz, but out main focus is slowing down their playmakers. We want to affect the quarterback and make him uneasy, but we do want to stop their playmakers, which is their running back and receivers.
On watching the film from last year’s game against Baylor
I never look back. I always go forward.
On Baylor wanting revenge from last year’s game
They want blood. We want a war. They can get whatever they want.
On what Baylor’s wide receiving core brings to the table
They can make plays without the ball. You know how they are. They are special kids. They are fast, and they can catch. They can make plays, because they have a quarterback that can get the ball out to them.
On redshirt senior linebacker Jarrod Harper going out against Baylor for the first time
He better strap on his seat belt and get ready to play. It’s all green lights with them.
Redshirt senior linebacker Jared Barber
On him looking at Baylor’s offense
Obviously, they have had a pretty good offense the past of couple years. It’s really fast tempo. They are big upfront. They have a good quarterback, and they have a good running back. I really can’t pick out one thing because they are good at all things. Just overall, they have a really good offense.
On if he’s surprised on how well they’re running the ball this year
I think their tempo really helps with that. They get people off guard. They line up so fast. Obviously, (junior running back) Shock Linwood is a really good running back, and their left tackle (senior offensive tackle Spencer Drango) is a preseason All-American. They have done a pretty good job with those guys up front and him running the ball.
On practice lining up this week because they move so fast
Yes. We definitely have to practice our tempo. We handled it pretty well with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, but Baylor is a different type of team with its speed and tempo. We’ll practice that for sure.
Junior cornerback Daryl Worley
On the difference of not having senior safety Karl Joseph out there
That’s not something we like to worry about because three’s still 11 people out there on that field, whether (senior safety) Karl (Joseph) is out there or not. He played a big part in our scheme. He was the heart of our defense, but that’s not something we like to harp on.
On Baylor’s offense overall
That goes with more film study that we do this week. We haven’t jumped that far into these guys yet. They are a great offense as you see. They put points up every week. They put up a lot of numbers week-in and week-out. That’s just something we have to prepare for and get our defense ready for.
On last year’s game and what was the key
I’m not sure. I know our fans played a big part. They came into a very different environment. That might have played a key part. We tried to play with a lot of effort and enthusiasm.
On last year’s game leaving a bad taste in Baylor’s mouth
Definitely. Anytime you lose to a team, you’re looking forward to beating them the following year. We look at it as though every team that we play against is trying to beat us, because we may have beaten them whether we have or have not. They’re all out to get blood.
