WVU Players and Assistant Coaches Media Session
September 1, 2015
Georgia Southern Week
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (September 1, 2015) – West Virginia University assistant coaches and select members of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Assistant coach (defensive coordinator/linebackers) Tony Gibson
On the dynamic nature of Georgia’s Southern offense and the most dangerous aspect
Obviously giving up the big play when somebody misses a tackle or blows an assignment (is the most dangerous aspect). They can hit you for eight yards, and they have the speed to do it with their tailbacks and quarterback. It’s giving up the big play when guys get caught out of position with their eyes in the wrong place, and we get hit with the big one.
On if the defensive scheme is suited to stop the Georgia Southern offense
I don’t know of any defense that’s built to stop the option. Maybe if you go back 50 years or so and run the 52-stack monster or something like that, but I don’t know if there are any that are built to stop it.
On preventing Georgia Southern’s run based offense from sneaking up on the WVU defense with a long pass play
The corners have a job. The safeties have a job. The linebackers have a job, and the defensive line has a job. Everybody has to do their job, and we have to play assignment football. There’s no way around it. It’s going to limit our pressure from a stand point. You have to be patient. You can’t get bored with it. That’s what they want you to do. We have to be disciplined and play assignment football for 70, 80, 90 or however many plays it may be.
On disrupting the Georgia Southern offense’s regimented play schedule
The problem is I don’t really know when you ever get them off schedule. They will go for it on fourth and three or fourth and four. They will run the option on third and eight. It’s not ordinary. They’re all over the place. If you breakdown their play calling on third and seven, over a five game stretch, I think they had 14 of those and seven were passes and seven were runs.
Assistant head coach (receivers) Lonnie Galloway
On what propelled freshman wider receiver Jovan Durante and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Shelton Gibson to the top of the depth chart for the first game
They both bring speed and being able to stretch the field to the table. We will see. Hopefully, they will keep improving this week of practice, and we will move on from there. It’s going to take more than those two to be able to play a 12-game season beyond this first game, so hopefully we will get some more guys out there. (Freshman wide receiver) Jovon (Durante) is a freshman, so you don’t know what to expect.
On establishing an approach when rotating wide receivers
It’s a game of feel. Right now, all the guys are still going. (Freshman wide receiver) Jovon (Durante) and (redshirt sophomore wide receiver) Shelton (Gibson) have been going first, but for the most part, they all have been receiving reps with the first string. Whoever is hot will stay. Obviously, (senior wide receiver Jordan Thompson) Squirt and (junior wide receiver) Daikiel (Shorts Jr.) will be on the inside, so that’s not going to change. On the outside, we will have to wait and see.
On playing against Georgia Southern and how their tradition influences their program
They’re built with a lot of older guys. They lead with seniors and juniors. I was able to play against them when I was in college, and then I was coached against them when I was at Appalachian State. The tradition was built from when coach Erk Russell was there. They’re not going to come in here intimidated. They’ve played in a lot of big games. Last year, they were a couple of seconds away from winning two big games.
Assistant coach (defense/special teams) Mark Scott
On what he will judge as a success this season
We need to be better up front. We need to be more physical. We need to be able to strain and work our tails off to hold them up and give whoever is going to be returning the punt a little bit of breathing room, so that he doesn’t have guys running down on top of him. We obviously want to make good decisions with our returns and secure the ball, and whatever we can get yardage wise, we will get it and set it off. One of the big things we have continued to stress is that we don’t have to score a touchdown every time we send a return. There are going to be times where we can take advantage of things that our opponent does, but at the same time let’s be sound in our return game. Let’s be sound in our technique, and get what we can get and send the offense out there.
Junior running back Wendell Smallwood
On the excitement leading up to the first game against Georgia Southern
I think the team is pumped up, and I am pumped up. We are tired of hitting each other in practice every day and are ready to get out there and hit somebody else. Everyone is excited. It’s going to be a good atmosphere, and we’re ready for the game to come.
On his expectations of being used in a flex position
I think I’ll be used just as much as I was last year. Coming out of camp I think that (coach) Dana (Holgorsen) is going to use me in a couple different ways. I plan on playing both running back and wide receiver.
On how the addition of fast outside receivers opens up the running game
I think it will definitely open up having (freshman wide receiver) Jovon (Durante), (redshirt sophomore wide receiver) Ka’Raun (White), (redshirt sophomore wide receiver) Shelton (Gibson) and all of them will really help a lot. Having speedy guys on the outside helps, because if they beat the secondary on a couple deep routes, they have to start backing safeties up and bringing them out of the box, so I think it’ll help both the running backs and receivers.
Senior wide receiver Jordan Thompson
On being called a crafty player that can line up in versatile roles
I would agree with that assessment, but it’s because of who I go against every day. I go against (senior safety) KJ (Dillon) every single day. He’s so talented. Out of all the defenders we have, I think that (senior safety) KJ (Dillon) is one of the best, if not, the best defender. He’s fast. He’s smart. He’s lanky. If I beat (senior safety) KJ (Dillon), he’ll hold me and say “I’d rather give up 15 yards than a touchdown,” which is smart if you really think about it. You live to play another down. He is so good, and it makes me better because I have to come up with other moves to beat him off the line. I really owe it to (senior safety) KJ (Dillon).
On the transition of going from high school to college football and how difficult it is to adapt for a freshman
The game speed goes down. It’s not as fast anymore, because you’re used to it. Having snaps underneath my belt my freshman year allowed me to get more comfortable and familiarize myself with what defenses were going to do. Going into my sophomore year, it got a little bit slower, but it was still kind of hazy. Going into my junior year, it slowed up a lot for me. I was a lot more comfortable on the field. I talked to (freshman wide receiver) Jovon (Durante) about this the other day. I said ‘you’re going to be nervous, but at least you get the experience of a night game in Morgantown which is the best experience. When you go out there you’re going to be nervous, but you’re fast, run. Once you get those first few steps you’ll be fine.’
Junior quarterback Skyler Howard
On the excitement for the upcoming season
We’re ecstatic. We’re coming into our first game week. We came in on Sunday and lifted, and you could feel the energy. The guys were amped up and ready to go. We’re excited to play somebody else. We have been battling back and forth with the offense and defense in practice, and we’re just ready to take it out on someone else.
On his comfort level with younger players starting
It’s good. It’s something that’s growing every day, but I feel good about it going into this week. They’re making plays. They’re looking good and looking sharp. The communication is going really well. I’m feeling really good about it.
On when to decide to take risks during a play
I think you just take what the defense gives you. You don’t try to do too much or play outside of your frame or outside of the system. We have times when we want to take shots, and we have times when we don’t. That’s my job as a quarterback, to get on the same page with the coach. We’re on the same page. It’s just when we need to do that [take shots on other team] and when we don’t need to do that.
On getting discouraged after a negative play
The game is like life. It’s a rollercoaster. You have to just keep trucking on.
On his expectation on the offense going into game one
We have to take what they give us. We’ve been running the same plays for months now, and we anticipate running those same plays. We’re not going to change anything that we do. We’re going to play within the system and the numbers will come. As you have seen in past years, the numbers will come with it.
On the younger players playing in their first game
I think they’re ready. The first time I was out there, there was some nerves, but they’re good nerves. We’ve been anticipating this week. We’ve worked for this. I think they’re prepared.
Redshirt senior defensive lineman Kyle Rose
On his excitement level for the season
On a scale of one to 10, it’s a 3,005 or something like that. It’s indescribable for me. It’s my last season, and I never thought it would come to this point. I never thought I would get to be here for five years, and I put all of this work in to get to where I am right now. It’s an incredible feeling. It’s literally all I think about every day. I’m trying to get to that first game and play in front of 65,000 people in a crazy atmosphere at 7:30 (p.m.) at night. It’s literally all we think about. The excitement level is off the charts.
On the confidence level for the upcoming season vs. past seasons
I think if any major program doesn’t feel that they can compete at the highest level then they’re doing things wrong, and they don’t have the right mindset. For us, we think we can win every single game on our schedule, and that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to win a Big 12 Championship, and that’s something that we’ve been trying to do for five years. It’s time to quit talking about it and time to show what we’ve been working for and get that Big 12 Championship.
On his responsibility facing Georgia Southern
We have to stop the run. Anytime you can get somebody like Georgia Southern who is going to come in and run the ball 65 times a game, that’s our number one goal. For me and (redshirt senior linebacker) Jared (Barber) it’s to stop the dive and everybody else takes care of the rest. If we can take care of the dive then everything else will work itself out.
Redshirt senior linebacker Jared Barber
On how much redshirt senior linebacker Shaq Petteway has helped him prepare for game situations coming off of an injury
We have a special connection. He has been through the same thing I have. Talking with him has helped, because we have been through the same thing.
On how having three redshirt senior linebackers at first string helps the comradery
We all came in with each other. (Redshirt senior linebacker) Nick (Kwiatkoski) and I have been roommates before, and we are definitely a close group on this team, so playing beside them has definitely made life a lot easier.
On how discipline is key in order to be successful against Georgia Southern’s option
You have to attack the dive. You have to attack the quarterback, and you have to attack the pitch man. Everybody has to do their job every play or they’ll get out on us.
On the thrill of a night game at Milan Puskar Stadium
We’re tired of hitting each other, so we’re excited to get out there on the field. Especially for a night game. You can’t beat that.
Redshirt senior cornerback Terrell Chestnut
On facing Georgia Southern as the season opener opponent
I honestly don’t think it’s any different. People think that since we opened with Alabama last year that we have to play harder, but I think that this one will definitely test our mental focus. Especially, in the secondary with them running the ball so much.
On the emotions he has going into his last year
I’m ready to play. I’m tired of practicing against everybody and talking about what we can be and what we will be. I’m reading to show people what we can do on the field. I’m excited.
On watching film on Georgia Southern before the game
I think we have a good understanding of what they do and how frequently they do it based on their formation. We’ve been breaking them down for a few weeks and watching a lot of film this last week, and I think we have a good understanding of what they’re going to do. Now we have to go out there and execute.
September 1, 2015
Georgia Southern Week
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (September 1, 2015) – West Virginia University assistant coaches and select members of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Assistant coach (defensive coordinator/linebackers) Tony Gibson
On the dynamic nature of Georgia’s Southern offense and the most dangerous aspect
Obviously giving up the big play when somebody misses a tackle or blows an assignment (is the most dangerous aspect). They can hit you for eight yards, and they have the speed to do it with their tailbacks and quarterback. It’s giving up the big play when guys get caught out of position with their eyes in the wrong place, and we get hit with the big one.
On if the defensive scheme is suited to stop the Georgia Southern offense
I don’t know of any defense that’s built to stop the option. Maybe if you go back 50 years or so and run the 52-stack monster or something like that, but I don’t know if there are any that are built to stop it.
On preventing Georgia Southern’s run based offense from sneaking up on the WVU defense with a long pass play
The corners have a job. The safeties have a job. The linebackers have a job, and the defensive line has a job. Everybody has to do their job, and we have to play assignment football. There’s no way around it. It’s going to limit our pressure from a stand point. You have to be patient. You can’t get bored with it. That’s what they want you to do. We have to be disciplined and play assignment football for 70, 80, 90 or however many plays it may be.
On disrupting the Georgia Southern offense’s regimented play schedule
The problem is I don’t really know when you ever get them off schedule. They will go for it on fourth and three or fourth and four. They will run the option on third and eight. It’s not ordinary. They’re all over the place. If you breakdown their play calling on third and seven, over a five game stretch, I think they had 14 of those and seven were passes and seven were runs.
Assistant head coach (receivers) Lonnie Galloway
On what propelled freshman wider receiver Jovan Durante and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Shelton Gibson to the top of the depth chart for the first game
They both bring speed and being able to stretch the field to the table. We will see. Hopefully, they will keep improving this week of practice, and we will move on from there. It’s going to take more than those two to be able to play a 12-game season beyond this first game, so hopefully we will get some more guys out there. (Freshman wide receiver) Jovon (Durante) is a freshman, so you don’t know what to expect.
On establishing an approach when rotating wide receivers
It’s a game of feel. Right now, all the guys are still going. (Freshman wide receiver) Jovon (Durante) and (redshirt sophomore wide receiver) Shelton (Gibson) have been going first, but for the most part, they all have been receiving reps with the first string. Whoever is hot will stay. Obviously, (senior wide receiver Jordan Thompson) Squirt and (junior wide receiver) Daikiel (Shorts Jr.) will be on the inside, so that’s not going to change. On the outside, we will have to wait and see.
On playing against Georgia Southern and how their tradition influences their program
They’re built with a lot of older guys. They lead with seniors and juniors. I was able to play against them when I was in college, and then I was coached against them when I was at Appalachian State. The tradition was built from when coach Erk Russell was there. They’re not going to come in here intimidated. They’ve played in a lot of big games. Last year, they were a couple of seconds away from winning two big games.
Assistant coach (defense/special teams) Mark Scott
On what he will judge as a success this season
We need to be better up front. We need to be more physical. We need to be able to strain and work our tails off to hold them up and give whoever is going to be returning the punt a little bit of breathing room, so that he doesn’t have guys running down on top of him. We obviously want to make good decisions with our returns and secure the ball, and whatever we can get yardage wise, we will get it and set it off. One of the big things we have continued to stress is that we don’t have to score a touchdown every time we send a return. There are going to be times where we can take advantage of things that our opponent does, but at the same time let’s be sound in our return game. Let’s be sound in our technique, and get what we can get and send the offense out there.
Junior running back Wendell Smallwood
On the excitement leading up to the first game against Georgia Southern
I think the team is pumped up, and I am pumped up. We are tired of hitting each other in practice every day and are ready to get out there and hit somebody else. Everyone is excited. It’s going to be a good atmosphere, and we’re ready for the game to come.
On his expectations of being used in a flex position
I think I’ll be used just as much as I was last year. Coming out of camp I think that (coach) Dana (Holgorsen) is going to use me in a couple different ways. I plan on playing both running back and wide receiver.
On how the addition of fast outside receivers opens up the running game
I think it will definitely open up having (freshman wide receiver) Jovon (Durante), (redshirt sophomore wide receiver) Ka’Raun (White), (redshirt sophomore wide receiver) Shelton (Gibson) and all of them will really help a lot. Having speedy guys on the outside helps, because if they beat the secondary on a couple deep routes, they have to start backing safeties up and bringing them out of the box, so I think it’ll help both the running backs and receivers.
Senior wide receiver Jordan Thompson
On being called a crafty player that can line up in versatile roles
I would agree with that assessment, but it’s because of who I go against every day. I go against (senior safety) KJ (Dillon) every single day. He’s so talented. Out of all the defenders we have, I think that (senior safety) KJ (Dillon) is one of the best, if not, the best defender. He’s fast. He’s smart. He’s lanky. If I beat (senior safety) KJ (Dillon), he’ll hold me and say “I’d rather give up 15 yards than a touchdown,” which is smart if you really think about it. You live to play another down. He is so good, and it makes me better because I have to come up with other moves to beat him off the line. I really owe it to (senior safety) KJ (Dillon).
On the transition of going from high school to college football and how difficult it is to adapt for a freshman
The game speed goes down. It’s not as fast anymore, because you’re used to it. Having snaps underneath my belt my freshman year allowed me to get more comfortable and familiarize myself with what defenses were going to do. Going into my sophomore year, it got a little bit slower, but it was still kind of hazy. Going into my junior year, it slowed up a lot for me. I was a lot more comfortable on the field. I talked to (freshman wide receiver) Jovon (Durante) about this the other day. I said ‘you’re going to be nervous, but at least you get the experience of a night game in Morgantown which is the best experience. When you go out there you’re going to be nervous, but you’re fast, run. Once you get those first few steps you’ll be fine.’
Junior quarterback Skyler Howard
On the excitement for the upcoming season
We’re ecstatic. We’re coming into our first game week. We came in on Sunday and lifted, and you could feel the energy. The guys were amped up and ready to go. We’re excited to play somebody else. We have been battling back and forth with the offense and defense in practice, and we’re just ready to take it out on someone else.
On his comfort level with younger players starting
It’s good. It’s something that’s growing every day, but I feel good about it going into this week. They’re making plays. They’re looking good and looking sharp. The communication is going really well. I’m feeling really good about it.
On when to decide to take risks during a play
I think you just take what the defense gives you. You don’t try to do too much or play outside of your frame or outside of the system. We have times when we want to take shots, and we have times when we don’t. That’s my job as a quarterback, to get on the same page with the coach. We’re on the same page. It’s just when we need to do that [take shots on other team] and when we don’t need to do that.
On getting discouraged after a negative play
The game is like life. It’s a rollercoaster. You have to just keep trucking on.
On his expectation on the offense going into game one
We have to take what they give us. We’ve been running the same plays for months now, and we anticipate running those same plays. We’re not going to change anything that we do. We’re going to play within the system and the numbers will come. As you have seen in past years, the numbers will come with it.
On the younger players playing in their first game
I think they’re ready. The first time I was out there, there was some nerves, but they’re good nerves. We’ve been anticipating this week. We’ve worked for this. I think they’re prepared.
Redshirt senior defensive lineman Kyle Rose
On his excitement level for the season
On a scale of one to 10, it’s a 3,005 or something like that. It’s indescribable for me. It’s my last season, and I never thought it would come to this point. I never thought I would get to be here for five years, and I put all of this work in to get to where I am right now. It’s an incredible feeling. It’s literally all I think about every day. I’m trying to get to that first game and play in front of 65,000 people in a crazy atmosphere at 7:30 (p.m.) at night. It’s literally all we think about. The excitement level is off the charts.
On the confidence level for the upcoming season vs. past seasons
I think if any major program doesn’t feel that they can compete at the highest level then they’re doing things wrong, and they don’t have the right mindset. For us, we think we can win every single game on our schedule, and that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to win a Big 12 Championship, and that’s something that we’ve been trying to do for five years. It’s time to quit talking about it and time to show what we’ve been working for and get that Big 12 Championship.
On his responsibility facing Georgia Southern
We have to stop the run. Anytime you can get somebody like Georgia Southern who is going to come in and run the ball 65 times a game, that’s our number one goal. For me and (redshirt senior linebacker) Jared (Barber) it’s to stop the dive and everybody else takes care of the rest. If we can take care of the dive then everything else will work itself out.
Redshirt senior linebacker Jared Barber
On how much redshirt senior linebacker Shaq Petteway has helped him prepare for game situations coming off of an injury
We have a special connection. He has been through the same thing I have. Talking with him has helped, because we have been through the same thing.
On how having three redshirt senior linebackers at first string helps the comradery
We all came in with each other. (Redshirt senior linebacker) Nick (Kwiatkoski) and I have been roommates before, and we are definitely a close group on this team, so playing beside them has definitely made life a lot easier.
On how discipline is key in order to be successful against Georgia Southern’s option
You have to attack the dive. You have to attack the quarterback, and you have to attack the pitch man. Everybody has to do their job every play or they’ll get out on us.
On the thrill of a night game at Milan Puskar Stadium
We’re tired of hitting each other, so we’re excited to get out there on the field. Especially for a night game. You can’t beat that.
Redshirt senior cornerback Terrell Chestnut
On facing Georgia Southern as the season opener opponent
I honestly don’t think it’s any different. People think that since we opened with Alabama last year that we have to play harder, but I think that this one will definitely test our mental focus. Especially, in the secondary with them running the ball so much.
On the emotions he has going into his last year
I’m ready to play. I’m tired of practicing against everybody and talking about what we can be and what we will be. I’m reading to show people what we can do on the field. I’m excited.
On watching film on Georgia Southern before the game
I think we have a good understanding of what they do and how frequently they do it based on their formation. We’ve been breaking them down for a few weeks and watching a lot of film this last week, and I think we have a good understanding of what they’re going to do. Now we have to go out there and execute.
