MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (November 6, 2018) – West Virginia University associate head coach/defensive coordinator Tony Gibson, offensive coordinator Jake Spavital and select members of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Tuesday, Nov. 6, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Assistant Coach (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks) Jake Spavital
On rotating running backs
That’s what we try for. This was the first game we actually had two guys that got into a rhythm, and you didn’t really want to ruin that. I though (freshman running back) Leddie (Brown) came out and hit that 17-yard run that ended up getting called back due to an illegal block in the back. But you ended up getting those guys into a rhythm, and I thought they were rushing the ball effectively. It was a one-two punch right there. You wanted to get Sink (redshirt freshman running back Alec Sinkfield) into the game at times, but we pulled off of that based off the flow of the game. I thought (assistant coach – running backs) Coach (Marquel) Blackwell did a good job with that, and I thought that (junior running back Martell) Pettaway and (junior running back) Kennedy (McKoy) did a really good job.
On redshirt sophomore tight end/fullback Jovani Haskins
He’s a big target. You guys see him out there, he causes a lot of matchup problems, and his catch radius is very comforting for (redshirt senior quarterback) Will (Grier) to throw to. You put him on these underneath routes, intermediate routes where he doesn’t have to be as accurate with the ball. Jovani, and even (redshirt senior tight end/fullback Trevon) Wesco, when they catch the ball, those guys just naturally fall forward for a few more yards. I thought we were really efficient on hitting these quick, hook routes on the perimeter, where he was catching, getting up field and getting about 10 yards every time we did that. I think that’s what makes it so comforting for Will and Jovani. It’s that he’s such a big target. I think he’s very athletic at times, too. So, you’re going to see a lot of him in the pass game, but you can also utilize him in giving some of those receivers a break. We feel comfortable with where he’s at, and you don’t have to go to those four wide receiver sets. That’s because he can act as a receiver out there.
On redshirt senior quarterback Will Grier’s final touchdown pass against Texas
I’ve seen that happen in practice a lot. That’s the first time that’s happened in a game. You’ve heard me talk about this multiple times over the past year, in terms of the continuity they have.
That is what makes that such a difficult throw is it’s a down-the-field throw where they matched pretty well with them, where you have to be accurate with it. With Will, he was scrambling and moving out to the right where he had to naturally shut his footwork down. It looks like he’s throwing off-balance, but he’s really trying to do is that internal clock and that special awareness of how much space he has left in the red zone. He had to shut it down and get rid of it, based on the demeanor of how (senior wide receiver) Gary (Jennings Jr.) was full speed and trying to take it over the top. If you look at it on tape, he releases the ball when Gary is about at the 20-yard line. It’s pretty impressive where he has to get that out quick and just put it to the one spot that there possibly was. It’s really good on Will in terms of knowing the layers of the defense, the timing of the play and how much space he had left. That’s all hard to calculate in fractions of a second, because there’s a lot going through your mind, especially with the pass rush, avoiding the pocket and being able to deliver that. It’s definitely one of the better throws I’ve ever seen.
On the challenges TCU’s 4-2 defense brings to the WVU offense
This is going to be a tough challenge. This is a defense that is very good. They make you earn everything. They’re more multiple than what they’ve been. They are a 4-2 front, but lately, they have been doing a lot of odd packages based off, I believe, injuries. They’re moving around a lot of guys and getting that defensive line a break, at times. You’re going to see them move in and out of a lot of different fronts, and they’re really sound with it. I think this is going to be one of our toughest challenges as an offense, moving forward. They make you work for everything. You have to be on point. You can’t take this one lightly, because they’re going to make you earn every single yard that you produce.
On TCU’s defensive ends
You’re definitely going to have to take them into account, not just in pass rush but also in the run game. They’re very active in the run game. They do a lot of stunts and twists, especially the front side into the run. We have to be patient with what we’re trying to accomplish with the zone schemes, because you can tell that he’s been defending this stuff for a long time. He’s very sound with doing it, and he’s probably one of the best at it. They’re very disruptive with those defensive ends. Last year, they gave us problems. No. 15 (Ben Banogu), he would end up being at a defensive end, twist all the way and hit (redshirt senior quarterback) Will (Grier) in the back-side B gap. You have to be able to pass twists off and bump them all off. You have to make sure that if they are on the edge, that you get hats on them, because he can condense the pocket quickly and still be disruptive in the run game. I think it’s going to be a tough challenge for our offensive line. The thing is, they’re not sitting there stagnant. They’re going to be moving around a lot. So, we have to be able to pass off a lot of things and communicate.
On if TCU’s defensive ends switch to different sides of the line throughout games
They don’t. They keep them on the right side and left side.
On his contingency plan following redshirt senior offensive lineman Yodny Cajuste’s
ejection vs. Texas
It happened on a PAT, so it gave me some time to discuss and go through it. That’s what we talk about all the time. If we have a tackle go down, this is going to be our answer. You’re going to put (redshirt junior offensive lineman) Kelby Wickline in the
game as a swing tackle. If there was another injury, then we’ll probably put (redshirt sophomore offensive lineman) Josh Sills out there at tackle, but as a coach, you always have the contingency plans. I was just trying to figure out what happened.
There was a couple plays with unsportsmanlike penalties on (senior wide receiver) David Sills (V). That got flagged. Then with Yodny play, I couldn’t tell what was going and if there was an ejection or not. Once it calmed down, they said he was out,
and he was going to the locker room. Then we naturally went on our way, and you have to realize as a coach that you can’t bring him back. You have to move forward with a plan. It was the same thing I talked about with (redshirt sophomore
quarterback) Jack Allison going into the game. If (redshirt senior quarterback) Will (Grier) goes down and is out for a play, you have to move forward with the game plan and be comfortable with Jack in the game.
On redshirt junior offensive lineman Kelby Wickline’s performance against Texas
I thought he did a great job. We rep those kids a lot, and I think (assistant coach – offensive line) Coach (Joe) Wickline does a good job at repping guys at all different spots and getting them prepared. What people don’t see on (redshirt senior quarterback) Will’s (Grier) touchdown is they blitzed a corner, and Kelby kicks out to him and gives him enough time to throw the ball. That just shows you where Kelby is mentally with the game, being a coach’s kid. He went out there. From a comfort standpoint for Will, you didn’t see him being rattled or any hesitation with them. There was no confusion. He just put the focus on the offensive line.
On Texas’ injuries along the defensive line
They got banged up. Their corner went down, their safety didn’t play but that’s the attrition of college football. If you look at us too, we’re pretty banged up as well. It’s getting to that point in the season where if someone goes down, you have to move forward with what you have. You have to put those kids in the right position.
On if attacking backups was a strategy used against Texas
They came into account. It was also because we were running the ball behind (redshirt junior defensive lineman) Colton McKivitz, too. He had a good edge to himself in this game, and we put the emphasis on getting that way. I thought running behind (redshirt senior tight end/fullback) Trevon Wesco was pretty good, too. If you look at (junior running back Martell) Pettaway’s 20-yard run for a touchdown, Wesco gets after the guy and blocks him 15, 20 yards downfield.
On if redshirt senior tight end/fullback Trevon Wesco’s recent production is what he envisioned for him at the beginning of the season
Exactly, we’re starting to get into a rhythm of it. He’s starting to get comfortable with what he’s doing. I think that’s going to keep evolving. This is the time of year where you have to be multiple with stuff, and those guys make us more multiple as an offense.
On redshirt senior tight end/fullback Trevon Wesco’s physicality
He’s very physical. I think that’s something that Wesco bring to the game. He plays with an aggressive nature for the entire game. We need him to continue to bring that for the rest of these games.
On if running the ball to redshirt junior offensive lineman Colton McKivitz’s side of the line was a part of the initial game plan vs. Texas
It was. We knew that they were going to be in an odd front, and Colton is very good at that type of block. We were allowing the offensive line to block the box and having (redshirt senior tight end/fullback Trevon) Wesco block the perimeter stuff. We knew that Colton could get that block and Wesco was going to be on the safety. He actually blocked two guys on that touchdown run for (junior running back Martell) Pettaway. When it comes down to it where you have the option either way, we like to go behind Colton.
Associate Head Coach (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) Tony Gibson
On how the defense troubles young quarterback
I think it’s because they don’t see it as much. We’re different with what we do. I think the pressure part of it, too, effects some guys a little more than others. They see the rush coming at them, which hurries them up. I think, sometimes, they see a rush that hurries them up. We’re dropping more than we’re bringing. It’s just the confusion of that, and it’s not something that every team does. So, we’re almost like an option team on offense. When people have to play us, I think it’s a little different for them.
On why the defense doesn’t blitz more when facing young quarterbacks
I would if we could cover better. That’s the part I struggle with. If you look back at last week, we had that quarterback dead to rights two different times, and he throws it running backwards. Then, they make a play. When that stuff starts happening, then I don’t want to blitz at all.
On making TCU’s offense work to score
You have to make them play the next play. There are opportunities at different times. If I feel like we’re struggling, and we can’t hold up our base, then that’s going to trigger me to go up, pressure and see if we can confuse them a little bit. We can see if we can get a negative play, get them behind the sticks. If you see us winning first down in our normal stuff, then usually I’ll wait until third down to eat people up. So, it depends on what’s going on with the game, but a lot of that is that they have big play potential. They have some wideouts that are really good and can run.
On TCU’s offensive line
They have their tackle back, No. 77. He’s a really good player. He started against us a year ago, and they’re dealing with a lot of injury right now. So, they’re trying to move guys around, and they’ve struggled to run the able at times. But I think those two (running) backs are as good as any backs we’ve played. (Darius) Anderson, we know he’s a big-play guy. No. 33 (Sewo Olonilua) is a big, strong, physical kid. We know what TCU is going to bring to the table. It’s not going to be let’s go out there and play and have our way. It’s not going to happen. They have a lot of good players, and I think their quarterback does a really good job.
On if TCU quarterback Mike Collins is more of a stationary quarterback
You would think that because of his size, but he runs the ball. He runs pretty well. Now, I don’t think there are as many quarterback-designed runs as there were for (Shawn) Robinson, but some of that is that they may not have any confidence in his backup. We’ll see.
On defending against TCU’s trick plays
That got us last year, and even a few years ago with (Trevone) Boykin. They do a great job. Coach (Sonny) Cumbie and his staff, they do a really good job of attacking us, and again, they have good players.
On junior defensive lineman Reese Donahue and redshirt junior linebacker David Long Jr.’s leadership qualities
It’s really good. I think Reese has the most experience up front with playing, and David is not only a defensive leader, but I think he’s also a really good team leader. The next guy is (redshirt senior safety) Dravon (Askew-Henry). A lot of our guys on defense follow and listen to him. That’s why Dravon is a captain for us. Those three guys do an excellent job.
On junior defensive lineman Reese Donahue’s progression since he arrived at WVU
It’s really good. I think the thing that has helped Reese a bunch is gaining some weight, getting a little bigger and being able to hold the point a little better. He works so hard on the field, off the field, in the weight room and just does a great job with preparing himself to play. He’s made a lot of plays for us. He’s a guy that I count on. When the game is on the line, I want him in there. I really like where he’s at. The good thing is we have him for the rest of this year and all of next year. So, I’m excited about that.
On the team’s chemistry
What makes this team so different and unique are the guys we play with on Saturdays. When you look on the defensive side, we have one kid that’s a senior, who’s been here the whole time – (redshirt senior safety) Dravon (Askew-Henry). That’s it. The rest of our guys, this is either their first year and they’re seniors, with (redshirt senior defensive lineman Kenny) Bigelow (Jr.) and (redshirt senior defensive lineman) Jabril (Robinson). We have a lot of junior college kids that are seniors now, like Zeke (senior defensive lineman Ezekiel Rose). I know I’m missing some. For those guys to be as close as they are, it’s unbelievable to me. I don’t know how they get to know each other that well. It seems like they’ve been playing together for four or five years, the whole group. I think that starts with a guy like (redshirt senior quarterback) Will (Grier) who go to know everybody. He was with us a bunch, because he was our scout team guy. He got really close with the defense, at that point. (Senior wide receiver) David Sills (V) did the same thing. When he was a freshman, he was with us a bunch. I think that gels them all, but you have to give those guys a lot of credit with David, Will, (senior wide receiver) Gary Jennings (Jr.) and Dravon. They do a great job of leading this team.
On how TCU’s offense can attack WVU’s defense
They jump in and out of some different formations. They’re multiple with their run game. They get in tight end sets. They’ll jump into some 10 personnel, they’ll go empty or three back. They’ll go imbalance. They do a lot of different things. The number one thing is they have good players.
On TCU’s speed
They have guys that can run. No. 1 (Jalen Reagor) can run, No. 4 (Taye Barber) can run, No. 12 (Derius Davis) can run. So, they’re skilled.
On if TCU is the fastest team the defense has played this year
Probably full-team, yes. Offensively, up to this point, this is the fastest team we’ve played.
On senior linebacker Quondarius Qualls and redshirt sophomore linebacker Brendan Ferns
They’re available this week. We knew last week was about getting back into it. We didn’t travel those guys. We knew we needed to get them in here. This week, they’re in the plan. It’s full speed ahead. It’s good to get some guys back.
On how the return of senior linebacker Quondarius Qualls and redshirt sophomore linebacker Brendan Ferns changes what the defense can do
It could give our guys a play or snap to get a breather, number one. We’re not going to change our scheme or do anything different. Those guys are a MIKE linebacker and a SAM linebacker, which adds some depth. That is needed.
Redshirt Senior Quarterback Will Grier
On receiving national attention from the media
It’s great. It’s an honor for the school and for the program. It’s something that’s good in a lot of ways, but it’s not a focus of mine. My focus has to be what it has been all year. It’s 100 percent on being 1-0 this week. We’ve moved on, and we’re focused on a good TCU team.
On if his final touchdown pass vs. Texas was the best throw of his career
It was a good one. I’m glad I did it. I haven’t really ranked them. I’m glad we made it work and got a win. We were 1-0 last week, and we want to be 1-0 this week.
On his thought process on the final offensive play against Texas
He (the referee) was holding it. At the time, I thought everyone was lined up. I looked back at the white hat and thought, ‘Are we going to go? Because there’s not a lot of time left.’ Then, I looked back. As soon as he left, I snapped it. I had an idea of how much time we had left. Like I said, I knew we were running out of time. We had vertical on. So, I was going to take a shot if I could, and he got open and ran by the safety. I saw it and had to get it out a little quicker than I planned, because we were running out of room.
Senior Wide Receiver Gary Jennings Jr.
On using the momentum from the Texas win for the game against TCU
We’re a pretty mature team. I think everyone is pretty locked in with that, and we’re looking forward to TCU.
On TCU’s defensive backs
I wouldn’t necessarily say that they give us trouble, but they are very athletic. They’re a very experienced bunch.
On the final touchdown against Texas
The thing is that it wasn’t a perfect play from the start. They made a substitution, and the (referee) was holding the ball from the center. The clock was still ticking, and everybody was wondering what was going on. Once the ref got out of the way, (redshirt senior quarterback) Will (Grier) quickly snapped the ball. I don’t think he thought that I was going to get behind the defender at first. He made a great pass in the back of the end zone.
Redshirt Junior Linebacker Shea Campbell
On settling down at halftime against Texas
Going into halftime, I think it was 28-27. I think it was a one-point game, and we knew, going into the second half, that the game was on our shoulders. Our offense was doing what they had to do, and they were scoring when they needed to. For us, they (Texas) couldn’t score. We had to stop them from scoring. I think a lot of it was settling into that. At the beginning of the game, our nerves were high. There was 100,000 people there. So, there was a lot going into it. Coming out at halftime, I think we were in more control than when we came out at the start.
On defending Texas’ offensive playmakers
It was tough, but they had great athletes. So, those guys made plays. It’s either we make them or they do. That’s how the game goes. It’s frustrating, but you have to play the next play.
On associate head coach (defensive coordinator/linebackers) Tony Gibson’s message at halftime vs. Texas
We just have to get a stop. He told us, ‘Don’t be the reason. Don’t be the reason why we don’t win.’
Redshirt Senior Defensive Lineman Jabril Robinson
On junior defensive lineman Reese Donahue and redshirt junior linebacker David Long Jr.’s leadership qualities
They take a lot of pride in being leaders and captains. In our eyes, David Long has a lot of respect from the defensive players and coaches. He’s proven his point that he’s able to say so and has the last word, as far as leadership goes. Having David Long and Reese as the vocal leaders and captains, I feel like they’re doing a great job.
On if junior linebacker David Long Jr. ability surprised him, even with his smaller size
I don’t doubt anybody’s ability off of sight, first of all. But that man can play some ball. He might not have the size aspects of what you’re used to seeing, as far as a bigger linebacker, but he gets the job done even better than some big linebackers.
On the team’s chemistry
You can find chemistry anywhere you go, as long as you have a group of people with the same aspects and goals. But ever since I got here, the chemistry has been developing more and more, especially after each test we get every week. We find ourselves leaning on others, as far as our teammates. When your able to get that comfort in knowing that man has your back, the chemistry builds. I’m pretty sure you see what happens then.
Assistant Coach (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks) Jake Spavital
On rotating running backs
That’s what we try for. This was the first game we actually had two guys that got into a rhythm, and you didn’t really want to ruin that. I though (freshman running back) Leddie (Brown) came out and hit that 17-yard run that ended up getting called back due to an illegal block in the back. But you ended up getting those guys into a rhythm, and I thought they were rushing the ball effectively. It was a one-two punch right there. You wanted to get Sink (redshirt freshman running back Alec Sinkfield) into the game at times, but we pulled off of that based off the flow of the game. I thought (assistant coach – running backs) Coach (Marquel) Blackwell did a good job with that, and I thought that (junior running back Martell) Pettaway and (junior running back) Kennedy (McKoy) did a really good job.
On redshirt sophomore tight end/fullback Jovani Haskins
He’s a big target. You guys see him out there, he causes a lot of matchup problems, and his catch radius is very comforting for (redshirt senior quarterback) Will (Grier) to throw to. You put him on these underneath routes, intermediate routes where he doesn’t have to be as accurate with the ball. Jovani, and even (redshirt senior tight end/fullback Trevon) Wesco, when they catch the ball, those guys just naturally fall forward for a few more yards. I thought we were really efficient on hitting these quick, hook routes on the perimeter, where he was catching, getting up field and getting about 10 yards every time we did that. I think that’s what makes it so comforting for Will and Jovani. It’s that he’s such a big target. I think he’s very athletic at times, too. So, you’re going to see a lot of him in the pass game, but you can also utilize him in giving some of those receivers a break. We feel comfortable with where he’s at, and you don’t have to go to those four wide receiver sets. That’s because he can act as a receiver out there.
On redshirt senior quarterback Will Grier’s final touchdown pass against Texas
I’ve seen that happen in practice a lot. That’s the first time that’s happened in a game. You’ve heard me talk about this multiple times over the past year, in terms of the continuity they have.
That is what makes that such a difficult throw is it’s a down-the-field throw where they matched pretty well with them, where you have to be accurate with it. With Will, he was scrambling and moving out to the right where he had to naturally shut his footwork down. It looks like he’s throwing off-balance, but he’s really trying to do is that internal clock and that special awareness of how much space he has left in the red zone. He had to shut it down and get rid of it, based on the demeanor of how (senior wide receiver) Gary (Jennings Jr.) was full speed and trying to take it over the top. If you look at it on tape, he releases the ball when Gary is about at the 20-yard line. It’s pretty impressive where he has to get that out quick and just put it to the one spot that there possibly was. It’s really good on Will in terms of knowing the layers of the defense, the timing of the play and how much space he had left. That’s all hard to calculate in fractions of a second, because there’s a lot going through your mind, especially with the pass rush, avoiding the pocket and being able to deliver that. It’s definitely one of the better throws I’ve ever seen.
On the challenges TCU’s 4-2 defense brings to the WVU offense
This is going to be a tough challenge. This is a defense that is very good. They make you earn everything. They’re more multiple than what they’ve been. They are a 4-2 front, but lately, they have been doing a lot of odd packages based off, I believe, injuries. They’re moving around a lot of guys and getting that defensive line a break, at times. You’re going to see them move in and out of a lot of different fronts, and they’re really sound with it. I think this is going to be one of our toughest challenges as an offense, moving forward. They make you work for everything. You have to be on point. You can’t take this one lightly, because they’re going to make you earn every single yard that you produce.
On TCU’s defensive ends
You’re definitely going to have to take them into account, not just in pass rush but also in the run game. They’re very active in the run game. They do a lot of stunts and twists, especially the front side into the run. We have to be patient with what we’re trying to accomplish with the zone schemes, because you can tell that he’s been defending this stuff for a long time. He’s very sound with doing it, and he’s probably one of the best at it. They’re very disruptive with those defensive ends. Last year, they gave us problems. No. 15 (Ben Banogu), he would end up being at a defensive end, twist all the way and hit (redshirt senior quarterback) Will (Grier) in the back-side B gap. You have to be able to pass twists off and bump them all off. You have to make sure that if they are on the edge, that you get hats on them, because he can condense the pocket quickly and still be disruptive in the run game. I think it’s going to be a tough challenge for our offensive line. The thing is, they’re not sitting there stagnant. They’re going to be moving around a lot. So, we have to be able to pass off a lot of things and communicate.
On if TCU’s defensive ends switch to different sides of the line throughout games
They don’t. They keep them on the right side and left side.
On his contingency plan following redshirt senior offensive lineman Yodny Cajuste’s
ejection vs. Texas
It happened on a PAT, so it gave me some time to discuss and go through it. That’s what we talk about all the time. If we have a tackle go down, this is going to be our answer. You’re going to put (redshirt junior offensive lineman) Kelby Wickline in the
game as a swing tackle. If there was another injury, then we’ll probably put (redshirt sophomore offensive lineman) Josh Sills out there at tackle, but as a coach, you always have the contingency plans. I was just trying to figure out what happened.
There was a couple plays with unsportsmanlike penalties on (senior wide receiver) David Sills (V). That got flagged. Then with Yodny play, I couldn’t tell what was going and if there was an ejection or not. Once it calmed down, they said he was out,
and he was going to the locker room. Then we naturally went on our way, and you have to realize as a coach that you can’t bring him back. You have to move forward with a plan. It was the same thing I talked about with (redshirt sophomore
quarterback) Jack Allison going into the game. If (redshirt senior quarterback) Will (Grier) goes down and is out for a play, you have to move forward with the game plan and be comfortable with Jack in the game.
On redshirt junior offensive lineman Kelby Wickline’s performance against Texas
I thought he did a great job. We rep those kids a lot, and I think (assistant coach – offensive line) Coach (Joe) Wickline does a good job at repping guys at all different spots and getting them prepared. What people don’t see on (redshirt senior quarterback) Will’s (Grier) touchdown is they blitzed a corner, and Kelby kicks out to him and gives him enough time to throw the ball. That just shows you where Kelby is mentally with the game, being a coach’s kid. He went out there. From a comfort standpoint for Will, you didn’t see him being rattled or any hesitation with them. There was no confusion. He just put the focus on the offensive line.
On Texas’ injuries along the defensive line
They got banged up. Their corner went down, their safety didn’t play but that’s the attrition of college football. If you look at us too, we’re pretty banged up as well. It’s getting to that point in the season where if someone goes down, you have to move forward with what you have. You have to put those kids in the right position.
On if attacking backups was a strategy used against Texas
They came into account. It was also because we were running the ball behind (redshirt junior defensive lineman) Colton McKivitz, too. He had a good edge to himself in this game, and we put the emphasis on getting that way. I thought running behind (redshirt senior tight end/fullback) Trevon Wesco was pretty good, too. If you look at (junior running back Martell) Pettaway’s 20-yard run for a touchdown, Wesco gets after the guy and blocks him 15, 20 yards downfield.
On if redshirt senior tight end/fullback Trevon Wesco’s recent production is what he envisioned for him at the beginning of the season
Exactly, we’re starting to get into a rhythm of it. He’s starting to get comfortable with what he’s doing. I think that’s going to keep evolving. This is the time of year where you have to be multiple with stuff, and those guys make us more multiple as an offense.
On redshirt senior tight end/fullback Trevon Wesco’s physicality
He’s very physical. I think that’s something that Wesco bring to the game. He plays with an aggressive nature for the entire game. We need him to continue to bring that for the rest of these games.
On if running the ball to redshirt junior offensive lineman Colton McKivitz’s side of the line was a part of the initial game plan vs. Texas
It was. We knew that they were going to be in an odd front, and Colton is very good at that type of block. We were allowing the offensive line to block the box and having (redshirt senior tight end/fullback Trevon) Wesco block the perimeter stuff. We knew that Colton could get that block and Wesco was going to be on the safety. He actually blocked two guys on that touchdown run for (junior running back Martell) Pettaway. When it comes down to it where you have the option either way, we like to go behind Colton.
Associate Head Coach (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) Tony Gibson
On how the defense troubles young quarterback
I think it’s because they don’t see it as much. We’re different with what we do. I think the pressure part of it, too, effects some guys a little more than others. They see the rush coming at them, which hurries them up. I think, sometimes, they see a rush that hurries them up. We’re dropping more than we’re bringing. It’s just the confusion of that, and it’s not something that every team does. So, we’re almost like an option team on offense. When people have to play us, I think it’s a little different for them.
On why the defense doesn’t blitz more when facing young quarterbacks
I would if we could cover better. That’s the part I struggle with. If you look back at last week, we had that quarterback dead to rights two different times, and he throws it running backwards. Then, they make a play. When that stuff starts happening, then I don’t want to blitz at all.
On making TCU’s offense work to score
You have to make them play the next play. There are opportunities at different times. If I feel like we’re struggling, and we can’t hold up our base, then that’s going to trigger me to go up, pressure and see if we can confuse them a little bit. We can see if we can get a negative play, get them behind the sticks. If you see us winning first down in our normal stuff, then usually I’ll wait until third down to eat people up. So, it depends on what’s going on with the game, but a lot of that is that they have big play potential. They have some wideouts that are really good and can run.
On TCU’s offensive line
They have their tackle back, No. 77. He’s a really good player. He started against us a year ago, and they’re dealing with a lot of injury right now. So, they’re trying to move guys around, and they’ve struggled to run the able at times. But I think those two (running) backs are as good as any backs we’ve played. (Darius) Anderson, we know he’s a big-play guy. No. 33 (Sewo Olonilua) is a big, strong, physical kid. We know what TCU is going to bring to the table. It’s not going to be let’s go out there and play and have our way. It’s not going to happen. They have a lot of good players, and I think their quarterback does a really good job.
On if TCU quarterback Mike Collins is more of a stationary quarterback
You would think that because of his size, but he runs the ball. He runs pretty well. Now, I don’t think there are as many quarterback-designed runs as there were for (Shawn) Robinson, but some of that is that they may not have any confidence in his backup. We’ll see.
On defending against TCU’s trick plays
That got us last year, and even a few years ago with (Trevone) Boykin. They do a great job. Coach (Sonny) Cumbie and his staff, they do a really good job of attacking us, and again, they have good players.
On junior defensive lineman Reese Donahue and redshirt junior linebacker David Long Jr.’s leadership qualities
It’s really good. I think Reese has the most experience up front with playing, and David is not only a defensive leader, but I think he’s also a really good team leader. The next guy is (redshirt senior safety) Dravon (Askew-Henry). A lot of our guys on defense follow and listen to him. That’s why Dravon is a captain for us. Those three guys do an excellent job.
On junior defensive lineman Reese Donahue’s progression since he arrived at WVU
It’s really good. I think the thing that has helped Reese a bunch is gaining some weight, getting a little bigger and being able to hold the point a little better. He works so hard on the field, off the field, in the weight room and just does a great job with preparing himself to play. He’s made a lot of plays for us. He’s a guy that I count on. When the game is on the line, I want him in there. I really like where he’s at. The good thing is we have him for the rest of this year and all of next year. So, I’m excited about that.
On the team’s chemistry
What makes this team so different and unique are the guys we play with on Saturdays. When you look on the defensive side, we have one kid that’s a senior, who’s been here the whole time – (redshirt senior safety) Dravon (Askew-Henry). That’s it. The rest of our guys, this is either their first year and they’re seniors, with (redshirt senior defensive lineman Kenny) Bigelow (Jr.) and (redshirt senior defensive lineman) Jabril (Robinson). We have a lot of junior college kids that are seniors now, like Zeke (senior defensive lineman Ezekiel Rose). I know I’m missing some. For those guys to be as close as they are, it’s unbelievable to me. I don’t know how they get to know each other that well. It seems like they’ve been playing together for four or five years, the whole group. I think that starts with a guy like (redshirt senior quarterback) Will (Grier) who go to know everybody. He was with us a bunch, because he was our scout team guy. He got really close with the defense, at that point. (Senior wide receiver) David Sills (V) did the same thing. When he was a freshman, he was with us a bunch. I think that gels them all, but you have to give those guys a lot of credit with David, Will, (senior wide receiver) Gary Jennings (Jr.) and Dravon. They do a great job of leading this team.
On how TCU’s offense can attack WVU’s defense
They jump in and out of some different formations. They’re multiple with their run game. They get in tight end sets. They’ll jump into some 10 personnel, they’ll go empty or three back. They’ll go imbalance. They do a lot of different things. The number one thing is they have good players.
On TCU’s speed
They have guys that can run. No. 1 (Jalen Reagor) can run, No. 4 (Taye Barber) can run, No. 12 (Derius Davis) can run. So, they’re skilled.
On if TCU is the fastest team the defense has played this year
Probably full-team, yes. Offensively, up to this point, this is the fastest team we’ve played.
On senior linebacker Quondarius Qualls and redshirt sophomore linebacker Brendan Ferns
They’re available this week. We knew last week was about getting back into it. We didn’t travel those guys. We knew we needed to get them in here. This week, they’re in the plan. It’s full speed ahead. It’s good to get some guys back.
On how the return of senior linebacker Quondarius Qualls and redshirt sophomore linebacker Brendan Ferns changes what the defense can do
It could give our guys a play or snap to get a breather, number one. We’re not going to change our scheme or do anything different. Those guys are a MIKE linebacker and a SAM linebacker, which adds some depth. That is needed.
Redshirt Senior Quarterback Will Grier
On receiving national attention from the media
It’s great. It’s an honor for the school and for the program. It’s something that’s good in a lot of ways, but it’s not a focus of mine. My focus has to be what it has been all year. It’s 100 percent on being 1-0 this week. We’ve moved on, and we’re focused on a good TCU team.
On if his final touchdown pass vs. Texas was the best throw of his career
It was a good one. I’m glad I did it. I haven’t really ranked them. I’m glad we made it work and got a win. We were 1-0 last week, and we want to be 1-0 this week.
On his thought process on the final offensive play against Texas
He (the referee) was holding it. At the time, I thought everyone was lined up. I looked back at the white hat and thought, ‘Are we going to go? Because there’s not a lot of time left.’ Then, I looked back. As soon as he left, I snapped it. I had an idea of how much time we had left. Like I said, I knew we were running out of time. We had vertical on. So, I was going to take a shot if I could, and he got open and ran by the safety. I saw it and had to get it out a little quicker than I planned, because we were running out of room.
Senior Wide Receiver Gary Jennings Jr.
On using the momentum from the Texas win for the game against TCU
We’re a pretty mature team. I think everyone is pretty locked in with that, and we’re looking forward to TCU.
On TCU’s defensive backs
I wouldn’t necessarily say that they give us trouble, but they are very athletic. They’re a very experienced bunch.
On the final touchdown against Texas
The thing is that it wasn’t a perfect play from the start. They made a substitution, and the (referee) was holding the ball from the center. The clock was still ticking, and everybody was wondering what was going on. Once the ref got out of the way, (redshirt senior quarterback) Will (Grier) quickly snapped the ball. I don’t think he thought that I was going to get behind the defender at first. He made a great pass in the back of the end zone.
Redshirt Junior Linebacker Shea Campbell
On settling down at halftime against Texas
Going into halftime, I think it was 28-27. I think it was a one-point game, and we knew, going into the second half, that the game was on our shoulders. Our offense was doing what they had to do, and they were scoring when they needed to. For us, they (Texas) couldn’t score. We had to stop them from scoring. I think a lot of it was settling into that. At the beginning of the game, our nerves were high. There was 100,000 people there. So, there was a lot going into it. Coming out at halftime, I think we were in more control than when we came out at the start.
On defending Texas’ offensive playmakers
It was tough, but they had great athletes. So, those guys made plays. It’s either we make them or they do. That’s how the game goes. It’s frustrating, but you have to play the next play.
On associate head coach (defensive coordinator/linebackers) Tony Gibson’s message at halftime vs. Texas
We just have to get a stop. He told us, ‘Don’t be the reason. Don’t be the reason why we don’t win.’
Redshirt Senior Defensive Lineman Jabril Robinson
On junior defensive lineman Reese Donahue and redshirt junior linebacker David Long Jr.’s leadership qualities
They take a lot of pride in being leaders and captains. In our eyes, David Long has a lot of respect from the defensive players and coaches. He’s proven his point that he’s able to say so and has the last word, as far as leadership goes. Having David Long and Reese as the vocal leaders and captains, I feel like they’re doing a great job.
On if junior linebacker David Long Jr. ability surprised him, even with his smaller size
I don’t doubt anybody’s ability off of sight, first of all. But that man can play some ball. He might not have the size aspects of what you’re used to seeing, as far as a bigger linebacker, but he gets the job done even better than some big linebackers.
On the team’s chemistry
You can find chemistry anywhere you go, as long as you have a group of people with the same aspects and goals. But ever since I got here, the chemistry has been developing more and more, especially after each test we get every week. We find ourselves leaning on others, as far as our teammates. When your able to get that comfort in knowing that man has your back, the chemistry builds. I’m pretty sure you see what happens then.