MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (March 23, 2019) – West Virginia University defensive coordinator Vic Koenning, co-offensive coordinator (offensive line) Matt Moore and select members of the West Virginia University football team met with the media on Saturday, March 23, at the Milan Puskar Center Weight Room.
Defensive Coordinator Vic Koenning
On Saturday’s practice
Well, obviously, when you have practice, you want to watch the film first. It seems like most of these guys act like they want to practice, so that’s a positive. You can always build off of that. Running the ball, it seems like they have pretty good spirit running the ball. A lot of guys like football. You’re in trouble if you have a group where they act like they don’t like football. We can build off all that. (There were) probably fewer mistakes today than we’ve had the last couple days.
On what techniques he’s emphasizing the most in practice
Everything – getting off blocks, tackling, angles to the ball, how to play the ball, pad level. I can go on to every single fundamental that goes into it. We’d probably be here for a while. But we’re trying to hit all of them, and when you have a limited amount of time in a day, you can only hit so many of them. So, you try to take the most important ones first. Obviously, practicing all the little fundamentals go along with tackling. Then, you can put it together in one of the full-tackle days. That’s one thing. If you can’t get off a block, then you can’t run to the ball, then you can’t make the play. We start talking about the back-end guys. We’re trying to work on how to play the ball, how to get into position to keep the receiver from being able to get the ball. They caught a couple of balls on us today that were just thrown up. They were basically, you’d say it was a punt, but it’s two or three guys fighting for the ball. We have to win way more of those than what we lose. So, we’re practicing how to play the ball in the air and practicing angles. Again, it goes back to all those little bitty things.
On coaching players how to practice
There’s a lot of off-the-field issues that go with that as far as how to take notes in meetings, how to listen, how to sit in a chair properly. It really goes back to when I have to separate a couple guys in my room, because when they’re together, they don’t do just like they need to. It’s not the NFL though, this is college. Still, guys are in school, and we’re trying to hit every angle to try to get them to be the best they can be. How to study film, when to study film; I had some guys that did it. The video guys have a printout of when they watch film, and it was at like one in the morning. I’m going, ‘What are we doing here?’ It’s defeating the purpose. So anyway, every little detail of that stuff is being hit.
On if coaching players how to practice is different from his time at other schools
Yeah, it is. I’ve been at some that were way, way, way worse. It may be one or two that would say, ‘Hey man.’ I’m not saying it’s that much. I could think of a couple that were a little bit harder. It’s just a matter of getting guys to understand the routine that you want them to do. If you allow something, then they’re going to do it. I had someone who looked at his phone in a meeting yesterday, and I said, ‘Come on, really?’ So, you can really get ugly and start doing all that, or you can just say, ‘Hey, really? You know that that’s not the right thing. Let’s do the right thing.’ Most of the guys are doing the right thing. But they are young. I remember a whole bunch of times when I was in college. That was a long time ago. Nobody can get onto me anymore. I probably had gone out, and then, we were up at Saturday-morning workouts or something. I remember a few of those. I’m not saying it was the right thing to do, but somehow, I survived it.
On the importance of being patient during spring practices
Well, there’s a funny thing about defensive coaches. They’re like the old buzzards sitting on the tree, where the one buzzard says to the other buzzard, ‘Patience, my (butt), I’m going to go kill something.’ We’re shoot first, ask questions later typically, personality wise. I know that Coach (Neal) Brown is a little bit different than that. I think most offensive coaches are more on the mental side of it, and they think about repercussions and how everything is going to fit. I don’t know. All I know is, as long as they’re trying, they’re going to make mistakes, and we’ll correct them. If we cannot have too many repeated mistakes, I talked to the safeties the other day about when you go to the police academy. They want those people to draw their weapons 1,000 times before they certify them to be legit. 1,000 reps are a lot of reps. So, we have 1,000 reps we have to get in here during spring ball.
Co-Offensive Coordinator (Offensive Line) Matt Moore
On Saturday’s practice
I liked the enthusiasm. I think this group enjoys practicing. We have to a better job of coaching them to stay on their feet, and it’s a learning process. Basically, this is our third first day with the way we install. So, this is the first day we ran a lot of these schemes, a lot of these formations. But they’re enthusiastic. We just have to teach them how to prepare better as far as before practice, but they’re enthusiastic. So, that’s good.
On head coach Neal Brown’s criticism of players being on the ground
Too many guys on the ground. We’re trying to do a team setting there. That’s so much a part of the game now. You want to keep everybody up. People on the ground, they’re falling, rolling ankles and losing time. That’s what you can’t have.
On the center position
(Redshirt junior offensive lineman Chase) Behrndt, he’s learning. That’s a tough position to come out when you have played center at all. He’s going to get better every day, and that’s what I challenge him to do – get better every day.
On moving redshirt junior offensive lineman Chase Behrndt to center
His body type, he’s a center. He’s smart. He’s been around long enough now to where he’s respected, and he really has great voice control and communication. That’s the big thing is being able to communicate with other guys.
On redshirt freshman offensive lineman Briason Mays
He’s working center and guard. I have to see what he can do. That’s the biggest thing with all of these guys. We just have to see what they can do. Today was a little bit of a glance, but it’s all still outside-zone scheme. So, it wasn’t as much power stuff as we want to run. He’s definitely going to fit in.
On experimenting with the offensive line
No, I like to find left-side players, right-side players up front, and get the five best players out on the field. That’s the biggest thing, I like to let them stay there until they learn it. Then, once we get into the second half of spring, if we see a guy who we say, ‘Hey, he might be a little better here,’ then we’ll move him. But I don’t like doing that every day.
On redshirt senior offensive lineman Colton McKivitz
I think he’s one of our best o-linemen, and I think you have to put him at left tackle. He had some trouble today with a set just because it was the first time he’s really done it live. But I think he could be a really good left tackle in this league.
On the offensive line’s timing
The good thing is some of these guys have played together, and they’re a really tight group. That’s the way I like it. There’s still some of that timing, but it’s getting better. It’s going to get better.
On coaching the offensive line and being co-offensive coordinator
Right now, I’m strictly focusing on the offensive line. There’re enough guys here that like to watch the ball. You know what I mean? There’re very few guys here that like to watch the guys who don’t have the ball. For me and Tyler Orlosky, my GA, he does a great job. He played here, and he really does have some really good knowledge of o-line. The guys really respect him, and he’s a huge part of it. He’s not just a GA, he’s like my assistant o-line coach. We break up drills, but I’m really just focused on the o-line right now.
On what second-team offensive linemen are standing out
No, I don’t know. I haven’t seen enough. It’s been fake football for two days. That was the first day, really. I haven’t watched the film yet, so we’ll see.
On the schedule for spring practice
We talked about going full pads today, but we kind of pulled back with it being the first day. Then, we’d really be on the ground. So, I think once we feel good about these guys understanding to keep their feet under them and understanding how to come up on a running back or a receiver and break down and be in position, we probably won’t go full pads until we feel good about that.
On how installing is different for offensive linemen
All the schemes we run, we’re basically inside zone, gap team and outside zone. They’ve basically run all those in the past, so it didn’t change it a whole lot. We just kind of changed the way we teach it. They understand the scheme, so there’s not a lot of difference. There’s some different technique stuff, and there’s some different words and the way we teach it. But other than that, we don’t do a lot of option stuff or crazy things like that.
Redshirt Senior Cornerback Keith Washington Jr.
On the new coaching staff
Yeah, a few things have changed, but overall, it’s still cornerback and just the fundamentals of playing defensive back in this league. For the most part, everything stays the same; eyes, feet. But as far as stances, a few things have changed from last year.
On if he is more comfortable in year two
Yes sir, very comfortable. The past few weeks I’ve spent with this coaching staff, we’ve developed a relationship, and I feel like were heading in the right direction.
On head coach Neal Brown
Oh yeah, he’s a very energetic guy, and he’s very detailed, and I like that about him. So, everything we do from walking in the building with no hats on to paying attention in meeting rooms is very detailed.
On assistant coach (defensive secondary) Jahmile Addae
Great coach. You know that’s my guy, defensive backs coach, and he’s taught me some new things that I didn’t know previously. So, working towards getting better, just little things that defensive backs know.
Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver T.J. Simmons
On spring practice with the new coaching staff
As far as differences from the last coaching staff, the offense is basically the same, just like play calls and the way were calling plays and the way we signal things. The way practice is run is like everything. Every period is something new. There’s always something changing, always moving around, never any down period. It’s always active, and we’re always doing something.
On if the new practice format reflects his personality
Yeah, the energy, it does reflect my personality. If you ask my friends, I’m always smiling, always trying to have a good time, always upbeat.
On the quarterbacks
We’ve been throwing around. All the quarterbacks have been throwing around with the receivers since January, so we’ve been building chemistry and building morale between us. They’re looking pretty good, still trying to get a hang of the offense just like everybody else. So, with time, we’ll get better.
On getting comfortable with the quarterbacks
As far as being different from last year. (Redshirt junior quarterback) Jack (Allison), he’s a tall guy. It’s easy to see him behind the line. (Redshirt junior quarterback) Austin (Kendall), he gets the ball out pretty quick. He’s not as tall, so you can’t really see him. You have to expect the ball whenever its coming, but I’m a receiver, so whoever’s throwing I’m trying to catch it. It really doesn’t matter to me
Redshirt Senior Offensive Lineman Colton McKivitz
On learning new techniques and schemes in spring practice
Practice is, well offense is, pretty much the same, but with (co-offensive coordinator/offensive line) Coach (Matt) Moore, its more technique is key on his part, and I think we spend most of our practices teaching that technique and working boards and shoots and just going over the basic fundamentals of first step and driving guys off the ball. I think that’s been the biggest part of what’s the change has been, that focus on your technique, so far.
On what he has focused on most during spring practice
The switch from right to left. Now, it’s right inside hand was dominant. It was my inside hand on. Right now, it’s my outside, so it’s just figuring it out, just trying to move it back over to left and just figure out what I need to work on. Right now, it’s hands and just keeping those up and trying to work on it every day. Everyone has, we have our own goals on what we need to work on and improve, so I think that’s a big change from last year. It wasn’t that big of a focus on what fundamentals were.
On moving to left tackle
It’s not odd. It’s just re-learning that what you had, and now, it’s getting the little things down there for right now. That’s the focus is instead of being a pivot from right to left, now it’s more of a focus to left and most of my drills are going to be at left. So, I’m going to be focused on learning that technique and honing in on what I need to work on in left.
Senior Defensive Lineman Reese Donahue
On installing new defensive schemes
Of course, it’s a big learning curve. We’re going from an odd stack to a 4-2. That’s a big deal, but our defense now is really versatile. We can play anything. There’s not a thing on the field we can’t do. Like I said, it’s a learning curve, but I think it’s coming along very well. I think our guys are adapting well, because ultimately, when the old staff departed, they had a lot of knowledge they gave and bestowed upon us, and I don’t think we fell short in that category. I see us improving every day. We’re not nearly where we need to be. Coach (Neal) Brown talked about it today. We have a whole lot more practices, we don’t play until September 1, so we have some time to develop and stuff, but I think we’re on our way.
On the differences in scheme and technique
Well, sometimes it is every defense has different calls and such, but this is different now, because we rotate. We’ll have a strong and a weak and sometimes we can flip it over under fronts. There’s different calls, different stunts that we didn’t do before, and timings different too, because there’s a whole other person on the line. So, like I said, it’s a huge learning curve. It’s a lot different, but ultimately, football is football. Defensive linemen, your job is to stop the run and react to the pass, so you know as long as you shoot your hands, have good hips, its football. It’s not rocket science. Ultimately, it’s not too complicated.
On helping in-state players transition into the program
It’s really cool, because before, I always knew what it meant to be a Mountaineer. I grew up in the state. I’m really proud of being here, but now that I’m old and reflect on what we’ve gone through and what I’ve done, it’s kind of cool to be able to mentor these young guys that have come in. I’ve been in their shoes. I know what it’s like to come from West Virginia and play here, and guys like Eli (Elijah) Wellman did it for me, so I want to be that guy for them. I just think it’s really cool to be in the position I am to help others, especially from being in state. I think that that’s one thing that everyone who’s in state shares. It’s an attribute that not a lot of other people have. When you come here, you obtain that attribute regardless of where you’re from.
Defensive Coordinator Vic Koenning
On Saturday’s practice
Well, obviously, when you have practice, you want to watch the film first. It seems like most of these guys act like they want to practice, so that’s a positive. You can always build off of that. Running the ball, it seems like they have pretty good spirit running the ball. A lot of guys like football. You’re in trouble if you have a group where they act like they don’t like football. We can build off all that. (There were) probably fewer mistakes today than we’ve had the last couple days.
On what techniques he’s emphasizing the most in practice
Everything – getting off blocks, tackling, angles to the ball, how to play the ball, pad level. I can go on to every single fundamental that goes into it. We’d probably be here for a while. But we’re trying to hit all of them, and when you have a limited amount of time in a day, you can only hit so many of them. So, you try to take the most important ones first. Obviously, practicing all the little fundamentals go along with tackling. Then, you can put it together in one of the full-tackle days. That’s one thing. If you can’t get off a block, then you can’t run to the ball, then you can’t make the play. We start talking about the back-end guys. We’re trying to work on how to play the ball, how to get into position to keep the receiver from being able to get the ball. They caught a couple of balls on us today that were just thrown up. They were basically, you’d say it was a punt, but it’s two or three guys fighting for the ball. We have to win way more of those than what we lose. So, we’re practicing how to play the ball in the air and practicing angles. Again, it goes back to all those little bitty things.
On coaching players how to practice
There’s a lot of off-the-field issues that go with that as far as how to take notes in meetings, how to listen, how to sit in a chair properly. It really goes back to when I have to separate a couple guys in my room, because when they’re together, they don’t do just like they need to. It’s not the NFL though, this is college. Still, guys are in school, and we’re trying to hit every angle to try to get them to be the best they can be. How to study film, when to study film; I had some guys that did it. The video guys have a printout of when they watch film, and it was at like one in the morning. I’m going, ‘What are we doing here?’ It’s defeating the purpose. So anyway, every little detail of that stuff is being hit.
On if coaching players how to practice is different from his time at other schools
Yeah, it is. I’ve been at some that were way, way, way worse. It may be one or two that would say, ‘Hey man.’ I’m not saying it’s that much. I could think of a couple that were a little bit harder. It’s just a matter of getting guys to understand the routine that you want them to do. If you allow something, then they’re going to do it. I had someone who looked at his phone in a meeting yesterday, and I said, ‘Come on, really?’ So, you can really get ugly and start doing all that, or you can just say, ‘Hey, really? You know that that’s not the right thing. Let’s do the right thing.’ Most of the guys are doing the right thing. But they are young. I remember a whole bunch of times when I was in college. That was a long time ago. Nobody can get onto me anymore. I probably had gone out, and then, we were up at Saturday-morning workouts or something. I remember a few of those. I’m not saying it was the right thing to do, but somehow, I survived it.
On the importance of being patient during spring practices
Well, there’s a funny thing about defensive coaches. They’re like the old buzzards sitting on the tree, where the one buzzard says to the other buzzard, ‘Patience, my (butt), I’m going to go kill something.’ We’re shoot first, ask questions later typically, personality wise. I know that Coach (Neal) Brown is a little bit different than that. I think most offensive coaches are more on the mental side of it, and they think about repercussions and how everything is going to fit. I don’t know. All I know is, as long as they’re trying, they’re going to make mistakes, and we’ll correct them. If we cannot have too many repeated mistakes, I talked to the safeties the other day about when you go to the police academy. They want those people to draw their weapons 1,000 times before they certify them to be legit. 1,000 reps are a lot of reps. So, we have 1,000 reps we have to get in here during spring ball.
Co-Offensive Coordinator (Offensive Line) Matt Moore
On Saturday’s practice
I liked the enthusiasm. I think this group enjoys practicing. We have to a better job of coaching them to stay on their feet, and it’s a learning process. Basically, this is our third first day with the way we install. So, this is the first day we ran a lot of these schemes, a lot of these formations. But they’re enthusiastic. We just have to teach them how to prepare better as far as before practice, but they’re enthusiastic. So, that’s good.
On head coach Neal Brown’s criticism of players being on the ground
Too many guys on the ground. We’re trying to do a team setting there. That’s so much a part of the game now. You want to keep everybody up. People on the ground, they’re falling, rolling ankles and losing time. That’s what you can’t have.
On the center position
(Redshirt junior offensive lineman Chase) Behrndt, he’s learning. That’s a tough position to come out when you have played center at all. He’s going to get better every day, and that’s what I challenge him to do – get better every day.
On moving redshirt junior offensive lineman Chase Behrndt to center
His body type, he’s a center. He’s smart. He’s been around long enough now to where he’s respected, and he really has great voice control and communication. That’s the big thing is being able to communicate with other guys.
On redshirt freshman offensive lineman Briason Mays
He’s working center and guard. I have to see what he can do. That’s the biggest thing with all of these guys. We just have to see what they can do. Today was a little bit of a glance, but it’s all still outside-zone scheme. So, it wasn’t as much power stuff as we want to run. He’s definitely going to fit in.
On experimenting with the offensive line
No, I like to find left-side players, right-side players up front, and get the five best players out on the field. That’s the biggest thing, I like to let them stay there until they learn it. Then, once we get into the second half of spring, if we see a guy who we say, ‘Hey, he might be a little better here,’ then we’ll move him. But I don’t like doing that every day.
On redshirt senior offensive lineman Colton McKivitz
I think he’s one of our best o-linemen, and I think you have to put him at left tackle. He had some trouble today with a set just because it was the first time he’s really done it live. But I think he could be a really good left tackle in this league.
On the offensive line’s timing
The good thing is some of these guys have played together, and they’re a really tight group. That’s the way I like it. There’s still some of that timing, but it’s getting better. It’s going to get better.
On coaching the offensive line and being co-offensive coordinator
Right now, I’m strictly focusing on the offensive line. There’re enough guys here that like to watch the ball. You know what I mean? There’re very few guys here that like to watch the guys who don’t have the ball. For me and Tyler Orlosky, my GA, he does a great job. He played here, and he really does have some really good knowledge of o-line. The guys really respect him, and he’s a huge part of it. He’s not just a GA, he’s like my assistant o-line coach. We break up drills, but I’m really just focused on the o-line right now.
On what second-team offensive linemen are standing out
No, I don’t know. I haven’t seen enough. It’s been fake football for two days. That was the first day, really. I haven’t watched the film yet, so we’ll see.
On the schedule for spring practice
We talked about going full pads today, but we kind of pulled back with it being the first day. Then, we’d really be on the ground. So, I think once we feel good about these guys understanding to keep their feet under them and understanding how to come up on a running back or a receiver and break down and be in position, we probably won’t go full pads until we feel good about that.
On how installing is different for offensive linemen
All the schemes we run, we’re basically inside zone, gap team and outside zone. They’ve basically run all those in the past, so it didn’t change it a whole lot. We just kind of changed the way we teach it. They understand the scheme, so there’s not a lot of difference. There’s some different technique stuff, and there’s some different words and the way we teach it. But other than that, we don’t do a lot of option stuff or crazy things like that.
Redshirt Senior Cornerback Keith Washington Jr.
On the new coaching staff
Yeah, a few things have changed, but overall, it’s still cornerback and just the fundamentals of playing defensive back in this league. For the most part, everything stays the same; eyes, feet. But as far as stances, a few things have changed from last year.
On if he is more comfortable in year two
Yes sir, very comfortable. The past few weeks I’ve spent with this coaching staff, we’ve developed a relationship, and I feel like were heading in the right direction.
On head coach Neal Brown
Oh yeah, he’s a very energetic guy, and he’s very detailed, and I like that about him. So, everything we do from walking in the building with no hats on to paying attention in meeting rooms is very detailed.
On assistant coach (defensive secondary) Jahmile Addae
Great coach. You know that’s my guy, defensive backs coach, and he’s taught me some new things that I didn’t know previously. So, working towards getting better, just little things that defensive backs know.
Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver T.J. Simmons
On spring practice with the new coaching staff
As far as differences from the last coaching staff, the offense is basically the same, just like play calls and the way were calling plays and the way we signal things. The way practice is run is like everything. Every period is something new. There’s always something changing, always moving around, never any down period. It’s always active, and we’re always doing something.
On if the new practice format reflects his personality
Yeah, the energy, it does reflect my personality. If you ask my friends, I’m always smiling, always trying to have a good time, always upbeat.
On the quarterbacks
We’ve been throwing around. All the quarterbacks have been throwing around with the receivers since January, so we’ve been building chemistry and building morale between us. They’re looking pretty good, still trying to get a hang of the offense just like everybody else. So, with time, we’ll get better.
On getting comfortable with the quarterbacks
As far as being different from last year. (Redshirt junior quarterback) Jack (Allison), he’s a tall guy. It’s easy to see him behind the line. (Redshirt junior quarterback) Austin (Kendall), he gets the ball out pretty quick. He’s not as tall, so you can’t really see him. You have to expect the ball whenever its coming, but I’m a receiver, so whoever’s throwing I’m trying to catch it. It really doesn’t matter to me
Redshirt Senior Offensive Lineman Colton McKivitz
On learning new techniques and schemes in spring practice
Practice is, well offense is, pretty much the same, but with (co-offensive coordinator/offensive line) Coach (Matt) Moore, its more technique is key on his part, and I think we spend most of our practices teaching that technique and working boards and shoots and just going over the basic fundamentals of first step and driving guys off the ball. I think that’s been the biggest part of what’s the change has been, that focus on your technique, so far.
On what he has focused on most during spring practice
The switch from right to left. Now, it’s right inside hand was dominant. It was my inside hand on. Right now, it’s my outside, so it’s just figuring it out, just trying to move it back over to left and just figure out what I need to work on. Right now, it’s hands and just keeping those up and trying to work on it every day. Everyone has, we have our own goals on what we need to work on and improve, so I think that’s a big change from last year. It wasn’t that big of a focus on what fundamentals were.
On moving to left tackle
It’s not odd. It’s just re-learning that what you had, and now, it’s getting the little things down there for right now. That’s the focus is instead of being a pivot from right to left, now it’s more of a focus to left and most of my drills are going to be at left. So, I’m going to be focused on learning that technique and honing in on what I need to work on in left.
Senior Defensive Lineman Reese Donahue
On installing new defensive schemes
Of course, it’s a big learning curve. We’re going from an odd stack to a 4-2. That’s a big deal, but our defense now is really versatile. We can play anything. There’s not a thing on the field we can’t do. Like I said, it’s a learning curve, but I think it’s coming along very well. I think our guys are adapting well, because ultimately, when the old staff departed, they had a lot of knowledge they gave and bestowed upon us, and I don’t think we fell short in that category. I see us improving every day. We’re not nearly where we need to be. Coach (Neal) Brown talked about it today. We have a whole lot more practices, we don’t play until September 1, so we have some time to develop and stuff, but I think we’re on our way.
On the differences in scheme and technique
Well, sometimes it is every defense has different calls and such, but this is different now, because we rotate. We’ll have a strong and a weak and sometimes we can flip it over under fronts. There’s different calls, different stunts that we didn’t do before, and timings different too, because there’s a whole other person on the line. So, like I said, it’s a huge learning curve. It’s a lot different, but ultimately, football is football. Defensive linemen, your job is to stop the run and react to the pass, so you know as long as you shoot your hands, have good hips, its football. It’s not rocket science. Ultimately, it’s not too complicated.
On helping in-state players transition into the program
It’s really cool, because before, I always knew what it meant to be a Mountaineer. I grew up in the state. I’m really proud of being here, but now that I’m old and reflect on what we’ve gone through and what I’ve done, it’s kind of cool to be able to mentor these young guys that have come in. I’ve been in their shoes. I know what it’s like to come from West Virginia and play here, and guys like Eli (Elijah) Wellman did it for me, so I want to be that guy for them. I just think it’s really cool to be in the position I am to help others, especially from being in state. I think that that’s one thing that everyone who’s in state shares. It’s an attribute that not a lot of other people have. When you come here, you obtain that attribute regardless of where you’re from.