MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (April 4, 2017) - The West Virginia University football coaching staff and members of the WVU football team met with the media on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Associate Head Coach (Defensive Coordinator/ Linebackers) Tony Gibson
On if he has figured out who is going to play
No. Like I said last week, we need a bunch more practices and work. We are getting closer. Right now, we are going to stop installing at this point and go back and revisit some things, reinstall some things and just creep through the rest of the spring and try to get these guys dialed in to what we need them to do. Again, we have four, five, six, maybe seven guys who aren’t even here right now or can’t practice for some reason who we will be counting on. We have a lot of work to do, and every day that we take reps we are getting somebody better.
On how the players have competed since the last media session
We had some guys who had some good weeks. I thought we finished the week really well on Saturday, we got after it a little bit in a scrimmage. It was good to see our guys make some plays. We felt really good after the scrimmage on Saturday with where we are. Now what we have to do is to continue to get better. We can’t stay the same, and obviously we can’t go backwards. Right now, I like where we are, and we have to get better. Guys still need to step up, and I think they are getting the message right now with what we are doing and what we need them to do.
On redshirt senior safety Marvin Gross Jr.’s big game in the final game of the season last year
He was definitely capable. Marvin is a kid who is very athletic. We play him in a hybrid position. He is a kid who was a defensive lineman who moved to linebacker who moved out to safety. I feel that his game right now is as good as it has ever been. Yes, I could see signs of him doing this. We use him in the right way, blitzing him a little bit, trying to limit his man coverage. He plays physical against the run, he is very athletic and hard to block.
On the cornerback position
We are playing a bunch of different guys right now just trying to get them in the mix. Guys who are in the mix right now are (redshirt sophomore cornerback) Hakeem Bailey, he is a kid who has made a bunch of plays, and he is very solid. He doesn’t say a whole lot, which I like. He just goes out and plays. (Senior cornerback) Elijah Battle, which is the only guy in that room who has meaningful snaps, so I like where he is. (Senior cornerback) Mike Daniels, is a kid who had a very good offseason. He probably had the best offseason of anybody in that room. I like where he is. (Redshirt sophomore cornerback) Jordan Adams is a kid who needs to step up, but he continues to get better. I like where he is. (Redshirt freshman cornerback) (Sean) Mahone and (redshirt freshman cornerback) Jake Long are guys who we are counting on, and they are doing some good things. We are happy with that position right now. We don’t know if we are comfortable with it yet, but where they are right now, we are in good shape. I think (assistant coach (cornerbacks)) coach (Doug) Belk is doing a great job with them. We will continue to keep building it and see how many guys we can play. It would be nice to get five or six guys, for sub packages and to just give a guy a breather.
Assistant Coach (Defensive Line) Bruce Tall
On how everything is going so far
I see the big picture. It’s all going to come into place, just keep working through the process. I know it’s all going to fall into place for us.
On is there’s anyone who stands out
It’s daily. It’s this guy, this day, and that guy, this day. (Junior defensive lineman) Ezekiel Rose is a real quick, real athletic young man, and he brings a different type of punch to things but it’s a different guy each day.
On if he’s found consistency with some guys
Oh yeah. I think overall because I have a real good young group. They really bought in to what we’re doing and they work with each other real well. They help each other, they coach each other, and they’re competitive obviously, but they work well together. It’s a great group working together.
On redshirt senior defensive lineman Jon Lewis
I think the biggest difference he has made right now, is he plays, he really has a great understanding of how to fit and to utilize his hands. He understood what he needed to work on, and he did that. If you watch him using his hands and how he’s moving and understanding how people are attacking him, he’s really grown in strides. He really has a great feel of the defense right now.
Assistant Coach (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks) Jake Spavital
On how the week has been
Good. We had a good scrimmage on Saturday. For the most part, just staying the course getting the installs corrected, making sure our offense base schemes is getting repped multiple times, but besides that I think we’re growing as an offensive unit and we just keep getting better daily.
On the growth of the offense
You really can’t tell right now. The thing about what coach (Associate Head Coach (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) (Tony) Gibson and his defense, is they’re going to be very multiple as well, so we have a lot of good conversations with our certain plays versus all of his schemes, so it’s been great conversations to have. Making sure that as a coaching staff, we’re getting on the same page and at the same time that our offensive unit is understanding what we’re trying to accomplish, but very pleased with how they’re doing. I think they’re operating at a fast pace right now which I’m big on the tempo right now, so again just going back to just the general base stuff in terms of our base schemes and our base operation in terms of tempo, I think we’re doing pretty good.
On if he figured out anything he didn’t know
No, not really. A lot of it is me just trying to figure out (redshirt junior quarterback) Will (Grier). He’s prettymuch as is; as what I thought he was going to be, but starting to just figure out what type of routes he likes to throw, what he’s capable of doing. The thing that I like to figure out, too, is how dynamic I can get with these running backs. I think they’re obviously proven in terms of the run game, but I like to put them in certain scenarios, certain positions to see if they can handle it out there on the perimeter. I’m playing around with a lot of things right now with these kids to see what they’re capable of doing, but again, I’ll probably have more answers for you after spring.
Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers) Tyron Carrier
On how everything has been going
It’s going well. We are fighting through little knick-knack injuries and what not, just spring ball stuff. We are improving more and more every day, especially with the mental part of things. The wear and tear of spring ball, just keep fighting through everything.
On how being in his second year has helped out
Yeah, it is a lot easier. They understand me more, they get where I am coming from. My biggest job is just getting the new guys caught up to speed and keeping them calm with the process because it is still a process for them with learning all of the technical things that they need to learn. Other than that, everything is good.
On how junior wide receiver Gary Jennings has improved since the fall
Well, he is a starter now. To me, he is the same old Gary, it is just his turn up to the plate. He can still make big plays for us at any time. I told Gary last year, ‘you are going to be the guy who I can use everywhere.’ He was able to step in, and he has the main role now. As far as improving, I think he is the same Gary. He looks great, still practicing hard. He is probably my hardest worker out there, so I still love that guy.
Redshirt senior offensive lineman Grant Lingafelter
On how things are going
Right now, we’re in a lot of fine tuning. We have to polish up a lot of things. I think we look really good as an offense so far. Offensive line wise, we’ve really, really come together as a unit. We’ve had a lot of guys step up. (Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman) Matt (Jones) has come in and filled some pretty big shoes, so far. Played real well. This week we just need to continue to fix a couple of things, fix a couple footwork schemes, things like that, just clean it up. Other than that I think we just need to keep moving forward, keep getting better and just keep working together as a unit.
On if he sees anyone solidifying their positions or if it’s a work in progress
It’s just a work in progress. It’s spring ball. Spring ball is all about development. You really start seeing people solidifying their positions in August camp, but spring ball, you can finally see people and how their offseason started to work out for them a little bit. Bigger, faster, stronger guys, guys who got a little more physical who needed to, so it really helps out, but people start solidifying their positions here in August camp.
On if he sees any vocal leaders, for example, redshirt senior offensive lineman Kyle Bosch
Yes, (Kyle) Bosch has done a good job at it. He’s always been a vocal leader, which is nice. Obviously, we have a quarterback who is vocal for us. He’s done a good job. (Redshirt senior tight end/full back) Elijah Wellman has been really, really vocal for us, so it’s always nice to have. We have some key vocal guys who are down with injuries right now like (redshirt senior wide receiver) Ka’Raun (White), the long term guys, Ka’Raun and (redshirt junior offensive lineman) Yodny (Cajuste), which will be nice to get them back here. Right now we have some real good vocal leadership in both units, one’s, two’s and some three’s, so it’s nice to get some guys who are able to step up on field and also have a good vocal leadership.
Redshirt Junior Punter Billy Kinney
On what he has worked on this spring
I really wanted to be more consistent with everything. Like pooch punting, directional punting, getting balls turned over, just being more consistent.
On how his experience from last season helped him moving forward
Just being able to calm my nerves and being relaxed out there during games as the season went on. Yeah, and having the starting role and really knowing how everything works.
On his relationship with the long snappers
It’s pretty good. We work with them all the time. Especially because I am holding too, we are always with them.
On the difficulties on holding the ball on field goals
Just really having good hands and knowing where the laces are when you catch the ball. A field goal takes about 1.2 seconds from snap to kick, so everything happens really fast. You just have to get into a rhythm, and getting all of the technique down really helps out.
Redshirt senior safety Marvin Gross Jr.
On his last game last year
I had the opportunity to play, and I capitalized on my opportunity. It went well, and I’ll try to build on it going into next year.
On if he felt himself growing as the game went on
The opportunity just presented itself at times, so I was just blessed to be able to make the plays that I made at the times. That they were presented.
On starting one game all year and becoming the Big 12 defensive player of the week
That was shocking. I was proud of myself that I was able to play at a high level even though I wasn’t able to start or be in that situation before, and now I can say I’m better tested.
On how he carries it over to this season
Learn from my mistakes from the past season and build on my strengths so that I can build and be a better player next year.
On his final year
This is my last year, so I know I have to make a statement, and I plan to do that. I’m just going to go out there and play my game and let it happen how it happens.
Associate Head Coach (Defensive Coordinator/ Linebackers) Tony Gibson
On if he has figured out who is going to play
No. Like I said last week, we need a bunch more practices and work. We are getting closer. Right now, we are going to stop installing at this point and go back and revisit some things, reinstall some things and just creep through the rest of the spring and try to get these guys dialed in to what we need them to do. Again, we have four, five, six, maybe seven guys who aren’t even here right now or can’t practice for some reason who we will be counting on. We have a lot of work to do, and every day that we take reps we are getting somebody better.
On how the players have competed since the last media session
We had some guys who had some good weeks. I thought we finished the week really well on Saturday, we got after it a little bit in a scrimmage. It was good to see our guys make some plays. We felt really good after the scrimmage on Saturday with where we are. Now what we have to do is to continue to get better. We can’t stay the same, and obviously we can’t go backwards. Right now, I like where we are, and we have to get better. Guys still need to step up, and I think they are getting the message right now with what we are doing and what we need them to do.
On redshirt senior safety Marvin Gross Jr.’s big game in the final game of the season last year
He was definitely capable. Marvin is a kid who is very athletic. We play him in a hybrid position. He is a kid who was a defensive lineman who moved to linebacker who moved out to safety. I feel that his game right now is as good as it has ever been. Yes, I could see signs of him doing this. We use him in the right way, blitzing him a little bit, trying to limit his man coverage. He plays physical against the run, he is very athletic and hard to block.
On the cornerback position
We are playing a bunch of different guys right now just trying to get them in the mix. Guys who are in the mix right now are (redshirt sophomore cornerback) Hakeem Bailey, he is a kid who has made a bunch of plays, and he is very solid. He doesn’t say a whole lot, which I like. He just goes out and plays. (Senior cornerback) Elijah Battle, which is the only guy in that room who has meaningful snaps, so I like where he is. (Senior cornerback) Mike Daniels, is a kid who had a very good offseason. He probably had the best offseason of anybody in that room. I like where he is. (Redshirt sophomore cornerback) Jordan Adams is a kid who needs to step up, but he continues to get better. I like where he is. (Redshirt freshman cornerback) (Sean) Mahone and (redshirt freshman cornerback) Jake Long are guys who we are counting on, and they are doing some good things. We are happy with that position right now. We don’t know if we are comfortable with it yet, but where they are right now, we are in good shape. I think (assistant coach (cornerbacks)) coach (Doug) Belk is doing a great job with them. We will continue to keep building it and see how many guys we can play. It would be nice to get five or six guys, for sub packages and to just give a guy a breather.
Assistant Coach (Defensive Line) Bruce Tall
On how everything is going so far
I see the big picture. It’s all going to come into place, just keep working through the process. I know it’s all going to fall into place for us.
On is there’s anyone who stands out
It’s daily. It’s this guy, this day, and that guy, this day. (Junior defensive lineman) Ezekiel Rose is a real quick, real athletic young man, and he brings a different type of punch to things but it’s a different guy each day.
On if he’s found consistency with some guys
Oh yeah. I think overall because I have a real good young group. They really bought in to what we’re doing and they work with each other real well. They help each other, they coach each other, and they’re competitive obviously, but they work well together. It’s a great group working together.
On redshirt senior defensive lineman Jon Lewis
I think the biggest difference he has made right now, is he plays, he really has a great understanding of how to fit and to utilize his hands. He understood what he needed to work on, and he did that. If you watch him using his hands and how he’s moving and understanding how people are attacking him, he’s really grown in strides. He really has a great feel of the defense right now.
Assistant Coach (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks) Jake Spavital
On how the week has been
Good. We had a good scrimmage on Saturday. For the most part, just staying the course getting the installs corrected, making sure our offense base schemes is getting repped multiple times, but besides that I think we’re growing as an offensive unit and we just keep getting better daily.
On the growth of the offense
You really can’t tell right now. The thing about what coach (Associate Head Coach (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) (Tony) Gibson and his defense, is they’re going to be very multiple as well, so we have a lot of good conversations with our certain plays versus all of his schemes, so it’s been great conversations to have. Making sure that as a coaching staff, we’re getting on the same page and at the same time that our offensive unit is understanding what we’re trying to accomplish, but very pleased with how they’re doing. I think they’re operating at a fast pace right now which I’m big on the tempo right now, so again just going back to just the general base stuff in terms of our base schemes and our base operation in terms of tempo, I think we’re doing pretty good.
On if he figured out anything he didn’t know
No, not really. A lot of it is me just trying to figure out (redshirt junior quarterback) Will (Grier). He’s prettymuch as is; as what I thought he was going to be, but starting to just figure out what type of routes he likes to throw, what he’s capable of doing. The thing that I like to figure out, too, is how dynamic I can get with these running backs. I think they’re obviously proven in terms of the run game, but I like to put them in certain scenarios, certain positions to see if they can handle it out there on the perimeter. I’m playing around with a lot of things right now with these kids to see what they’re capable of doing, but again, I’ll probably have more answers for you after spring.
Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers) Tyron Carrier
On how everything has been going
It’s going well. We are fighting through little knick-knack injuries and what not, just spring ball stuff. We are improving more and more every day, especially with the mental part of things. The wear and tear of spring ball, just keep fighting through everything.
On how being in his second year has helped out
Yeah, it is a lot easier. They understand me more, they get where I am coming from. My biggest job is just getting the new guys caught up to speed and keeping them calm with the process because it is still a process for them with learning all of the technical things that they need to learn. Other than that, everything is good.
On how junior wide receiver Gary Jennings has improved since the fall
Well, he is a starter now. To me, he is the same old Gary, it is just his turn up to the plate. He can still make big plays for us at any time. I told Gary last year, ‘you are going to be the guy who I can use everywhere.’ He was able to step in, and he has the main role now. As far as improving, I think he is the same Gary. He looks great, still practicing hard. He is probably my hardest worker out there, so I still love that guy.
Redshirt senior offensive lineman Grant Lingafelter
On how things are going
Right now, we’re in a lot of fine tuning. We have to polish up a lot of things. I think we look really good as an offense so far. Offensive line wise, we’ve really, really come together as a unit. We’ve had a lot of guys step up. (Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman) Matt (Jones) has come in and filled some pretty big shoes, so far. Played real well. This week we just need to continue to fix a couple of things, fix a couple footwork schemes, things like that, just clean it up. Other than that I think we just need to keep moving forward, keep getting better and just keep working together as a unit.
On if he sees anyone solidifying their positions or if it’s a work in progress
It’s just a work in progress. It’s spring ball. Spring ball is all about development. You really start seeing people solidifying their positions in August camp, but spring ball, you can finally see people and how their offseason started to work out for them a little bit. Bigger, faster, stronger guys, guys who got a little more physical who needed to, so it really helps out, but people start solidifying their positions here in August camp.
On if he sees any vocal leaders, for example, redshirt senior offensive lineman Kyle Bosch
Yes, (Kyle) Bosch has done a good job at it. He’s always been a vocal leader, which is nice. Obviously, we have a quarterback who is vocal for us. He’s done a good job. (Redshirt senior tight end/full back) Elijah Wellman has been really, really vocal for us, so it’s always nice to have. We have some key vocal guys who are down with injuries right now like (redshirt senior wide receiver) Ka’Raun (White), the long term guys, Ka’Raun and (redshirt junior offensive lineman) Yodny (Cajuste), which will be nice to get them back here. Right now we have some real good vocal leadership in both units, one’s, two’s and some three’s, so it’s nice to get some guys who are able to step up on field and also have a good vocal leadership.
Redshirt Junior Punter Billy Kinney
On what he has worked on this spring
I really wanted to be more consistent with everything. Like pooch punting, directional punting, getting balls turned over, just being more consistent.
On how his experience from last season helped him moving forward
Just being able to calm my nerves and being relaxed out there during games as the season went on. Yeah, and having the starting role and really knowing how everything works.
On his relationship with the long snappers
It’s pretty good. We work with them all the time. Especially because I am holding too, we are always with them.
On the difficulties on holding the ball on field goals
Just really having good hands and knowing where the laces are when you catch the ball. A field goal takes about 1.2 seconds from snap to kick, so everything happens really fast. You just have to get into a rhythm, and getting all of the technique down really helps out.
Redshirt senior safety Marvin Gross Jr.
On his last game last year
I had the opportunity to play, and I capitalized on my opportunity. It went well, and I’ll try to build on it going into next year.
On if he felt himself growing as the game went on
The opportunity just presented itself at times, so I was just blessed to be able to make the plays that I made at the times. That they were presented.
On starting one game all year and becoming the Big 12 defensive player of the week
That was shocking. I was proud of myself that I was able to play at a high level even though I wasn’t able to start or be in that situation before, and now I can say I’m better tested.
On how he carries it over to this season
Learn from my mistakes from the past season and build on my strengths so that I can build and be a better player next year.
On his final year
This is my last year, so I know I have to make a statement, and I plan to do that. I’m just going to go out there and play my game and let it happen how it happens.