MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (November 13, 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. 13, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.
Associate Head Coach (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) Tony Gibson
On redshirt junior linebacker David Long Jr.
He’s so instinctive, and he understands our scheme, number one. He understands what people are trying to do to us. He studies a lot of film, and he has a nose for the ball. He’s special.
On if Oklahoma State has instituted more quarterback runs into their game plan this year
They do. (Oklahoma State quarterback Taylor) Cornelius does a really good job of getting himself out of trouble and extending plays. They’ll run him a lot more than they did (Mason) Rudolph. I don’t think they’re missing (James) Washington a whole lot with (Oklahoma State wide receiver Tylan) Wallace. He’s really, really good, and (Oklahoma State wide receiver Tyron) Johnson, on the other side, is good. (Oklahoma State wide receiver Dillon) Stoner is good. So, they have some guys that can make plays.
On how redshirt junior linebacker David Long Jr.’s versatility has helped the MIKE linebacker position
That’s a hard job to play off David, because he does so many things. I give him the freedom to do that, because he can make a play so it’s less hard on the MIKE. When we have a consistent MIKE in there, they get used to how he plays, and that part is a learning curve for them.
On if he notices when teams try to make redshirt junior linebacker David Long Jr. a non-factor
Yeah, I do. It started with Baylor. Baylor did a lot of FSL, Texas ran a lot of it and TCU did some. So, they’re trying to pull him out of the box, and we have to make adjustments and get him back involved. We try to do our best to keep him in there, in that tackle box, so they can’t avoid him in the run game. But yes, people know who No. 11 is, and if they don’t, then they obviously don’t watch film, I guess.
On if the ultimate sign of respect is when opposing teams focus the most on one player
No doubt about it. He’s different, he’s special. Everything I told you guys three years ago that I thought he would be, it’s turned out that he is.
On if Oklahoma State’s version of the spread offense is similar to the traditional version of the spread offense
It’s pretty similar with what they want to do. The misnomer with them is that they can’t run the ball. They’re averaging 511 yards a game, offensively. (Oklahoma State quarterback Taylor) Cornelius does a good job of throwing, but also, they probably have the best running back in the Big 12 – Justice Hill. He’s special.
On what is a part of the makeup of a great linebacker
I think the ability to be able to make a play or shed a block. The thing that’s amazing about him (redshirt junior linebacker David Long Jr.), and you all see it or see it on a TV copy where you can get in and break the play down, is how he maneuvers and plays off one foot when he’s jumping through a gap or he gets skinny and doesn’t give a lot of blocking surface. Then, he’s able to pop back out and make a play. His instincts are unbelievable.
On who redshirt junior linebacker David Long Jr. is comparable to
I haven’t been around a lot of guys like him who have a nose for the ball like he has. I was here with Grant Wiley. Grant was the same kind of player. Grant was a little bigger, but David, doing the things he can do, I wish I could tell you that it was me coaching but it’s not, trust me. The best coaching advice I can give him is, ‘Go make a play.’
On what makes Oklahoma State running back Justice Hill different from other running backs in college football
His speed. He’s different. Some backs are big, strong and will run through you. They’re hard to bring down. This kid can run through you. He’s different. He’s so different than any other back that we’ve seen to this point.
On Oklahoma State quarterback Taylor Cornelius
It seems like he has a great understanding of what they do and how to distribute the ball. He takes shots at times when they need it, and he’ll play action you. The other thing that makes him different from a guy like (Mason) Rudolph is he’s so involved with the run game. Obviously, you have to keep an extra guy down in the box for that. Then, when they pull a designed run, he has the option where he can run, or he has the option to throw off that too. Obviously, Mason Rudolph is a great quarterback, and I’m sure sitting behind him, learning and watching him has really helped his game. But I have a lot of respect for the kid. I think the kid is a winner. They’re putting up a lot of points, a lot of yards. He’s 6’6”. I think (junior linebacker) JoVanni (Stewart) may be able to see over his belt.
On Oklahoma State running back Justice Hill’s game against WVU last season
I don’t know if he had an ankle, shoulder or a head. But the first run, he went for 40 yards. Then on the next run, they gave it back to him, and he fumbled. That was when the injury happened, but again, he’s tough. I’ve always had great respect for him as well just playing against him the last few years. He’s a game changer. We’re going to have to be on top of that.
On why the defense struggles when playing on the road
I think a little bit of that deals with who we play. Obviously, with Iowa State and Texas, those are pretty good ball clubs. You can see our kids’ confidence at home. They feed off the crowd. I’m sure that has a little bit to do with it, and the other things is, up until the Iowa State game, I don’t think we were ever behind in a game. So, we got behind, and that was the first time we had been behind, on the road, in a hostile environment. I think we got on our heels, and it was hard to recover. The same thing happened at Texas. We let them off the hook a few times with some pressures, and they made some big plays. Their crowd got into it. I think all that plays a factor into it.
On Oklahoma State wide receiver Tylan Wallace’s big-play ability
I don’t know how he does it, but he contorts his body. He’s unbelievable, and you look back on it and you think, ‘What did we miss on this kid last year?’ I think he had seven catches a year ago. That’s a big turnaround that kid has had, and I just saw that he is a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff. He deserves every bit of it. He can run, he can catch the ball, he’s physical at the point of attack with the ball. He’ll go over people, around people, above people. He’s a really good player.
On if he is comparable to other wide receivers that WVU has seen this season
I think he’s totally different. I think he moves better than all those guys. He can run. His running ability is most like the (Jalen) Reagor kid we just played from TCU. He’s a little bigger, but we’re going to have our hands full.
Assistant Coach (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks) Jake Spavital
On how WVU’s pass protection has improved over the past couple of weeks
I think we went back to the basics of things with our points with (redshirt junior offensive lineman) Matt (Jones). Be confident, make one point and we’ll play off the rest where (redshirt senior quarterback) Will (Grier) has a pretty good understanding of his hot reads. I think that has helped us from a protection standpoint. Now, we’re going up against a very good Oklahoma State team that will catch you off guard with some blitzes. They’ll do some things that are uncharacteristic that you don’t see very often, and they’ll get you. That’s why they’re one of the top teams in the country in sacks right now. So, we do have a tough challenge with that moving forward, but I think with the success of protecting how they have over the past couple weeks has been simplifying it up front, and Will’s been doing a really good job with understanding his hot reads.
On if he has ever had two tight ends play well in the same season or at the same program
I have not at that high of a level. Looking out there and watching (redshirt senior tight end Trevon) Wesco play, I thought he took that game over. It was pretty impressive to watch. When you look at (redshirt sophomore tight end/fullback) Jovani (Haskins) and what he brings to the table as well, it’s pretty amazing to watch those guys compete where we don’t have to be in 10 personnel as much anymore. That was something, last year, that we were in all the time was 10 personnel, and we wore those receivers down throughout the course of the year. Looking back at where we are now compared to this point last year, our receivers haven’t even gotten nearly the amount of yardage. That’s based off the play of these tight ends.
On if having two experienced running backs helps the offense at this point in the season
I think so. You get down to these games, and there’s a lot on the line. These guys (junior running backs Kennedy McKoy and Martell Pettaway) have consistently made plays before. I think they’re playing at a really high level right now, and you go into it with the mindset that you’re going to play them all and try to get them touches. We started off that way, and you just see the hot hand. It’s a no-brainer to you guys, too. Those are the two that are jumping off the field when you look at it. Those guys are making some big plays. So, you typically lean on Kennedy and Pettaway, and I think a lot of that has to do with their maturity level. I think Pettaway and (redshirt freshman Alec Sinkfield) Sink are going to be really good players. You’re going to have one of those games in the future where, I hope, (freshman running back) Leddie (Brown) jumps off the page. That’s what we want to see. I think, consistently, over time and the with the amount of ball those two have played, with Kennedy and Pettaway, they’re leadership and maturity is taking over.
On Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles
I’ve been familiar with him before, and we’ve gone up against him before. You have a pretty good idea, but you study it. You try to refresh yourself over the summer. Being a later game, you have a lot of tape to watch on the guys also. He’s been interesting on the move, but it’s part of the business. I think he does a good job. It’s a different test, it’s a different style of defense that we’re used to facing against Oklahoma State. It’s going to be a fun game.
On how Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ scheme is different
He’s more aggressive. He plays a lot more man (coverage), uses a lot more exotic blitzes. That’s why it’s going to be a fun game, because he can catch you for a negative yard play really quick, or we can hit him with a big play. It turns into a chess match, a guessing game. He keeps you on your toes the entire game.
On handling Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ exotic blitz packages
There’s a lot to do with it in terms of the question on protections. You get into that guessing game where he’s bluffing over here, or he’s blitzing over here, and we’re getting into the wrong points from a protection standpoint. It’s about playing with a good tempo, keeping them off guard with keeping the same personnel groupings out there and keeping your different formations and making sure that they can’t get that in as clearly as they want to. A lot has to be dictated by the pace of play, but it’s also about keeping it simple for those kids if you’re going to play fast, so they can make their points and execute what they think is clean.
On if he is pleased with how redshirt senior quarterback Will Grier has gotten rid of the ball when he has to over the last few games
He did it this past Saturday versus TCU. I thought this past game was Will’s best game that he has ever managed. There were times when he was going through his progressions, there were protection breakdowns and he threw it away. There were times when he got to his hot reads immediately. The (senior wide receiver) Gary Jennings (Jr.) route for the touchdown was his second progression. There were multiple times he got to his third progression. So, I thought, overall, how he was managing the game, getting through his progressions and checking out of bad run calls, I think he just has a really good grasp on what he is trying to accomplish right now.
On why redshirt senior tight end Trevon Wesco was named offensive player of the game vs. TCU
When we looked at it, and I think you guys saw it too, Wesco was taking that game over. When he was catching the ball, his yards after contact were great. He was making people miss in space. He had a tough challenge of blocking No. 91 for TCU (L.J. Collier), who I think is a very good player, and he brought it every single play with a physical nature. That’s why those runs started popping so well for us. So, he brings not just what you guys see with the catches, him getting upfield and the touchdowns, but it’s also the added element of his selflessness. He’s laying his whole body out on the line to get that run game going. We just thought, overall, he was helping us the most out of anybody.
On if opposing defenses are starting to adjust for redshirt senior tight end Trevon Wesco
I think it just adds to it. I think they have to account for him when he’s in the game, there’s a possibility of him catching the ball. When you look at the threats of our receivers out there and how we’re implementing the running backs in the pass game, you have to throw Wesco in there as well. It’s pleasing from my standpoint, where I have a chart with kids all over the field. It’s a good addition where they have to account for the tight end and the possibility of him getting out on a pass play, which that loosens up the box a little bit. That allows for the run game to hit a little bit better.
On if he is looking to get redshirt senior tight end Trevon Wesco more touches over the final games of the season.
Yeah. I thought the Baylor game showed me that I needed to get him guaranteed touches. Instead of letting the game come to him, let’s design some plays where he gets automatic touches.
On if he is excited to have redshirt senior tight end Trevon Wesco as another option in the passing game
Yeah, it adds a lot to the game-planning aspect of it. When you start going into it, you didn’t know that he was going to be taking over games like he has these past couple of games. You have touches where (senior wide receiver) David (Sills V) gets the ball, when (senior wide receiver) Gary (Jennings Jr.) gets the ball and the shots for (junior wide receiver) Marcus (Simms), and the running backs are going to get their touches. But you just start expanding that playbook, and your call sheet gets longer in terms of, ‘How can I get Wesco touches now? Or how can I get (redshirt sophomore tight end/fullback) Jovani (Haskins) out in space?’ The additions of these tight ends have brought a whole lot more to our call sheet. Our call sheets are getting more in-depth now and longer with the verbiage, which is making it harder on Dana (Holgorsen) to read it.
Redshirt Senior Safety Dravon Askew-Henry
On what he’s telling the younger players about playing at Oklahoma State
It’s a good environment out there. The pads are hitting against the wall. It’s a fun place to play. We just have to come ready.
On Oklahoma State wide receiver Tylan Wallace and running back Justice Hill
They’re good players. You turn on the film, they’ll probably be the first two players who stick out. I feel like if we do our job as a defense, as a group together, I feel like we’ll get the job done.
On TCU’s negative rushing yardage
It’s a good feeling, but on Sunday, Coach Gibby (associate head coach/defensive coordinator Tony Gibson) is always going to pull out the plays that we need to correct. It makes you feel like you still have a lot more to improve, and I feel like we can still get better. I feel like we still haven’t played our complete game as a defense yet. It’s still coming.
Redshirt Junior Linebacker David Long Jr.
On Oklahoma State’s offense
The quarterback is pretty nice. They have a lot of speed on the outside, a nice backfield. All around, they have a lineup of good, skilled players. They’re nice up front. It’s going to be a tough game, especially at their house, so we’ll see how that goes.
On if Oklahoma State was hurt by the loss of Mason Rudolph and James Washington
I don’t think it’s a drop-off too much. The quarterback isn’t really a big drop-off; he’s been making plays, well, from the film that I’ve watched, he’s been making plays. I don’t think that’s too much of a drop-off there.
On Oklahoma State running back Justice Hill
He’s pretty quick, not too much of a big guy, but he can definitely make you miss and break some tackles. We definitely have to come to play with the front seven.
Redshirt Senior Quarterback Will Grier
On his management against TCU
I think I did some good things as far as that goes. There is still some stuff we left out there, stuff we want back. We are improving, and I think that it’s an important time to do that. We should be playing our best ball in this month. I think we’re on the right track. We have a lot of stuff that we have to clean up, but that’s the nature of the sport. I think that, as a whole, we found our identity. I think it’s now about playing with passion and finishing the season strong and realizing what opportunities we have ahead.
On improvements on the offensive line
Outstanding job. I’m really proud of them. That group from the beginning has worked really hard and tried every day to get better, and it’s showing. They’ve persistently tried to get better in practice and ask questions. It’s something they take a lot of pride in. I’m really proud of those guys. The way they’ve worked together and continued to improve is now showing. There’s still, obviously, things, like I said, that we have to clean up, but they’ve come a long way and will continue to get better. They’ve gotten better individually, but also as a unit – making calls and working with each other to pass things off, and it shows on film. They’re doing a really, really good job, and we have to continue to challenge that group and continue to get the leadership out of some of those guys up front to finish the season off strong.
On offensive keys for the Oklahoma State game
I think the key at this point in the season with where we’re at with the rest of the games we play, is playing with effort. Playing with effort, playing with passion. Like I said, I think we’ve found our identity. I think we’re in a good spot as an offense, but we have to realize the kind of effort and the finish mentality that it takes to win football games in November and late in the season. Everybody is hurting, everybody is banged up, everybody has played a lot of games, but who’s going to show up on game day and play with more effort and finish blocks better and tackle better and get those extra yards and move the chains and finish with touchdowns and not field goals. Those little things and the mentality that you take into the game are extremely important this time of year. That’s what I pressing as a leader on this team. As leaders on this team, we are all pressing that passion and effort and bringing it to practice as well so that on game day we are ready to go.
Redshirt Senior Tight End Trevon Wesco
On what makes him such a physical player
I don’t know. I guess the long journey that I’ve had. The work that I put in for my body, I guess you could say I can play physical. In high school, I played quarterback, I go to receiver, I go back to quarterback, go to tight end, go back to quarterback my senior year. I’m only 212 pounds. Then I can’t come to West Virginia, then I go to JUCO. Then, I’m 230 pounds. Then, I get to 260. Then I come here, I’m 260. Then, I gain 10 more pounds a couple years later. It’s just a long journey.
On how putting on weight
It just naturally happened. It really didn’t bother me any. It just naturally happened. I started lifting weights more seriously. In high school, you really don’t lift a lot of heavy weights. It’s not as serious lifting as it is being in college. I really think that had an effect on it.
On if tight ends will play a bigger role in the Mountaineers’ offensive strategy
Personally, I definitely think that’s where the future is going with the room that we have and the talent that we have. We have young guys who are almost just like me. We have two freshmen who are big boys, and you have (redshirt sophomore tight end/fullback) Jovani (Haskins). He’s big, too. I definitely see, in the future, it definitely expanding, hopefully.
Associate Head Coach (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) Tony Gibson
On redshirt junior linebacker David Long Jr.
He’s so instinctive, and he understands our scheme, number one. He understands what people are trying to do to us. He studies a lot of film, and he has a nose for the ball. He’s special.
On if Oklahoma State has instituted more quarterback runs into their game plan this year
They do. (Oklahoma State quarterback Taylor) Cornelius does a really good job of getting himself out of trouble and extending plays. They’ll run him a lot more than they did (Mason) Rudolph. I don’t think they’re missing (James) Washington a whole lot with (Oklahoma State wide receiver Tylan) Wallace. He’s really, really good, and (Oklahoma State wide receiver Tyron) Johnson, on the other side, is good. (Oklahoma State wide receiver Dillon) Stoner is good. So, they have some guys that can make plays.
On how redshirt junior linebacker David Long Jr.’s versatility has helped the MIKE linebacker position
That’s a hard job to play off David, because he does so many things. I give him the freedom to do that, because he can make a play so it’s less hard on the MIKE. When we have a consistent MIKE in there, they get used to how he plays, and that part is a learning curve for them.
On if he notices when teams try to make redshirt junior linebacker David Long Jr. a non-factor
Yeah, I do. It started with Baylor. Baylor did a lot of FSL, Texas ran a lot of it and TCU did some. So, they’re trying to pull him out of the box, and we have to make adjustments and get him back involved. We try to do our best to keep him in there, in that tackle box, so they can’t avoid him in the run game. But yes, people know who No. 11 is, and if they don’t, then they obviously don’t watch film, I guess.
On if the ultimate sign of respect is when opposing teams focus the most on one player
No doubt about it. He’s different, he’s special. Everything I told you guys three years ago that I thought he would be, it’s turned out that he is.
On if Oklahoma State’s version of the spread offense is similar to the traditional version of the spread offense
It’s pretty similar with what they want to do. The misnomer with them is that they can’t run the ball. They’re averaging 511 yards a game, offensively. (Oklahoma State quarterback Taylor) Cornelius does a good job of throwing, but also, they probably have the best running back in the Big 12 – Justice Hill. He’s special.
On what is a part of the makeup of a great linebacker
I think the ability to be able to make a play or shed a block. The thing that’s amazing about him (redshirt junior linebacker David Long Jr.), and you all see it or see it on a TV copy where you can get in and break the play down, is how he maneuvers and plays off one foot when he’s jumping through a gap or he gets skinny and doesn’t give a lot of blocking surface. Then, he’s able to pop back out and make a play. His instincts are unbelievable.
On who redshirt junior linebacker David Long Jr. is comparable to
I haven’t been around a lot of guys like him who have a nose for the ball like he has. I was here with Grant Wiley. Grant was the same kind of player. Grant was a little bigger, but David, doing the things he can do, I wish I could tell you that it was me coaching but it’s not, trust me. The best coaching advice I can give him is, ‘Go make a play.’
On what makes Oklahoma State running back Justice Hill different from other running backs in college football
His speed. He’s different. Some backs are big, strong and will run through you. They’re hard to bring down. This kid can run through you. He’s different. He’s so different than any other back that we’ve seen to this point.
On Oklahoma State quarterback Taylor Cornelius
It seems like he has a great understanding of what they do and how to distribute the ball. He takes shots at times when they need it, and he’ll play action you. The other thing that makes him different from a guy like (Mason) Rudolph is he’s so involved with the run game. Obviously, you have to keep an extra guy down in the box for that. Then, when they pull a designed run, he has the option where he can run, or he has the option to throw off that too. Obviously, Mason Rudolph is a great quarterback, and I’m sure sitting behind him, learning and watching him has really helped his game. But I have a lot of respect for the kid. I think the kid is a winner. They’re putting up a lot of points, a lot of yards. He’s 6’6”. I think (junior linebacker) JoVanni (Stewart) may be able to see over his belt.
On Oklahoma State running back Justice Hill’s game against WVU last season
I don’t know if he had an ankle, shoulder or a head. But the first run, he went for 40 yards. Then on the next run, they gave it back to him, and he fumbled. That was when the injury happened, but again, he’s tough. I’ve always had great respect for him as well just playing against him the last few years. He’s a game changer. We’re going to have to be on top of that.
On why the defense struggles when playing on the road
I think a little bit of that deals with who we play. Obviously, with Iowa State and Texas, those are pretty good ball clubs. You can see our kids’ confidence at home. They feed off the crowd. I’m sure that has a little bit to do with it, and the other things is, up until the Iowa State game, I don’t think we were ever behind in a game. So, we got behind, and that was the first time we had been behind, on the road, in a hostile environment. I think we got on our heels, and it was hard to recover. The same thing happened at Texas. We let them off the hook a few times with some pressures, and they made some big plays. Their crowd got into it. I think all that plays a factor into it.
On Oklahoma State wide receiver Tylan Wallace’s big-play ability
I don’t know how he does it, but he contorts his body. He’s unbelievable, and you look back on it and you think, ‘What did we miss on this kid last year?’ I think he had seven catches a year ago. That’s a big turnaround that kid has had, and I just saw that he is a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff. He deserves every bit of it. He can run, he can catch the ball, he’s physical at the point of attack with the ball. He’ll go over people, around people, above people. He’s a really good player.
On if he is comparable to other wide receivers that WVU has seen this season
I think he’s totally different. I think he moves better than all those guys. He can run. His running ability is most like the (Jalen) Reagor kid we just played from TCU. He’s a little bigger, but we’re going to have our hands full.
Assistant Coach (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks) Jake Spavital
On how WVU’s pass protection has improved over the past couple of weeks
I think we went back to the basics of things with our points with (redshirt junior offensive lineman) Matt (Jones). Be confident, make one point and we’ll play off the rest where (redshirt senior quarterback) Will (Grier) has a pretty good understanding of his hot reads. I think that has helped us from a protection standpoint. Now, we’re going up against a very good Oklahoma State team that will catch you off guard with some blitzes. They’ll do some things that are uncharacteristic that you don’t see very often, and they’ll get you. That’s why they’re one of the top teams in the country in sacks right now. So, we do have a tough challenge with that moving forward, but I think with the success of protecting how they have over the past couple weeks has been simplifying it up front, and Will’s been doing a really good job with understanding his hot reads.
On if he has ever had two tight ends play well in the same season or at the same program
I have not at that high of a level. Looking out there and watching (redshirt senior tight end Trevon) Wesco play, I thought he took that game over. It was pretty impressive to watch. When you look at (redshirt sophomore tight end/fullback) Jovani (Haskins) and what he brings to the table as well, it’s pretty amazing to watch those guys compete where we don’t have to be in 10 personnel as much anymore. That was something, last year, that we were in all the time was 10 personnel, and we wore those receivers down throughout the course of the year. Looking back at where we are now compared to this point last year, our receivers haven’t even gotten nearly the amount of yardage. That’s based off the play of these tight ends.
On if having two experienced running backs helps the offense at this point in the season
I think so. You get down to these games, and there’s a lot on the line. These guys (junior running backs Kennedy McKoy and Martell Pettaway) have consistently made plays before. I think they’re playing at a really high level right now, and you go into it with the mindset that you’re going to play them all and try to get them touches. We started off that way, and you just see the hot hand. It’s a no-brainer to you guys, too. Those are the two that are jumping off the field when you look at it. Those guys are making some big plays. So, you typically lean on Kennedy and Pettaway, and I think a lot of that has to do with their maturity level. I think Pettaway and (redshirt freshman Alec Sinkfield) Sink are going to be really good players. You’re going to have one of those games in the future where, I hope, (freshman running back) Leddie (Brown) jumps off the page. That’s what we want to see. I think, consistently, over time and the with the amount of ball those two have played, with Kennedy and Pettaway, they’re leadership and maturity is taking over.
On Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles
I’ve been familiar with him before, and we’ve gone up against him before. You have a pretty good idea, but you study it. You try to refresh yourself over the summer. Being a later game, you have a lot of tape to watch on the guys also. He’s been interesting on the move, but it’s part of the business. I think he does a good job. It’s a different test, it’s a different style of defense that we’re used to facing against Oklahoma State. It’s going to be a fun game.
On how Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ scheme is different
He’s more aggressive. He plays a lot more man (coverage), uses a lot more exotic blitzes. That’s why it’s going to be a fun game, because he can catch you for a negative yard play really quick, or we can hit him with a big play. It turns into a chess match, a guessing game. He keeps you on your toes the entire game.
On handling Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ exotic blitz packages
There’s a lot to do with it in terms of the question on protections. You get into that guessing game where he’s bluffing over here, or he’s blitzing over here, and we’re getting into the wrong points from a protection standpoint. It’s about playing with a good tempo, keeping them off guard with keeping the same personnel groupings out there and keeping your different formations and making sure that they can’t get that in as clearly as they want to. A lot has to be dictated by the pace of play, but it’s also about keeping it simple for those kids if you’re going to play fast, so they can make their points and execute what they think is clean.
On if he is pleased with how redshirt senior quarterback Will Grier has gotten rid of the ball when he has to over the last few games
He did it this past Saturday versus TCU. I thought this past game was Will’s best game that he has ever managed. There were times when he was going through his progressions, there were protection breakdowns and he threw it away. There were times when he got to his hot reads immediately. The (senior wide receiver) Gary Jennings (Jr.) route for the touchdown was his second progression. There were multiple times he got to his third progression. So, I thought, overall, how he was managing the game, getting through his progressions and checking out of bad run calls, I think he just has a really good grasp on what he is trying to accomplish right now.
On why redshirt senior tight end Trevon Wesco was named offensive player of the game vs. TCU
When we looked at it, and I think you guys saw it too, Wesco was taking that game over. When he was catching the ball, his yards after contact were great. He was making people miss in space. He had a tough challenge of blocking No. 91 for TCU (L.J. Collier), who I think is a very good player, and he brought it every single play with a physical nature. That’s why those runs started popping so well for us. So, he brings not just what you guys see with the catches, him getting upfield and the touchdowns, but it’s also the added element of his selflessness. He’s laying his whole body out on the line to get that run game going. We just thought, overall, he was helping us the most out of anybody.
On if opposing defenses are starting to adjust for redshirt senior tight end Trevon Wesco
I think it just adds to it. I think they have to account for him when he’s in the game, there’s a possibility of him catching the ball. When you look at the threats of our receivers out there and how we’re implementing the running backs in the pass game, you have to throw Wesco in there as well. It’s pleasing from my standpoint, where I have a chart with kids all over the field. It’s a good addition where they have to account for the tight end and the possibility of him getting out on a pass play, which that loosens up the box a little bit. That allows for the run game to hit a little bit better.
On if he is looking to get redshirt senior tight end Trevon Wesco more touches over the final games of the season.
Yeah. I thought the Baylor game showed me that I needed to get him guaranteed touches. Instead of letting the game come to him, let’s design some plays where he gets automatic touches.
On if he is excited to have redshirt senior tight end Trevon Wesco as another option in the passing game
Yeah, it adds a lot to the game-planning aspect of it. When you start going into it, you didn’t know that he was going to be taking over games like he has these past couple of games. You have touches where (senior wide receiver) David (Sills V) gets the ball, when (senior wide receiver) Gary (Jennings Jr.) gets the ball and the shots for (junior wide receiver) Marcus (Simms), and the running backs are going to get their touches. But you just start expanding that playbook, and your call sheet gets longer in terms of, ‘How can I get Wesco touches now? Or how can I get (redshirt sophomore tight end/fullback) Jovani (Haskins) out in space?’ The additions of these tight ends have brought a whole lot more to our call sheet. Our call sheets are getting more in-depth now and longer with the verbiage, which is making it harder on Dana (Holgorsen) to read it.
Redshirt Senior Safety Dravon Askew-Henry
On what he’s telling the younger players about playing at Oklahoma State
It’s a good environment out there. The pads are hitting against the wall. It’s a fun place to play. We just have to come ready.
On Oklahoma State wide receiver Tylan Wallace and running back Justice Hill
They’re good players. You turn on the film, they’ll probably be the first two players who stick out. I feel like if we do our job as a defense, as a group together, I feel like we’ll get the job done.
On TCU’s negative rushing yardage
It’s a good feeling, but on Sunday, Coach Gibby (associate head coach/defensive coordinator Tony Gibson) is always going to pull out the plays that we need to correct. It makes you feel like you still have a lot more to improve, and I feel like we can still get better. I feel like we still haven’t played our complete game as a defense yet. It’s still coming.
Redshirt Junior Linebacker David Long Jr.
On Oklahoma State’s offense
The quarterback is pretty nice. They have a lot of speed on the outside, a nice backfield. All around, they have a lineup of good, skilled players. They’re nice up front. It’s going to be a tough game, especially at their house, so we’ll see how that goes.
On if Oklahoma State was hurt by the loss of Mason Rudolph and James Washington
I don’t think it’s a drop-off too much. The quarterback isn’t really a big drop-off; he’s been making plays, well, from the film that I’ve watched, he’s been making plays. I don’t think that’s too much of a drop-off there.
On Oklahoma State running back Justice Hill
He’s pretty quick, not too much of a big guy, but he can definitely make you miss and break some tackles. We definitely have to come to play with the front seven.
Redshirt Senior Quarterback Will Grier
On his management against TCU
I think I did some good things as far as that goes. There is still some stuff we left out there, stuff we want back. We are improving, and I think that it’s an important time to do that. We should be playing our best ball in this month. I think we’re on the right track. We have a lot of stuff that we have to clean up, but that’s the nature of the sport. I think that, as a whole, we found our identity. I think it’s now about playing with passion and finishing the season strong and realizing what opportunities we have ahead.
On improvements on the offensive line
Outstanding job. I’m really proud of them. That group from the beginning has worked really hard and tried every day to get better, and it’s showing. They’ve persistently tried to get better in practice and ask questions. It’s something they take a lot of pride in. I’m really proud of those guys. The way they’ve worked together and continued to improve is now showing. There’s still, obviously, things, like I said, that we have to clean up, but they’ve come a long way and will continue to get better. They’ve gotten better individually, but also as a unit – making calls and working with each other to pass things off, and it shows on film. They’re doing a really, really good job, and we have to continue to challenge that group and continue to get the leadership out of some of those guys up front to finish the season off strong.
On offensive keys for the Oklahoma State game
I think the key at this point in the season with where we’re at with the rest of the games we play, is playing with effort. Playing with effort, playing with passion. Like I said, I think we’ve found our identity. I think we’re in a good spot as an offense, but we have to realize the kind of effort and the finish mentality that it takes to win football games in November and late in the season. Everybody is hurting, everybody is banged up, everybody has played a lot of games, but who’s going to show up on game day and play with more effort and finish blocks better and tackle better and get those extra yards and move the chains and finish with touchdowns and not field goals. Those little things and the mentality that you take into the game are extremely important this time of year. That’s what I pressing as a leader on this team. As leaders on this team, we are all pressing that passion and effort and bringing it to practice as well so that on game day we are ready to go.
Redshirt Senior Tight End Trevon Wesco
On what makes him such a physical player
I don’t know. I guess the long journey that I’ve had. The work that I put in for my body, I guess you could say I can play physical. In high school, I played quarterback, I go to receiver, I go back to quarterback, go to tight end, go back to quarterback my senior year. I’m only 212 pounds. Then I can’t come to West Virginia, then I go to JUCO. Then, I’m 230 pounds. Then, I get to 260. Then I come here, I’m 260. Then, I gain 10 more pounds a couple years later. It’s just a long journey.
On how putting on weight
It just naturally happened. It really didn’t bother me any. It just naturally happened. I started lifting weights more seriously. In high school, you really don’t lift a lot of heavy weights. It’s not as serious lifting as it is being in college. I really think that had an effect on it.
On if tight ends will play a bigger role in the Mountaineers’ offensive strategy
Personally, I definitely think that’s where the future is going with the room that we have and the talent that we have. We have young guys who are almost just like me. We have two freshmen who are big boys, and you have (redshirt sophomore tight end/fullback) Jovani (Haskins). He’s big, too. I definitely see, in the future, it definitely expanding, hopefully.