West Virginia Mountaineers: Dana Holgorsen News Conference

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.  – West Virginia University football coach Dana Holgorsen addressed members of the media on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, at the Milan Puskar Center Team Room.

Opening Statement

Welcome everyone. This TCU week is always a fun week. I think there’s a little extra incentive in this game just obviously based on the fact that we both came into the league at the same time five years ago. You look back at the games that have been played, typically very competitive, a lot of fun, got a lot of respect for each other, I think just based on the fact that we had a lot of success outside the Big 12, and then once we’ve been in the Big 12 have had some pretty competitive games. Four years ago overtime game, three years ago overtime game, two years ago here on Mountaineer field, I thought we played really good, we just didn’t get it done, and they won on the last second field goal. They went on to dominate in a New Year’s Day game that year. They were pretty good. Last year, I thought they were excellent as well. We didn’t play very good. It was game four, of that four game stretch that no one really wants to talk about it anymore. Didn’t play very well last year, so I know our kids are going to be excited to be able to get back out there to play these guys because typically we’ve always been a pretty hard fought game. Got a lot of respect for their program. They’ve done things right. (TCU’s head coach) Gary (Patterson) is widely known as one of the best defensive coaches out there. We all know that. Pretty much says the same thing from a head coach perspective has done just wonders for our profession, does a great job.

Defensively, they look the same as they always have. Their front is good. Pretty much the same guys we played last year. Their linebackers are excellent. The (junior linebacker) (Travin) Howard kid, 32, is all over the place, 30 the (senior safety) (Denzel) Johnson kid is all over the place. Those guys run, cover ground and make tackles. Their d-line has always been extremely disciplined. They have 40 back, the (senior defensive end) (James) McFarland guy who was defensive MVP in that Ole Miss game in the Peach Bowl. Didn’t play last year, he’s back, giving them a spark. No. 94 (senior defensive end) (Josh) Carraway is long and gets to the quarterback and is tough to deal with, so that front is really good. Same front, plus a guy, so we have our work cut out for us there, but they look good. They don’t look any different than they’ve looked to me, and we’ve been going against (TCU head coach) Gary’s defenses for a long time. He’s been there doing the same stuff for a long time. One of the things that we’re starting to reap the benefits is from his continuity. Defensively, we’re going into the third year of the scheme and have a lot of guys who understand what to do. Well that’s what TCU has been doing for years and years and years as long as (TCU head coach) Gary has been there, he’s been pretty sharp with what they’ve done defensively.

Offensively, it’s interesting to see how they’ve been replacing some of their guys. It kind of hits home a little bit because this is what we’ve done with our football team, but they have a lot of transfers in there. They have grad transfers, they have junior college transfers, they have four year transfers, starts with (junior quarterback) (Kenny) Ken Hill, a transfer from Texas A&M. We’re all familiar with him and what he did at A&M and transfers into TCU, sits a year. He’s a Fort Worth kid, played at Southlake Carroll, one of the most widely recognized high schools in the country, so he’s been well coached for a long time, but they have a couple of receivers. They have one from LSU. He doesn’t catch a pass at LSU, then comes to TCU and all the sudden he’s all-world, so they’re utilizing transfers well. The (junior wide receiver) (Taj) Williams kid, No. 2, the receiver, played out of junior college originally out of Tallahassee. He can run, he’s long. Looks great. They have a Michigan transfer in at running back and a couple other guys as well. Was extremely good last year on offense. We all know that. We get what they did. (Trevone) Boykin was a pain in our side for four years. He’s doing well in the NFL. Couple of receivers are doing well in the NFL as well. They have an experienced offensive line. They’re replacing a lot of those guys with transfers and guys who have been in their system. (TCU’s Co-Offensive Coordinator/Inside wide receivers) Doug Meacham and (Co-Offensive Coordinator/quarterbacks coach) Sonny Cumbie do a great job. Third year in their system for them, so they’re pretty established. It’s going to be our biggest test. Nothing you can say. ‘Well Dana you said that last week.’ Well (Texas) Tech was a big test. These guys are hitting on all cylinders right now and another top-five offense that’s going to be extremely challenging. They’re more balanced. They’re averaging about 200 yards a game rushing, not only do they run around and throw it a good bit, but they can run the ball as well. Just under 200 a game rushing, but they will call more runs, one thing that we didn’t really have to worry about last week.

Special teams, it’s something they pay attention to. The thing that really sticks out is the return aspect of their game. They punt return, kick return. I know (sophomore wide receiver) (KaVontae) Turpin is great. Is he going to be back? Is he not going to be back? I don’t know if we totally know the answer to that yet, but they have other guys. No. 10 the (junior wide receiver) (Desmon) White kid and No. 20 the (senior wide receiver) (Deante) Gray kid, those guys can go as well. They focus a lot on it. They spend a lot of time on it, and they’re dangerous in the return game, and then the coverage units are excellent. They’re fast, they’re physical, they get down the field and they cause problems. We have to continue to improve on special teams. It hasn’t lost us a game yet. We’re going to continue to focus on it. We need to be solid. Looking forward to a good weeks of work. Should be a fun deal. I know everyone is looking forward to it. Sold out game, good quality Big 12 game, two quality teams. It’s going to be a great atmosphere in Morgantown, so looking forward to Saturday.

On why TCU’s defense statistics are down this year

Yeah, just because they’re not just totally choking people out which is what they’ve done in the past, they’ve had defenses in the past where they’ve choked people out. They’ve led the nation in defense. Two years ago when they came here, they led pretty much every defensive category that existed, so just because they’re not that doesn’t mean that they’re not good. They’re really good. It’s the same system. It’s the same scheme. (TCU’s head coach) Gary’s (Patterson) coaching it the same way. What they’re doing offensively is putting their defense at risk a little bit. That’s been an issue but it looks to me like the players are every bit as good as the ones that have been there in the past. The schemes are good. They’re always in position. Based on Gary’s (Patterson) track record for coaching guys up during the bye week, I’m expecting those guys to be twice as good what I’ve seen on film when they played Kansas two weeks ago. He’ll get their attention, and they’ll come in and they’ll be ready to go.

On the similarities and differences between junior quarterback Kenny Hill and Trevone Boykin

Doesn’t tuck it and run it as much. The thing about Boykin was, I guess, three years ago he was their best receiver. I don’t know if Hill would be their best receiver right now, but he looks to throw. He’s a pocket guy who can get out and throw it around. He’ll do more scrambling to throw it like (Texas Tech) (Patrick) Mahomes did, which was something I’ve never seen before to that extent. Where Boykin would get out there and just and just go. He could really run and get out into open and make people look silly like we saw last year.

On TCU’s running back kicks

Yeah. They’ve had good backs. The (Aaron) Green kid they had last year could take it and go the distance with it, so they’ve had good quality backs. They’re going to get those guys involved. They’re handing that thing off over 30 times a game. You have to account for the run, and they’re good players. The Michigan transfer (Derrick Green) is a kid out of Virginia. He’s a big thick kid. You have to pay attention to him as well, so yeah they’re going to run the ball. They’ve focused on that. (Co-Offensive Coordinator/Inside Wide Receivers) (Doug) Meacham was with me there at Oklahoma State for a year, and we ran the ball a good bit then. That’s always been in his nature to do that. If the running game is working for them then they’re going to do it a lot. Got kind of the same philosophy that we do.

On junior running back Justin Crawford and freshman running back Kennedy McKoy’s injuries

We’ll see how they do today. They’re going to be fine. I think they probably could have went in if we needed them to, last week, so going to be sore, get used to it. It’s going to be a long season. Guys are going to get nicked up. You’re going to have to rehab it and go out there and play through some soreness. Have to keep practicing to get prepared. No one is injured, people are sore.

On what redshirt senior cornerback Rasul Douglas has brought to the defense

A lot. He has brought a lot. I’ll tell you he’s a really confident kid. Coming in here last year, he got here late August, so he never really was ready. Having a spring, I think (Assistant Coach Cornerbacks) Blue Adams has done a great job with him, technique wise. He’s improved every week. He gets out there and he practices hard, and he improves every week. He’s a confident kid. He likes to talk, he’s upbeat, he’s a great teammate, has a great time getting out there working hard, he’s a hard worker, and he loves to play the game, so his coverage skills have been good, watching him corner blitz and sacking the quarterback last week was awesome, but he just brings a lot of energy to the sidelines, and a lot of leadership. It’s been fun watching him develop. Wish we had him another year.

On how he keeps the players grounded after the 5-0 start

Well, we’ll find out. I don’t think anyone truly knows that answer until we go through it, and I know you all are thinking 2012, I know you all are. This is a totally different team. There are no similarities between the two teams. I think this team is a good group of kids that like each other and like playing the game, and they didn’t listen to when everyone was saying we sucked and they’re not going to listen when everyone is saying we’re good. It’s pretty much as simple as that, so I’m expecting these guys to show up today and be anxious about their preparation and getting ready for a really, really good TCU team. This is our hardest game yet. It’s not even close, but the challenges that these guys pose and the three phases of the game by far the hardest game of the year.

On if there should be different degrees of the targeting penalty in college football

This is the first time I have thought of it that way and it makes sense to me. There are times where guys clearly, they target a defenseless player, and you saw it in the game last week. We are going to coach (redshirt senior cornerback) Maurice (Fleming) up and say ‘look when you get in that position right there you have to move your head to the side.’ I thought he did a decent job of trying to keep his head up, but when that is right there in your face you are going to blink and if you blink you are going to lower your head just a little bit. The integrity of the rule, the Big 12 got it right. I don’t know how to coach that any different. That was a bang, bang thing where he shot the gap and boom the guy was on top of him right now. I don’t think there is anything malicious about what Maurice did, but with that said, I can see how they got there. Maybe they do need to revisit it and guys who are trying to hurt someone, throw them out. I would support that, but guys who are just playing ball and not trying to hurt anyone and not trying to cause any harm that’s unfortunate because Maurice is a good player and he is a good kid and we are going to continue to coach technique the right way. It is unfortunate that we aren’t going to be able to have him for the first half against TCU.

On how the wide receivers have settled into their roles

They better improve. They aren’t anywhere close to being a difference making unit right now, not in my opinion, so they need to improve. To answer your question, I am happy with them settling in to what their roles are. They know what their role is. They need to continue to get better. I thought (senior wide receiver) Daikiel (Shorts Jr.) had a good game, made a couple of plays that were great, blocked well. (Redshirt junior wide receiver) Ka’Raun (White) made some plays, blocked well. (Sophomore wide receiver) Jovon (Durante) made a couple of plays, (sophomore wide receiver) Gary (Jennings) went in there and caught a pass. They are nowhere near being a top-notch receiver group at this point. We have a big week ahead of us.

On if the wide receivers can get to the playing level that they need to be at

Yeah, I think so. I think so. To me, the consistency aspect of it is big. They are a little too inconsistent for me right now.

On if the wide receivers problems can be solved with having a player that can catch short passes

No, it’s not that because I think we have that. (Redshirt junior wide receiver) Ka’Raun (White) did that, (senior wide receiver) Daikiel (Shorts Jr.) did that. (Sophomore wide receiver) Jovon (Durante) and (redshirt junior wide receiver) Shelton (Gibson) continue to be the flashy, inconsistent guys. I’m waiting for someone to step up and make a real difference. I have seen guys step up and make real differences. I don’t see that yet.

On the Big 12 electing not to expand to 12 teams

That’s only thing that I have known. If you play a championship game, that is the only way that I have known it that’s why I said that. I know that they have tabled expansion, and if that is the best thing for the league, then I am all for it. I know our presidents, administrators, AD’s, (Big12) commissioner (Bob) Bowlsby have spent a lot of time on this subject, I haven’t. I worry about my team. They have spent a lot of time on it, and they have come to the conclusion that it is in the Big 12’s best interest and in the 10 teams’ best interest to stay where we are, so that’s what I support.

On how redshirt freshman offensive lineman Colton McKivitz played against Texas Tech

Solid, really solid. If he keeps improving, he will be a heck of a player for us. He was pretty solid. He has his hands full this week. They (TCU) have some ends that will really get after you. I am anxious to see how he does with that kind of guy.

On redshirt junior offensive lineman Grant Lingafelter

Grant has been playing better and better. He is our backup interior o-lineman, so we needed to get him in there, and the more he plays the better he is going to get. I was happy with how he went in there and competed. He is not a starter at this point in time, so he needs to continue to improve and that is through practice. I thought the last two weeks he has done well in practice, so I thought that warranted him going out there and getting some snaps in the game. I thought for what we asked him to do he did a good job. He needs to keep moving forward.

On importance of depth and rotating players

It is going to be important because so many people do the same thing that (Texas) Tech did. There will be teams moving forward like this bunch that will play faster than what Tech did. Baylor and Texas are going to play faster than what Tech did. Missouri snapped the ball 100 times, Tech snapped it 77. TCU is averaging 77, but Texas and Baylor, it goes up. We need to keep playing more people. It was hot, we knew that going in. That is why we rotated receivers. There was a plan to rotate all of those guys and to keep rotating them and playing them. I thought they did well. It all depends on how they play. They have to practice well. They have to get ready to go. When you put them in there it has to look good, if it does then we will keep doing that.

On executing on third down

I don’t view it like that. We come up with a third down plan and when it is third down we do our best to execute it. I would prefer never to be in third down, it’s just not very realistic. Whatever the third down situation is we have to have a plan to be able to go out and execute it. I think we have done a better job of that this year than we have in years past. If we are playing good offense and we are averaging 8.5 yards per play, which is higher than it has been since I have been here, you are not going to be in as many third downs.

On if TCU’s pass rush is the best we have faced all year

I don’t know if I want to stop with just Missouri, because Youngstown State had two guys who will be NFL players. BYU’s guys were active and Kansas State’s (senior defensive end Jordan Willis) number 75 was as good as any of them. We have faced good ones. These guys are like that, they are in the same categories as those guys. Those guys can rush, they are long. TCU has always been a big bull rush team as well. It just caves the pocket in, so we are going to have to be strong and play with good pad level. It’s the same group. It’s the same type deal as those guys. We have our hands full.

On if there is a difference when preparing a 5-0 team versus a team with more losses

I don’t know what it would be. We have a routine that we are in. There may be a mentality that is a little different. Your guys may be in a little better mood, the coaches may be in a little better mood, administration is probably in a little better mood, and fan base is probably in a better mood, probably pretty excited about it, but at the end of the day it is about your preparation. That is what I told them. I hammered it on Sunday, ‘It is about preparation and if you guys like the feeling that you are having right now, then you have to prepare. You have to prepare harder this week than you did last week, because we play a better opponent, that’s the bottom line. If you don’t prepare then we are not going to be in the position to be able to win. Then everyone is going to tell you that you suck again. Then you are going to be in a bad mood.’ Its reality.