MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Necessity may force West Virginia to dust off its fullbacks this season.
The Mountaineers have been short-handed at tight end for much of training camp. Both Jovani Haskins and TJ Banks have worn green non-contact jerseys for the majority of August. That leaves Mike O’Laughlin as the healthiest tight end, and this month marks the first time he has been a full-go after tearing an ACL around this time last year.
“We’re getting a lot of reps with Haskins in walkthroughs, but he can’t physically bang anybody around with that shoulder right now. He’s getting a lot of mental reps,” said co-offensive coordinator Matt Moore. “O’Laughlin is improving every week. He’s more of a physical guy, but he does have good hands.”
With the offensive line still in flux – Josh Sills was moved to center this week and there’s an open audition for right guard – it makes sense that the Mountaineers will still want a sixth blocker on the field. Fullbacks Logan Thimons and Jack Knipper are shaping up to be that option.
An S-back – basically an H-back as described in Brown’s parlance – was a common feature in offenses at Troy the past four seasons.
“Those guys have got to continue to come on,” Brown said of his fullbacks. “I wanted to get those guys as many reps as we could. Logan Thimons hasn’t played a lot of offense. He’s done great on special teams, but hasn’t played a lot of offense. Knipper is new to the program.”
Thimons changed positions from linebacker this spring after Brown arrived from Troy. Knipper is an even newer arrival, getting to campus this summer after leaving Western Michigan. Because he was a walk-on with the Broncos, Knipper will be able to play immediately.
“He was a walk-on there and wasn’t happy,” Moore said. “I coached in high school with his uncle in Alabama. I said ‘Come walk on.’ It’s been a very pleasant addition to our fullback crew.”
Knipper is originally from Beavercreek, Ohio, a suburb of Dayton.
Another different backfield look
In addition to using fullbacks, two tailbacks and running backs in the slot, the Mountaineers have added another wrinkle to the run game.
Kennedy McKoy and Martell Pettaway have both been practicing in the wildcat formation.
“One of those guys will do a good job,” Moore said. “It’s about reps and getting the cadence down. Pettaway’s done a really good job. He’s starting to understand it.”
The wildcat, which features a tailback lined behind center in the shotgun, was a popular fad a decade ago thanks to the success of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones at Arkansas. It hasn’t been seen as much in recent seasons, though West Virginia has used a wildcat package with McKoy on rare occasions.
Quarterback battle may be determined Friday
In an item that may not be entirely unrelated to West Virginia’s use of the wildcat, the quarterback competition remains undetermined.
“All three of those guys did some good things [Wednesday], but they put us in some bad spots as far as taking sacks and turning the ball over,” Brown said. “We’ve got to get better with that.”
The Mountaineers will conduct their second preseason scrimmage Friday night. Once the video is assessed from that performance, Brown hopes to be able to name a starter early next week. He has a press conference scheduled for next Tuesday.
“We’re going to do a bunch of live work. This week will be a good indicator,” Brown said. “By the weekend I’ll assess where we’re at. Hopefully by then I’ll have a good idea.”