(WVU offensive coordinator Gerad Parker press conference)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVU offensive coordinator Gerad Parker calls it an ugly word.
It is also a four-letter word and it haunted many Mountaineer receivers through the 2020 season. That word is ‘drop’. Television broadcasts frequently flashed graphics during WVU games with the number of dropped passes by the Mountaineers and although the exact definition of a dropped ball can vary, it was an unmistakable problem that hindered development on the offensive side of the ball.
Parker says the last seven months have been time well spent as the wideouts look to shed the struggles from last season.
“The guys have really put in the work from January to now,” Parker said. “They have caught over 110,000 balls. They have put in a great deal of work that they have done and charted on their own in order to get into a position where they have confidence to be able to catch the football consistently and also handle the ugly word called a ‘drop’. We call it a ‘bad catch’. But it is the ability to handle that. It is going to happen. How many happen is based on our mentality.”
Four of West Virginia’s top five receivers from last year have returned. Winston Wright led the group with 47 catches for 553 yards. Bryce Ford-Wheaton (27 catches for 416 yards), Sam James (31 receptions for 300 yards) and Sean Ryan (25 catches for 264 yards) are back as well. Parker says he would like to find a couple more reliable wideouts to fill out the rotation at the start of the season.
“You would love to have the ability week in and week out to play with your top six, to rotate and play fast like we want to. The deeper you are the better you are because injuries and things will happen, unfortunately.”
Sam Brown showed flashes of his abilities during his freshman season. He caught four passes in the opener against Eastern Kentucky and three more in the Liberty Bowl win over Army.
“Now I think (Brown) is really lost in the moment of just getting to work, making plays and playing fast. The rest will take care of itself.”
The most highly-touted newcomer in the group is Kaden Prather. The Maryland native enrolled early at WVU and was able to participate in spring practice.
“He is much further along mentally in the knowledge of what we are doing, which allows him to play faster. Now he is at the point where the speed of it all is still a surprise to those guys.”
The present and the future under center
Even though his eligibility clock has still not started at WVU, Jarret Doege has started thirteen games at quarterback for the Mountaineers. He played in four games in 2019 and every player in college football received a free season of eligibility in 2020. Entering his fifth season of college football, Doege has assumed added responsibilities that are attached to the quarterback position.
“Leadership is exhausting because you don’t get a day off when you are in those modes. So the players, at their age, I don’t know if they realize that. And he is realizing it in a good way. Because in his position, he has to be a strong leader for us.”
Redshirt freshman Garrett Greene played sparingly last season but figures to be next in line under center.
“Garrett is just picking up from the spring where he left off. Now he has a stronger knowledge of all we are doing. Now he just has to continue to let it slow down, keep anxiety low and see what he sees. I think you will see a trend of it slowing down for him as it goes. He is willing. He is a great dude. The guys love him in the locker room. He’s got juice. He and Doege have a great relationship in how they share knowledge and compete with each other the right way.”
Fast start, but camp grind awaits
Full contact drills have not yet started and the Mountaineers are just two days into preseason practice. So the grind of training camp is still a long way from settling in. Parker is pleased with early returns in energy on the field.
“As of now, they are eager and they played fast. They made plenty of mistakes yet did them fast, had great attitudes and played with great effort. That has been a big piece of our offensive staff and the full unit has discussed attitude and effort. And those things are so much further along than they were, which is certainly a great feeling.”