The Sock 'Em, Bust 'Em Board Because that's our custom

 

Hey, it’s your room, Joe Wickline. But what of that room?

Now that the, shall we say, intriguing arrangement is over at West Virginia and Ron Crook and Wickline aren’t divvying up duties for how to coach five players, we’re beginning to see a few items of note.

One is that Wickline’s ways are different. Another is … well, just how different Wickline’s world may be.

“It’s not that we’re defiant or militant, it’s just not the way I’ve done it over time,” he said. “Everybody coaches a little differently.”

You get the gist. The Mountaineer linemen are adjusting to Wickline, whether they are veterans or newcomers. Redshirt freshman Josh Sills, for instance, is expected to play a major role this coming season at 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds.

“Josh Sills is starting to come around,” Wickline said. “This isn’t a knock against who coached him or where he came from, but it seems a lot of stuff is new. But he’s a smart guy. He gets it. He comes by my office a lot and says, ‘What can I do better?’ ”

That’s how you adjust. Meanwhile, Wickline is trying to shape the offensive line into one that can block for a standout running back like Justin Crawford and protect a standout quarterback like Will Grier.

Wickline at times says the unit is “blessed” with talent. Yet he also confirms what the depth chart screams.

“It’s a thin group,” Wickline said. “It’s not a deep group. It really gets you back to the old days of finding three guards, three tackles and three centers and not worrying about a two-deep [depth chart]. That’s really where we are right now.”