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

‘Next White Chocolate’ next at WVU?

August 16, 2016 by Mike Casazza

Jordan McCabe is one of the best players in Wisconsin as far as the 2018 class is concerned. As a sophomore, he averaged 25 points and 6 assists per game and led Kaukauna High to the Division 2 state title. He’s been famous for a while, and though maybe you’ve never heard of him, you might be getting to know him soon.

The 5-foot-11 McCabe has a commitment ceremony at 6:15 p.m. EST today. WVU is an apparent favorite, though McCabe also holds scholarship offers from Missouri, Minnesota, DePaul, Wisconsin-Green Bay and Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

‘You’re kidding.’

by Mike Casazza

That was my response when I got a tip this morning.

It’s also probably your response when you read that the tip has merit.

Ferns was the No. 2 at middle linebacker, “and it’s clear,” according to defensive coordinator Tony Gibson. After him, it was Hodari Christian. You could see some shifting of outside linebacker inside when Al-Rasheed Benton isn’t on the field, but even though this is a backup — and a freshman, at that — it’s a bit more complicated than what we believe is the process to replace Dravon Askew-Henry.

 

Tuesday Haiku

by Mike Casazza

The final day of preseason camp means just one thing.

Aha! Tony Gibson explains that 3-1-7

August 15, 2016 by Mike Casazza

 

Remember last week when WVU snapped the ball eight whole times for the media and we saw the defense line up in a 3-1-7? Tony Gibson and I spoke about that.

Yet there was a purpose to the alignment. WVU not only has to find new starters at both cornerback spots and now all three spots, but defensive coordinator Tony Gibson needed a chance to get a look at multiple players at once. Why? He might want to or have to use seven defensive backs more than normal this season.

“It was a little bit of both,” he said. “And then the third thing was to mess with you guys and make you figure out who was in what position and why.”

Rouse? Rehearsal? A little bit of both again? You might see this more than you think in 2016.

In the hunt?

by Mike Casazza

Congratulations on the terrible headline, Mike!

Ah, but there’s a point. Before we get there, have a look at West Virginia’s newest football commit. He’s very excited.

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‘It’s amazing what I’ve seen’

by Mike Casazza

 

What you have to know and what has been misunderstood about the state of WVU’s defensive line during preseason camp is that Jaleel Fields and Xavier Pegues were not hurt during camp or even close to the start on Aug. 2. The Mountaineers knew about the injuries, the operations, the recovery time and the need for replacements in the spring.

So when defensive coordinator Tony Gibson calls the defensive line a bright spot, you don’t need to wince and wonder if you heard/read that right.

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So, about that scrimmage…

by Mike Casazza

This is not accurate. But it’s not absurd, either. And since I can’t stop you, go ahead and caption this.

Anyhow, remember when we posited last week that, though it wasn’t the goal, one effect of having a scrimmage open to the media Saturday was to generate some attention and excitement? I liked that theory, and after the Dravon Askew-Henry news, it seemed like an even better idea. Well, the defense has some work to do, but there’s time and there’s Tony Gibson. But seriously, how about that offense?!?!

That did not happen. Quite the opposite, in fact.

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Scrimmage preview

August 13, 2016 by Mike Casazza

That’s cool. You know what’s not cool? Blue Adams in workout pants and a turtleneck under a T-shirt.

We’re live at the scrimmage, but we’re not allowed to report on it as it happens. I can tell you there are answers to some questions but no real surprises. I’ll explain later.

One thing I cal tell you is that Rushell Shell won’t work out today. Remember when he was absent Tuesday and I said didn’t know why? Nobody would tell me, until Saturday. “He’s been concussed,” Dana Holgorsen said.

More Justin Crawford!

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Dravon Askew-Henry out for the season

August 12, 2016 by Mike Casazza

Once again, an ACL claims WVU’s best defensive player. And like Karl Joseph before him, Dravon Askew-Henry was the most-revered player on that side of the ball. This is going to stink away from the football field. He took to a leadership role in the offseason and apparently aced it, which I wrote about in today’s Gazette-Mail. Bigger than that? He was excited to revise a starring role.

“I feel like I play better in this role,” said Askew-Henry, a top recruit out of Aliquippa (Pa.) High School in the 2014 class who was first-team all-state as an athlete in 2013 and as a defensive back in 2012. “I was in the role my whole life. I pretty much can’t wait for the opportunity to come again.”

What now?

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Friday Feedback

by Mike Casazza

Welcome to the Friday Feedback. Call this our scrimmage as we near the end of camp and get to the editions that really count. Tomorrow, West Virginia scrimmages, and as we discussed previously, it sort of starts to take form and starts to count from there. Everything leading up to it matters, but the coaches are going in with people and things they want to see and work on, because camp ends Tuesday.

They want to walk off the field Saturday with answers, so figure they’ll leave as few questions out there as possible. We’ll pay attention to who goes where and when, as well as what the Mountaineers do in different scenarios and spots on the field, but as always, we’ll do it with the appropriate amount of skepticism.

It’s going to be the most informative day of the 13 camp days, and it will shape what happens when the Mountaineers begin what they call practice as they ready for Missouri.

Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, keep your cool.

Dann White said:

Once again, I have crafted a beautiful comment regarding the seemingly hostile attitude regarding Skyler Howard, a young-fellow with a heart as big as Texas; who apparently is now to be roasted for being our best hope at QB. Once again I let it sit for 2-3 hours and deleted it by default when I closed the browser.This young guy is two (2), yes-two drops-muffs-breakups a game from a 62% completion ratio last year and one would think he had been running around Morgantown wearing a Pitt Jersey. I, personally refuse to criticize a kid who has fought so hard and overcame so many obstacles, because I am unhappy with our seeming inability to recruit a blue-chip quarterback. A problem, apparently going around a whole host of schools not named Alabama, Ohio State, UCLA, and Stanford.
I hope the new kid, Grier is good as expected, hell, I hope he is phenomenal as a Mountaineer, (as much as I detest the fact that he wasn’t interested in donning the Old Gold and Blue as a prep player) but I am so hoping for a suck-it-up grind it out conference championship and a surprise appearance in the playoff THIS YEAR. Please, let me have this one last chance to dream….
I have to admit that I likely will be in the higher-than-nosebleed seats when he takes the field as a Mountaineer, my ability to watch, enjoy, or even be aware of WVU Football at that point is a concept that is certainly debatable but far beyond any discussion group I am likely to attend. Like those comments I keep deleting, such things just seem to lose importance when compared to our mortality.
This blog has been a high point, by the way.
While still reserving the right to get well, (I and the doctors are trying) I would like to take in one home-game this year. If anyone has some tickets to sell or barter (at least 4) I could use them. I’d like to catch a cool weather game (My Birthday is October 9TH) so if you have some to part with or even a suggestion, my email isdwtoo@hotmail.com .
Meanwhile, know that I hate to not participate, but there seems to be a contradiction between high doses of narcotics and moderate periods of comprehensible commentary on any topic. For now, I guess my choices are made for me. I’m still here, hovering about like a guardian angel. Watch what you say…….Dann

Party with Dann?!!?

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