The Sock 'Em, Bust 'Em Board

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

And you might have a new favorite player

August 16, 2012 by Mike Casazza

He is freshman K.J. Dillon and I want to tell you a brief story about him to set the scene. His first name is actually Kimlon and his mom was the last person to actually call him Kimlon — I don’t know exactly what that means, but I have an idea and I left it at that. So Kimlon Dillon, Jr. goes by K.J. and plays safety for the Mountaineers.

Karl Joseph has identical initials and is a freshman who plays safety for the Mountaineers.

“You call Karl Karl,” Dillon said. “I told him, ‘You can not be called K.J.'”

And that was that. Naturally.

Something to track this season

August 15, 2012 by Mike Casazza

The safe bet is that it never turns into anything, but still I wonder.

Consider that the offense, and maybe even the team, belongs to Stedman Bailey’s best friend, Geno Smith. The best receiver is said to be Tavon Austin, who has been on all the preseason watch lists and all-conference and all-America teams while Bailey has not. The hippest player is freshman Jordan Thompson, who has everyone excited right now.

And then there’s Bailey, which is a hell of a thing to say about a player like him.

In the past few years, we’ve seen receiver popularized as the diva position, and you really don’t know how kids will react to things likes. Yet Bailey seems to be as steady as can be and, through some very blunt honesty, manages some very weighty issues without issue.

This receiver’s fez is familiar

by Mike Casazza

That’s either WVU’s resilient ~~inside~~ outside receiver J.D. Woods or Dr. Evil’s imperturbable henchman Mustafa. I’m truly not sure. Mustafa just wouldn’t die and Woods just won’t give up for the Mountaineers.

Woods hasn’t played a lot, getting into 26 games in three seasons, and he has averaged one reception per game, including none as a redshirt freshman in 2009. What he lacks in playing time and statistics he more than makes up for in self-esteem.

He is where he is not because of gaudy numbers or an irresistible reputation, but rather because he acts like he belongs.

“Nothing can break a confident man,” he said. “Confidence is something I pride myself on.”

Have a look at the future of WVU’s defensive line

by Mike Casazza

This is Kyle Rose, a redshirt freshman defensive tackle who was a defensive end as he sat out last season. And Mr. Rose, believe it or not, is the future as it relates to how WVU and Erik Slaughter will recruit the position that is the most difficult to recruit in college football.

For years and year now, the question around here has remained the same: How will the Mountaineers better recruit better players up front? Slaughter has his answer.

“It’s hard to find really good defensive linemen who are ready to play as young guys,” Slaughter said. “What I always try to do is get guys with height and the ability to run.

“What I know about college life is a guy is always going to get bigger. He’s going to grow up and be heavier. He’s not going to get taller or faster most of the time. I want as many fast, tall guys as I can get.”

One time, K.J. Dillon did this

by Mike Casazza

I think I might enjoy watching this as much as I did old Noel Devine videos. So, given the first opportunity yesterday, I asked him about it. Had to.

“It was a reverse and I was coming around the corner. I’d seen a blocker and I’d seen that dude was going to block for me, but then I’d seen three guys coming. I knew one of them personally and I knew how he hits. He’s always going to hit me low.

“I thought, ‘Maybe I should just hurdle over him.’ It happened that I dove. I didn’t even think about it. I just dove. I didn’t know if I’d make it into the end zone or not, but I did.”

I … I can’t. I just can’t.

Lots of freshmen in mix, will play

August 14, 2012 by Mike Casazza

Defensive coordinator Joe DeForest was asked last week if true freshman defensive lineman Christian Brown, all 6 feet, 2 inches and 300 pounds of him, will play in 2012.

Why, yes, I have seen him play …

WVU’s obsession with elbows, turnovers

by Mike Casazza

The defense has a three-a-day fixation on turnovers. Get three today, it’s a good day. Get two today and four tomorrow, well, tomorrow is a good day, but today was not. WVU truly believes it will win any time the defense gives the offense three extra possessions.

The Mountaineers accomplished the goal throughout the spring — averaged better than three a day, but had days without three — and they’ve subsequently developed this quick, feisty defense that hurries to the ball and then tries to take it.

Think about this: WVU’s newish, youngish defense is taking the ball from a team that doesn’t often give it away, which certainly has something to do with the constant combativeness between the two sides and may be to credit for whatever advanced strides the defense is making, if not in development, than in confidence.

You’ve heard this before, but I wonder if you’ve seen this before. Not the words of Mr. Isaiah Bruce, but the words in action …

WVU rounding into form

by Mike Casazza

Another day, another 50 or so live plays, even though Dana Holgorsen doesn’t really like scrimmaging. Interesting that freshmen are standing and slouching as the coaching staff applies particular tests and that there is a rather sizable difference between the first- and second-team offenses.

Dana Hoglogsen cracks up Dana Holgorsen

August 13, 2012 by Mike Casazza

It’s late, but this could not wait. Asked about using a tight end on one play and two fullbacks on the next, Dana Holgorsen was asked what this might mean for the evolution of his offense. “It’s going to resemble a lot of power football out there.”

Hey! Live football!

by Mike Casazza

My apologies, everyone. This is the best I could do, but this is your Mountaineers methadone. It’s live football that you actually get to see and it’s good on good.

It came literally out of nowhere. Period No. 3 ended, the white and the blue headed to opposite sides of the field and I thought, “Well, this is what would normally precede a scrimmage situation — nah.”

Only, it did precede a scrimmage situation.

So then I’m fumbling for my video camera before I realize I need to lock down the starting lineups. I missed two plays, but to hell with footage. I need information. And so do you …