Welcome to the Friday Feedback, which is getting limber before the opener. Knuckle cracks, neck cranks, journeys down the Smart Football rabbit hole, trips through the faded paperback Roget’s. All that’s left is somewhat early to bed and early to rise.
A review of what to expect from me over the weekend:
- Pregame radio on IMG, and they’re going to share the segment shortly afterward
- Live blog post during the game, with a rollicking pregame, news and analysis during the game and postgame quotes and reviews
- Facebook, Twitter and Instagram updates throughout the game
- On Sunday, I’ll post our stories and whatever photos and videos our team generates
- On Monday, your texts and my Texts from Game Day (if you’re not familiar with this, I’m sure someone can give you help if you ask for help)
New this year? Snapchat! We’ll give it a whirl. I’m at mgcasazza. Wednesday was a fun one in JRL493. I’ve been teaching the students sports reporting through my lens, but we flipped it around that day and I had them school me on Snapchat. The lesson within was I could write a story with words and I could put together a story with snaps. Each would accomplish similar or the same things, but if we’re being honest, the students are more likely to pick and enjoy one than the other.
I’ll be sure to stop by the WVUSBw/MC tailgate and get some footage.
Onto the Feedback. As always, comments appear as posted. In other words, pay attention to your content.
Sammy said:
Are we starting 9 seniors on defense?
Yep, and do you know what? I knew that, but I didn’t really know that until I read this. That’s pretty wild when you consider WVU started seven seniors last season. Lost them all, and Daryl Worley, and then lost Darvon Askew-Henry. So the team that needed nine new starters comes back with nine seniors. That’s uncommon. Seven of the nine seniors, plus junior Al-Rasheed Benton, are in their third season with defensive coordinator Tony Gibson and his 3-3-5.
No one’s comparing this defense and all the unknowns to last season’s defense and all the certainties, but Gibson is willing to admit he has a similar level of comfort.
“As far as schematically and understanding what I want, yes, because they’ve been here,” he said. “A majority of them have been through a season. They’ve been in the meetings. That part of it I’m happy with.”
There’s another part, of course, and it’s alarming. Nose guard Darrien Howard, linebackers Justin Arndt and Sean Walters, Crawford, Douglas and spur safety Kyzir White will all make their first starts. Each is a senior, except for White, who is a junior college transfer preparing for his WVU debut.
“Can we go execute the game plan?” Gibson said. “I know we can get lined up and go where we’re supposed to go. Now, can we finish tackles and make plays? Those are the reasons I haven’t slept since probably last week.
“It’s never kicked in this early, but the last few nights, it’s been like I’ve taken a two-hour nap. But I think I’m more excited and anxious to watch these guys than I was a year ago.”
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