Here are some of the quotes from today's availability. I'm not sure what is going on, but these video conversions are taking forever today on the host's end. I've uploaded Edsall, Avery Edwareds and Jefferson Ashiru but none of them have finished converting on their end. As soon as they are done, I'll have them all up for you to watch. In the meantime, here are the quotes.
Head Coach Randy Edsall
On closing the non-conference slate against West Virginia:
"It’s a big opportunity because it's the next team that we're playing...there's a history between the schools playing each other for a number of years, we're bordering states, there are implications from recruiting as well, so it’s a big game because it’s the next one on the schedule. The guys are looking forward to it and we know that they have an outstanding football team there and we're going to have to play well in order to win."
"My whole philosophy is that I want to get better each and every week. We're going to start playing conference games earlier in the year now that they've changed the schedule. We're going into our fourth game and all I want to try to do is continue to get better as we go throughout the season. That's the goal regardless if it’s a conference or non-conference game. The goal is to improve each and every week regardless of who we're playing. I think that’s why we structure our practices the way that we do, to continue to work on all of the little things that can make a difference when you put the whole thing together. It's important that we play better this week than we did the week before. We want to get better and we want to continue to get better. As a team, you want to continue to grow, keep getting better, and by the end of the season be playing the best football that you can be playing."
On returning to Morgantown:
"It’s a tough environment. Their fans are passionate about their team and it’s a sold out game, so we know it will be loud. What we are going to have to do is go in and focus on ourselves and do the things that we have to do."
On stability in passing game:
"I thought we were very much improved in the passing game, but we still have things that we need to work on to continue to get better. We made the move to accomplish what we were able to accomplish in terms of getting the ball down the field a little bit more and understanding that we have to be able to throw the ball effectively and efficiently. Now we have to just clean some things up in terms of receivers, the quarterback and eliminating the turnovers. We have some weapons that we can get the ball to: Caleb [Rowe] has the arm to be able to do that and there are guys that can make plays if they get the ball."
On his young defense:
"We still need some work. When you take a look at us, we are still very young on defense. When you take a look up front, we really have no returning starters. There are no returning linebackers, A.J. Hendy is starting for the first time in the secondary and Sean [Davis] is still learning as a corner. I thought we improved defensively, and that’s the thing. If we can continue to improve each and every week, then I think that we'll be doing the things that we need to do. Its gets back to just doing the little things right. I think we made progress last week defensively, there were some communication issues that we need to clean up, but we just have to keep focusing on the fundamentals and the techniques. If we do that, we'll be okay. We're going to continue to play a lot of guys because we feel that we need to. It also helps to develop our depth and helps us continue to grow as a program. "
On the success of the offensive line:
"One of the biggest things that has happened with the offensive line is their communication. Guys have really worked hard to use good technique. We still can get better in that regard, but it all starts with communication and then goes down to moving your feet and the fundamentals of pass protection. We spend a lot of time on it. I think the guys take pride in the fact that they don’t want the quarterback to be hit, so I think it’s a combination of a lot of things. We're seeing movement up front from defenses, we’re seeing blitzes, but I think our guys have handled them pretty well and we have another tough test this Saturday against West Virginia."
On the progress of Jefferson Ashiru:
"I thought [Jefferson Ashiru] played a little bit better last week. I think he’s starting to be more comfortable with the scheme and understanding everything that he's responsible for. As a guy who has played as much football as he did prior to coming here, we expect him to get better and I think that he has. I just want to see him continue to play faster and with more confidence and I think he'll be able to do that as he gets more reps and starts to settle in a little bit more."
On moving past last year’s loss to West Virginia:
"We have a great motivation to win every year regardless of what happens the year before. We're a different team than what we were a year before, and they're a different team than they were a year before. The motivation is we only get 12 games a year to play in, that's guaranteed...and you've got to make the most of each one and that’s something that we've always impressed upon our guys: that every (game) counts the same. They were disappointed, but a lot of that is stuff we caused by ourselves, so we looked at the film and showed them what we did, what they did... But this year is a different year and we want to win this one just as much as we want to win any game."
Freshman Tight End Avery Edwards
On offensive improvements:
“I think last week we made a bunch of plays in the passing game. I don’t know how much it has to do with changing quarterbacks but we definitely had a good feel in the game. Obviously guys were making plays and stretching the field. It was good to see.”
On successful plays by wide receivers:
“It is key [for receivers to get involved]. Everyone works together to get everybody open depending on the play. It is not just one guy. speed and quickness really opens up the field.”
Senior Linebacker Jefferson Ashiru
On feelings after the first three games:
“I feel really in tune with the team. I feel a lot of love for this team. I am just trying to keep the ball rolling and keep everything going.”
On difficulties learning the defense:
“There were not too many difficulties. It was mainly adjusting to how the coaches wanted me to play linebacker. Besides adjusting how I play my position, there really weren’t any adjustments.”
On transitioning to the team:
“I had a bunch of players from my high school on the team. It was a nice transition; all the guys on the team are really welcoming and friendly. It is a brotherhood on this team.”
On his leadership role:
“This past week was the first time I was really vocal. Before, I usually took the backseat because there were already leaders for every position. I didn’t want to step on anybody’s toes. I have been working on taking on the leadership role and keeping the team up.”
Freshman Wide Receiver D.J. Moore
On his first start:
“It was a big adjustment because I wasn’t expecting to start in the third week of the season. I had to have a lot of confidence in myself to make the big plays. I found out I was going to be starting the week going in to South Florida.”
On biggest changes from high school football:
“The atmosphere is the biggest change. We had a lot of people come to our games in high school but here it is a whole sea of people.”
Head Coach Randy Edsall
On closing the non-conference slate against West Virginia:
"It’s a big opportunity because it's the next team that we're playing...there's a history between the schools playing each other for a number of years, we're bordering states, there are implications from recruiting as well, so it’s a big game because it’s the next one on the schedule. The guys are looking forward to it and we know that they have an outstanding football team there and we're going to have to play well in order to win."
"My whole philosophy is that I want to get better each and every week. We're going to start playing conference games earlier in the year now that they've changed the schedule. We're going into our fourth game and all I want to try to do is continue to get better as we go throughout the season. That's the goal regardless if it’s a conference or non-conference game. The goal is to improve each and every week regardless of who we're playing. I think that’s why we structure our practices the way that we do, to continue to work on all of the little things that can make a difference when you put the whole thing together. It's important that we play better this week than we did the week before. We want to get better and we want to continue to get better. As a team, you want to continue to grow, keep getting better, and by the end of the season be playing the best football that you can be playing."
On returning to Morgantown:
"It’s a tough environment. Their fans are passionate about their team and it’s a sold out game, so we know it will be loud. What we are going to have to do is go in and focus on ourselves and do the things that we have to do."
On stability in passing game:
"I thought we were very much improved in the passing game, but we still have things that we need to work on to continue to get better. We made the move to accomplish what we were able to accomplish in terms of getting the ball down the field a little bit more and understanding that we have to be able to throw the ball effectively and efficiently. Now we have to just clean some things up in terms of receivers, the quarterback and eliminating the turnovers. We have some weapons that we can get the ball to: Caleb [Rowe] has the arm to be able to do that and there are guys that can make plays if they get the ball."
On his young defense:
"We still need some work. When you take a look at us, we are still very young on defense. When you take a look up front, we really have no returning starters. There are no returning linebackers, A.J. Hendy is starting for the first time in the secondary and Sean [Davis] is still learning as a corner. I thought we improved defensively, and that’s the thing. If we can continue to improve each and every week, then I think that we'll be doing the things that we need to do. Its gets back to just doing the little things right. I think we made progress last week defensively, there were some communication issues that we need to clean up, but we just have to keep focusing on the fundamentals and the techniques. If we do that, we'll be okay. We're going to continue to play a lot of guys because we feel that we need to. It also helps to develop our depth and helps us continue to grow as a program. "
On the success of the offensive line:
"One of the biggest things that has happened with the offensive line is their communication. Guys have really worked hard to use good technique. We still can get better in that regard, but it all starts with communication and then goes down to moving your feet and the fundamentals of pass protection. We spend a lot of time on it. I think the guys take pride in the fact that they don’t want the quarterback to be hit, so I think it’s a combination of a lot of things. We're seeing movement up front from defenses, we’re seeing blitzes, but I think our guys have handled them pretty well and we have another tough test this Saturday against West Virginia."
On the progress of Jefferson Ashiru:
"I thought [Jefferson Ashiru] played a little bit better last week. I think he’s starting to be more comfortable with the scheme and understanding everything that he's responsible for. As a guy who has played as much football as he did prior to coming here, we expect him to get better and I think that he has. I just want to see him continue to play faster and with more confidence and I think he'll be able to do that as he gets more reps and starts to settle in a little bit more."
On moving past last year’s loss to West Virginia:
"We have a great motivation to win every year regardless of what happens the year before. We're a different team than what we were a year before, and they're a different team than they were a year before. The motivation is we only get 12 games a year to play in, that's guaranteed...and you've got to make the most of each one and that’s something that we've always impressed upon our guys: that every (game) counts the same. They were disappointed, but a lot of that is stuff we caused by ourselves, so we looked at the film and showed them what we did, what they did... But this year is a different year and we want to win this one just as much as we want to win any game."
Freshman Tight End Avery Edwards
On offensive improvements:
“I think last week we made a bunch of plays in the passing game. I don’t know how much it has to do with changing quarterbacks but we definitely had a good feel in the game. Obviously guys were making plays and stretching the field. It was good to see.”
On successful plays by wide receivers:
“It is key [for receivers to get involved]. Everyone works together to get everybody open depending on the play. It is not just one guy. speed and quickness really opens up the field.”
Senior Linebacker Jefferson Ashiru
On feelings after the first three games:
“I feel really in tune with the team. I feel a lot of love for this team. I am just trying to keep the ball rolling and keep everything going.”
On difficulties learning the defense:
“There were not too many difficulties. It was mainly adjusting to how the coaches wanted me to play linebacker. Besides adjusting how I play my position, there really weren’t any adjustments.”
On transitioning to the team:
“I had a bunch of players from my high school on the team. It was a nice transition; all the guys on the team are really welcoming and friendly. It is a brotherhood on this team.”
On his leadership role:
“This past week was the first time I was really vocal. Before, I usually took the backseat because there were already leaders for every position. I didn’t want to step on anybody’s toes. I have been working on taking on the leadership role and keeping the team up.”
Freshman Wide Receiver D.J. Moore
On his first start:
“It was a big adjustment because I wasn’t expecting to start in the third week of the season. I had to have a lot of confidence in myself to make the big plays. I found out I was going to be starting the week going in to South Florida.”
On biggest changes from high school football:
“The atmosphere is the biggest change. We had a lot of people come to our games in high school but here it is a whole sea of people.”
