WVU Spring Practice Update 2

Practice had the intensity of a regular season practice today, as team team did 7 v 7 and full team.  Coach Bill Stewart was pleased with the way things have gone, and didn't even mind the fact that there was a fight today.

Offensively, the group has progressed a lot form last week as there were no bubble screens thrown today.  It looks like that Holgorsen does want to get his receivers in space, as more 5-7 yard routes were seen today.  A new element that was added this week was that the crossing routes were used to open up the deep routes.  Every 3 or 4 plays a deep route would open up and Geno Smith would hit the deep route for a touchdown.  Geno Smith seemed comfortable for the most part, there were about 2 or 3 plays were Geno was caught staring down one WR, or would panic after his first read was not open.  There is a wide open competition for the first string RB spot and it's going to be interesting to see how this plays out this spring and during 2 a days.  The competition is not due to a lack of talent, but due too to much talent.  Shawn Austin came in to camp as the #1 back, but both Daquan Harqrett and Trey Johnson have made plays to show that they deserve a lot of playing time also.  In the upcoming scrimmage, this Saturday, the coaches will use a RB by committee system to see if anyone can step up even more. 

The Defense surprisingly looks like a veteran core, despite losing 7 starters from last year's team.  Bruce Irvin is still unblockable, and Keith Tandy and Terrance Garvin have both stepped up in the secondary.  All of the coaches have sang the praises of Tandy for his improvement in the offseason and his leadership on the field.  This his huge that the defense already has a leader with losing Robert Sands to the NFL draft.

The team will practice again on Friday and then will have a full scrimmage on Saturday and that's when we can tell how much this team has really improved.