Post by WVUfanPHILLY on Aug 18, 2007 15:22:38 GMT -5
Wicks may be more of a decoy this year
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN — Eric Wicks thinks he may be more of a decoy in West Virginia University’s defensive secondary this season.
“Not as many plays will be coming toward me,” said the 6-1, 205-pound third-year starting safety. “But I’m rolling down and rolling back, trying to throw people off on where I’m going.”
He’s one of the most versatile players back there, having performed at free, bandit and spur positions in the past. Before fall camp opened, the senior from Pittsburgh was penciled in at the top of the list of free safety candidates.
Wicks figures that his moving around freely, back and forth, is one of the ways that WVU can mess up what an opposing offense is trying to do.
“If they watch me, then a lot more guys can make plays,” he reasoned.
How difficult was his transition from strong safety to free safety?
“It wasn’t difficult,” he said. “I think it takes more dedication to sit around and try to figure out what mistakes I’m making in my game. You’ve got to be a perfectionist like a quarterback on offense.”
Wicks thinks he needs to spend more time watching film to make himself a better player.
With seven of the squad’s 17 seniors in the secondary, he believes that is a blessing.
“Last year we were kind of young,” he said. “Now we’re more experienced and we’re ready to play. Even the young guys are trying to work as hard as they can to make us seniors go out with a bang.
“The juniors and sophomores understand where we are at and they understand the situation we were in last year. They want to work harder so we can improve, too.”
Wicks said, in looking back to 2006, he has noted a lot of mental mistakes that were made.
“I can’t say why,” he continued. “But if we fix those, we’re going to be a great defense – one of the top defenses in the country.”
He ranked third on the squad in tackles last season with 73. He also was the sack leader with seven, had three interceptions, and broke up seven passes.
While criticism in 2006 admittedly hurt the defenders, Wicks thinks it’s going to help that unit for 2007.
© 2007, The Times West Virginian
P.O. Box 2530, Fairmont, West Virginia
(304) 367-2500;
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN — Eric Wicks thinks he may be more of a decoy in West Virginia University’s defensive secondary this season.
“Not as many plays will be coming toward me,” said the 6-1, 205-pound third-year starting safety. “But I’m rolling down and rolling back, trying to throw people off on where I’m going.”
He’s one of the most versatile players back there, having performed at free, bandit and spur positions in the past. Before fall camp opened, the senior from Pittsburgh was penciled in at the top of the list of free safety candidates.
Wicks figures that his moving around freely, back and forth, is one of the ways that WVU can mess up what an opposing offense is trying to do.
“If they watch me, then a lot more guys can make plays,” he reasoned.
How difficult was his transition from strong safety to free safety?
“It wasn’t difficult,” he said. “I think it takes more dedication to sit around and try to figure out what mistakes I’m making in my game. You’ve got to be a perfectionist like a quarterback on offense.”
Wicks thinks he needs to spend more time watching film to make himself a better player.
With seven of the squad’s 17 seniors in the secondary, he believes that is a blessing.
“Last year we were kind of young,” he said. “Now we’re more experienced and we’re ready to play. Even the young guys are trying to work as hard as they can to make us seniors go out with a bang.
“The juniors and sophomores understand where we are at and they understand the situation we were in last year. They want to work harder so we can improve, too.”
Wicks said, in looking back to 2006, he has noted a lot of mental mistakes that were made.
“I can’t say why,” he continued. “But if we fix those, we’re going to be a great defense – one of the top defenses in the country.”
He ranked third on the squad in tackles last season with 73. He also was the sack leader with seven, had three interceptions, and broke up seven passes.
While criticism in 2006 admittedly hurt the defenders, Wicks thinks it’s going to help that unit for 2007.
© 2007, The Times West Virginian
P.O. Box 2530, Fairmont, West Virginia
(304) 367-2500;
