In the final practice before Saturday’s first scrimmage West Virginia U. head coach Bill Stewart admitted his team made some mistakes but rejoiced in the intensity brought by his team.

“I’m really excited with the intensity,” Stewart said. “I’m not pleased with the overall mental part of the game but that’s playing a part right now.”

Stewart was impressed with the team’s efforts on the offensive side of the ball this afternoon. The team worked inside and pass skeleton drills that Stewart said were “really good.” The team also worked on their red zone attack with special passing drills.

Also inside the red zone the team practiced overtime scenarios with both the offense and defense. Stewart called the action a slugfest.

“Both teams did well at times, a really good day,” he added. “The Mountaineers are working hard and working in an enthusiastic manner.”

Linebacker J.T. Thomas was finally out of the green limited contact jersey and participated in some drills. Yesterday, Thomas said he was “feeling fine” after a neck injury had him sidelined for most of the first week of camp. Today, he was in the traditional blue jersey of the defense but did not participate in a mini scrimmage.

While Thomas was back in action a pair of Mountaineers in the secondary were held out of practice.

Defensive Back Keith Tandy was sidelined with a tweaked hamstring and fellow member of the secondary safety Sidney Glover was out with an injury as well.

Although his starting left corner, Tandy, is hurt, Stewart is impressed with his defensive backs, most notably Brodrick Jenkins.

“I see Brodrick Jenkins as a guy that can come in a give us a fastball when we need it, he’s a change of pace guy,” Stewart said. “He may win the starting job, he’s not out of the mix.

“We’ve not had corner depth like this in quite sometime.”

At quarterback, projected starter Geno Smith will take the bulk of the snaps in tomorrow’s scrimmage. He will take all reps with the first team with freshmen quarterbacks Barry Brunetti and Jeremy Johnson following behind with the second team. Stewart said Johnson and Brunetti will get experience working with the first team as well.

When asked how he will work the quarterbacks into the mix during the scrimmage Stewart quoted former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann, while disputing his ideals.

“Joe Theismann said you need to give the first guy 90 percent and the second guy ten (percent), we can’t do that. Maybe that’s how the pros do it, God bleem them, but you can’t do it in college,” Stewart said.

It is still unclear at which freshmen will get the backup quarterback job. Stewart is still unsure if he will red shirt the third team man.

Even though it is the first scrimmage of the fall camp Stewart said every day matters, and while it may not make or break someone’s position it still gives a good indication.

“It’s big, they know. We tell them the truth, you don’t want to fool young people. Tomorrow’s going to be big for a lot of people.”

The scrimmage will begin at 3:30 in Milan Puskar Stadium. Follow The Daily Athenaeum on Twitter (@dailyathenaeum) for updates from the scrimmage.