MORGANTOWN - On Tuesday, WVU coach Dana Holgorsen called the extended college football camp "insane."
"Incredibly sick of practicing against each other," he added.
Indeed, it seems the Mountaineers have been searching for creative activities. Offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, in fact, said he and Holgorsen have gone as far as introspection.
"He evaluated himself and I evaluated myself from what I did at Cal," Spavital said. "We really combined it to be like, 'All right, if a team does this to us, this is our answer.' I thought it was pretty healthy for both of us to sit down and evaluate ourselves on what we were good and bad at last year."
Now, though, WVU's coaches have also evaluated their players. The depth chart will be released next week. The game plans are being crystallized.
"It's pretty much locked up on whom we believe will be put in packages, whom we believe will be our consistent, every-down guys," Spavital said. "It's kind of where we're at.
"Now, there are some young kids that we don't know about. We're going to put them in there and let them play. If they're feeling it, we have packages to keep getting them the ball. If they're not, we'll go a different direction.
"That's why in that first game, there are so many ups and downs. There are so many different directions you can go. But we'll have a lot of different ways to approach it."
Smart plan - especially going into the atmosphere that will exist against Virginia Tech at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, on Sept. 3.
"Once you get to the second, third or fourth games, that's when it gets easier," Spavital said. "You at least have an identity of where you're going."
For now, though, one thing is clear: WVU is running-back heavy. Florida transfer Will Grier will be the Mountaineers' marquee name, but the backfield will be the team's strength.
"One of the hardest things for us is how we'll play all the running backs," Spavital said. "We're very deep in that room. I think we're going to have to be creative with how many we can get out there."
How blessed is WVU at the position? Let me count the ways. There's Justin Crawford. And Martell Pettaway. And Kennedy McKoy. And Tevin Bush.
"I see them all with roles," Spavital said. "And I think a kid that's come along lately is Alec Sinkfield. He's a fifth running back to that group. We'll see where we go with that."
Yes, running back No. 5. Toss the 5-foot-10, 173-pound true freshman from Delray Beach, Florida, onto the pile.
"I think Sinkfield can do it all," Spavital said. "He's a kid that every single day you see getting better. He keeps growing and learning and figuring it out. He doesn't really make the same mistake twice. It shows he cares. It means a lot to him and he puts the work in."
Forget a five-tool player. Spavital has five running back tools.
"I know," Spavital said. "They are all kind of different in a way. It will be interesting to see. There are some unknowns. There are some young guys. There are proven backs that we know what they'll do. Other guys, though, we'll have to get a feel for early in the game to see what type of player they are."
What WVU fans might see is Crawford and Pettaway in traditional running back roles and McKoy and Bush in slot receiver or H-back roles.
And if Spavital needs that one yard near the goal line?
"I'm going to go Pettaway probably," said the offensive coordinator. "Crawford is a guy that needs touches. You guys have seen that. I feel comfortable with both in that direction, but I like Pettaway's downhill mentality. I just like the toughness of that kid."
You getting this? Not only are WVU coaches settling on their go-to players, but roles as well.
Also, the coaches understand their team's limitations. Projected outside receiver Marcus Simms has been suspended for the Virginia Tech game. According to Holgorsen, David Sills, the converted quarterback, will start in his place.
Is Spavital comfortable with his receivers' ability to stretch the field?
"I feel comfortable with it," he said. "I don't think we have the depth that's needed, but it's up to us to put these kids in the right spots."
Just expect Holgorsen and Spavital to chug more than a couple energy drinks that first game.
"We really have a lot of inexperienced guys out there," Spavital said. "We really do. Will Grier hasn't played in a year and a half, so who knows how his first-game jitters are going to be? I think he's going to be fine. We're going to bank on him being fine. But you always have to have that backup plan in the back of your head. You get a feel for a game and get on top of it early."
And there's been much, much, much time to prepare for that.
Contact Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827 or mitchvingle@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @MitchVingle.