Jacob Rodriguez believes Texas Tech is entering a new era
Texas Tech is now two weeks into fall camp, and veteran linebacker Jacob Rodriguez speaks highly of his defense. When asked what looks different compared to years past, Rodriguez had this to say:
“Intensity in practice — I think everybody in every single practice comes to work and they all kind of know what it should look like. They want to be the best and want to try as hard as they can. Not saying that wasn’t the case in the past, but this year especially. Somebody different is speaking up each day and trying to get everyone going, and we’ve had that drive all the way through nine practices now, we just have to continue that way.”
The overlooked intensity of Texas Tech’s defense
Rodriguez explained that every player on defense has a clear role, a mindset shaped by defensive coordinator Shiel Wood. He emphasizes a fast-paced defense that demands urgency and energy on every play. This approach has sparked a new fire in the defense, pushing players to execute their roles while feeding off each other’s energy
“I think we are doing a great job of running to the ball right now. I think that everbody is bought into what coach Wood and the whole defensive staff is preaching to us every day. You know it’s exciting whenever somebody runs to the ball, especially somebody like (Jayden) Cofield who’s 335 pounds and sprints down on a screen to go and tackle a perimeter screen, like that’s so much fun to watch.
“They get spotlighted at the next meeting, and then each person knows that this is going to get seen by everybody and that makes everyone want to do that. So it’s awesome to see those guys be able to do that”
Rodriguez commends rising young talent
When asked about the next generation of Texas Tech linebackers, Rodriguez praises one young standout who has earned plenty of attention from the coaching staff- John Curry. He brought up that Curry’s presence both on and off the field is making a real difference.
“I love him when he was in our room and I love him out there. I know he’s been in our room the entire time and so now having him out there, he can talk to us and see what he’s seeing and that way we are all speaking the same language, so it makes it very easy.”
“He’s doing a great job out there. He had a take away of the day in a critical situation with the two minute drill that we were in. I mean, he’s stepping up and he’s doing great things”
The locker rooms mindset as the season gets closer
During Saturday’s scrimmage, Rodriguez pointed out some small mistakes. While many teams try to fix errors immediately, Rodriguez takes a different approach when it comes to refining his craft and ensuring the defense corrects those mistakes thoughtfully and effectively. He understands that true improvement takes time and deliberate effort, especially during the long grind of fall camp.
He emphasized the importance of patience and focus during this process, reminding teammates that growth comes one step at a time and that maintaining composure is key to lasting success:
“I would say just take a breath, I think we have 21 days and yeah, that is a lot of time, but it’s also not. I know on the defensive side of the ball, just take a break. We have a day off tomorrow and we come in and just watch film. But it’s really just kind of going one day at a time. I think everybody needs to take a deep breath and kind of figure out what we are trying to do,” Rodriguez said.
“I think we have a lot of good stuff that we put on tape today, and also in days past. So then we just come out Monday and reset. I know we have a lot of time but then again, it will be here before we know it. So we just need to take a step back and try to fix one thing at a time.”
