Ohio head coach Brian Smith previews Bobcats battle against West Virginia
Ohio head coach Brian Smith used his weekly press conference to highlight both areas of progress and the challenges his team faces as they prepare for West Virginia’s visit to Peden Stadium.
Moving past Rutgers, focusing on WVU
Smith said the Thursday opener against Rutgers allowed his players extra time to rest and reset before shifting fully into preparation for the Mountaineers. He praised the effort of his linebackers and defensive front, noting the growth from the first to the second half. On offense, he highlighted the offensive line’s improvement after early snap issues and credited quarterback Parker Navarro for his composure and ability to extend plays.
What he sees in West Virginia
Asked about WVU’s opener against Robert Morris, Smith pointed to the Mountaineers’ potential once they settled down after early turnovers. He emphasized Rich Rodriguez’s track record for tempo, physicality, and a run-heavy approach. “West Virginia is going to play at a much faster tempo than Rutgers did, for sure. That’s more of what their culture is and who they are,” he said.
Smith acknowledged that scouting WVU is tricky with more than 50 new transfer additions and a defensive coordinator, Zac Alley, who wasn’t with Rodriguez at Jacksonville State last season. He and his staff are studying film from Oklahoma and Jacksonville State in addition to the opener. “There’s a lot of different ways to evaluate and try to gather information to determine what you might see,” he explained.
Areas of emphasis
Smith listed tempo as the biggest challenge WVU poses, while on defense, he expects the Mountaineers to show multiple looks and pressure fronts. On his own team, he said reducing small mistakes is a priority after costly miscues against Rutgers, and special teams corrections have been a major talking point.
A big stage at Peden Stadium
Saturday’s game is expected to draw one of the largest home crowds in Ohio history. Smith said that the atmosphere is something his players are looking forward to. “It should be an electric experience. It’ll be unique because there will be a good group from Morgantown. It’s a great time for our football program, coming off a championship year, to have an opportunity to play in a game like this and that type of atmosphere at home is awesome,” he said.
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