Rich Rodriguez has plan for West Virginia special teams units
Every head coach takes a different approach to certain areas of the game and that is certainly the case with Rich Rodriguez and his thoughts on special teams personnel.
That’s because the veteran head coach doesn’t place his starting players on the units outside of instances of punt returner or kick returner. Those are positions that West Virginia has no hesitation to play starters there as it gives opponents just something else to worry about.
But the rest will mostly be those players not in the first 11 on either side of the ball. That is very different from what his predecessor Neal Brown did when it comes to the special teams units.
Under Brown, West Virginia would attempt to assign starters to different areas on the various special teams units but Rodriguez believes in going in a different direction for several reasons.
“I’ve always thought I like having backups as starters on special teams because one, they’re fresher, but also two, they take maybe a little more pride in that,” Rodriguez said.
Essentially Rodriguez will take those players that are in the rotation but not starting at certain spots and give them the opportunity to play major roles on the various special teams units.
That gives those players the opportunity to play a critical role on the football team without having to necessarily start on either the offensive or defensive units.
“They may be a backup at a position, but they’re going to be great special teams players,” he said.
It’s a role that will be critical for the success of this West Virginia football team and one that those on the roster will understand when they receive those assignments.
“Special teams is about execution, but also mentality,” coordinator Pat Kirkland said. “We want guys who aren’t just fast or athletic. They need to be reliable. They need to make you right even when the call isn’t perfect.”
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