Rich Rodriguez press conference summary: 10-28
West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez addressed the media for his weekly press conference Tuesday and here is a summary of what was said.
–Rodriguez said that the Mountaineers didn’t do a good job in the run game. They were OK in pass protection but you have to be able to convert the short yardage stuff. It’s not just offensive line, it’s play calls, tight ends and running backs. You have to be able to convert the short yardage stuff. The point of emphasis all last week was doing a better job coming off the ball a little bit more urgent. There were times they did that in the past game but some key times they didn’t.
–The Houston defensive front is good and athletic. Rodriguez said they need to get a little bit more push up front and be solid with their techniques. There are things they need to add to their package but he is a little hesitant to do that with young guys in key roles.
–What’s most unique with playing a true freshman quarterback in this situation is he doesn’t have a lot of experience around him. It’s a different dynamic with all of the new players in the system. They have to have enough stuff to execute and score points but they can’t over complicate stuff.
–Rodriguez said that there are things they have to be able to expand and be creative offensively but simply some of the stuff had they executed a little better they might have gotten some big enough plays. The guys understand it. They’re mad they lost and the effort was good but it’s supposed to be good all the time. They have to play hard and execute well because the margin of error was thin.
–The effort is supposed to be a given no matter what happens they’re supposed to play hard and play smart. If there is one time he isn’t playing as hard as they need to play that’s one too many.
–Rodriguez is more confident the message has gotten across but ask him again after Saturday. Not every coach is obsessed with effort as much as he is. He is totally obsessed with it and it’s the number one thing that they have to have.
—Scotty Fox was accurate and his decision making was good and he was seeing the field. There is a lot to grow off of but he’s going to see something new every week and how they play against him but they have to help him prepare for that. But for a true freshman he was composed.
—Curtis Jones will get more reps in practice at running back which could make him comfortable in that situation. He’ll get more reps there for sure this week.
–Rodriguez said he was downstairs working out. Has there ever been anybody like Shohei Ohtani? He is amazing and a generational guy that everybody is looking for. You constantly have to be on the look out for that and sometimes you know it but sometimes they emerge and can be that guy. They’re all looking for that and they meet every day in recruiting and you need good players and starters at every position but if you have ten different position coaches if every one signs an all-conference guy every year they will win the league and that’s what they’re looking for on the recruiting trail.
–Rodriguez has a recruiting meeting every day and they look at guys that are in the portal and high school guys. It’s great but as many people as they have now in recruiting they should be able to kick more tires around and find more people. They’ve been here a year now and they’re so further ahead. They have it broke down some guys are more responsible for the portal and some high school guys. You have to recruit every day. It’s become a lot more transactional you can outwork it but somebody throws a lot more money at them and they like that better. It’s a different dynamic but you have to work really hard at it.
–Before what’s changed a little bit is everybody would recruit seniors, juniors and sophomores and sometimes you recruit the sophomore and by the time you recruit the senior he’s going to be priced out your range. They’re going to sign a lot more high school guys than transfer guys but they’re going to sign a lot of transfers too.
–Houston’s tight end is one of the best he’s seen this year and they’re playing at a really high level. But they can play a lot better than this past game. With the tight end, you have to disrupt him early and you can’t let him get going down the field and you have to play with some physicality.
–The onside kick was executed well at the end of the game. They had a chance but didn’t get it. They practice onside kick every week and they have three different ways they can kick it based on the alignment of the opponent.
–Rodriguez said they don’t worry about their feelings they still them straight up it wasn’t very smart or that was really good in the meeting rooms. They don’t worry about if they’re a freshman not to treat them with kid gloves. You destroy confidence by playing poorly.
—Cam Vaughn is a really competitive guy and has the capability of making big plays but there are areas he has to get better at. He has the ability to make a lot of plays so they’re trying to get him disciplined and they got to throw it to him all the time. Route running, consistency, coming off the ball, understanding the coverage and concepts and technique are some things he can improve on.
–Rodriguez has had some linemen play tight end and running backs play wide receiver and vice versa. He can’t remember last time he had a defensive player play running back but the injuries are forcing the issues. They all have different responsibilities or jobs but he wouldn’t put a defensive guy at running back and make them learn 15 plays but they’ll make him learn 3-4 plays and go with it.
–When a job comes open Rodriguez said his recruiting staff sees who’s committed to them and who they can target. You have to do that but it’s always been that way. With the early signing period in December the majority will sign then. That’s why November will be the busiest month in college football.
—Jeff Weimer has adjusted great and has really worked hard. He helps with your culture because you don’t have to say anything to him so he wishes he had him another year. He is a very willing blocker.
—Jimmori Robinson had so much hype he doesn’t know if he could live up to the expectations. It wasn’t a great week for preparation and hopefully he can have a bigger role on Saturday.
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