West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez press conference summary
West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez addressed the media on the first day of fall camp and WVSports.com provides a summary of what was said.
–Rodriguez said the first practice went about how he expected. They had about 12 players cramping up but it was good and they were active defensively so it was a pretty good first day.
–In June Rodriguez said they got a lot of scheme work stuff put in. The strength coach was able to get the guys bigger and stronger. August camp will help them get in shape but today scheme-wise most of the guys did a good job understanding what to do.
–The first couple of practices will be focused on evaluations with so many new guys and they want to teach the scheme. The first camp is difficult because of the evaluation aspect. They have ways to evaluate but they have to have certain periods of practice dedicated to that.
–At Jacksonville State last year Rodriguez said they had 60 new players and he didn’t feel they did a great job evaluating and they’re doing some things differently.
–Rodriguez said that he doesn’t mind being asked about the starting quarterback every day but there is a process with how they’re determining it. There are five guys that he is giving reps to and all of them have to determine that they can be the guy. He will play three guys if they have three he can win with. It doesn’t bother him to rotate quarterbacks if he believes they can win with them.
–Rodriguez said if they all play well it’s a good problem to have. He doesn’t have a timeline to whittle it down but at some point one quarterback has to come out and take the first team snaps.
–Inevitably, the quarterback has some plays they’re better at or do better than others. If the quarterbacks all keep elevating and they have three they think they can win with they are going to find out what they do the best but keep enough variety that they can’t cue in on what they do well. They’ll have that as part of their mindset moving forward.
–Rodriguez said that he doesn’t use preseason polls as motivation much outside when his teams are picked last, but they are going to default to their level of training.
–A break in practice is a true five minute break for the players. He will tweak practice a little bit in order to get certain things done.
–It’s starting a new job with 115 new players because that’s what they’ve got. There are a lot that are new to Morgantown but they are all new to the schemes. Offensively, they will have an idea of what that looks like and coach Zac Alley has a good idea defensively what it looks like and his job is to put it all together. This is the most unique because 90-percent of the team has not played a lot of football at this level.
–The offensive line is pretty athletic and a little deeper now than they were in the spring. A lot of what they do is so unique to the offensive line. Everything is an adjustment and for him he forgets that he’s been doing this for so long.
–Rodriguez can recognize the faces now and the positions but for a lot of his players he doesn’t know them as well as he needs to and that’s what the next 20-days is all about.
–Rodriguez said that you have to put some group out there to start but it sorts itself out. Don’t worry about the depth chart just worry about getting good enough to win with.
–Rodriguez isn’t worried about the first or second group on the offensive line they have to get it down to two groups. He wants the offensive linemen to be versatile and play multiple positions. They are doing that intentionally and some guys play guard and tackle.
–Rodriguez said they have to be intentional in evaluations just as much as teaching schemes and fundamentals. And he’s in the middle of everything. No loafing.
–Rodriguez said that he likes the group of wideouts but the volume of a first practice was a shock to them.
–Friday shells, Saturday shells and Monday will be shells again and then full pads.
–Rodriguez’s standard of full speed might be different from the assistants and the players.
–Pat White was playing as a redshirt freshman, but when he was live he was faster and better. You have to weigh that balance of getting reps and not getting hurt but they didn’t really know what they had until after that Louisville game. All of the current quarterbacks will be live more than they’re used to.
–Rodriguez said that players that are waiting on waivers can do stuff on their own but the NCAA has allowed players in similar situations until word on that occurs. They’re hoping for good news there.
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