Rich Rodriguez press conference summary: 8-7

West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez addressed the media Thursday and WVSports.com provides a summary of what was said during the press conference.

–Rodriguez felt the defense got better today, but not sure the offense took a lot of steps. Had about 20 minutes of live and they will have a scrimmage Saturday with around 100 plays.

–Defensively they were pretty active and offensively they weren’t coming off the ball. The quarterbacks are not being vocal enough.

–Rodriguez said they wanted to scrimmage more today but they’re down to just a few running backs and they even played some slot wide receivers back there. But they’re learning a lot of stuff.

–Rodriguez usually gives the staff about two weeks before the first game to have an idea of who they can win with and what they do well and don’t do well. There are some guys that can emerge afterwards which is a good thing. Game plan wise they need to figure that out beforehand.

–The safeties are an athletic group. The players now-a-days back there aren’t quite as big as they used to be but they are a lot faster. It’s an athletic group. Fred Perry is a physical guy and he played a couple of different positions for them there. His expectations for them are a little higher since they played for him before. He is coaching them a little harder because they know what to do.

–Zac Alley knew Gabe Franklin before and Rodriguez was impressed with him during his interview process and has been impressed with him ever since.

–Rodriguez will create scenarios from a field position standpoint in scrimmages. The down and distance stuff will take care of itself. They will keep guys aware and roll them in. Saturday will be the first time in the stadium and it should get the players a little more juiced.

–Everybody has got a story. The profession hasn’t changed because coaching is coaching but coaches still put a lot of time in and make a lot of sacrifices. Find something you love to do and you’re good at and you’re never really going to work.

–The defense wasn’t ahead today of the offense, but they were more aggressive off the ball. You have to have a sense of urgency and it’s different when you go live.

–Rodriguez said even if he knows he isn’t going to tell anybody on the depth chart because he wants people to come to the game. Everybody who buys a season ticket will find out who the starting quarterback is.

–Jahiem White is practicing and Andre Devine is a late addition off the waiver wire who might be joining us. Clay Ash got banged up and Kannon Katzer got banged up. Jaylan Knighton isn’t eligible and hasn’t practiced yet, Tye Edwards isn’t eligible yet. The guys they would add now they aren’t try to force feed them. It’s not really that complicated what they do it’s just a different pace or tempo.

–Rodriguez said they’re trying to create a game time intensity.

Fall camp is here and there’s no better time to sign up with us to get all your WVU intel! Sign up today – $1 for the first week, plus a complimentary year of access to The Athletic included. Join – http://gowvu.us/Join

Wondering what other WVU fans are saying?

Head to The Blue Lot and jump into the discussion →