Staying the Course
September 24, 2003 11:11 AM | General
September 24, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez isn’t about to panic after his team’s disappointing 34-7 loss last Saturday at Maryland. He says it’s just a matter of working harder, correcting mistakes and getting more experience.
“Offensively there were about 10 plays where we were one thing away from having a positive play,” he said. “It seemed like it was a different breakdown on each play. So we don’t want to panic because we were that close. But at the same time, we’ve got to look at what we can do to generate some first downs and some points.”
Rodriguez says his staff will take a closer look at some players and may tweak some things this week before preparing to play No. 2-ranked Miami next Thursday in the Orange Bowl on ESPN.
“There were some changes (Tuesday) and there could be some more changes before we go to Miami,” he said. “We’re moving some wide receivers around a little bit and there are obviously some changes in the secondary with Jahmile (Addae) out and Anthony moving up.”
Rodriguez noted that movement taking place with the wide receivers has more to do with some of the things they wish to do offensively.
“We may move a guy from a slot position to an outside position and vice versa,” he said. “(Miquelle) Henderson has played an outside position and we’re going to look at playing him more in the slot. Chris Henry has been at the Z position on the wide side and we’re going to move him more to the X position where Henderson was at times.”
One area that has come under close scrutiny is West Virginia’s young and inexperienced offensive line. Rodriguez believes they will begin to make some progress.
“As crazy as it sounds we’re getting closer, it’s just not at the level that we have to have or what we’re used to,” he said.
Inexperience has played a part in West Virginia’s slow start. The coach noted that inexperience has forced him to slow down his offensive tempo and to simplify things a little bit. That, in turn, has made West Virginia’s offense more predictable for defenses.
“It has played a factor,” he said. “What we’ve asked is for the one or two guys up front who have some experience to take charge. They are not as vocal as maybe some of the leaders we’ve had in the past. Last year Lance Nimmo or Zack Dillow could take charge and make a call. This year Timmy Brown was the guy and he’s not there, so Ben Timmons has got to do it. We’ve talked to him at length and he’s got to start taking charge up front and I think he’ll do that because this is really important to him.”
The coach says the same goes for the defense, too.
“When a Brian King goes down and somebody else goes in, then Lance (Frazier) has got to take charge back there because Jahmile is not in there; Anthony Mims is a new guy. Who is the veteran who is going to take charge?” Rodriguez said.
“The same with Grant (Wiley); when Grant goes out with cramps like he did last Saturday somebody has got to take his place. We’re a different team when we don’t have Grant in the there but Grant can’t play every play,” Rodriguez added. “Inexperience and leadership is a factor and we had a good meeting yesterday. I know fans are upset and disappointed but I promise you there is nobody more upset and disappointed then the people directly involved with the program.”
West Virginia’s defensive struggles last Saturday against Maryland were surprising considering the unit has played pretty well this year in games against Wisconsin, East Carolina and Cincinnati.
“We didn’t get off blocks very well,” said Rodriguez. “We had a few missed assignments but it was more not getting off blocks and making some plays. We gave up a few big plays by some poor techniques, ducking in with the wrong shoulder and letting a guy break contain on him. There were some breakdowns technique wise and there were some breakdowns in fundamentals. We got worn down on defense because we didn’t stop them. The best way to get rest on defense is to get some three and outs.”
Rodriguez made an interesting comparison between this year and last year’s teams.
“Everybody wants to compare this year to last year, well, last year we opened up with an easy one and got some confidence,” he said. “Then we played awful against Wisconsin; we played better against Wisconsin this year. Cincinnati game came down to a field goal both years. Last year they missed it and this year we missed it. The Maryland game has been a disaster both years. Last week we played bad and they played good. And East Carolina, last year was a nice win and this year we had an easier time.”
The coach understands his team has a daunting task facing it next Thursday against the Hurricanes, winners of four straight against Louisiana Tech, Florida, East Carolina and Boston College to begin the season.
“In some ways it’s good to play because not much is expected of you,” he remarked. “Sometimes with youth and inexperience they worry so much they just go out there and make mistakes because they’re worrying. Maybe against Miami nobody expects much, just go out there and play, have some fun and compete.”
Briefly ...
“They want you to wait until the end of the season,” said Rodriguez. “We wanted to go ahead and do that now so he could have something to look forward to. We apply through them and then it goes through to the NCAA.
West Virginia is also planning on petitioning the NCAA for an extra year for Jahmile Addae, who is having season ending shoulder surgery soon.
“He hasn’t been redshirted yet so it will be easier for him,” said Rodriguez. “Hopefully that’s the last two we have to do.”
