Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
WVU’s Rodriguez Eyeing Player Evaluations This Week
April 07, 2026 12:53 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – With just a handful of spring practices remaining before the annual Gold-Blue Spring Festival on Saturday, April 18, West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez wants things simplified to get a better idea what his players can and cannot do.
He said Monday evening that he wants fewer plays and fewer schemes to see which guys can execute and perform.
"I'm forcing the coaches to hone down the playlist, so to speak, because we've got to evaluate our guys," the veteran coach said. "We've got a few more practices this spring to evaluate what we have, and I want our guys to show their true selves because we don't have 3,000 play calls on offense or defense."
To help get a true gauge, Rodriguez said he wants his players divided up equally for individual and team situations.
Who can make people miss in open-field situations? Who can tackle in space?
Who can beat one-on-one blocks? Who can pass protect without help?
Rodriguez believes simplifying things to just basic fundamental football over the next couple of practices will give him and his coaches a much clearer picture of these things heading into the team's summer development program.
"We've got to do more to tell," he explained. "We went live for maybe 15-20 minutes (Monday), and we'll do the same thing Wednesday. We've got to evaluate some of that, but I don't know if that's so much about coaching. We try and coach what coaches can make an impact on, but natural ability should show up."
That applies to the other side of the football in pass-rushing situations as well. Can West Virginia's defenders get to the quarterback without calling elaborate blitzes?
Rodriguez said the best teams in college football are able to do so.
"I don't want to rely on schemes to get sacks," he admitted. "We've got some athletic guys on the edge, and I want to see if they can get a pass rush. You see all of the good teams in our league, or teams in the playoffs, and they all have dudes who can pass rush.
"And they weren't tricky with you, they just line them out there in a wide-five technique and it's 'see ball, get ball,'" he added. "We've got a couple new guys there, and we signed them with that in mind."
Rodriguez indicated progress is being made at quarterback and on the offensive line, and he's also encouraged with what he's seen so far from a wide receiver corps that features just three returning players to go with a dozen newcomers.
Senior Jaden Bray is among the most experienced players out there, while USC transfer Prince Strachan, at 6-foot-5, 211 pounds, boasts physical traits West Virginia hasn't really had at that position since probably 2018 when David Sills V and Gary Jennings Jr. were performing for the Mountaineers.
Press-man coverage has really been an issue for West Virginia's outside receivers since their departure.
"If you can't beat guys one-on-one, then you will struggle," Rodriguez explained. "Some of that is speed and athletic ability, and some of that is us as coaches helping them.
"What I've seen so far from them, they've done some good stuff and (are giving us) some confidence," he said. "I think we've got a good, young freshman class, but the transfers we brought in look like they are all going to be able to help us."
As for running back, Jacksonville State transfer Cam Cook has a leg up on the others because of his experience and familiarity with the system, but Rodriguez continues to be encouraged with what he's seen so far from the younger players as well.
"We're trying to push them along a little bit, but you can see the glaring difference between the experienced running back and the ones who don't have experience," he said.
Defensively, the coach says the unit is "longer and more athletic" at linebacker and in the secondary. There were times last year when defenders were in the right areas to make plays but were simply not big enough nor athletic enough to make them.
Overall, Rodriguez is reluctant to single out any particular areas of strength with his team, but he also hasn't seen any glaring areas of concern either.
"There hasn't been one glaring weakness where you go, 'Oh my gosh, we're in trouble there' – which would be bad because there is not another portal period," he observed. "We have what we have, other than the dozen guys who are not here yet. Whatever issues we have, we believe we can fix over time.
"Competition is close at the other positions," he continued. "One of the reasons we want to split things up is because I don't want one guy always going with the first group against the second group. I don't know if that's a fair evaluation. There is not really a one or a two starting on Wednesday, and I think we can make a better evaluation."
He concluded: "If you are good enough to win with, you'll play. I don't want them to be concerned if they are a one or a two – and I know they are – I just want them to be concerned with 'am I good enough to win with?' If there are three guys at one position that are good enough to win with, we'll play all three guys, and I've always believed that. I think our guys are seeing that now."
West Virginia resumes on-field work on Wednesday afternoon.
He said Monday evening that he wants fewer plays and fewer schemes to see which guys can execute and perform.
"I'm forcing the coaches to hone down the playlist, so to speak, because we've got to evaluate our guys," the veteran coach said. "We've got a few more practices this spring to evaluate what we have, and I want our guys to show their true selves because we don't have 3,000 play calls on offense or defense."
To help get a true gauge, Rodriguez said he wants his players divided up equally for individual and team situations.
Who can make people miss in open-field situations? Who can tackle in space?
Who can beat one-on-one blocks? Who can pass protect without help?
Rodriguez believes simplifying things to just basic fundamental football over the next couple of practices will give him and his coaches a much clearer picture of these things heading into the team's summer development program.
"We've got to do more to tell," he explained. "We went live for maybe 15-20 minutes (Monday), and we'll do the same thing Wednesday. We've got to evaluate some of that, but I don't know if that's so much about coaching. We try and coach what coaches can make an impact on, but natural ability should show up."
That applies to the other side of the football in pass-rushing situations as well. Can West Virginia's defenders get to the quarterback without calling elaborate blitzes?
Rodriguez said the best teams in college football are able to do so.
"I don't want to rely on schemes to get sacks," he admitted. "We've got some athletic guys on the edge, and I want to see if they can get a pass rush. You see all of the good teams in our league, or teams in the playoffs, and they all have dudes who can pass rush.
"And they weren't tricky with you, they just line them out there in a wide-five technique and it's 'see ball, get ball,'" he added. "We've got a couple new guys there, and we signed them with that in mind."
Rodriguez indicated progress is being made at quarterback and on the offensive line, and he's also encouraged with what he's seen so far from a wide receiver corps that features just three returning players to go with a dozen newcomers.
Senior Jaden Bray is among the most experienced players out there, while USC transfer Prince Strachan, at 6-foot-5, 211 pounds, boasts physical traits West Virginia hasn't really had at that position since probably 2018 when David Sills V and Gary Jennings Jr. were performing for the Mountaineers.
Press-man coverage has really been an issue for West Virginia's outside receivers since their departure.
"If you can't beat guys one-on-one, then you will struggle," Rodriguez explained. "Some of that is speed and athletic ability, and some of that is us as coaches helping them.
"What I've seen so far from them, they've done some good stuff and (are giving us) some confidence," he said. "I think we've got a good, young freshman class, but the transfers we brought in look like they are all going to be able to help us."
As for running back, Jacksonville State transfer Cam Cook has a leg up on the others because of his experience and familiarity with the system, but Rodriguez continues to be encouraged with what he's seen so far from the younger players as well.
"We're trying to push them along a little bit, but you can see the glaring difference between the experienced running back and the ones who don't have experience," he said.
Defensively, the coach says the unit is "longer and more athletic" at linebacker and in the secondary. There were times last year when defenders were in the right areas to make plays but were simply not big enough nor athletic enough to make them.
Overall, Rodriguez is reluctant to single out any particular areas of strength with his team, but he also hasn't seen any glaring areas of concern either.
"There hasn't been one glaring weakness where you go, 'Oh my gosh, we're in trouble there' – which would be bad because there is not another portal period," he observed. "We have what we have, other than the dozen guys who are not here yet. Whatever issues we have, we believe we can fix over time.
"Competition is close at the other positions," he continued. "One of the reasons we want to split things up is because I don't want one guy always going with the first group against the second group. I don't know if that's a fair evaluation. There is not really a one or a two starting on Wednesday, and I think we can make a better evaluation."
He concluded: "If you are good enough to win with, you'll play. I don't want them to be concerned if they are a one or a two – and I know they are – I just want them to be concerned with 'am I good enough to win with?' If there are three guys at one position that are good enough to win with, we'll play all three guys, and I've always believed that. I think our guys are seeing that now."
West Virginia resumes on-field work on Wednesday afternoon.
Players Mentioned
Ryan Ward | April 6
Monday, April 06
Coach Ryan Garrett | April 6
Monday, April 06
Coach Rich Rodriguez | April 6
Monday, April 06
Geimere Latimer | April 2
Thursday, April 02
