Post by WVUfanPHILLY on Aug 13, 2007 11:09:51 GMT -5
WVU’s new QB coach hasn’t seen much change
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN — Rod Smith, West Virginia’s new quarterback coach, doesn’t think the spread offense has changed very much since he earned All-America status as a signal-caller in that style of play at Glenville State.
“I don’t know that it’s sophisticated as much as it’s just a different animal pulling the trigger now,” he said last week. “The philosophy has not changed.
“There are a lot more athletic kids back there. Rich (Rodriguez) did a great job of tweaking things and fitting it to the personality and talent of the type of kids we have.”
It was WVU’s seventh-year head coach who founded and developed the offense while turning out NAIA national contenders at Glenville. Smith played for him in the mid-1990s and had tremendous success.
With the 6-1, 215-pound Smith at quarterback, the Pioneers reached the national championship playoffs twice and finished as runner-up once.
“It’s different at quarterback now,” he said modestly. “A guy like me could not survive anymore. You’ve got to adapt the system around your trigger guy.”
Of course, that includes the running backs as well as the wide receivers.
While the philosophy is the same, Rodriguez admits that they’re experimenting with some new twists in preseason practice closed to the media.
“But we’re progressing,” Smith said. “We’re not ready to play yet. But I see some good things. The kids are working hard.”
He believes WVU has the country’s best group of quarterbacks in junior Patrick White, senior Adam Bednarik, and sophomore Jarrett Brown. All three have started and won games
“We’re working on all phases of the game,” Smith said. “But we’re working on certain things that we’re trying to get down with the quarterbacks and receivers being on the same page.
“Our defense is doing a good job of really giving different looks to our quarterbacks. (The defenders) are giving us some good tests right now.”
After Saturday’s officiated scrimmage, Rodriguez said Bednarik did some good things but that otherwise the offense did not perform well at all. It was a day in which the defense clearly had the upper hand, he indicated.
Smith said, “We have (All-America tailback) Steve Slaton and Pat White here. Now we need some good receivers and throw it around to them. It’s really unique
“I’ve been blessed because I had such good coaches as a player and as a coach. I’ve taken what I’ve been taught, what I keep researching and what I’ve studied through the years, and run with it to the best of my ability.”
Smith certainly has gained considerable experience during his 10-year coaching career, including earlier stints with Rodriguez both here and at Clemson. His last six years were spent at South Florida, where he served as offensive coordinator in 2005-06.
He was on the USF sidelines last Nov. 25 in Morgantown, guiding the Bulls’ offense to their 24-19 upset of favored WVU.
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN — Rod Smith, West Virginia’s new quarterback coach, doesn’t think the spread offense has changed very much since he earned All-America status as a signal-caller in that style of play at Glenville State.
“I don’t know that it’s sophisticated as much as it’s just a different animal pulling the trigger now,” he said last week. “The philosophy has not changed.
“There are a lot more athletic kids back there. Rich (Rodriguez) did a great job of tweaking things and fitting it to the personality and talent of the type of kids we have.”
It was WVU’s seventh-year head coach who founded and developed the offense while turning out NAIA national contenders at Glenville. Smith played for him in the mid-1990s and had tremendous success.
With the 6-1, 215-pound Smith at quarterback, the Pioneers reached the national championship playoffs twice and finished as runner-up once.
“It’s different at quarterback now,” he said modestly. “A guy like me could not survive anymore. You’ve got to adapt the system around your trigger guy.”
Of course, that includes the running backs as well as the wide receivers.
While the philosophy is the same, Rodriguez admits that they’re experimenting with some new twists in preseason practice closed to the media.
“But we’re progressing,” Smith said. “We’re not ready to play yet. But I see some good things. The kids are working hard.”
He believes WVU has the country’s best group of quarterbacks in junior Patrick White, senior Adam Bednarik, and sophomore Jarrett Brown. All three have started and won games
“We’re working on all phases of the game,” Smith said. “But we’re working on certain things that we’re trying to get down with the quarterbacks and receivers being on the same page.
“Our defense is doing a good job of really giving different looks to our quarterbacks. (The defenders) are giving us some good tests right now.”
After Saturday’s officiated scrimmage, Rodriguez said Bednarik did some good things but that otherwise the offense did not perform well at all. It was a day in which the defense clearly had the upper hand, he indicated.
Smith said, “We have (All-America tailback) Steve Slaton and Pat White here. Now we need some good receivers and throw it around to them. It’s really unique
“I’ve been blessed because I had such good coaches as a player and as a coach. I’ve taken what I’ve been taught, what I keep researching and what I’ve studied through the years, and run with it to the best of my ability.”
Smith certainly has gained considerable experience during his 10-year coaching career, including earlier stints with Rodriguez both here and at Clemson. His last six years were spent at South Florida, where he served as offensive coordinator in 2005-06.
He was on the USF sidelines last Nov. 25 in Morgantown, guiding the Bulls’ offense to their 24-19 upset of favored WVU.
