Rodriguez works the “soft” from the WVU football | Journal news

The football coach of West Virginia University, Rich Rodriguez, sometimes used a word in the early days of spring practice that does not want to describe a athlete. There are four letters. Starts with a “S.”

“Soft.”

If there is a word that can cut through to the heart of a football player, it is “soft”. And Rodriguez used it a few times to evaluate what he has seen from the climbers so far. It is not that the players are completely soft, but there were stains of softness during the training. He saw the hardness that he was looking for points, but he wants to see more.

“I had to remind them today,” he said after the training on Saturday, “but it was the first day in pads. And on the second day I probably have to remind them in pads and on the third day and on the 30th day. “

The hardness has been a synonym for Rodriguez teams in coaching since its early years. A sentence he likes to use is “hard edge”. He wants to see that from his squad, a grit and a sharpness with which the opponents know that they are for a fight for every snapshot.

Rodriguez also admits that this squad, which is filled with new faces from different schools, could not yet know what Rodriguez and his employees can play hard and play hard.

“Sometimes they don't know what our definition is to be soft,” he said. “But that goes back to US trainers who teach you, do you know? That is what we think is soft and then we have to explain to you why. Then hopefully you get it. “

They often get it, said Rodriguez, even if it takes a while. Rodriguez told the story of a former player in his first stay in Morgantown. He would not reveal his name, but said he was a broad receiver.

“You have ever heard the saying if the puppy does not bit if it is a puppy, will he not bite if he is a dog?” Said Rodriguez. “I used to think that too.”

This recipient changed his perception. As a young recipient, he would not block. He played softly. Then, in a training session, he went six repetitions in a row in one exercise. Rodriguez and the trainers challenged him.

“He has been the best stem by the softest recipient that has been blocking to this day,” he said. “He became a three -year starter at Wideout and we won many games with him.

“So he changed,” said Rodriguez. “Maybe he grew up, ripening whatever. This puppy didn't bite when he was a puppy, but he bit when he was a dog. So I learned that boys can change and we can get it out of them. “

And so Rodriguez and his employees will work this spring to bring it into everyone. And if this team is to reach the levels from which he believes it can achieve it, he has to bring everyone on board.

“We have some good children,” he said. “We have some people who will be really good players. We have to have everything.

“I told the team that I was not discouraged,” he added. “I think I saw enough, hey, we have a chance. But it has to be all all the time. You have to coach her. If there is a moment of softness or weakness mentally or physically, you have to address it every time. Not 99% of cases. Every time. And that falls on US trainers to address it. “