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òòò½ÊÓƵœI thought we got some work done, though we still have a long ways to go,òòò½ÊÓƵ� òòò½ÊÓƵU coach Rich Rodriguez said. òòò½ÊÓƵœLearning the schemes and the terminology and how we play is a little bit of a process.

òòò½ÊÓƵœPlus, youòòò½ÊÓƵ™re never in shape during spring ball. Conditioning takes place in the summer and in August camp, so right now weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re not in good enough shape to run things how we want, but theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™ll get there.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Rodriguez and his staff are largely teaching and evaluating this spring. òòò½ÊÓƵ part of that, they want to figure out what òòò½ÊÓƵU can do well and where it may struggle, so they can accentuate the positives and avoid the negatives once the season begins.

òòò½ÊÓƵœThatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s part of our goal in the spring, figuring out what routes the quarterbacks like and what the receivers run the best,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Rodriguez said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThen, what can we do up front. Thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s all a work in progress. We probably wonòòò½ÊÓƵ™t know that until a few weeks into summer camp in August. Right now, I donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t have any idea.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Rodriguez said heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s generally been pleased with the Mountaineersòòò½ÊÓƵ™ effort, though they are still learning to practice to his standards.

òòò½ÊÓƵœThe pace is getting better. The guys have worked hard,òòò½ÊÓƵ� he said. òòò½ÊÓƵœI think the biggest drawback to our pace so far is more coach-oriented. Even though a lot of these coaches have been together before (as nine of the assistants previously worked for Rodriguez at Jacksonville State), there are new coaches and managers and trainers and everything else who hadnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t worked together until these five practices, so weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re still working on it.

òòò½ÊÓƵœWe meet enough. We meet more than Congress, so you would think weòòò½ÊÓƵ™d fix all our problems,òòò½ÊÓƵ� he quipped. òòò½ÊÓƵœIòòò½ÊÓƵ™ll have another staff meeting today to talk about the efficiency of what I call òòò½ÊÓƵ˜coaching on the run,òòò½ÊÓƵ™ getting things corrected and such.

òòò½ÊÓƵœEverything is situational in terms of down-and-distance, and weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re not doing a really good job, staff-wise, of managing that. We have a certain number of plays we want to run from a certain down-and-distance. We have a script we use. The plays may not all be on the script because I will go off-script sometimes, but the down-and-distance is part of the script. To me, weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re not efficient enough in practice. I think our coaches are still adjusting to how I want to do it.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Being efficient at the pace Rodriguez wants to practice is something that has to be learned by all, from players to coaches to staff members.

òòò½ÊÓƵœWe run five-minute periods, like most people do,òòò½ÊÓƵ� West Virginiaòòò½ÊÓƵ™s coach said. òòò½ÊÓƵœI think most people try to get six, seven or eight plays into a five-minute period, where weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re trying to get in probably 15 or 16. Itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a little bit different.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

The Mountaineers will practice three more days next week before taking time off during spring break, which runs from March 15-23. òòò½ÊÓƵU will then return for six more practice sessions, culminating with the Gold-Blue Spring Showcase on April 5.