Second-half defensive surge came too late: everything Rich Rodriguez said following loss to Texas Tech
Rodriguez Criticizes First Half
Rodriguez said West Virginia needed to coach and play better to win. He described the defense’s first-half performance as especially poor and said the team struggled to defend deep passes.
He praised Texas Tech quarterback Thomas Castellanos, while also saying West Virginia’s defense contributed to his success. The Mountaineers improved after halftime, but Rodriguez said they did not make a play on the deep ball.
Late Decisions And Execution
West Virginia moved the ball well at times, Rodriguez said, but did not execute when it mattered late. He said Texas Tech stopped the Mountaineers on a key possession and acknowledged he had considered going for it on fourth down.
Looking back, Rodriguez said he probably would have chosen to go for it. He also said he would like to have the call back after Texas Tech drove the field and scored a touchdown.
Offense Had To Keep Pace
Rodriguez said the offense felt pressure to score on nearly every possession because the defense was not stopping Texas Tech. He said West Virginia had a good third quarter but failed to build on it.
He rejected slowing the offense’s tempo as the answer, saying the team needed to play better defense. Rodriguez also said quarterback Mike Hawkins Jr. should have gotten rid of the ball in a quick-game situation rather than trying to make a play.
Second-Half Response Came Late
Rodriguez said West Virginia missed tackles and failed to make plays on deep passes, including chances to intercept the ball. He said the team had been trying to improve and credited Texas Tech with having a strong squad.
He felt the Mountaineers played harder after halftime, but said their energy and sideline demeanor were lacking in the first half. The defensive response gave West Virginia a chance, Rodriguez said, but arrived too late.
Key points
- West Virginia fell 53-48 to No. 15 Texas Tech on Saturday night.
- Rich Rodriguez sharply criticized the Mountaineers’ first-half defense.
- Rodriguez said he probably should have gone for it on fourth down.
- West Virginia defended better after halftime, but the improvement came too late.