For a vet like Rich Rodriguez, the book has long been written. Rodriguez has been known for producing an electric ground game. He’s not as often associated with elite passing offenses, though when things are humming right, that aspect of the game is plenty dangerous. If this year’s crop of players at West Virginia Mountaineers is any indication, Rodriguez’s offense could be a bit more air-it-out than normal. After final practice, Rodriguez didn’t hold back in assessing his quarterbacks, with rather mixed emotions.

That’s where things got interesting. The Mountaineers wrapped fall camp Friday, and when Rich Rodriguez met with the media. The tone was equal parts blunt honesty and classic Rich Rod hedging. Asked about the lack of progression under center, Rodriguez replied, “Non-progression really. No, it’s going to happen. I’m not going to mention anything about anything. I should know that. I mean that’s 29 years. You mention one thing and it’ll be blown up like it’s, you know, the world’s coming to an end deal, right? I mean, so my mistake.”

Taking the names of the WVU reporters, “All right, Kyle, Mike, Mike, and Mike and, you know, don’t ever mention anything. I mean, you probably told don’t ever mention anything specifically because then it’s the, ‘Oh boy, what are we going to do?’ You understand? But I mean, it’s a fair question.” That’s vintage Rich Rodriguez — part deflection, part challenge. He wasn’t willing to throw a player under the bus, but he did lay down the standard in clear terms.

“I have high expectations for all our guys… Especially in that quarterback room. My expectations for them are really high, and it’s always been because that’s an important position… and they will [deliver]. I think we’ll get there.” That balance between patience and demand has been Rodriguez’s trademark since his early days in Morgantown — push hard, but keep the door cracked open for belief.

The message extends well beyond QB play. When the conversation shifted to recruiting philosophy, Coach RR dropped the gloves. He’s never been a measurables junkie, and he reminded reporters why. “I’m like, what the hell — we running a dunk contest, or what are we doing? Can the dude play?” he said, mocking programs that get hung up on things like offensive linemen’s arm length. That old-school skepticism hit another note when it came to recruiting rankings. “I’ve seen four-stars that couldn’t play dead in a Western, and one-stars that would star in the Western.” For Rodriguez, tape and live evaluation still trump any spreadsheet or rating service. It’s a refreshing antidote in an era where recruiting boards often feel like Wall Street indexes.

That eye-test-first mentality trickles into roster decisions, too. With the four-game redshirt rule, Rich Rodriguez doesn’t feel pressure to lock things in just yet. He hinted that a few freshmen are already flashing enough to push for early snaps, but he’s content letting the depth chart sort itself out after another weekend of evaluation. It’s a pragmatism that shows his years in the business — keep the ceiling high, but don’t burn eligibility on a whim. It’s a long season, and patience can be a coach’s hidden weapon.

The bottom line? Rodriguez knows his passers aren’t where they need to be, but he believes they’ll get there. Friday wasn’t a fire alarm, just a reminder of how bumpy camp can feel when the standard is sky-high.

Rich Rodriguez wants his 3 QBs to stop hitting replay

Look, no offense, but fans aren’t here for half-measures. They’re itching to see Rich Rodriguez’s dual-threat offense humming at full throttle in Morgantown. This fall camp reality check has reminded everyone — even the head coach himself — that the Mountaineers aren’t quite where he wants them to be. And that reality stings a bit more because this QB room has the tools to make it work.

Between Nicco Marchiol’s toughness, Texas A&M transfer Jaylen Henderson’s poise, and the athleticism of former Florida and Charlotte transfer Max Brown, this group is built to both throw darts and take off running. The ceiling is high — but as Rodriguez admitted, the execution hasn’t matched the promise. “Not completely. Know and I’m… most coaches will tell you that, as I told the team, you’re going to make mistakes every day. What we got to do is not make the same ones. We got to correct the ones we made yesterday because we’re going to make new ones tomorrow. And so, excuse me, when we make the same mistakes, it’s hard to move on to the next phase. And so that was the issue today offensively.”

When pressed, Rodriguez didn’t sugarcoat it: “Yeah. Just things that shouldn’t happen, and you know the quarterback has got a lot of responsibility and got a lot on his plate. But we got to progress better and they will.” That’s the challenge, expectations, and wants.