Rich Rodriguez’s High-Tempo Offense Requires Big Adjustment for WVU Offensive Line

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The WVU offensive line has to adjust as much as any position to Rich Rodriguez bringing his high-tempo offense. Rodriguez’s offense makes it even more essential the line is on top of its game. This could make for a difficult transition for some remaining players from what Neal Brown was running to the offensive mentality under Rodriguez.

Despite having to adjust his game some, redshirt junior Landen Livingston is embracing the task at hand, especially considering he’s now one of the leaders of the group.

“This offense really just deals with speed, and so that’s been a huge adjustment, but throughout really all spring, I feel like our o-line and offense as a whole has really gotten better,” said Livingston after WVU’s Spring Showcase event.

Livingston also discussed having to use spring practice as an adjustment period.

“I feel like part of it is that we’ve gotten adjusted to it. We know the expectations from Coach (Rich) Rod and whole offensive staff so just taking small steps like that. I for sure feel like we’ve taken steps and it’s an adjustment, but nothing we can’t handle.”

On the bright side, a fasted pace offense forces players to think on their feet (literally). This means there’s no time to second guess something and overthink what’s going on.

“I think one huge benefit of this offense is that it’s super simple; there’s not much to think about because you’re going so fast, so I definitely think that’s an advantage of this whole offense and definitely has its benefits.”

The timing of having to learn a whole new system comes as Livingston attempts to be the next great Mountaineer center, too.

“As a center I know that the offense can only go as fast as I get set, so that’s for sure something in my head as the play’s going on. I got to make sure I find the ball and find the ref and get set and things like that,” Livingston said.

On top of it all, he’s even attempting to fill the leadership void left by Wyatt Milum. But fortunately for the Indiana native, he was able to watch WVU alums like Milum and even Zach Frazier demonstrate how to set a proper example for younger guys.

Listed at 6-foot-4, 295 pounds, Livingston plans to use his time away before fall camp to get bigger and work on his strength, again as a way to lead by example and show the new coaching staff he’s a true “hard edge” player as well.

For a related story, WV Sports Now’s Mike Asti offered his observations from the WVU Spring Showcase event.