West Virginia linebacker Reid Carrico tackles Baylor running back Dawson Pendergrass during a Big 12 Conference football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown.
West Virginia linebacker Reid Carrico tackles Baylor running back Dawson Pendergrass during a Big 12 Conference football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown.
MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia linebacker Reid Carrico is one of the connective members of the Mountaineer defense, serving not only as a relay point of calls from the sideline to his teammates on the field, but also making sure that every group is aligned and assigned correctly.
In order to achieve that, everyone has to know all angles of the sets and assignments inside and out, and that process is continuing through fall camp. It requires not only practice on the field, but study away from it.
"We are still going through some installs, that's why fall camp is so pivotal. I'm not fully adjusted yet, but working that way for sure," said Carrico as he assessed ÐÔÊӽ紫ý's progress to date.
"[Defensive coordinator Zac] Alley's scheme can be a lot if you don't study, and along with [head coach Rich Rodriguez]'s tempo there's a lot going on. Linebackers study all the time. As long as you are sprinting to the ball and keeping your eyes on the sideline [to get the call], you will be all right, as long as you know your stuff."
Compounding those challenges has been the changing of systems Carrico has experienced. It's the third defense that Carrico has been a part of in three years, having been in Ohio State's system in 2023 before moving to ÐÔÊӽ紫ý under defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley in 2024 and Alley this season.
"Most of it is terminology," he said of the differences. "From a fundamental standpoint, there are only so many ways you can run cover three or man to man coverage, so at that point it's all fundamentals. There are certain pieces you can keep, like maybe where you put your eyes in man coverage, but one of the main things is terminology."
That of course, is enough to trip up anyone and destroy a call. If something was called, for instance, "ranger" in the previous system, but that term is something different in a new scheme, the potential for confusion is evident. That's one reason off-field study is so important.
Carrico does like the changes Alley's system brings, though, noting that there's something for everyone.
"There are certain calls that benefit the linebackers. There are certain calls that benefit the D-line. There is a call in the defense that will set every position up to make a play," the Ironton, Ohio, native shared.
"For instance, say it's a corner blitz. As a will linebacker, you might say, 'OK, I have to protect the corner here to the flat, because he is blitzing.' Or if a linebacker is blitzing, a safety may know he has to get down into the box quicker to protect a hot throw."
That synergy and understanding is just as important to the success of a defense as hitting hard or making a tackle is, and it highlights the ever-changing nature of the game.
"Just about all linebackers in today's games are somewhat of a hybrid," Carrico said. "Think about a guy like a Dick Butkus, he was playing linebacker in a different era. If you were a linebacker you had to be 265 pounds because he was plugging the A gaps all the time. Today you might be lined up between the slot receiver and the corner, hold off an RPO [run/pass option] and then get in to fit the run. Linebackers have to do so much, and that's why they are pretty valuable on special teams, because there are so many different jobs."
With those additional duties comes the need for speed, but it's not just of the straight-line variety. In the short area, redirection might be even more important than an impressive 40 time.
"Change of direction is worth its weight in gold in today's game," said Carrico, who does plenty of that from his second-level spot in the defense. "You have to be able to raise your hips and run, then sink your hips on a dime and change direction. It can be challenging."
