Earlier this week, the Daily Bruin’s Nik Lampros sat down with senior cornerback Rodney Van.
Daily Bruin: How did you get started playing cornerback?
Rodney Van: It was actually by default. I was a running back in high school, and we had a little passing league and we were just playing around; I was covering our receivers and I made a couple plays on the ball. My coach saw that, and the following year our secondary coach came to me and said, “We want you to play defense instead of offense.”
DB: When you prepare for a game, how much do you focus on the specific tendencies of a certain wide receiver or quarterback?
RV: That’s probably the biggest thing we study, the tendencies ““ things that you find that can give you that jump, that edge, for covering a great receiver. If you don’t come in with that little edge or that little chip to use in a game, you’re not going to make as many plays. You’ll leave plays on the field, when film study would have helped you make a jump on a slant, or a read on a deep ball ““ things you wouldn’t have known unless you watched film.
DB: How do you feel about the added pressure defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker’s aggressive defense puts on the secondary to be able to cover receivers man-to-man?
RV: We actually like it as a secondary, because it gives you the opportunity to show your talent against another person. Instead of sitting back in zone where you’re using the entire defense, you get to use your personnel.
DB: How do you feel about the media attention the team’s been getting since losing to Notre Dame?
RV: It is what it is; it’s going to come regardless. You win a game, they might find something to say. You lose a game, they’re definitely going to find something to say. You just have to look week to week, focus on your next task at hand and leave the bad alone. Once that game is over, you move on to the next one.
DB: Do you think the team puts more pressure on itself after a game like that?
RV: We’re just looking forward to getting back out there. After losing a game like that when so many people say you should have won and then you have a bye, it kinds of hurts a little. You have to sit and wait to get back on the field, and you’re anxious. We’re very anxious to get back out there Saturday and get a win. Not necessarily for revenge for losing to Notre Dame but because we need a win. We’re 3-0 in the Pac-10, and this’ll get us to 4-0 and being sole leaders in the Pac-10. That’s our goal.
DB: Do you feel like there’s more pressure on the defense, given that the offense has been struggling?
RV: It’s natural that when one side of the ball’s not doing well, the other side has to step up; that’s just the way football is. We’re looking forward to it actually. We want to be categorized as a defense that can win games for their team. We don’t feel there’s nothing wrong with that. Our offense will come along, and when they do we’ll put together two halves and it will be amazing. But until they get going, we’ll be there to help them out and get them the ball back as often as we can until they get clicking.
DB: A few weeks ago, Aaron Perez told me you’re one of the best inside-the-10 punters in the country. What’s the story there?
RV: Before every game, I go over with the punters and start punting with them, get my feel a little bit, take a pointer or two. I used to punt a little bit in high school, so we have a little friendly competition to loosen up before the game, see who can get inside 10 the best. So far I’m winning. It’s just a little joy before the game to loosen up before you go out there and battle.
DB: Are there any NFL players you look up to or try to emulate?
RV: Champ Bailey. He’s a taller corner, kind of a bigger guy. I try and watch as much film on him as I can. Every time they play, I try to watch him ““ the techniques he uses, the things he does. He’s a bigger corner, and I can relate to him ““ the ways he has to backpedal, the ways he gets in and out of breaks. He’s my favorite player, someone who I definitely model my game after and someone I would like to talk to, kind of pick his brain a little bit to get a feel for the game at that level.
DB: You wear No. 3. Is there any special history to that number?
RV: When I first got here, I tried to get the No. 5, which is retired for (former UCLA safety) Kenny Easley. I actually wrote him a letter trying to get the number un-retired for my four years, then retired again in his name. He said go get your own number, build your own legacy, and try and get that number retired itself. That’s what I’ve been trying to do with No. 3 since I’ve been here.
DB: What do you want that legacy to say about you?
RV: That I was a hard-working athlete that overcame any and every challenge that came his way. I just want to be known as a hard-worker that, every time you threw a challenge in his face, he was willing to compete, he was willing to go after it, and would never turn down that challenge.