MORGANTOWN - Today, we're going to play a little game.
MORGANTOWN - Today, we're going to play a little game.
We'll call it Word Up.
And the word of the day is "consistency." You can play along by counting how many times West Virginia defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel used the word or a form of it in a Tuesday interview. See how many you can find.
As for Casteel, he's simply trying to find it.
As most WVU fans know, the Mountaineer defense lost seven starters from last season. Only Terence Garvin, Najee Goode, Julian Miller and Keith Tandy return. Those same fans hope experienced backups returning from last season and an increase in speed may help make up for the losses.
But (get your calculators ready) Casteel says one aspect is missing.
"We're very inconsistent right now," he said. "[The players are] decent one day, then ... But we're installing some things. We've seen some progress, but we're trying to get a consistent effort and physical play. For us to be successful, that's what we have to have a handle in. That's what we're trying to beat into the kids."
Casteel was asked to break down the 3-3-5 odd stack by positions. He couldn't because of ...
"Inconsistency," he said. "We're not very good right now, whether it be the D-line, 'backers or back end. We're not where we need to be. Hopefully, we can continue to get better. We still have a lot of work to do.
"To play at a high level, we're going to have to play on a consistent basis and we're just not consistent in a lot of areas."
To the side of Casteel, Mountaineer quarterback Geno Smith was giving the defense compliments for its improvement on disguising schemes.
"They have a pretty good understanding," Casteel said begrudgingly. "I think the safeties are doing a pretty good job of hiding their intentions, which is obviously important with what we do."
Here's the inside scoop, though. The good news for the WVU defense is there haven't been any position moves. That signals some consistency. The bad news is you may have to add the word "yet" to the end of that sentence.
Here's what Casteel said on the record when asked if the linebacker two-deep has been solidified.
"Not yet," said the defensive coordinator. "We're still looking. I think [strong-side linebacker] Doug Rigg has done a consistent job day in and out. He's still learning some things. [Weak-side linebacker] Casey Vance is a kid who is pretty much always in the right spot. [Weak-side 'backer] Josh Francis is inconsistent, but, boy, when he's on, he can make a play.
[Strong-side 'backer] Tyler Anderson has gotten better. So has [strong-side 'backer] Donovan Miles. But we haven't solidified any of that."
Yes, there's also that transfer from Notre Dame, Steve Paskorz.
"Steve is a big, strong kid," Casteel said. "I still think his knee injury is still bothering him. He hasn't said a word. He hasn't missed a rep. But I still think it hurts him a little bit."
The latest depth chart has Rigg starting on the strong side, Goode at middle and Francis or Vance at the weak side. But the depth chart isn't set.
"I'd like to have it right now, but we don't," Casteel said. "The kids really control that. When we get consistent play out of guys, you'll see them out there on game day.
MORGANTOWN - Today, we're going to play a little game.
We'll call it Word Up.
And the word of the day is "consistency." You can play along by counting how many times West Virginia defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel used the word or a form of it in a Tuesday interview. See how many you can find.
As for Casteel, he's simply trying to find it.
As most WVU fans know, the Mountaineer defense lost seven starters from last season. Only Terence Garvin, Najee Goode, Julian Miller and Keith Tandy return. Those same fans hope experienced backups returning from last season and an increase in speed may help make up for the losses.
But (get your calculators ready) Casteel says one aspect is missing.
"We're very inconsistent right now," he said. "[The players are] decent one day, then ... But we're installing some things. We've seen some progress, but we're trying to get a consistent effort and physical play. For us to be successful, that's what we have to have a handle in. That's what we're trying to beat into the kids."
Casteel was asked to break down the 3-3-5 odd stack by positions. He couldn't because of ...
"Inconsistency," he said. "We're not very good right now, whether it be the D-line, 'backers or back end. We're not where we need to be. Hopefully, we can continue to get better. We still have a lot of work to do.
"To play at a high level, we're going to have to play on a consistent basis and we're just not consistent in a lot of areas."
To the side of Casteel, Mountaineer quarterback Geno Smith was giving the defense compliments for its improvement on disguising schemes.
"They have a pretty good understanding," Casteel said begrudgingly. "I think the safeties are doing a pretty good job of hiding their intentions, which is obviously important with what we do."
Here's the inside scoop, though. The good news for the WVU defense is there haven't been any position moves. That signals some consistency. The bad news is you may have to add the word "yet" to the end of that sentence.
Here's what Casteel said on the record when asked if the linebacker two-deep has been solidified.
"Not yet," said the defensive coordinator. "We're still looking. I think [strong-side linebacker] Doug Rigg has done a consistent job day in and out. He's still learning some things. [Weak-side linebacker] Casey Vance is a kid who is pretty much always in the right spot. [Weak-side 'backer] Josh Francis is inconsistent, but, boy, when he's on, he can make a play.
[Strong-side 'backer] Tyler Anderson has gotten better. So has [strong-side 'backer] Donovan Miles. But we haven't solidified any of that."
Yes, there's also that transfer from Notre Dame, Steve Paskorz.
"Steve is a big, strong kid," Casteel said. "I still think his knee injury is still bothering him. He hasn't said a word. He hasn't missed a rep. But I still think it hurts him a little bit."
The latest depth chart has Rigg starting on the strong side, Goode at middle and Francis or Vance at the weak side. But the depth chart isn't set.
"I'd like to have it right now, but we don't," Casteel said. "The kids really control that. When we get consistent play out of guys, you'll see them out there on game day.
"Right now we don't have enough guys playing consistently. We have to play more consistent."
There are others. Casteel said Jewone Snow, nephew of ex-Michigan State standout Percy Snow and former NBA player Eric Snow, has dropped some weight. He's now listed at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds. But the defensive coordinator said Jewone Snow still needs to improve his footwork.
The scoop is Goode, the 6-1, 241-pound redshirt senior, may have to move from the middle to the weak side if Casteel isn't comfortable starting Vance or Francis.
The secondary two-deep, likewise, according to Casteel, is still up for grabs.
"Those things haven't really been set," said the coach. "[Cornerback] Pat Miller has done some good things. He's made a lot of progress. He's made a lot of progress since the spring. [Corner] Avery Williams is a kid that's shown some flashes. He just hasn't been consistent enough. [Corner] Brodrick [Jenkins] made a couple plays Monday, but you have to do it every day.
"In the back end, [free safety] Eain Smith was out all spring and it's good to see him out running around, but we're trying to get the rust off him. Matt Moro and Travis Bell are playing behind him. I don't know if any of those guys have stood out.
"Terence Garvin has done a good job [at spur safety]. He's a consistent guy. Over at the bandit, Darwin Cook is there. Shaq Petteway has been getting a lot of looks and is a good football player. But he's trying to play at a level that's a jump. [Nick] Kwiatkoski made a play again [Monday] in the scrimmage situation."
Although, yes, there's a lot of poor-mouthing here from Casteel, note that he apparently received help in the off-season. Moro is the junior college transfer from El Camino College in Torrance, Calif. Petteway is the freshman from Steubenville, Ohio, who has received raves. Kwiatkoski is another freshman from Bethel Park, Pa.
Wes Tonkery, the Bridgeport native, might have his work cut out to stay on the two-deep.
"Wes Tonkery is more physical than what he was in the spring," Casteel said. "We still want to get him more physical than he is now. But he's made progress."
The answer to today's game, by the way, was 12. If you found all the "consistencies" within Casteel's quotes, congrats.
The coach is now hoping he can find some. Within his team.
Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827, mitchvin...@wvgazette.com or follow him at twitter.com/MitchVingle.
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