Casteel ‘up front' about WVU defense

[Apis Bull]

Charleston Daily Mail

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Casteel ‘up front' about WVU defense

Mike Cherry

Daily Mail sportswriter

Monday August 16, 2004

Jeff Casteel is a lot football coach, but also a little bit farmer this time of year.

That is because a new crop of regulars for his West Virginia University defense is starting to rise.

The Mountaineers began their second week of preseason practice with an abbreviated workout Sunday afternoon. Week two, with three sessions of two-a-days and a Saturday scrimmage, awaits in the upcoming days.

Yet Casteel, who is entering his third season as defensive coordinator, is beginning to see who will bloom and eventually take the spots abandoned by talented 2003 seniors such as linebacker Grant Wiley, cornerback Lance Frazier, strong safety Leandre Washington and free safety Brian King.

"I think this year we're going to be up-front a lot better than what we were (in 2003)," Casteel said Sunday. "The amount of people we have there now will make us stronger. Last year, we were more back-end strong."

Look for sophomore nose guard Craig Wilson to be a much-improved performer and for end Joe Sykes, a junior-college transfer, to help a WVU pass rush that accumulated just 17 sacks in 2003.

"(Wilson's) getting to the point where he is more of a factor," Casteel said. "He had a heckuva spring. He's just a powerful guy in the middle."

Wilson made 18 tackles last season, playing in 11 games behind Ben Lynch, a senior this year.

Sykes is a 6-foot-4, 255-pounder from Grenada, Miss., who enrolled at WVU in January. He participated in spring drills. Casteel hopes Sykes can add consistency to a pass rush that also will feature end Jason Hardee (six sacks in 2003).

"Joe is still an enigma," Casteel said. "He has a lot of athletic ability, but he's not really refined in terms of doing some things. ... We haven't had anyone (in recent seasons) who can consistently beat one-on-one blocks."

Finding someone to create big defensive plays -- forced fumbles, interceptions, tackles for losses -- will be critical with the loss of Wiley. Some of the rising linebackers who can fill the role to an extent are sophomores Boo McLee and Jay Henry, Casteel said.

"Boo McLee is really running around and making plays," Casteel said. "Jay Henry is another kid who hasn't played a lot of defense, but he's playing well. His head's starting to pop up in terms of making plays."

McLee played in all 13 2003 games, making 46 tackles. Henry made 38, many on special teams. Both are outside linebackers. The starters are senior Adam Lehnortt in the middle and McLee and senior Scott Gyorko on the outside.

Losing three of five starters in the secondary has created some shuffling for Casteel. For example, last year's starter at the "bandit" strong safety spot, Mike Lorello, is now at the "spur" safety position.

One guy who can serve as backup at several secondary spots, including free safety, is redshirt freshman Ridwan Malik. He played some last week at free because of the ailing health of Vince Beamer.

"He's a guy with a chance to help us," Casteel said.

Finally, two cornerbacks have grabbed Casteel's attention. Redshirt freshman Larry Williams and junior college transfer "Dee" McCann have been all over the charts, however, because of performance or health. McCann has missed several practices with a hamstring pull.

"And Larry shows up both good and bad in camp," Casteel said.

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