West Virginia Mountaineers Spring Practice Preview: Defensive Line

by Caleb Wygal on Apr 6, 2011 1:33 PM EDT in Mountaineer Football

Our spring practice preview schedule:

After four days of breaking down different positions on the offensive side of the ball, we here at the Smoking Musket now turn our attention to the defensive side. Today, we're going to break down the defensive line. The DL has the player most opposing coaches are going to focus on this year: Bruce Irvin. We'll tell you why opposing teams may end up regretting their focus on Irvin.

This year, defensive coordinator, Jeff Casteel, faces one of the biggest challenges of his Mountaineer coaching tenure by having to replace 7 defensive starters that WVU lost to graduation or leaving early for the NFL. Defensive Line coach Bill Kirelawich has the task of finding replacements for two starters after losing Scooter Berry and Chris Neild to graduation. With all of the changes on defense this year, this is Casteel's main goal as he told WV Metro News:

"What we have to do is just get them all on the same page, make sure we’re all running the same coverage at the same time, make sure we’re executing the same blitz at the same time. As simple as that sounds, sometimes that becomes an issue."

Bruce Irvin should be the star of the defense this upcoming season as he transitions from primarily playing on third downs to being an every down player. Irvin had led the Big East in sacks last season with 14. That total was also good enough to rank him 2nd in the nation in that category. Again, all while mainly playing on 3rd down. His sacks made up more than half of his total tackles last season (22). Jeff Casteel believes Irvin was the main reason why the Mountaineers finished 2nd in the nation on 3rd down defense. Dave Hickman of the West Virginia Gazette had a great article breaking down why a talent like Irvin wasn't an every down lineman last year. To get his body ready for the added playing time, Irvin has said that he hits the weight room two or three times a day. Brian Bennett of ESPN gives Irvin 5-to-1 odds of being the Big East defensive player of the year.

Irvin told Drew Rubenstein of the Dominion Post that he is excited to have Dana Holgorsen as a new offensive coordinator. Why would a defensive lineman get excited about having a new offensive coordinator?

"Seeing the numbers that Holgorsen puts up year-in and year-out, you have no choice but to get excited. If the offense puts up numbers, man, and we make teams play catch-up, then that's more passing situations for us," Irvin said with a grin stretched across his face.

The Mountaineers led the Big East in sacks last season, and if Holgorsen's offense does indeed light up the scoreboard, not only will Irvin have a monster season, but his other teammates on the D-line will thrive as well.

With all the talk about Irvin, senior Julian Miller is the only returning starter on the line. Miller has had 9 sacks in each of the past 2 seasons and was 6th on the team in tackles with 54. Now, Miller is making the move from defensive end to tackle to give Irvin more opportunities on the outside. At 260lbs., Miller is on the light side for a DT, but Casteel hopes that Miller's speed will keep him from getting bogged down by bigger offensive linemen. With Miller's speed and history of getting to the QB, if teams double-team Irvin and neglect Miller, he could easily beat his sack numbers from the past two seasons.

Junior Jorge Wright and Sr. Josh Taylor return to battle for the NT vacated by Neild. They have appeared in a combined 44 games between the two of them. Wright appeared in 12 games had 10 tackles and 1 forced fumble. Taylor had 13 tackles and 1 forced fumble in 11 games. Bill Stewart thinks that Wright has the better chance to replace Neild at NT. Redshirt freshman Trevor Demko also looks to get in the mix at NT.

Redshirt sophomore Will Clarke showed promise at the beginning of last season until a high ankle sprain slowed him. Clarke now looks to get a number of snaps as Irvin's backup. If he comes on this spring and later in the fall, he has a chance to appear in packages playing opposite Irvin. Redshirt juniors J.B. Lageman and C.J. Huffman saw limited playing time last year but will add depth to interior of the line this year. Walk-on redshirt freshman Ted Reitschlin could see some playing time on the end.

The pass rush for the Mountaineers should be one of the best in the Big East, if not the nation for the upcoming season. We told you that the 'Eers ranked 2nd nationally in third down defense and sacks last season. Because of Scooter Berry and Chris Neild, they also ranked 2nd in rushing defense. They're gone, so that means that Miller, Taylor, Wright, and Demko has some big britches to fill. The line will be lighter this season, but it will also be quicker. If the offense lights it up and forces opposing defenses to pass the ball, then the rush defense may not need to be as dominant as it was last season.

The talk around this upcoming season is about Dana Holgorsen's offense and the all-time records it could shatter. Bruce Irvin has a chance to break some records himself in his Senior season. Former Mountaineer Canute Curtis holds both the single-season (16.5) and career sack record (34.5) for the Mountaineers. While the reaching the career record may be a stretch for Irvin (he would need 21 sacks), Curtis' single-season record is in serious jeopardy of coming down this season.

Defensive Line Depth Chart:

DT #1-Julian Miller

DT #2- J.B. Lageman

DT #3- C.J. Huffman

NT #1- Jorge Wright

NT #2- Josh Taylor

NT #3- Trevor Demko

DE #1- Bruce Irvin

DE #2- Will Clarke

DE #3- Ted Rietschlin

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Comments

probably alone on this...

but I don’t like Irvin as a DE… he wasn’t as effective in the NC State game coming off the line as he had been standing up earlier in the year as an outside LB-hybrid

Maybe its just the lack of time and technique, I’m not sure, and certainly time will tell. I also wonder, while a GREAT pass rusher, he seems lighter-framed than our previous linemen also (Berry was easily 310, Miller is a 300b, and Nield was 320)… how well will he perform against teams that want to run the ball and choke away our offense’s chances?

Just some thoughts, and I love the kid as a pass rusher and his instincts and potential aren’t the question I have, its more about the position he plays.

by beckett929 on Apr 6, 2011 2:07 PM EDT reply actions

Miller is 260

by The 25314 on Apr 6, 2011 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

So, I'm watching Irvin come up from a three-point stance and blow up a lineman to get to the QB....

and I’m wondering why he can’t chase down a running back as easily?

h/t tinypics

The shirt says, "Mountain people are wise. Ocean people are happy."
I was smart enough to move my hillbilly butt to the beach.

by MtnEer_in_SC on Apr 6, 2011 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

You're describing the physical needs for the wrong the postion.

Berry, Neild, and now Miller play on the interior of the line where they need to be bigger to knock offensive linemen aside to get to RBs. DE’s rely more on speed, so they need to be a little lighter. That’s why you have more sacks that come from the DE position than at DT or NG.
My comment below tells why Irvin was a pass rush specialist last year and not a more well-rounded player.

by Caleb Wygal on Apr 6, 2011 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Really?

He had two sacks, a QB hurry and a forced fumble. That seems pretty effective to me for only playing in passing situations.

by 5th Year Senior on Apr 6, 2011 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Who?

by Caleb Wygal on Apr 6, 2011 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions

BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUce

by 5th Year Senior on Apr 7, 2011 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

If you read the Dave Hickman Article

I linked to in the story, he does a good job of breaking that down. Much of it has to do with him not getting on the field until last fall and not learning the techniques needed to be an every down defensive lineman. These spring practices are big for Irvin as he learns how to chase down RBs, angles, gaps, and the like.

by Caleb Wygal on Apr 6, 2011 4:43 PM EDT reply actions

Doesn't it also have to do with a pre-snap read?

You always hear the experts talk about the pre-snap read of a QB, but you see guys like Ray Lewis doing pre-snap reads too. If he can determine that it is a run from the formation or motion I would think that would help. Of course, I never played football after middle school so I don’t know if that is actually done by DL guys.

by 5th Year Senior on Apr 6, 2011 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

True, but...

It think that’s something the linebackers or safeties are supposed to point out to the guys up front since they have a better view of what is going on in the offensive backfield. Whether its a run or pass.

by Caleb Wygal on Apr 6, 2011 6:17 PM EDT reply actions

Even though the D Line will be undersized, we will be playing against such dynamic offenses as Rutgers, Syracuse, UConn, Norfolk St., Bowling Green, and Marshall. That should be 6 wins just by showing up.

by The 25314 on Apr 7, 2011 9:43 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs