The Mountaineers had one of the worst pass defenses in the NCAA last season. The secondary was burnt on deep balls and came up short on just about every track meet type play. The leading tackler on defense was safety Karl Joseph, which means that the ball carrier made it to the third level a good bit. That’s not good. Now, this Mountaineers defensive line will need to pressure the quarterback and make the secondary’s job a lot easier.
For a defense that gave up nearly 475 yards per game, a change is in order. That change has come in the form of a new defensive coordinator for WVU in Keith Patterson. Head coach Dana Holgorsen has also brought in new secondary coaches Brian Mitchell (cornerbacks) and Tony Gibson (safeties). Defensive line coach Erik Slaughter, who is going into his second year with WVU, and Patterson are tasked with helping out a struggling secondary.
Even though they ranked 2nd in the turnover margin in the Big 12 last season, the defensive focus is to create more turnovers going into 2013. Patterson has said that he wants the team to create more tackles for loss and to slow up the tempo of other teams.
“I think it is an awareness issue, really. It is about being physical. That is how you force turnovers,” Patterson said.
For a pass defense to really flourish, though, you need one thing: pressure on the ball and on the quarterback. When he drops back, you need guys in his face to force bad throws. That’s something the Mountaineers did not do well last season.
“You need to get people playing with tremendous effort,” Patterson reiterated, “The more people are around the ball, the more opportunity there is to generate a turnover.”
The 2013 defensive line is bolstered by Shaq Rowell and senior defensive end Will Clarke. Clarke says the 2013 season will be about guys playing their roles and young guys stepping up.
“(Sophomore Defensive Lineman) Eric Kinsler has been working with the ones. (Redshirt Freshman Defensive Lineman) Noble (Nwachukwu) is really stepping up. (Sophomore Defensive Lineman) Christian Brown as well, and (Junior Defensive End) Dontrill (Hyman) is learning,” Clarke said of the defensive line rotation so far in camp.
“The rotation is looking really good for us.”
Slaughter, who helped the Mountaineers produce the no. 4 rush defense in the Big 12 last season, is most looking forward to getting an “okay” defensive line better.
“We all know we took some growing pains, but our guys have grown up, eaten, and they look good,” Slaughter said of guys like Clarke.
“We are a long way away from being where we want to be, which is the best defensive line in the Big 12. They are getting bigger and getting older, we just have to get them better.”
Slaughter isn’t one of those coaches who just plays the players with experience. No, he plays those who will help the team win, no matter if they are a freshman, a JUCO transfer, or a walk-on.
“If you can help us win, I am going to play you. If you can’t, then I won’t. In the Big 12, because of the tempo, you better have more than three or four guys or you will be in a lot of trouble,” Slaughter said.
The goal, with most of the question marks on defense now in the secondary after injuries, will be for this defensive line to get after the quarterback. If Clarke can get around the edge and Rowell can take up two blockers up front, quarterbacks will have no choice but to get rid of the ball quicker, taking pressure off of guys like Joseph down the field.
“They are getting bigger and getting older, we just have to get them better.”
