Published: April 18, 2008 01:52 am      

Casteel: WVU defense needs to be more consistent

MORGANTOWN — West Virginia University’s rebuilt defense has shown some improvement, but it needs to be come more consistent.

That’s what defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel said as spring practice headed into its final week, with the annual Gold-Blue Game coming up on Saturday at Mountaineer Field/Milan Puskar Stadium

Quarterback Patrick White said after last Saturday’s scrimmage that the defense might well be one of the best in the country next season.

“He’s a leader and a team guy,” Casteel said. “But I don’t think we could call ourselves that yet. Our kids have gotten better as the spring has gone. But we’re still looking for the consistency that you need day in and day out, play in and play out to get to a level where you’re considered a good defense.

“We’ve made some strides throughout the spring. But we’re nowhere near where we need to be to win on a consistent basis. But, again, that’s why we’re inconsistent. There are things that have to go on between now and when we start playing.”

WVU had some major losses on that side of the ball after last season. Starting linebackers Marc Magro and Bobby Hathaway have departed, along with defensive backs Ryan Mundy, Eric Wicks, Vaughn Rivers and Antonio Lewis, and defensive linemen Keilen Dykes and Johnny Dingle.

“As long as the kids prepare themselves and work hard, they will have an opportunity to have some success,” Casteel said. “We’ve got a long way to go. We’ve got a lot of new kids that have not played in situations that they’re going to have to play in when the season starts.

“So once we see them with the stands full and how they react under pressure in different situations, we’ll be able to tell how good we’re going to be.”

A major concern is the defensive line, where veteran assistant coach Bill Kirelawich is working with a lot of players who have seen little action, if any, in games.

Casteel said sophomore Scooter Berry has game experience and is a proven performer, but that others must step up.

Chris Neild and Larry Ford, a defensive end with junior-college experience, are performing well in spring drills. Both are having a good spring, as is Berry who expects to be better.

“But those two we lost (Dykes and Dingle) made a lot of plays for us,” Casteel stressed. “So it will be a concern until we start playing somebody else. If the guys in there can become as productive as those two, we’ll have a chance.”