Experienced Leader
August 14, 2004 02:57 PM | General
August 14, 2004
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University senior linebacker Adam Lehnortt likes what he’s seen from the defense so far during fall camp. Lehnortt is one of the most experienced returners on a Mountaineer defense full of experienced players.
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| Linebacker Adam Lehnortt is expected to be one of the leaders of this year's defense
(All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
“The first few days we were flying around,” he said. “I look for a lot of good things. I think there is a lot of enthusiasm and to be honest with you … I don’t want to single any unit out but the defense is the heart and soul of any championship team. That’s just the way it’s got to be.”
Because he has been in Coach Jeff Casteel’s defensive system now for four seasons, Lehnortt believes he’s got a pretty good handle on WVU’s unorthodox 3-3 stack configuration.
“I was here when it first came in which is nice because I know the ins and the outs,” the Oil City, Pa. native said. “I’ll be talking to Coach Casteel and I’ll be finishing his statements and finishing his sentences.”
The senior admits this alignment takes some time getting used to.
“Just the fact that we don’t have four down linemen; we’ve only got three,” he said. “We have more athletes out on the field but at the same time those athletes have got to make plays and those athletes have got to come up with a pass rush because we’ve only got three down linemen.”
Yet at the same time the 6-foot-4, 235-pounder likes the fact that this defense allows all 11 players the ability to make plays.
“A good side to this defense is the fact that anybody can make plays,” he said. “I remember watching some of the old defenses and they’ve got everybody covered up and the linebackers are making the plays. That’s nice for numbers and everything but some guys might get a little distraught about that. If you’re going to hustle out there in this defense then you’re going to make plays.”
Lehnortt did his fair share of hustling last year, ranking 33rd nationally in total tackles per game (10.7 avg.). He was second on the team with 135 tackles and also recorded 13 tackles for losses and five sacks. He had eight games with 10 tackles or more and 11 of 13 games with nine tackles or more. Lehnortt was able to accomplish this despite having a nagging shoulder injury that eventually required him to have off-season shoulder surgery.
The surgery forced Lehnortt to miss spring football drills. Mountaineer coach Rich Rodriguez, for one, is glad to have Lehnortt back on the football field.
“He’s one of the best leaders we have on the team,” said the coach. “We’re excited for him to be back.”
The coach is also hopeful Lehnortt can get through fall camp problem free.
“We’ve only been in full pads one day so we’ll see how he holds up during camp. But it looks like he’s regained his strength and his weight. He’s always been able to run and fly to the football. It will be important to us because he’s going to be a big key for us in the middle.”
Lehnortt teams with senior Scott Gyorko and sophomore Kevin McLee to give the Mountaineers a solid linebacker corps. Lehnorrt says the combination of all three players should be enough to fill the void left with the graduation of consensus All-American linebacker Grant Wiley.
“I think everybody is picking it up,” he said. “I don’t think anyone is singling themselves out saying, ‘Oh, I’ve got to take Wiley’s spot.’ I just think as a whole unit we’re just so much further along than we were last year. Coach Casteel says even in our pass drops as a defensive unit we’re just so much further than we were last year.”
Lehnortt has always been a fan of this defense and the aggressive philosophy Casteel employs.
“The mindset of any defensive player is you don’t want to sit back and wait for anything. That’s just a bonus that he has the same mental aspect that we have as players,” Lehnortt said.
Casteel’s aggressiveness was never more evident than at Miami last year when he called an all-out blitz on fourth and 16 late in the game. First-round draft pick Kellen Winslow made a miraculous catch over the middle that resulted in a first down and Miami’s eventual game-winning field goal. Lehnortt for one appreciates the call.
“He says he’d rather go down swinging than anything,” Lehnortt said. “Why sit back on your heels and wait for something?
“I know Coach Casteel said after the Miami game that he wouldn’t have had it any other way. It was like, ‘If that happened 10 times over again I would have called the same defense 10 times again,’” said Lehnortt.
Aggressiveness has also been evident in camp this fall. There have been several scrums involving the offensive and defensive linemen. Lehnortt says that just comes with the territory.
“Yeah, you’ll have that. We’re competitors no matter if we’re 185 pounds or 300 pounds,” he said. “Danny Mozes is one of the biggest competitors I know and when you push his button he reacts. Sometimes he doesn’t realize that he’s 300 pounds and he can throw somebody from here to halfway to Texas. You’ll have that when you’ve got guys butting heads.”
Random Camp Notes:
Among those wearing red jerseys right now (meaning limited contact) are seniors Eddie Jackson and Miquelle Henderson.
“We’ve got more guys back up front,” he said. “When you do things up front you’ve got to tie it in to coverages and we’ve got some new guys in the secondary. If the secondary guys can handle the various coverage packages that will make us more versatile on defense.”
