Casteel: Tackling a Key
December 29, 2009 01:01 PM | General
December 29, 2009
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Ask West Virginia defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel to list his No. 1 concern heading into Friday’s Konica Minolta Gator Bowl game against Florida State and coming somewhere near the top of his list is tackling.
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| Defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel observes Tuesday's practice at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
In reality, tackling is likely the No. 1 concern of any defensive coordinator heading into a bowl game for any number of reasons.
First of all, defenses are not as sharp as they were at the end of the season because of the time off between games. Second, players can’t do live tackling as much as coaches would like because they don’t want to lose the bowl game on the practice field.
And third, the offenses defenses are facing in bowl games are typically good or else they wouldn’t be in the bowl game in the first place.
Casteel says West Virginia works on tackling as much as possible in practices leading up to the bowl game.
“At this time of the year you’re not going live and that’s tough because you don’t want to beat them up,” he explained. “We tackle every day; we just don’t go live and put them on the ground. Hopefully we’ll do a good job of that in the game, but it’s really tough at this point (to do it).”
Casteel’s Mountaineer defenses have performed well in bowl games of late. Last year, the Mountaineers completely shut down North Carolina in the second half in a 31-30 come-from-behind victory.
Two years ago, despite giving up 419 yards to third-ranked Oklahoma, Casteel’s crew was able to tighten in the red zone in holding the explosive Sooners to 28 points in a 48-28 Mountaineer victory.
From what Casteel has seen on tape of Florida State, he anticipates facing another explosive offense on Jan. 1.
“Throughout their lineup they’ve got kids that can go,” Casteel said. “We have to do a good job of tackling and being in the right place because they have the ability to put it in the end zone, whether it is with their running back or any of their wide outs.”
The problems 6-6 Florida State have had this year have not been because of a lack of scoring. The Seminoles are averaging nearly 30 points per game, and have continued to move the ball effectively with backup quarterback E.J. Manuel taking over for injured starter Christian Ponder following the Clemson loss.
“They do a really good job in balancing and a good job of game planning and attacking weaknesses,” Casteel said. “I’m sure they are going to have a good plan. They have kids all over the field that can make plays and that’s what our kids need to understand. Just about everybody they put out there can make a play on you.”
What makes Casteel doubly wary of Florida State is Coach Bobby Bowden’s history of using trick plays.
When Bowden coached at West Virginia University he always made sure there were at least one or two trick plays in each game plan. Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher calls the plays now for Florida State, but Bowden can been seen on TV frequently jumping on the headsets to follow the play calling or offer his suggestions.
Maybe one of his suggestions might be a reverse or a double pass?
“That would be nice if he could help out the Mountaineers and maybe give us a little signal,” Casteel laughed. “I’m sure we’ll see something.”
Actually, Casteel has already seen some a bunch of them on film. Trick plays show up in just about every Florida State game this year.
“It’s hard to tell what they will come up with having a month off. Those are assignment plays anyway,” Casteel said. “You just have to have guys with discipline do what they’re supposed to do. Then you have a chance on them because you don’t know when they’re coming and you’re not necessarily going to get what they show you on film.”
Once when Bowden was offensive coordinator at West Virginia, he even changed the offense from the veer to the wishbone before the 1969 Peach Bowl.
“That’s going to give me a big stomach ache,” Casteel joked when informed of that.
Today it is unlikely that Florida State has enough time to change its offense so radically with recruiting, finals and NCAA limits on practice times, but Casteel concedes that there is still plenty of time for the Seminoles to add a few wrinkles to its game plan.
Perhaps that could include some Wildcat formations or some more option with Manuel now at quarterback.
“That’s the problem with bowl games. You have a month off and coaches trying to come up with something new,” Casteel said. “To be honest, we don’t really know for sure exactly what we’ll see. I think that’s the same thing from their perspective. When it comes down to it, people are going to do what they do best and I’m sure they will have some new things for us just like you do every week.
“If he does things like that then we’ll have to adjust,” Casteel added. “There are only so many things that you can get ready for and believe me, we have a lot to get ready for when you start putting down 12 games of film.”
Whatever Florida State chooses to do, Casteel believes that the best way to combat it is by playing good, sound fundamental football.
“The bowl game is nothing but a football game,” Casteel said. “You are still going to have to block and tackle and do all of those things … if you do that then you have a chance to win. All of the clichés of coaching come into play, especially when you’ve been off the field for basically a month before you play again.
“I don’t think you do any more than try and stay fundamental - block and tackle, don’t turn the ball over and force turnovers and all of the things you need to do to win week to week.”
