Football Notebook
June 24, 2009 04:14 PM | General
June 24, 2009
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel figured it was time for his Mountaineer linebackers to learn from a pro.
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| Pat Lazear said watching Steelers linebacker James Harrison has been very helpful.
Brent Kepner photo |
So he dialed up the Pittsburgh Steelers and got some tape from their game last year against the New England Patriots. Specifically, Casteel wanted his linebackers to study the way James Harrison plays.
Harrison had a monster season for the Steelers in 2008, recording 101 tackles, 16 sacks and seven forced fumbles on his way to earning NFL defensive player of the year honors. Junior Pat Lazear admitted it was inspiring watching Harrison play.
“None of our linebackers are really that tall and neither is he – I think he’s just 5-10 or 5-11. The way he plays the game and uses his body is just phenomenal,” Lazear said. “I’ve learned so much from watching him.”
According to Lazear, what makes Harrison so special is the way he competes against much bigger players.
“Considering he’s 5-10 going against guys 6-8 and he’s just bullying them. It’s something good to watch,” Lazear said.
Lazear made plenty of progress last year as a sophomore, especially in the Meineke Car Care Bowl when his late interception sealed a 31-30 win for the Mountaineers. He finished the year with 30 tackles, including a season-high nine stops in the South Florida win.
Lazear enters this fall No. 1 on the depth chart at strongside linebacker.
“I’m progressing like all of us do during the summer,” Lazear said. “I’ve gained a lot in a year, experience, speed, power … a lot.”
Lazear said the team is much further ahead in its summer conditioning work this year because the players and the strength staff are on the same page.
“Last year was our first year with (Mike) Joseph,” he said. “It was kind of our progression year into this year. Now we can get at it like we want to.”
Lazear said he wants to play at 235 pounds this fall. Right now he weighs 225.
“I’m comfortable where I am, but I would like to be a little heavier,” he said.
Summer Tidbits ...
“The Gold Rush day we had 129 young men come and they were very talented young people,” Stewart said. “It was really neat to see them go out and compete and work with our coaches.”
“Mike Joseph has our guys on course and on schedule,” Stewart said. “That’s why I hired Mike Joseph. It’s really starting to take shape. Last year was good and this year has been better than good.”
Stewart singled out Reed Williams, J.T. Thomas, Chris Neild, Scooter Berry and Boogie Allen on defense, and Jarrett Brown, Noel Devine, Selvish Capers, Tyler Urban and Don Barclay on offense as players that have been working hard this summer
“Those are the names I keep hearing,” he said.
Stewart is also encouraged with the progress Barclay is making rehabilitating the broken leg he suffered in the spring game.
“The pin has been taken out of the ankle,” Stewart said. “He’s on schedule and he’s getting better and better with each passing day.”
“We had some reports that the youngsters have some energy, some athleticism and some enthusiasm,” said Stewart, a bright smile forming on his face. “That’s all they need because we’ll teach them the rest.”
The players got their first glimpse of two-time Maryland player of the year Tavon Austin in 7-of-7 drills a couple of weeks ago. The word is that Austin put on show.
“Tavon’s first day here he was just phenomenal,” said Lazear. “Everyone was googly-eyed just watching him. He just shook dudes out of their shoes a couple of times.”
“He had a child and he took a semester off and that counted against his clock,” Stewart said. “He’s going to play Division II and we wish him the best.”
“Most people look at their first three opponents during the summer,” Stewart noted.
On Thursday, Stewart and most of his staff will be in Parkersburg for an 1100 Club function and then he will participate in Brian Jozwiak’s golf outing in Fairmont benefitting the WVU Children’s Hospital on Friday.
