December 31, 2011
WEST VIRGINIA DEFENSE
PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
COACH JEFF CASTEEL
THE MODERATOR: I want to introduce Jeff Casteel, the defensive coordinator for West Virginia.
You now have been here for a few days in South Florida. How is your team adjusting to getting ready for a
Bowl game?
COACH CASTEEL: Well, I think they're obviously excited. We got a chance to practice for the
first time yesterday, so they're excited to get down. The weather is nice obviously, and they got their sweat
going. It's warm for them. But they did a nice job yesterday.
Q. I guess if you could start talking about the safeties, losing Terence. Last time we talked, we
didn't know that Terence was going to be out, how that's going to affect you guys' game plan going in and
with Wes and I guess what you're doing safety wise?
COACH CASTEEL: Well, we're still going to work Wes and Shaquille, Shaq Petteway, and go with
those guys. We'll still work those two kids the next two or three practices, and they're both going to play.
That's what happens when you get an injury; a kid has to step up, and the next guy goes. I know that
they're excited to play. We've been through those situations before, so those guys will be ready to go.
Q. Do you lean more on guys like Eain and Darwin who have been there in the lineup all year to
help bring those guys along this week?
COACH CASTEEL: Yeah, I think the key is letting the kids get in and get settled in. For some of
these kids, obviously this is a big game for them. Once they get in and settle in, they're going to find it's no
different than any of the other games that they've played.
But our kids will ?? our leaders will settle those guys down, and they'll be ready to play.
Q. Could you talk about Sammy Watkins, what makes him so good and what you guys need to do
to try to slow him down?
COACH CASTEEL: Well, he's really fast. He's really athletic, great player. Probably the best kid
we've seen, I think. He may be as good as there is in the country as a freshman. He has the ability ?? and
they do really a great job of getting him the football in a bunch of different ways. Obviously they're going to
throw him the ball, but he'll get it as a running back, and they're going to screen him. They'll throw the ball
down the field, and he goes up and gets it. But I think his speed and athleticism are really what probably
separates him from guys.
And what we can do to stop him is ?? I mean, we're going to have to know where he's at, but the
problem with Clemson is they have three or four other guys you'd better know where they're at, too.
They're going to present some challenges. They have a quarterback that I think really does a great job.
Tajh does a wonderful job of moving in the pocket and keeping things alive. He's really talented.
We'll have our hands full trying to defend all those guys, and Sammy is probably at the forefront of
our thoughts. But there's three or four other guys that have the ability to give us problems.
Q. When you first came to West Virginia, if I'm not mistaken, you didn't start with a three?three
stack, right, and then you went to it the second year; is that right?
COACH CASTEEL: Yeah. We were more of an eight?man front. Rich wanted us to get into the
odd front, so we learned that, went and learned that from Wake Forest, and we've been in it for the last
whatever ??
Q. Can you talk about the evolution? Coach Swinney said yesterday some guys dabble in it, you
guys are committed to it. Can you talk about the evolution of that defense at West Virginia?
COACH CASTEEL: Well, I think when we first came here, Rich ?? we thought that we'd be able to
maybe get a niche in recruiting where we were having to go and recruit some of the three technique, so we
thought it might be easier to get the tweener type kids, linebacker, the 6'2", 185?, 190?, 200?pound kid
and let them grow into 230?, 235?pound kids that could run. So we tried to get a niche that way
defensively along with Rich bringing in the spread and trying to get a niche offensively that way. It's kind of
grown from that.
We can morph into a lot of different things, I think, out of it. So it's been good to us. Over the last
eight, nine, ten years we've been fairly consistent. So it's been good for us.
Q. Can you discuss Shaq Rowell's progress from the start of the year to where he is right now
and what kind of role you see for him in the game?
COACH CASTEEL: Well, he's played a lot for us the last couple ballgames, and he's really
developed a lot. I think, again, it would have helped us to have him in the spring a little bit. He was raw,
but he's a big kid, played well for us in the South Florida game, and we'll need him to give us reps
Wednesday night.
Q. Has his progress mostly been technique, learning the defense? Where has he come the
furthest?
COACH CASTEEL: Technique. Again, he's still learning the game a little bit, but Kirelawich has
done a really a great job with him bringing him along technique wise, but that's what it is. He's a zero nose,
so he's not going to do a whole lot other than try to demand a double team. But that requires a lot of
technique.
Q. A lot of people have said it's sometimes hard to know exactly how your team is going to
perform in a Bowl game because of the long layoff and you guys are going to be off obviously more than a
month before you kick it off. What are the biggest challenges when you have that much time off?
COACH CASTEEL: Well, I agree with that, and I think that's ?? it's tough. I think you worry about
your tackling, obviously, and the timing. A lot of times ?? sometimes you come back and are a little bit
better than what it was when you left off a month ago. But it's a layoff for the kids, but I also think that
they need some time to heal up, and it's a fine line of trying to keep them interested and not overdo it,
especially early when you're doing a game plan and those type of things.
But I think our kids are ?? have been focused and have done a good job. Our practices have been
good, and there's been good effort in them. The focus has been good, so hopefully that will translate into
playing well Wednesday night.
But you know, again, when you're off a month, month and a half between games, who knows
what's going to happen.
Q. Have you learned from past Bowl experiences certain schedules of certain things that work
better than other things?
COACH CASTEEL: You know what, I think if anybody had a perfect way of doing it, everybody
would have copied it. This is a copycat profession. Everybody would be doing the same thing. Nobody
would lose a Bowl game. But I think it depends upon the kids. I don't know that there's any perfect way of
doing it. But you have to have ?? number one, you have to have really good football players, you have to
have really focused football players, and you have to have some strong leadership from your football team,
and I think those will matter more, those things matter more probably than what a schedule does.
Q. A lot of turmoil over the last year with the coaching staff and the turnover to Dana and
obviously a very strong personality. Can you talk about the coaching staff's adjustment to Dana's
personality as a coach?
COACH CASTEEL: Well, I think that from a defensive perspective, we're doing what we've done
at West Virginia for eight, nine years, so I don't think any of that has really changed a great deal.
In terms of offensively, the up?tempo and those things, I think we were accustomed to that. We
had done that when Rich was here, and we did it with Coach Stew, also changed the tempo a little bit. So
I don't think any of those things have really been that big of an issue.
Q. When Tajh Boyd ?? I know you're obviously familiar with him from watching and when he was
originally recruited to West Virginia. What makes him such a special player and what makes him so
dynamic out there?
COACH CASTEEL: Well, he obviously has a strong arm, and I think he really does a great job in
the pocket, avoiding things and keeping plays alive. He's athletic, he's a big kid that can run, and they will
use him to design runs in short yardage or get down in the red zone. So he's a kid that can do everything,
throw the football and also make plays with his feet, really a strong arm.
He's got great confidence, I think, and he's really played extremely well down the stretch, which ??
and you can see the confidence level with him. And again, he's got a strong cast of guys to spread the ball
out. He's really a good football player, and he's going to continue to get better, and you can see him
improve as the year has gone on.
Q. Today Clemson receiver DeAndre Hopkins is scheduled to practice after his car accident. How
much does that change your game plan if he goes or doesn't go?
COACH CASTEEL: Well, I mean, obviously he's another outstanding player for them. If he can ??
we're going to assume that he can play. It's unfortunate that those things ?? that that happened. Hopefully
the kid will be okay and be able to play. But we're assuming that he will play.
Q. I heard one of the reporters that covers Clemson, we were talking to him last night, and he
said they like to run the power game and throw to the tight end, two things you love to hear, right?
COACH CASTEEL: Right. I mean, they have an outstanding ?? they really have two outstanding
tight ends, and again, they have the ability to spread the ball out throughout their offense, and they're very
balanced in what they do and they're unorthodox in what they do in terms of formations and the way they
deploy their kids and try to gain numerical advantages against you defensively.
They're a challenge. They're a challenge not only because they're very skilled; they're a challenge
because of their scheme and the way they attack you.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
West Virginia Defensive Back Eain Smith:
On playing in his home area:
“I was really excited when I found out that we were going to the Orange Bowl, especially since I grew up in this area. Having
made the Fiesta Bowl my freshman year, it was special making another BCS game to end my career. I have been telling my
teammates all about what to do and what not to do (in the South Florida area) and it is great to come down and play in this
weather. I have been really looking forward to playing in this game.”
On off the field activities planned:
“The Orange Bowl has treated us great. I know we have a beach party and a Heat game lined up in addition to our game
preparations. South Florida has a lot to offer so it was special that we got to play in this game. I also get a chance to see family
and friends and have them come to the game. I went to high school down here and I couldn’t imagine my career ending in a
better way.”
On Clemson’s offense:
“They have a great quarterback, but I feel like their offense runs through Sammy [Watkins]. They also have good role players, but
the key for us is to eliminate Sammy {Watkins] and his big plays. He is a very talented kid.”
On playing his final game:
“It has been a long journey, but honestly, if I had to picture it this is how I would want to go out. It has been long five years, but
well worth it. I have enjoyed my time in Morgantown. Having recovered from shoulder surgery, this is very satisfying.”
West Virginia Defensive Back Keith Tandy:
On WVU making the Orange Bowl:
“I was watching the Cincinnati with my teammate and roommate Najee (Good)] and when we saw them win, we pretty much
knew. We couldn’t believe it at first – we got chills and then we thought about our freshman year making the Fiesta Bowl and
getting back to a BCS game. We have been working for five years for this. It finally came through and it was an unbelievable
feeling.”
On playing in a BCS bowl:
“It means everything. As a freshman at the Fiesta Bowl I didn’t get a chance to play, but I saw my teammates go out there and
have fun. It is huge that we have gotten back to this point. We are also playing this game for our state.”
On the weather:
“The weather has been nice here – a lot better than it has been in Morgantown. Practicing up there we had sweatshirts and
sweatpants on, but here the weather has been great.”
On off the field activities:
“We haven’t done really much yet, but later this week we are going to go to a Heat game and we have a beach party tonight.
We also get to ride jet skis – it is going to be great. They have definitely taken care of us here.”
On the Clemson offense:
“They have guys running everywhere, guys in motion, guys stretching the field and everything else. They have a lot of athletes
of their team that can stretch the field deep and then run a dig route and make you miss for a touchdown. Their quarterback can
run the ball and throw so they can pretty much do it all.”
On playing in his final game:
“It is going to be real special. This is how you want to go out. We were exposed to a BCS game early on and now we are
fortunate enough to make it back to this level again. We just want to go out on top – that’s the best way you can go out.”
On the improvement of the defense:
“The main thing was gaining more experience. We had some guys who hadn’t played too much, but then guys started getting
comfortable and made plays. Everyone grew and that’s when you started seeing our defense come together.”
West Virginia Linebacker Najee Goode:
On being in South Florida:
“It’s been nice, it’s been beautiful. The best part so far has been the weather. We just had our first practice yesterday out here.
Since we’ve been here, the weather’s been nice. All the food and all the things we’ve been doing so far have been very nice so
I’m liking it a lot. “
On what it means to be playing in a BCS game:
“It’s huge. My freshman year we went to one but we didn’t get a chance to play. With the attention on our defense, we are
going to be leading those guys out there. It’s huge, it’s a big statement for us and it’s a good game to leave out on as seniors.
The Orange Bowl is something that the other guys haven’t been to so it’s a bit different.”
On Clemson challenges:
“The only challenge is stopping them. Stopping the field and stopping the offense…the tight ends they have. I think we’ll have an
opportunity to do that [with the rest of the defense].”
On how he will beat Clemson threats:
“I’ve got to stay focused and play my game. Not tip off some of the things that we’re trying to run. I feel like I can play good just
because I’ve got speed to keep up with them and try to confuse the offensive line and run through on opportunities.”
West Virginia Defensive End Bruce Irvin
What was your initial reaction when you found your team was playing in the Discover Orange Bowl:
“It was a good feeling being in the situation we were in. We had to depend on other teams to handle their business in order for us
to be here, however we also did what we had to do for us to get to this point, as well.”
On being in South Florida:
“This is my first time ever being here, so it has been a great experience so far. I have really have just been laying low and taking
care of my body so I am able to perform to the best of my ability come game day. But, everyone has been good and everyone
has been showing us love. The coaches and the players have really just been enjoying themselves.”
What have you been looking forward to most in the matchup against Clemson:
“Man, it’s two great explosive teams. Clemson has an explosive offense; players like Taj and D’Wayne that we need to stop and
focus on if we want to come out with a victory.”
West Virginia Defensive Line Julian Miller
What are your feelings playing in the BCS
“I am very excited and have been looking forward to this my entire career. This is the first time I am able to play in the BCS, and
it being my senior year is even extra special.”
Experience in South Florida:
“It’s been amazing and I have been to Florida so many times, however I haven’t been to Miami so getting to share this
experience with my teammates makes it extra special. The hosting has been great by the Orange Bowl and excellent and the
events have been great. We have been having a lot of fun.”
What have you been looking forward to most in the matchup against Clemson:
“I am looking forward to a great game. Hopefully we can display our talents to the country and show everyone in the Nation what
great talent we have on the West Virginia football team.”