Defensive Speed a Spring Focus for WVU Football

At its most basic, the game of football is like chess.

A masterful world of cause and effect. A delicate dance of crafting and executing. In order to excel, the game plan must be working two... four... ten steps ahead.

Unlike chess, though, a high-level offense can attack with not only skill, but mass and speed. In the event that the awaiting defense falls short not only in skill, but also in speed, it's a surefire way to lose the game.

As football has evolved, the country's best defensive players have adapted to a leaner, more agile version of the game. The defensive backfield is built like wide receivers - shifty, illusive, lithe.

As wide receivers grow taller and leaner, it's only fair that their defensive counterparts do as well. High school football players identify as wide receiver/safety combinations to allow for movement within college programming.

The news of WVU Football's Davis Mallinger swapping from safety to wide out doesn't come as a surprise to anyone keeping tabs on the evolution of the sport. Mallinger, at 6-1, 194 pounds, has been touted as the team's fastest player.

As wide receivers and returners are slimming down and speeding up, WVU head coach Neal Brown is focused on preparing his defensive newcomers for the major shift.

Last season, defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley's schemes landed his side of the ball grappling for leverage. WVU's defense only forced four interceptions: absolute dead last in the conference. WVU's lethargic defensive presence was further exemplified when faced with opportunities to get hands on the quarterback; twenty-six sacks worth 186 yards placed the program No. 7 in the conference.

Yet another mark denoting the defense's fervent need for fast feet.

Brown seemed confident in this season's defensive progression, noting that the team will appear changed. Speed and footwork, among all, are at the forefront.

"It's a speed game," Brown said. "It's not earth-shattering. I think the other thing is... the other guys who have athletic ability, they've got some game experience. I think you'll see some significant gains when you come and watch them throughout the spring."

WVU returns all the creators of the aforementioned interceptions: Malachi Ruffin (2), Aubrey Burks (1), and Jacolby Spells (1). Spells, Brown cited as potentially being one of the team's most improved players come end of spring.

Brown also lauded R-So. CB Andrew Wilson-Lamp and R-Fr. LB Trey Lathan, as well as program newcomers DL James Heard Jr., LBs Josiah Trotter and Ben Cutter, and Kent State transfer CB Montre Miller.

"Those guys are going to be depended upon," Lesley said of Trotter, Cutter, and Heard Jr.

Lesley hopes that fresh legs will fill the gaps in the proposed 2023 secondary. Last season, a once-steadfast defense was routinely swiss cheesed by bullish Big 12 offenses, and WVU came up short. The team landed at No. 6 in the conference, allowing nearly 41 percent of third down plays to convert, and at No. 9 in fourth down stops, with nearly 60 percent allowed.

An increase in speed makes those lackluster stoppage statistics a moot point. Lesley spent the offseason analyzing explosive plays, specifically those 10 yards or greater, hoping to gain insight on his defensive backs' deficiencies.

"The thing you evaluate is first step," Lesley said. "If they don't have that, they don't have anything. It really doesn't matter after that... The first thing I watch is explosive cut-up on explosive plays."

When asked about specificity of analysis and solutions, Lesley added, "It was a number of issues. The number one way to just do your job. Don't try to do anyone else's job. Just do your job.

"The other thing is a lot of times, it's a fundamental issue going back to having to mix and match pieces as you lose guys or as you have to move guys. I should have done a better job of getting guys into position. Those are really the two things that stuck out."

Linebacker Lee Kpogba seemed confident that the team's speedy footwork will negate those costly plays in the future.

"I think the young players that came in, I think they're going to be great players," Kpogba said. "They're eager to learn. I see them in the weight room. They work hard. They're always up here watching film and trying to get better, so bright future for them."

Lesley is spending spring practice tailoring this newfound speed into dynamic direction changes, an area of the backfield presence to blame for the extent of explosive plays.

"The speed doesn't hurt, but there's guys who run 10.3 who can't change direction... that will snap their leg in half if a guy tries to make him miss," Lesley said. "There's track fast and there's football fast.

"To me, speed doesn't hurt, but it's overall athleticism. Being able to bend, play with vision, react to the ball, change direction. Those are very simple things that you either recruit, or you make sure that they're using that skill set within the scheme of the defense. It's very simply: Go to the guy. Go to the spot. Play ball."

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