Jeff Casteel West Virginia DC & LB Coach:

We will be discussing Coach Jeff Casteel and what he might bring to Michigan. Will he be the DC and LB coach?

The 3-3-5 refers to a defense that has three down linemen (the "3" level), three linebackers and two corners (the "5" level), one free safety and 2 strong safeties (the "3"level).

This is similar to a 33 stack, but with players more spread. Also called the "umbrella" defense or "3-deep." In this set, the third safety would be referred to as a "weak safety" (WS) and allows two position safeties at the mid-level with a third safety deep. It is because of this that the secondary safety in a football defense is called a free safety rather than a weak safety.

The 33 stack uses an extra strong safety, and "stacks" linebackers and safetys directly behind the defensive linemen:

The 3-3-5 removes a lineman to get the nickelback:

CoachBt:

Coach Jeff Casteel has an excellent coaching resume. He served as D-Line coach and S&C coach at Shepherd College. Before serving as Assistant Head Coach there. He also served as DE coach at Texas El-Paso before moving to West Virginia. He coached Lb's at West Virginia and has since added DC to his duties along with continuing to coach LB's.

In 2001 West Virginia under tuteledge of Coach casteel chnged from 4-3 scheme and adpoted a 3-3 stack defense. Coach Casteel like 3-3 because he thinks it allows him to stop the run and still have an aggresive blitz scheme to rush the passer.

Coach Casteel wants his defense to confuse the offense by dsirupting their blocking schemes. He believes best way to do this is to have more 2nd level players. Key to this type of strategy is that 2nd level players have better sight and vison. This makes it easier to run and pusre to the ball. 3-3 is designed to give smaller, quicker, more athletic players a chance for success.

It also makes it easier for the defense to adapt or adjust to different types of offenses. Coach Casteel believes in blitzing and stunting on most downs. He thinks that constantly switching packages he makes it keeps offenses off balance and Offense linemen hesitant. By doing this Coach Casteel has taken one of poorer defense in country and had them ranked consistantly in top 10 in many categories.

Erik Werling:
Coach Jeff Casteel is the Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers coach at West Virginia right now and could he be both at Michigan?

He was elevated to co-defensive coordinator prior to the 2002 season, in charge of all defensive personnel. In 2001, his first season at WVU, Casteel served as the coach of the WVU defensive line. Casteel came to WVU from Texas-El Paso; he coached the defensive ends there, as UTEP won the 2000 WAC title and a bid to the Humanitarian Bowl. From 1991-99, he was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Shepherd College; Shepherd won six WVIAC championships during that time. He served as defensive line and strength coach at Shepherd from 1988-90. In 1987, he was defensive coordinator at Miami (Fla.) Palmetto High School.

A native of Paden City, W.Va., Casteel holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from California (Pa.) University. He served as a student and graduate assistant coach at his alma mater from 1984-86, and also worked in the training camp of the CFL’s Baltimore Stallions for two seasons.

West Virginia Defense:
This past season they have ranked near the top in the NCAA for many stats, but will this defense be able t o work at a more hard nose run type of conference in the Big Ten compared to more of a spread type defense in the Big East?

Their defense in 2007 was 4th in total defense with 291.92 yards a game with 4.41 yard average on 795 plays with 3503 yards. they were 7th in scoring defense with 17.3 points a game with giving up a total of 207 points this season.

If your interested in learning more about the 3-3-5 stack defense you can find a video from the West Virginia coaches here:

http://www.championshipproductions.com/cgi-bin/champ/p/Football/How-to-Run-the-3-3-Odd-Stack-Defense_FD-02057C.html
Price: $39.99

This product is produced exclusively by Championship Productions, Inc. and it cannot be sold for less from any web site or catalog. Number: FD-02057C

With Jeff Casteel, West Virginia University Defensive Coordinator/Linebacker Coach;and Bill Kirelawich,West Virginia University Defensive Line Coach. Includes a foreword by Rich Rodriguez former West Virginia Head Coach, The Mountaineers finished the 2001 season ranked 104th in NCAA Division I rushing defense.

In 2002, they implemented the 3-3 Odd Stack Defense and finished the year ranked 11th in rushing defense!

The 3-3 Stack is a rush-oriented defense that is simple to run, gives your defense more second level players (making it easier to see and get to the ball), the odd-man front confuses offenses and creates problems for blocking schemes and it's great for teams with smaller personnel on defense.

Casteel and Kirelawich give you everything you need to start running the 3-3 Stack: personnel suggestions, alignments, responsibilities, and techniques. They present all of the principles of the defense with detailed diagrams and practice footage. An excellent defensive overview!

49 minutes. 2003.

13th in pass defense with 184.33 yards a game
15th in run defense with 107.6 yards a game with 2.91 yards a carry on 443 attempts with 1291 yards.