WVU Defensive Coordinator Jordan Lesley spoke at the week one press conference leading up to the Mountaineers matchup against Penn State on Saturday.
One of the challenges that WVU’s defense and Lesley will be facing this week is a new offensive coordinator for Penn State. Taking over the play calling for the Nittany Lions is Andy Kotelnicki who coached at Kansas the year the Jayhawks came to Morgantown and beat the Mountaineers.
Lesley knows that the team knows the Penn State offense personnel very well after playing them a year ago, but when it comes to expected play calling, Lesley has had to turn the clock back and look at tape from Kotelnicki’s Buffalo and Kansas years prior to taking the Penn State job.
“I always like to watch a game or two to just get a general feel, but everything you do after that point is just situationally.” Lesley also added, “I’ll know at noon Saturday.”
When it comes to the noise level expected for Saturday’s matchup, Lesley was asked if he wanted the noise level just a little bit lower so his defense could hear the play call. He answer was immediate and simple, “No.”
Lesley then added, “I challenge our fans. I think that could be a big factor in the game. Not only when things are going good. They have good players. They are going to make some plays, they are a good team. I tell out players next play mindset. I think our fans carry that same mindset. Be as loud as you can be.”
Something that Lesley feels more confident in this season that last is the defense’s depth. The defensive coordinator mentioned that he feels a lot more confident in every position group coming into the season than they did last year.
Certain areas that Lesley pointed out specifically is the defensive line and defensive backs. With some potential heat during Saturday’s matchup, defensive substitutions could be a key factor. Something certain this season that WVU could not say about the defense all last season and that is that they are fully healthy.
The entire defense will be ready to be used at Lesley’s disposal and he mentioned ready to pull guys that do not preform early because he has guys that are ready to play.
WVU will kickoff against Penn State in Morgantown at Noon E.T. on Fox.
