Teams News - 2014 Season Review - Defense

The Golden Ram defense was absolutely great in 11 games this season. Unfortunately, West Chester played 13 games and opponents scored 92 points in the two that were lost. Even so, the defense ranked second in the PSAC in points allowed with 20.4. West Chester held opponents scoreless in 22 of the 52 quarters played, again with Bloomsburg and Concord scoring in each period of their games. And consider that Mercyhurst, Seton Hill, Lock Haven, Shippensburg and Slippery Rock scored a total of 49 points late in their games when the outcome was determined and the Golden Ram backups were getting some snaps.

With five of eight defensive linemen not returning from last year's squad, there were concerns about how the line would perform. Well rushing yardage allowed was exactly the same as 2013 and West Chester was second in the PSAC in sacks, so the front seven did their job. Passing yards allowed fell about 20 yards from last year, which was good enough to lead the entire PSAC, but that is most likely attributed to West Chester's opponents. Mercyhurst, Shippensburg, East Stroudsburg, Indiana and Slippery Rock all had winning records for the season, and the Golden Rams defeated them all, but none had their best signal caller in action when facing West Chester.

Statistically, the best game for the defense was Cheyney which managed only three first downs and 47 total yards, setting new school records in both of those categories. But fans were most impressed with the effort against Slippery Rock in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. The PSAC champions entered the game boasting 231 yards and 27 touchdowns on the ground, but were held to just 31 yards and no touchdowns rushing. And the Rock gained 99 of their 158 total yards on their final two possessions after West Chester held a 46-6 lead.

There's a ball carrier some where under there (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Defensive Line

The starting two defensive ends were veteran players, but both were new to their position. Junior Andrew Cohen (65 total tackles, team leading 10.5 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 8 QB hurries) move from tackle to end and senior Mike Culbreath (35 total tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles) moved from linebacker to the other end. Both received All-PSAC East honors for their seasons and Cohen was also named to the ECAC Division II All-Star Team. Getting their feet wet were redshirt freshmen John Dubyk (18 total tackles, 2.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble) and George Shipp (15 total tackles, 2.0 sacks in 6 games).

Andrew Cohen was third in the PSAC in sacks (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Mike Culbreath was second on the team in sacks (Photo Bert Garbutt)

John Dubyk had 18 tackles as a redshirt freshman (Photo Bert Garbutt)

George Shipp had 2 sacks in his first season (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Sophomore Shaquil Ryder (54 total tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 3 QB hurries) and junior Barry Lyons (31 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss) held the starting defensive tackle positions while graduate student Jamiel Sims (12 total tackles in 6 games) and redshirt freshman Josh Ganzelli (19 total tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss) provided backup.

Shaquil Ryder envelopes a Shippensburg ball carrier (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Barry Lyons pressures the Indiana quarterback (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Jamiel Sims lines up a tackle at Bloomsurg (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Josh Ganzelli saw significant action in his first season (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Linebackers

As it has been stated here several times previously, linebackers Mike Labor (team leading 96 total tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles) and Ronell Williams (68 total tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss in 9 games) led the Golden Ram defense. Unfortunately, it will be the final time. Despite these two being so different from a personality perspective - Williams always has something to say and you need a crowbar to pry a word out of Labor, they both offer a lot of similarities. The two co-captains were both named Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area and both appear among the school's top ten in career tackles despite both missing four games in their careers due to injury. Williams was named first team All-PSAC East, second team Daktronics All-Super Region 1 and honorable mention Beyond Sports Network All-Super Region 1 despite missing four games this season. Labor, perhaps due to his quiet, steady demeanor, unjustly received no post season honors.

Mike Labor led the team in total tackles (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Ronell Williams is third on the WCU career tackle list (Photo Chuck Bitner)

Providing backup at linebacker were Ralph Reeves (28 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss) and redshirt freshman Dan Sherry (20 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss) . When Williams suffered a brutal leg injury at Seton Hill, true freshman Sean Steinmetz (18 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss) was pressed into action as well.

Ralph Reeves had 2 QB hurries this year (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Dan Sherry with one of his 10 solo stops this season (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Sean Steinmetz saw significant action as a true freshman (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Secondary

Drew Formica (67 team tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 3 pass breakups) proved his versatility in the secondary as he played both strong safety and shark. He quietly was third on the team in tackles and had a pick six in the first quarter against Mercyhurst. One of the most pleasant surprises on defense was Delaware St. transfer Cory Scott (47 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3 pass breakups) who took over the shark position after Byron Cooper (6 total tackles) was lost to injury. Scott notched 27 tackles in the team's final four games of the season. Sophomore Jeremy Irving (11 total tackles, 2 pass breakups) backed up the shark position, but was a big contributor on special teams, while classmate Kevin Malone (32 total tackles) is a hard hitting run stopper.

Drew Formica was third on the team in tackles

Cory Scott was a valuable addition this season (Photo Chuck Bitner)

Jeremy Irving pursues a Cheyney ball carrier (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Kevin Malone is a hard hitting run stopper (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Although tackling isn't his favorite part of the game, free safety Brandon Pepper (39 total tackles, 4 pass breakups) was tied for seventh on the team. Sophomore Pete Galiano (37 total tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss) was one of the team's top special teams players, but was also very valuable in nickel and dime packages. Speedy sophomore Kyle Keyser (24 total tackles) contributed primarily on special teams as he learns coverage responsibilities in the secondary.

Brandon Pepper with one of his 39 tackles (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Pete Galiano was a big contributor in the secondary (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Kyle Keyser contributed primarily on special teams (Photo Bert Garbutt)

Cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz (39 total tackles, team high 5 interceptions, team high 11 pass breakups) had a season that met everyone's expectations. The co-captain was often called on to cover the opponent's best receiver one-on-one and did so quite well. He finished the season third in the PSAC in interceptions (5), seventh in pass breakups (11) and third in passes defended (16). Shabazz was named first team All-PSAC East, first team Daktronics All-Super Region 1, first team Beyond Sports Network All-Super Region 1, second team Beyond Sports Network All-American, ECAC Division II All-Star and a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award.

Al-Hajj Shabazz going stride for stride in coverage (Photo Bert Garbutt)

The other corner was manned by Blaise Schieler (23 total tackles, 2 interceptions, 5 pass breakups). Also contributing in the secondary was Lafayette transfer DeOliver Davis (16 total tackles, 4 pass breakups).

Both of Blaise Schieler's picks led to WCU touchdowns (Photo Chuck Bitner)

DeOliver Davis had 3 solo stops in each of the first two games
(Photo Bert Garbutt)