Pitt coming off a game that they started with a roar and ended with a whimper, will play a Syracuse team that seems to be playing better each week (notwithstanding the 51-7 drubbing at the hands of Virginia Tech a couple weeks ago). Against BC, Syracuse played a solid defense and strong offense.
On defense, SU took the nation’s leading rusher out of BC’s equation, sacked the quarterback five times – twice more than they had in their previous five games combined – and intercepted two passes.
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“It was won up front,” SU defensive coordinator Chris Rippon said. “It was clear from the beginning that we were not going to be pushed around. Our front four was disruptive the whole game, and we tackled. It was as simple as that. Last week we didn’t tackle. This week we tackled.”That was one of several encouraging signs displayed by the Orangemen. Here are some others:
Run defense. With the front four of tackles Christian Ferrara and Louis Gachelin – the unsung heroes of the victory – and ends James Wyche and Thomas controlling the line of scrimmage, BC’s Derrick Knight was held to 51 yards rushing, nearly 100 yards below his season average.
Overall, SU held the Eagles to 70 yards rushing, roughly 140 below their season average. This from a unit that had been run over for 337 yards by Virginia Tech the week before.
“Their D-line got after us all game long,” BC quarterback Quinton Porter said. “Give them credit, because we have a real good O-line.”
Much of the rushing yardage SU yielded to Tech came after plays designed to run inside got bounced outside and then Orange defensive backs missed tackles. The only place BC backs bounced Saturday was onto the turf.
Defensive diversity. The style of defense employed by the Orangemen against Boston College was light years away from the scheme they employed in their first few games of the season.
There were stunts, linebacker blitzes, safety blitzes, delayed blitzes, switches from man to zone coverage packages, all disguised well to keep Porter and BC coaches guessing.
“They were coming out blitzing, sending linebackers, giving us all kinds of different looks,” Knight said. “They were throwing all kinds of things at us.”
The result was a season-high five sacks and two interceptions, which made an otherwise fine performance by Porter (10-for-29 for 249 yards and two touchdowns) seem pedestrian.
There were a few danger signs. SU’s containment broke down several times, allowing Porter to scramble for first downs, and he hit Larry Lester with a 39-yard TD pass late in the third period.
With mobile Pittsburgh quarterback Rod Rutherford and superstar receiver Larry Fitzgerald up next, they could be ominous signs.
Brandon Miree is going to be out at least 3 more weeks. A new MRI revealed not a deep bone bruise in the calf, but a stress fracture. Pitt is going to have to figure something out to run the ball. Even if they can pass at will, the offense will need to find a way to eat some time. Syracuse appears to have a solid defensive line. Pitt’s O-line has yet to show any consistency and ability to give protection.
Syracuse has one of the best Running Backs in the Big East if not a top 10 in the country in Walter Reyes. After what Pitt has given up to Jumaine Jones of Notre Dame, you have to imagine he’ll be salivating at the chance to run at the Pitt defensive lines. This means Pitt absolutely must tackle. No hitting, no diving at legs. Wrap the arms around the body and drag his ass down. Tackle. Tackle. Tackle.
There is a weblog covering the Syracuse Orangemen, called Orange Juice — I’d mock the name, but I have this thing about throwing rocks from a glass house.
