Last year Pitt won in a game that was closer than it should have been, 24-13. Pitt missed 2 field goals and had an interception to keep the game close into the 4th quarter. Pitt dominated time of possession, and put the game away on a halfback option TD pass from Jawan Walker to Fitzgerald. The corner who bit on the play is still a little ticked about that.

In that game the most surprising thing was that Pitt’s O-line provided good protection for QB Rutherford, because BC’s defense had been talking about pressuring and dominating the O-line. The difference in that game to this, is that the fullback then — Lousaka Polite — was a superb blocker and did a great job on containing their star defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka. Unfortunately, Polite is gone but Kiwanuka isn’t. Regular FB Tim Murphy is still hurt, so it looks like RB Ray Kirkley will be doing a fair amount of time at the FB position.

Kirkley lining up at FB means Marcus Furman and Brandon Mason should get more touches in the backfield.

The key for the BC Eagles on offense has always been their O-line. They have sent 7 offensive linemen to the NFL since ’97. They felt Pitt’s best lineman, Rob Pettiti wasn’t good enough when he was being recruited. Bendel uses the story on BC’s O-line to hammer home how Pitt has wiffed with local talent.