This will be a game to test the defense. They were treated harshly by Notre Dame , and have claimed to have made strides and improvements. While the raw numbers may suggest they have improved — 19th ranked D and only 1 offensive TDs in the last 3 games — they came against the 102nd (Ohio) and 107th (Nebraska) offenses in Div. 1-A and a Div. 1-AA team ranked 60th in offense. (In fairness, ND is presently the 13th ranked offense.) Coach Wannstedt actually can state this with a straight face.
“In my opinion, behind Notre Dame they are the second most talented offense we’ve faced,” Wannstedt said.
Rutgers has a good offense and balance on it. In Brian Leonard, the teams leading rusher, there is a power back that is tough to bring down.
“He’s a very, very underrated player,” [H.B.] Blades said. “He’s the best running back we’ll face this year. In fact, he is the best running back I’ve played against since I’ve been in college. That combination of power and speed is amazing. Some of the runs he makes in the open field, he can cut like a tailback. He jumps over safeties when they try and cut him, but then he runs over linebackers and defensive linemen — his combination of power and speed just makes him the best at what he does.”
He’s 6′ 2″, 235 pounds and plays at the fullback position even if he gets the majority of the touches. He has averaged 100 yards/game. Leonard rushes behind a good offensive line. A line that also protects the QB — allowing only 3 sacks this year.
That improved offensive line is part of the reason, historically errant, Rutgers QB Ryan Hart has only tossed one interception this year. Hart has TE Clark Harris and WR Tres Moses, best TE and the second or third best WR in the Big East, as a targets. Hart, though, is looking at this game as one of his last chances at redemption.
His two previous games against Pittsburgh are pretty much microcosms of his career. He set his career-high with 384 passing yards against the Panthers in 2003, doing so in large part because Rutgers faced a 42-7 halftime deficit in a 42-32 loss.
He was 31-of-57 for 351 yards against the Panthers last season after overcoming a stomach virus that nearly kept him out of the lineup, but again accumulated big numbers playing catch-up against a zone in a 41-17 loss. Rutgers faced a 38-3 halftime deficit in that game, in large part because the ailing Hart threw four interceptions and lost a fumble.
This goes with the corners yesterday talking about their own hope for redemption. Call me crazy, but I’m sensing a theme.
Rutgers also had a bye week that they used to work on the “fundamentals.” (Doesn’t every team with a bye week always claim that they worked on the fundamentals? Why doesn’t any team claim they were working on gadget plays and goofy crap. Claim that you practiced with Defensive Ends taking handoffs or something.)
Rutgers defense, though, is suspect. It is never a good sign when your leading tackler is a safety. That would be Freshman Courtney Greene. Greene, by the way, tweaked his hamstring in practice this week but is still expected to play. One of their CBs, Senior Corey Barnes, is only 5’8″.
Pitt needs to use their size advantage with Lee, Kinder and Strong in the passing game. There are those, who think Lee’s talents as a deep threat are not being used (gee, you think?).
Pitt may have to use the passing game more, regardless. The depth at RB is definitely shrunk with injuries to Brandon Mason and Marcus Furman (last week he was switched back to RB) making them still unlikely to play and LaRod Stephens-Howling questionable after missing 2 straight days of practice. Rashad Jennings should be back, but it is unclear how much work he can handle. Kirkley and Murphy should see the bulk of the running plays.
Of course, that still requires the offensive line to play better. 14 sacks allowed in 4 games. No other team in the Big East has allowed more than 8.
On special teams, Pitt’s punt returns have improved — not that that would have been particularly difficult — with Darrelle Revis handling them.
The Friday night game makes it something of a short week, but it isn’t that bad.
