A couple stories today covering the adjustments to injuries and players that have made it up the depth chart.
While C.J. Davis has long been a starter on the O-line, it was moving over to center (and I believe Paul Zeise has pointed out in the past that center would be where he projects in the NFL) and how well the O-line still played — albeit with a slow start against ND before getting better as the game went on.
“I was very pleased with C.J.,” Cavanaugh said. “I know he is a four-year starter, but to make that swap from guard to center and handle a lot of shotgun snaps, it was very impressive, and he blocked very well. … We were hoping forthat, and it was nice to see. He did a wonderful job. And I think Dom, it has been awhile since he’s been in the lineup and there are some things he has to clean up. But he came in and competed very well and he got some people blocked most times and missed a couple of things, but I think the more action he gets, the more comfortable he is going to be in there.”
The Panthers were able to run the ball as LeSean McCoy rushed for 169 yards against the Irish. Pitt also used two quarterbacks in the game, Bostick and Kevan Smith, and its Wildcat package, which is a direct snap to McCoy. Despite all that, Davis didn’t miss one snap or make one errant shotgun snap.
The current alignment with Davis at center and Williams at left guard likely will remain intact for the remainder of the season, Cavanaugh said, adding that he is looking for more consistent play out of Williams the rest of the way.
The other spot on the line was having Dom Williams inserted as the starting left guard. Williams barely has seen the field since being dropped down the depth chart back in 2005. That he came in and played so well, was a pleasant surprise. Hopefully he can keep it up.
On the other side of the ball, Elijah Fields got to see more action against ND. I guess getting out of the coaches doghouse. And of course, made plays. The biggest mover this season, though, has been Andrew Taglianetti.
To say he was lightly recruited is being polite. He wasn’t even supposed to be on the team this year. Expected to be a grayshirt that wouldn’t even play this year, but with an open scholarship he got to join the team on time. He quickly became a staple on special teams, where he has been a big boost. He’s blocked two punts and has even worked his way into some defensive packages against Notre Dame.
“I just like being out there,” Fields said. “Every opportunity I get to get on the field, I’m happy with it.”
Taglianetti, a season-long factor on special teams, took some rare snaps in the “dime” defense (six defensive backs) against Notre Dame.
“I think coach (defensive coordinator Phil) Bennett has a lot of faith in both of us,” Taglianetti said.
During a seven-play span of the third quarter, the two former WPIAL stars made the most of their playing time. With Notre Dame leading 17-10, Taglianetti shot in for a third-down tackle on a screen pass and, on the next play, Fields alertly jumped on T.J. Porter’s muffed punt return. After a Pat Bostick interception, Fields cut down Malcolm Floyd after a fourth-and-7 catch.
Fields was on the field for roughly 75 percent of the defensive plays against Notre Dame, one of his busiest afternoons of the season. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Fields is showing the promise he brought to Pitt as a star recruit from Duquesne High School.
Defensive Tackle Myles Caregein, a redshirt freshman, has been seeing more action with Tommie Duhart out with an ankle injury. Coach Wannstedt has been happy with his performance.
