Okay, one of the big match-ups in the game will be the Cinci secondary vs. the Pitt receivers.
That’s because the Bearcats (8-2, 4-1) feature three of the Big East’s best defensive players in cornerbacks DeAngelo Smith and Mike Mickens and safety Brandon Underwood.
The trio has combined to intercept seven passes and break up 19 others, and all three are among the team’s six leading tacklers. Mickens, who is a four-year starter and has been an all-Big East selection three times, leads the Bearcats with 65 tackles, 43 of them solo.
That the Bearcats can trust their secondary to go man, keys the rest of their defense.
“Having those types of DBs in the backfield not only allows us to have one-on-one matchups and blitz quarterbacks more,” Cincinnati defensive end Connor Barwin said, “but a lot of our sacks are coverage sacks.”
Mickens and Smith have combined for six interceptions this season and 26 in their careers. They also have 16 pass breakups between them this fall, which will force Pitt quarterback Bill Stull to make sound decisions.
“We’ve been talking all week about their D-backs,” Stull said. “They’re definitely a very, very talented defense.
“I just need to be smart. Maybe some throws I think might be there, they might not, and I have to hit a check-down. I have to make sure I don’t force anything.”
It might also help, not to stare down the receiver this game. It’s one of the legitimate criticisms of Stull. He does tend to lock on a receiver.
Zeise calls tonight’s game an elimination game, not a championship game.
That’s why tonight’s game at Nippert Stadium is probably more accurately defined as a Big East elimination game than a Big East championship game.
“We all know it is a big game and there is a lot at stake,” said Pitt fullback Conredge Collins. “But at the same time, it isn’t our last game and we have a few more big ones after it so we need to be focused on winning this one.”
Although the losing team will not be mathematically eliminated from title consideration, it would need so many things to go right in order to have a chance.
Well, Cinci would not necessarily get to the BCS game, but they would still have an excellent shot at claiming a share of the Big East title. Just have Pitt and WVU split their final two games. Either way, both teams need/want this game.
An interesting thing with Elijah Fields and the hard time for him to get on the field.
Q: I keep hearing rumors that Elijah Fields doesn’t get more playing time because he doesn’t know what he is doing (assignments etc.) out there. How can this be possible? He has been here for 3 years now. Is Bennett’s defense that much different that Rhoads?
ZEISE: That is not entirely true and it is more complicated than what it sounds like. Elijah Fields is being asked to play a number of different positions and coaches believe he can help them more playing a hybrid safety/linebacker type of position than limiting him to a safety spot. He has been asked to play a different position in all of the sub packages and different defenses and he has been used in different games with different matchups. They like his ability to cover and his ability to stop the run because of his size and they think they are wasting him if he is not doing more than just hanging back as a safety. So he’s being asked to absorb a lot of stuff and his playing time has increased tremendously over the past two games. I’d expect him to see the field a lot tonight because of the matchup with Cincinnati’s spread offense.
I know, why question success of a team with only 2 losses. Here’s what’s bothering me about this. Fair or not, Fields has long had his ability to learn to play within the system questioned. To know the plays and not just freelance. Whether it’s an issue of learning it, or not just relying on instinct. If that is true, wouldn’t the worst thing, would be to have him playing too many other positions other than safety? To have to know multiple assignments and responsibilities. Wouldn’t that be an additional hindrance to his development and getting on the field?
Special teams ace, Andrew Taglianetti gets a puff piece. Helps to have a relatively famous father in the area.
Cinci fans have been ticked at their local paper’s website this week, because apparently they’ve had too many pictures of Dave Wannstedt. This piece on Wanny didn’t help.
Bearcat fans excited like never before.
Joshua. I would appreciate it if you never come back to this site. You have made your feeling more than abundantly clear about how you hate Wannstedt. Fine. We get it. It colors everything you see on the matter. Now go elsewhere.
I wish to reiterate my thanks to you for providing this forum for Pitt students, fans, and alums to discuss Panther athletics. We may not always agree on here, but I am glad that the tenor always remains civil.
Also, any updates from back home on the Pens or WPIAL games look? I an following Pitt Hoops on the ESPN.com ticker and see that Clairton won the Single A game.
Thanks for any info you guys can give.
A 20 and 15 for Blair at the half! I don’t care about the level of competition, that’s impressive.
Well said, my good man.
Penn State fb cruising, aarrgghh.
As far as the Big 12, I think we will have their top 2 teams in the BCS championship/as an at-large (assuming the winner of the Big 12 South wins the Big 12 Championship), and their 3rd best team in the Holiday Bowl. Basically, I think that some combo of Texas, Texas Tech, or Oklahoma grabs those three slots, leaving a solid Missouri or Oklahoma State in the Gator/Sun Bowl slot.
Anybody agree or disagree?
and congratulate them for having Pitt in this position. We tend to forget that these are kids coming out of high school and that there is a huge disparity in talent, size etc between a freshman and senior. Coaching is NOT everything and while we can argue his decisions Pitt is in fact 7-2, bowl bound, and has a chance to win the Big East.
Having said the above, I expect a Pitt win tonight and think they are the more talented team on the field. Stull is the wild card. He will have to have a good or great game for us to win.
Blair went Incredible Hulk…wish I could have seen the game. I can see the fanny hitting IUP faces and then the pain, followed by points and shame.
Alright, let’s get ready for some Football! Go Panthers!
Nice to see Fat Charlie calling the offensive plays made such a tremendous difference.
Jokes.
Lombardi’s raiding our talent. How’s that for gratitude!
😉
That being said, go Pitt basketball, beat IUP!