Just some more link dumping. Offline obligations looming.
Rutgers has no single running back. Kordell Young just hasn’t stayed healthy and is now seemingly limited to blocking on 3d downs. Freshman De’Antwan Williams had 132 against 1-AA Texas Southern, but is 3d on the depth chart. Size and style seems a lot like Dion Lewis.
According to a Q&A between beat writers, the default starter is Joe Martinek. Then it is Jourdan Brooks. Here’s the other side of the Q&A.
The question on Rutgers offense is whether Tom Savage — making his first start against a conference and/or BCS team — can be productive when facing a secondary that is (allegedly) better than the 1-AA patsies they’ve been facing. After all, this is not the QB and WRs from last year. But Pitt’s secondary has been, well, sieve-like.
Pitt’s secondary will be shorthanded. Senior Aaron Berry (shoulder) likely will be sidelined and free safety Elijah Fields (ankle) is day-to-day. If they can’t play, redshirt freshman safety Jarred Holley and redshirt junior cornerback Ricky Gary will see added action.
Regardless of who’s played, Pitt doesn’t have an interception in the past four games — a span of 110 attempts — and owns only three picks all season. The Panthers’ secondary has tightened since allowing 433 passing yards to Buffalo and 322 to North Carolina State.
“The biggest thing that we’ve improved on as a defense is our tackling,” Hafley said. “We’ve become better tacklers. … When we miss a tackle, it’s a touchdown. When we have a bad play, it’s a touchdown. We are on a cliff back there. It takes a special person to play in the secondary, and our guys are up for that.”
The thing that becomes even more important is the underachieving and inconsistent Rutgers O-line against Pitt’s underachieving and inconsistent D-line. The supposed strength-against-strength.
Q: What do you think are the key battles between Pitt and Rutgers and which side do you think has the edge?
ZEISE: Honestly — Rutgers offensive line was hyped as perhaps the best in the Big East and Pitt’s defense line was hyped as perhaps the best in the Big East. Both units have had their moments this year but both have also had their moments when they have underachieved. This is going to be a great battle though and frankly, the winner of this battle will likely win the game. I think if Pitt’s defensive line can win this battle and get to the quarterback, the Panthers can make it very difficult on the Scarlet Knights to score.
Flipping it around, the Rutgers defense against the run is tops in the Big East after Pitt’s rushing attack killed UConn and elevated the Scarlet Knights. Setting up the Rutgers D-line against the Pitt O-line.
Rutgers, of course, loves to bring pressure regardless of whether it is a run or pass. This despite being raised by Wannstedt and Butch Davis in just using the speed in a base defense. Coach Wannstedt for whatever reason does not even know why.
“We have to be able to coordinate how we block it between our linemen, our backs and tight ends. Our biggest challenge is being mentally sharp.”
Schiano’s defensive philosophy is much different than Wannstedt’s (Wannstedt doesn’t like to blitz and wants to create pressure with his front four), even though Schiano worked for Wannstedt for a few years with the Chicago Bears.
“I don’t know [why Schiano’s philosophy has changed so much since working with Wannstedt],” Wannstedt said “His first or second year at Rutgers, he went to a lot more movement and pressure stuff than we did in Chicago or that he did with Butch [Davis] at Miami. Why that is — I don’t know, we never talked about it.”
You would think it might come up in conversation at some point. If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say he does it because it works. Using that speed on defense with a little misdirection is almost like watching a good option spread offense at work. It creates a little more confusion, hesitation and chaos for the opposition when it is working.
As noted yesterday, the Scarlet Knights are worried about stopping Baldwin. Yet another reason to see them blitz a lot since none of their corners come close in size to Baldwin.
Brian Bennett at ESPN.com rattles off the things he plans to watch in the game.
3. Rutgers’ pass defense: The Scarlet Knights got ripped apart for nearly 400 passing yards in the opening loss to Cincinnati. They haven’t played a capable passing team since. Pittsburgh certainly fits that description, as Bill Stull is playing better than any quarterback not named Tony Pike in the Big East. Stull has lots of big-time receiving targets, too, including Jonathan Baldwin, Dorin Dickerson and Oderick Turner. Is Rutgers better equipped to handle a top-flight passing offense on Friday night than it was on Labor Day?
4. Tom Savage: The true freshman will make his first career Big East start against Pitt. The Panthers should bring lots of pressure on the rookie with their front four, but they are vulnerable in the secondary. Can Savage keep his composure, make big throws and avoid his first college interception?
5. Pitt vs the blitz: The Panthers have not beaten Rutgers in the Dave Wannstedt era, and they know what they’re going to get from Greg Schiano’s team. The Scarlet Knights will blitz at least half the time from all angles. Rutgers’ defense has been causing all kinds of turnovers and defensive scores, albeit against lesser competition. Pitt’s offensive line, which has protected Stull wonderfully so far this year, has to be ready for the onslaught.
