Part 1 which includes the explanation and Part 2.
Pat: Moving to the Pitt o-line, how has Spencer handled the move from guard to the all-important left tackle?
Chas: Seamlessly it would appear. Haven’t heard a word of struggle. Actually, it’s been disturbingly quiet about the entire O-line.
Pat: Do you have a new O-line coach or is he a holdover?
Chas: New. Paul Dunn, Pitt alum and formerly at Kentucky and K-State for the O-line. On offense, they are all new coaches, defense remained completely intact.
Jay: That’s pretty interesting. Wanny kept everyone on defense? Were Pitt fans happy with the Pitt defense last year?
Chas: Yep, even the DC who was shudder up for the top job. No. No, we were not. The defense was a sore subject. I don’t speak for all, but I’m not that high on Paul Rhoads the DC.
Jay: I read where Wannstedt won’t be making the defensive calls. I was surprised.
Chas: I’m not sure I completely buy it.
Jay: Although there’s no doubt the defense will be “his”, so to speak.
Chas: Yes, the defense will be more aggressive and tighter.
Jay: We’ll keep an eye on him this Saturday. If Wanny’s making too many hand gestures to the defensive huddle, we’ll know something’ sup. Charlie, on the other hand, has stated unequivocally that he’ll be calling the offense for the Irish. From the sideline.
Chas: The thing — and consider this free advice from someone who watched another offensive genius do that for 7 years. There have to be strong voices willing to question and call him out on some things. Calling from the sideline is not that big a deal, at least to me. And it better not, because for the first game or two at least that will be where Cavanaugh is.
Jay: That’s an excellent point, and not one I’ve seen discussed among Irish fans enough.In New England, there was always the veto of Belichick as the final word. Weis has mentioned picking vocal guys who will disagree with him, though. His staff has some ex-head coaches. On paper, anyway, it looks like Charlie’s not afraid of strong opinions. We’ll see what happens when the chips are down.
Chas: On offense?
Jay: Peter Vaas is the QB coach and will probably be Charlie’s eyes in the booth.
Pat: Vaas, was a head coach in college and in NFL Europe.
Jay: He’s been a head coach most of his career
Chas: I know Minter on D, who is the best assistant hire?
Pat: He was also QB coach and RB coach at ND under Holtz in 91, 92
Jay: The best assistant hire let’s hope is Minter! But realistically, probably Lewis DB coach from the Dolphins
Pat: Bill Lewis is the best hire. ND’s pass defense has been rather awful, especially after Coach Walters left for the Philly Eagles in 2002.
Jay: Right, and after Duff and Walton graduated. Lewis brings an added angle to the game Saturday, as I’m sure you’re aware.
Pat: Lewis spent 8 years with the Dolphins and Weis has commented numerous times that the Dolphins are the one team who’s secondary gave him troubles, so he tried to hire the guy who was partly responsible for that. Also, Lewis will be a valuable insight to Wannstedt’s coaching for the Pitt game.
Jay: One thing to note about the defense this year is a hybrid position that Minter’s installed, the Apache backer (as he calls it). Sort of an extra DB on the field, but bigger. Our Apache right now is Maurice Crum.
Chas: Yeah, read about his success and his father’s affection for Wanny.
Jay: The thinking is to have a guy fast enough to cover, but big enough to stop the run. If you’re wondering what the Apache is all about, well, We’re all waiting to see what this looks like on the field, too. BGS actually did a breakdown of it a few months ago.
Chas: Minter’s big on speed for the defense then?
Pat: very much so
Jay: Yep. Big on speed.
Pat: Speed, blitzing, and trying to confuse and rattle the other QB. The hope, at least for Irish fans, is that our defense won’t be as reactive as it was last year.
Chas: Sounds familiar.
Jay: However, it’s not like Minter had too many choices in who would play D this year. We’re pretty thin, and pretty green.
Pat: We will force things more this year. It will probably result in giving up a few big plays, especially early in the season, but overall should generate better results.
Chas: I take it Hoyte is expected to be the disrupter.
Jay: Yeah. Big run-stopper in the middle, but not so good in coverage.
Chas: Is he going to freelance much? Is he going to want to go forward whenever possible
Pat: Hoyte will be everywhere. He’s similar to Blades in that I expect to find him wherever the ball is.
Chas: Nose for the ball and that kind of cliche?
Jay: Yeah. Loves to hit. Linebacker captain, too.
Pat: He’s built like a middle linebacker, but does a good job rushing the QB off the edge. He’s also the only returning starter at linebacker.
Chas: Special teams — what happens if Fitzpatrick has a leg cramp? I don’t recall the last time I saw a PK, P and KO be the same guy.
Jay: We’re screwed.
Pat: We throw deep on 4th down … playstation style. Seriously though, Geoff Price has a booming leg, but has never been consistent.
Jay: Price is a natural punter
Pat: 50 yard bomb followed by 2 shanks. Walk-on Carl Goia is the #2 kicker. Personally, I hope Price develops some consistency so Fitzpatrick can focus on FG and kickoffs, but I’m not sure that will happen.
Jay: Yeah. Fitz is a better PK than punter.
Chas: Groza watch?
Pat: Yeah.
Chas: I know both teams are talking about improving/emphasizing special teams. How are they doing?
Pat: The big thing that Weis is doing is dedicating entire practices to it.
Jay: Well, they are emphasizing it, not just lip service.
Pat: In the spring he invited the media to watch an entire practice in the stadium, and it was all special teams. He had another all-special teams practice in the fall.
Jay: Brian Polian (youngest guy on staff, son of Bill Polian, ST coach) has said this is the most he’s practiced ST anywhere. Charlie just yesterday (I think) said something about changes from last year, and told the press, if you’re looking for immediate improvement from last year, look at ST. We’ll all be watching, too.
Pat: Weis got his start as as special teams guy, and like Belichick, considers it an equal 1/3 part of the game. It’s a big deal to him.
Chas: More gospel from the Church of Beamer.
Jay: Beamer, definitely.
Pat: Yup, Weis even mentioned Beamer by name, which made ND fans happy.
Jay: Couple of times. What’s the word on Pitt ST?
Chas: We’ve got the best 1-2 PK and P combo in the Big East in Cummings and Graessle. The special teams are definitely emphasized more, and with more speed. Watch for freshman LaRod Stephens on kickoff returns. Lots more speed.
Jay: LaRod Stephens (filing that name away). Great name, btw. He’s going on the all-ND-opponent names team.
Pat: Factoid..Graessle was high school teammates with Brady Quinn I believe, and starting FS Chinedum Nduwke.
Chas: Way too many connections between these two teams.
Pat: Well, the both draw from similar areas of the country.
———————————– END PART 3
