The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Team Report – Pittsburgh – INSIDE SLANT
While the offense was busy posting a two-game record total for yards with 1,163 and scoring 90 points in wins over Virginia Tech and Gardner-Webb, the defense held up its end of the bargain. Did it ever.
Consider that in the two wins the defense allowed a combined 24 first downs, 451 yards and forced seven turnovers. The last stat stands out not just for the quantity, but the fact the Panthers did not force of turnover in season-opening defeats to Youngstown State and Cincinnati.
“We’ve been trying (to create turnovers), but we’re actually getting them now,” said senior linebacker Shane Gordon, who has 31 tackles after four games.
The unit is also putting out a superior effort against the run allowing only 91 yards the last two games. That is a far cry from the 204 they allowed to YSU and 259 against Cincy. Frankly, everything about the defense looks entirely different. Granted, suspensions and injuries played a part in the rough starts. According to Gordon, buckling down in preparation for the last two opponents has also made a difference.
“(Defensive coordinator David Huxtable) is always saying to put a premium on practice and treat practice like it is a game and let that carry over,” he said. “In the past two weeks we practiced harder and it showed.”
The defense will have to be on its toes Friday night at Syracuse. Senior quarterback Ryan Nassib has thrown for 1,367 yards and 10 touchdowns.
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NCAAF Team Report – Pittsburgh – NOTES, QUOTES
–QB Tino Sunseri ranks in the top 20 nationally in pass efficiency and has eight touchdown passes on the season. Last year, Sunseri threw 10 scoring passes. “A lot of times, when you’re the quarterback, you get too much credit when it’s good and too much blame when it’s bad,” said QB coach Brooks Bollinger. “I think he’s gone out and he’s done his job and he’s done it consistently when we’ve moved the ball well, and that’s what he needs to continue to do.”
–Ray Graham has 2,591 career rushing yards and needs 53 to pass NFL Hall of Famer Curtis Martin for eighth on Pitt’s all-time list. Graham, who moved into ninth past Kevan Barlow in the Virginia Tech game, has 70 yards on 18 carries in two games against Syracuse. His season-ending torn right ACL prevented from playing against the Orange last year.
SERIES HISTORY: Pitt leads the all-time series against Syracuse, 34-30-3.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: The Panthers have everything going their way and as such it is easy to wonder if the off week came at an inopportune time. While we will find out Friday night, there is no question the unit has been thriving in all situations. They have also been able to get the big play. Against Gardner-Webb Ray Graham had a 78-yard TD run and Tino Sunseri connected with Mike Shanahan on 77-yard scoring connection. In addition, Sunseri completed two other passes for more than 30 yards. While they did a nice job of moving the chains and keeping drives alive against Virginia Tech, the Panthers also had five plays of 20-plus yards.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Can they keep the turnovers coming? What kind of pressure the unit brings will go a long way in answering that question. After forcing seven turnovers in the two wins, the unit goes against an Orange offense that turned the ball over 10 times in its first four games. In order to force the issue with quarterback Ryan Nassib and the rest of the SU offense, the Panthers need to continue to bring the heat. After recording one sack and three quarterback hurries in its two defeats, Pitt recorded five sacks and six QB hurries in its two victories.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Tino looks so comfortable back there and it rubs off on us.” — Receiver Devin Street on the effectiveness of the passing game.
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NCAAF Team Report – Pittsburgh – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
THIS WEEK’S GAME: Pitt at Syracuse, Oct. 5 — A not-so-small subplot is that these two programs meet for the final time as members of the Big East. The Panthers and Orange move next year to the ACC where they will be aligned in opposite divisions. The Panthers look to close out the Big East portion of the series history versus SU with their eighth straight win. They won last season’s game at Heinz Field, 33-20. Pitt’s only loss in the last 10 contests was a double-overtime affair in 2004.
KEYS TO THE GAME: Given that Syracuse ranks 83rd in pass efficiency defense and 84th in run defense, it would seem the Orange is playing right into the hands of a hot Panthers offense. Of course, this game is not played on paper. The Pitt offense needs to continue to operate as an efficient unit and most of that starts up front on the line. The line has provided the impetus for an offense that is firing on all cylinders. On the other side of the ball, it is all about applying pressure on a turnover prone SU offense. That will make life easier on a secondary that will be challenged by an Orange passing game that is averaging more than 340 yards and boasts a cast of experienced receivers.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
WR Mike Shanahan — The senior is coming off the first two 100-yard receiving games of his career, recording a combined 10-255-3. Shanahan is 7-94 in two games against ‘Cuse.
S Jason Hendricks — The junior leads the Big East with three interceptions. Hendricks had two against Virginia Tech and one versus Gardner-Webb.
ROSTER REPORT
–DT Aaron Donald returned to practice during the off week after missing the Gardner-Webb game with a knee injury. All signs point to him returning for Syracuse.
–LB Dan Mason saw his first action in two years when he took the field aginast Gardner-Webb. Knee injuries kept him sidelined before entering in the fourth quarter against the Bulldogs. He could see limited action against Syracuse.
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