Here comes another “Rivalry” game as the Irish prepare for
the Pitt Panthers now of the ACC for the 69th time since 1909. Notre Dame leads the all-time series by a
47-20-1 however since 2004 the Irish only hold a 4-3 edge, including a triple
overtime win. Look for another close one
Saturday as eight of the past nine games have been decided by single digits.
The theme is going to be the same for this Saturday against
Pitt as it has been for the past two weeks against Air Force and Navy, just win;
however the game plan, especially on the defensive side of the ball will be
different. The Falcons and the Midshipmen were both run first teams, let’s face
it they were more like run first second third and sometimes fourth teams and to
their credit they were darn good at it (Navy averaging 294.4 yards per game
good for 9th in the country and Air Force averaging 279.2 yards per
game good for 11th in the nation).
Pitt is averaging 122.5 yards rushing per game ranking them 104th
in the nation.
It not that they don’t have a running backs that can carry
the ball they just don’t do it overly well.
Junior running back Isaac Bennett has 543 yards on the season on 104
carries for an average of 5.2 yards per rush along with 5 touchdowns. Bennett is supported by freshman James Conner
who has rushed for 385 yards on 79 carries for an average of 4.9 yards per rush
and 4 scores. Although they have other
backs those Bennett and Conner account for 95% of Pitt’s rushing yards, 68% of
their carries and 75% of their rushing touchdowns.
Unfortunately for the Panthers their passing game does not overcompensate
to balance their offensive output. Pitt
averages 223.4 yards per game in the year giving them#70 in the national
rankings. Senior quarterback Tom Savage
is a journeyman starting his college career at Rutgers where he was named on the All-American
Freshman Team, then transferring to Arizona (where he never took the
field) and now at Pitt. NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt said Savage is
the best QB prospect you've never heard of.
Throwing six touchdowns against Duke earlier this season has helped add legitimately
to that statement.
Overall Pitt’s
passing game is decent and most likely will be more of a concern for the Irish
defense as opposed to their run game. On
the season Savage has solid numbers with 1179 yards on 133 completions out of
219 attempts with 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has good size at 6’5” and 230lbs but has
not proven to be mobile as he has been sacked 29 times this year for a total of
22 yards lost. The Pitt offensive line
has given up at least one sack in each game this year). Much like Pitts’ running attack the Panthers
have two receivers they focus on and then it gets pretty thin from there. Senior wide receiver 6’4” 190lb Devin Street leads
the Panthers with 690 yards on 40 receptions for an average of 17.3 yards per
catch and four touchdowns. 6’2” 185lb freshman
wide out Tyler Boyd is more than holding his own with 644 yards on 45
receptions for an average of 14.3 yards per catch and 6 scores. Steer and Boyd combine for 63% of Pitts
receptions, 75% of their receiving yards and 71% of the Panther’s receiving
touchdowns. Boyd also had 9 rushes for
106 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively Pitt
reflects their record; 4-4, average at best, giving up 26.8 points per game
ranking 70th in 67th in the country. Giving up as little as 3 points against Virginia
and as much 55 against Duke, both wins for Pitt. However there is one player on Pitt’s defense
who is far from average, senior defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Last week Donald was named the Chuck Bednarik
Award National Defensive Player of the Week, the ACC Defensive Lineman of the
Week and FWAA and the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the
Week. Last week against Georgia Tech
Donald had 11 tackles (all solo), six tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and
a sack. His six TFLs are the most by a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) player
this year. Donald is also a
quarterfinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and don’t be surprised to see his
name in the hunt for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Outland Trophy and Rotary
Lombardi Award. At 6’ and 285lbs he may
not look the part of an overly dominate defensive lineman but trust me he
is. Donald is the nation's active career
leader with 27.5 sacks, a total that ranks fourth all-time at Pitt.
After Aaron
Donald the Pitt defense comes back down to earth, not crashing down but a good
drop nonetheless. The run defense has
held three opponents this season under 100 yards; 2-7 Virginia was held to 65
yards (2 yards per carry), 116.8 yards per game Virginia Tech ran for 76 yards
(2 yards per carry) and Old Dominion gained 93 yards (4.7 yards per
carry). The Pitt defense has collected
11 turnovers this season 6 interceptions (four of them were against Duke) and
five fumbles recoveries.
In short on defense
focus two backs in a modest running attack at best and two receivers an average
passing game while keying in on one monster in Aaron Donald for the offensive scheme
and the Irish should be 8-2 on Sunday. For a team that has lost their last two games
and another two to the only ranked teams they have played so far this season I
would have to give the Pitt Panthers a less then below than fair chance in
upsetting the Irish on Saturday.
