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(09-07-2023 06:39 PM)eroc Wrote:  https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/Pitt...2309060119

Quote:Pat Narduzzi 'hopeful' Pitt's secondary recalls past lessons in matchup with Cincinnati

CHRISTOPHER CARTER
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
ccarter@post-gazette.com
SEP 7, 2023 4:20 PM

Pitt’s 6:30 p.m. Saturday showdown with Cincinnati at Acrisure Stadium will not only be the first FBS test for the Panthers but also a test of the newest members in their secondary.

While Pitt returned its top three cornerbacks in M.J. Devonshire, Marquis Williams and A.J. Woods, both of the Panthers starting safeties this season in Javon McIntyre and Phillip O’Brien Jr. have only made starts in spots before this season. Last week, the Panthers defense dominated an FCS opponent in their 45-7 win over Wofford. But Cincinnati’s offense presents a much greater passing threat with quarterback Emory Jones, who threw for five touchdowns and ran for two in Cincinnati’s 66-13 win over Eastern Kentucky last week.

“If he scrambles out of the pocket and he doesn’t like it, he’ll take off and run,” coach Pat Narduzzi said of Jones during his Thursday press conference at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “He’s more of a run to scramble guy.”

But just as important as the personnel Cincinnati will deploy is their schematics from head coach Scott Satterfield. Pitt faced Satterfield twice in his four years as head coach at Louisville, and there are lessons Narduzzi says Pitt gleamed from those matchups that they will apply Saturday.

One aspect is what Narduzzi indicated about a concept Louisville used under Satterfield last season against Pitt called the Y-shoot. It’s a play where the quarterback looks to freeze the defense with a play-action fake while the tight end sneaks through the middle part of the defense in an effort to be uncovered up the middle for a big play.

This used to be a concept that Pitt severely struggled with as far back as 2020, which was something Narduzzi even referenced in his Monday press conference.

“They did that last year,” Narduzzi said. “I don't know if you remember — we covered it up pretty good. They did that last year to us a little bit. That's just one of those copycat plays that they took from Miami when Mallory went up the middle. Usually can get us once, but usually, you aren't going to get us twice, so we do a good job of self (scouting).”

The very play was a pass from D’Eriq King to tight end Will Mallory, who executed it twice in the game for touchdowns.



While the exact description of that play wasn’t necessarily successful for Satterfield’s Louisville against Pitt last season, he still found ways to confuse Pitt’s linebackers and secondary with their coverage responsibilities.

A Malik Cunningham 9-yard touchdown pass last season came off dual tight ends lined up on the same side of the formation. While one tight end ran a corner route and backed off Pitt’s top safety, Brandon Hill, the other tight end broke to the middle of the field, where Hill vacated, and was wide open for the score.



But that’s something Pitt learned to adapt to when other teams tried to copy similar concepts to test the middle of the defense later last season. Miami went back to trying a play-action pass up the seam against Pitt in the 2022 regular season finale, but in that instance, Pitt was in position and SirVocea Dennis intercepted the Tyler Van Dyke pass.



Satterfield won’t always make it the same method, but the idea of testing the middle of Pitt’s pass defense will be part of Cincinnati’s game plan Saturday. When asked about how well Narduzzi believes the lessons of his past defenses have been passed down to the likes of McIntyre and O’Brien, he expressed a sense of hopeful confidence.

“Hopefully they’ve learned from the other guys,” Narduzzi said. “If you sat in our meetings every day, you’d see P.J. [O’Brien] was a backup a year ago who was sitting, listening and watching every day. He was in Erick Hallett II’s and Brandon Hill’s shoes every day. If there’s a problem, we go back and watch tape to show them how others have done it. If you forget some of the quizzes, we have review sessions.”

Pitt must take away those parts of Satterfield’s offense Saturday night to make Jones’ reads more difficult to execute in Cincinnati’s offense. Narduzzi should feel confident his cornerbacks are ready for it, as the Panthers have talked about their preparations for various approaches used by Satterfield to attack the seams against Pitt’s defense.

“They like to run a slot receiver on fade routes,” Narduzzi said. “[They like to get] themselves a lot of space. So we’ll see those this week. That's something through the years that they've liked. I would assume they're going to continue to try to take some shots.”

A perfect example of how to defend such a play came from an interception made by Woods against Cunningham just last season. On the play, Louisville had its receiver closest to the sideline run a short hitch in an effort to distract Pitt’s outside corner, Woods, from playing the deeper seam route by the slot receiver. But Woods was ready for the call and dropped back into position where he easily made the interception.



The status of Pitt’s safeties was one of the bigger questions heading into the Panthers’ 2023 season. If they show they’ve indeed picked up where the Panthers left off last year and don’t have to relearn old lessons, it could be a very positive sign for the direction of Pitt’s 2023 campaign.

Christopher Carter: ccarter@post-gazette.com and on Twitter @CarterCritiques

Nit-pick:
Gleaned

I saw the game will be televised on the CW. I had to search to find out what channel that was. I don't think I have ever watched it before.

Also saw last night's Louisville game was on the ACC Network. I have no idea how to access that one. Don't think I am a fan of the ACC's TV contract.

(09-08-2023 09:27 AM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  I saw the game will be televised on the CW. I had to search to find out what channel that was. I don't think I have ever watched it before.

Also saw last night's Louisville game was on the ACC Network. I have no idea how to access that one. Don't think I am a fan of the ACC's TV contract.

Will have to verify that YouTubeTV Has it. Looks like it may not carry CW in some areas?
I’m guessing Dish Network does have it. Which my friends have.

Channel 53 in Columbus, Ohio

Channel 17 on NKTelCo in west central Ohio

I don’t have a great feeling about this one. But there’s still so much we don’t know so it’s so hard to tell.

I’ll say 27-20 Pitt unfortunately

Honestly? I think this is a 50/50 coin flip type of game.

As a Cincinnati fan, I'll go with my Bearcats by 6.

Current line Pitt -6.5...

We are going after Pitt on defense

Good lord...big time hold that was a no call

Can’t start any better

SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!

(09-09-2023 05:44 PM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  Can’t start any better

i concur

Great start

Wow! 7-0 with 13:06 in the first & Pitt got the ball first! What a start

(09-09-2023 05:45 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!

I couldn't have said it better myself. This offense is becoming impressive.

(09-09-2023 05:44 PM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  Can’t start any better

Couldn't have said it any better myself.

(09-09-2023 05:47 PM)mac6115cd Wrote:  

(09-09-2023 05:45 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!

I couldn't have said it better myself. This offense is becoming impressive.

Brian Kelly-esque.