There are many theories about what has helped Pitt's defense turn things around in recent weeks and, while there are a number of statistics that show how much better the defense has played in its past three games, the key ones seem to be a big increase in sacks and pressures on opposing quarterbacks.

The most popular theory is that the Panthers are blitzing more and playing a more aggressive style of defense.

That might sound good and the numbers seem to support it -- the Panthers have had 10 sacks in the past three games; they had a total of five in consecutive losses to Connecticut, Virginia and Navy -- but Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads said it is not the case.

In fact, he said in some respects Pitt has blitzed less than it had in some earlier games.

And he is puzzled by popular criticism that his defensive schemes and game plans are passive, and that he does not coach an aggressive style of defense. He believes aggressiveness is critical, but frequent blitzing is not the only way to play aggressive defense.

"I believe in aggressiveness and I have always coached aggressiveness," Rhoads said. "I have never put numbers out there on the table publicly, but I can tell you, if you break down my eight years at Pitt, I can certainly point to a lot higher numbers of games lost that we blitzed more than normal and a lot more games that we won that we blitzed less than normal, but the perception is that wasn't the case. People seem to think we only blitz in wins, but that's not at all accurate.

"And aggressive football and attacking football can be played with a four-man rush because those things are based on how well, as I like to say, your players are going north in attacking an offense. And it really has to do with how fast your team plays, and that comes from how confident they are."

Rhoads said the three main reasons the Panthers have played better defense in the past three games are, in no particular order:

• Field position as a result of the offense not turning the ball over. Quite simply, the Panthers are defending far fewer short fields.

• Confidence and experience. The younger players are getting experience, have begun to taste success and success breeds more confidence.

• Hunger, desire. He said the Panthers have had exceptional practices in the past month, and they are starting to believe in what they are doing.

Rhoads said the emergence of running back LeSean McCoy and quarterback Pat Bostick has been a significant development for the team as a whole because it enabled the offense to establish an identity and begin to have success. And establishing a tough, hard-nosed mentality on offense has fueled the defense as well.

"I think confidence is always reflected in the speed with which players play," Rhoads said. "And that started with the Cincinnati game. Our kids were confident that they were going to play well that day, and they did, and, as a result they played fast and they played aggressive, and it translated into pressure. But, for instance, Greg Romeus had the biggest sack of the game and we were in a three-man front.

"He just beat his guy, and that is a matter of playing more confident and winning a one-on-one battle, and we are doing that more and more each week."

Rhoads then added, "my biggest response to the idea that we are blitzing more or we don't blitz enough is that the more confident the team is, the more aggressive and attacking they might appear, but by no stretch of the imagination have we adjusted our philosophy or our mentality and blitzed more or pressured more in the last few weeks. We have had more success with it because we have executed it better, and the results are obvious."

Although the Panthers are not blitzing more this season, Rhoads said they made some minor changes to the scheme in the offseason that have paid off. Some of the changes involve mixing up and disguising coverages, but the most important change is that the Panthers have pulled a safety up closer to the line of scrimmage to be more involved in stopping the run -- they have gone from a seven-man front to an eight-man front -- and it has paid off.

Through nine games, the Panthers are ranked No. 41 in NCAA Division I-A in rushing defense (128.6 yards per game rushing) and allow only 3.2 yards per carry. Pitt also has yet to allow a running back to rush for 100 yards in a game, although Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada rushed for 122 yards in the Midshipmen's 48-45, double-overtime win against the Panthers.

Those numbers are a big improvement over last year when the Panthers ranked 107th in I-A in rushing defense (181.3 yards rushing per game) and allowed 4.56 yards per carry. That team also allowed seven players to rush for 100 yards or more, including five that surpassed the 200-yard mark.

Of course, the Panthers have not faced Rutgers and West Virginia yet, and those teams will put the Panthers' rush defense to the test. And that's where the other major change in the defense -- Rhoads moved from secondary coach to coaching linebackers in the offseason -- could become a factor.

"[Coaching linebackers] has been a great move for me, and, I believe, for our team," Rhoads said. "I think it has affected my play-calling a little bit from last year to be physically tied in with the down four and where the front seven fits, as well as still being involved in choosing coverages, and I think that's an aspect that I am growing more comfortable with each week."

"I think confidence is always reflected in the speed with which players play. And that started with the Cincinnati game. Our kids were confident that they were going to play well ... and they did."