A lot is on the line for Pitt against Utes' defense
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Wannstedt believes the Panthers' offensive line has been battle-tested during training camp.
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Utah's defensive line is fast, athletic and physical, which means Pitt's offensive line will have its hands full Thursday when the Utes and Panthers meet at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
But for the offensive line, it will be another day at the office, having spent the spring and summer banging heads with a fast, athletic, physical defensive front that happens to wear the same uniform.
"It is nice to get away from blocking our defensive line every day," center Alex Karabin said. "I think [Utah's defensive line and Pitt's defensive line] are comparable. I think Myles [Caragein] is similar to their two inside guys. They are pretty good, but our guys might do just a couple of things a little bit differently. Maybe get more penetration into the backfield."
Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said the offensive line is not where it needs to be yet, but he expects it to get better. He added that it will improve from the start of the Utah game until the finish as it settles into the speed of the game.
He agreed that the Panthers' offensive line has been battle-tested during training camp, despite the defensive line having been without All-American defensive end Greg Romeus the entire camp.
"When you have three new starters [on the offensive line] inexperience is what you are dealing with," Wannstedt said. "[The problem] won't be knowledge. They'll understand what we are trying to do. They'll have the calls down and give the effort. They just need experience.
"But you'd like to think that the competition they get on a day-in and day-out basis will make a difference. The other thing is for the most part all those [offensive linemen] have stayed healthy, so that is a good thing."
Utah's defensive line is fast and physical like Pitt's, but the Panthers' offensive linemen say there is a key difference between the two.
The Utes do a lot more blitzing and stunting than the Panthers, and that can cause some problems -- especially considering this is the opener and both teams are likely to have some surprises.
The philosophy for Pitt's defensive line is to get off the ball and whip the offensive line straight up. Wannstedt's defenses rarely blitz and, when they do, the blitzes are reserved for certain situations.
Utah, however, will bring extra guys from all different directions, and Wannstedt said he expects to see a steady flow of run blitzes, blitzes off the edge and stunts from the Utes. That is why he said he is glad the Panthers' offensive line has had extra time to prepare for the game.
First Published August 27, 2010 12:00 am
