Michigan State puts up hefty front
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Pitt's defense was impressive in the first two games mostly because the line was able to control the running games of Virginia and Cincinnati.
And this defensive front is a lot like most defenses Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt has been associated with -- an undersized unit that relies on speed and quickness.
The speed vs. size theory will be put to the ultimate test Saturday when the Panthers play host to Michigan State. The Spartans' starting line averages 6 feet 5, 310 pounds, including two mammoth bookend tackles in 6-7, 307-pound junior Mike Gyetvai and 6-6, 306-pound sophomore Jesse Miller.
That's quite a bit bigger than the Panthers' defensive front four, which averages 6-3, 267 pounds and has no player bigger than 290 pounds.
Traditionally, teams with big, physical offensive lines have given Pitt fits. But Wannstedt has rebuilt the defensive line through recruiting and some position changes, and he believes the Panthers are far more equipped to battle a big offensive line than they have been in a long time.
"We'll keep those [defensive line] guys fresh and keep rotating them, but the size factor is real," Wannstedt said. "Our defensive line is playing better, but this will be a whole different challenge than what we've faced so far.
"I know Virginia had good size but they weren't quite as big as these guys. We'll have to rely on our speed and quickness and our athletic ability; there's no question about that.
"Football is still a game of blocking, tackling and leverage, and that's what we are trying to emphasize from a fundamental and foundation standpoint."
The defensive coaching staff spent the offseason and training camp working with the defensive linemen on footwork, making good use of their hands and using their quickness to find gaps rather than taking on blocks or getting locked into one-on-one battles with bigger, more physical players.
The work seems to have paid off the first two weeks. The tackles have been able to get into the backfield and bust up running plays or pressure the quarterbacks, and the ends have often been too quick for opposing offensive tackles.
The safety the Panthers forced in their 33-15 win against Cincinnati is a good example. With only the four down linemen rushing the passer, end Joe Clermond and tackle Gus Mustakas got into the backfield and tackled the Bearcats' Nick Davila in the end zone. That is the kind of play that Panthers weren't making in recent years.
"If you are going to have a great defensive football team you are going to have to be able to rush the passer with four guys," Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads said. "That way you don't have try and create a pass rush and I think we are getting there.
"But the thing is, any time we are playing a big offensive line the fear is we are going to get locked on blocks and not be able to get off of them. We're going to have to be very diligent at moving our feet and using our hands to stay out of the way of the contact."
Michigan State coach John L. Smith knows his line enjoys a big size advantage, but he is just as concerned about Pitt's quickness.
"They have some players over there that will come up and smack you," Smith said. "And they give you so many looks that we have to be prepared to block them and get our quarterback protected. I think the biggest challenge for us ... they are a real concern up front because they are going to play a lot of games with you and force you to have to try and block them."
The Panthers understand the challenge they will face Saturday and are eager to prove they are a much different unit than the ones in the past.
"They are bigger than us, but we're quicker and that's our advantage," Mustakas said. "We also use a lot of different players -- we have nine guys rotating in four spots; they use basically five guys for five spots. So we can, hopefully, get them tired, wear them out a little bit and then just use our speed to get off the ball."
NOTES -- The Pitt-Syracuse game Oct. 7 will kick off at noon at the Carrier Dome and will be televised on WTAE as the Big East Game of the Week. ... Pitt-South Florida also has been selected as the Big East game of the week and is a noon kickoff Nov. 4. ... Saturday's game vs. Michigan State will be a split national telecast on ESPN2. It will be televised locally on WTAE. There are some select ABC affiliates in Pennsylvania and Michigan that will carry the game. ... Tailback LaRod Stephens-Howling (ankle) returned to practice and has a chance to return to the lineup. "He did a little bit [Monday], hopefully he can do a little more today. It is day-to-day with him. He's optimistic and I'm optimistic that he'll be able to help us on Saturday," Wannstedt said. ... Senior guard John Simonitis (ankle) is questionable but Wannstedt said he could play even if he can't practice all week. "Simo's better and him being a veteran guy, he could come out here Friday and move around and be ready to play. The main thing is to get him back healthy. If he was a young kid I'd say, 'No, he has to practice all week,' but he knows what he is doing." ... Punter Adam Graessle is on the watch list for the Ray Guy Award.
First Published September 13, 2006 12:00 am
