No one theme for the day. Just lots of talk about the team and players trying to improve.
This piece about the defense is fairly upbeat, but is also honest about some deficiencies on defense.
“We’re playing better on defense but I’ll call it success when the team wins,” Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. “We had a chance at a lot more sacks. We haven’t forced many turnovers. We can play a lot, lot better. We haven’t even come close to scratching the surface of playing the run like I envision us playing and I know we can play.
“When we start holding people to 50 yards rushing then I’ll feel better.”
Defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads added: “We have not effectively played the run game, in my opinion, all season. So we still have a lot of room for improvement. It is about finishing plays, guys getting off blocks and wrapping up and doing the things you have to do in order to finish plays. It’s about winning.”
Simply put, the defense hasn’t really put much pressure on opposing offenses. Pitt has had only 5 sacks in 3 games, though on the bright side it is an upward trend of 0, 1 and 4. Still, it hasn’t seemed like much and the amount of pressure put on the offense — to cause mistakes like fumbles — hasn’t happened.
The sacks can be more attributed to the better coverage of receivers, especially when you consider Pitt has not done a very good job against the run — which goes to the defense up front. Teams are averaging a little better than 4 yards per carry.
I’ll agree with Defensive Coordinator Paul Rhoads about not being that concerned with an uptick in pass interference penalties.
Defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads is not alarmed that his safeties and corners have drawn some penalties. Against Nebraska, Revis was flagged for a questionable pass interference call. “I want the kids to be aggressive,” Rhoads said. “You’ll never see me berate a kid because he tried to make an aggressive, physical play.”
“Questionable?” That was kind on an underthrown pass that Revis had position. But I digress. Some increased pass interference penalties have to be expected, though, if the secondary is going to play tighter coverage. I’d rather see a couple extra penalties than watching the secondary play 8-12 yards off the receiver.
Looks like Josh Cummings knee is more problematic than thought. He’s now questionable for the game. Conor Lee and David Abdul have been doing all the kicking in practice.
Roommates and Freshmen LaRod Stephens-Howling and Tommie Campbell haven’t settled the argument over which one is faster.
Meanwhile, concerning YSU…
The Penguins are getting ready and are expecting their toughest game. There, of course, has to be a Pitt angle.
YSU assistant coach Jerry Olsavsky, the Penguins linebackers coach, played at Pitt and then for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League.
“I’ve spent half my life in Pittsburgh,” Olsavsky said. “It’s my home away from home. I know so many people there.
“It’s a great opportunity for us and our kids know that we can do down there and put on a pretty good show,” he added.
YSU has blown through their allotment of 3,000 tickets. Not that others will be hard to find.
