Okay, I read this headline and it keeps making me laugh. Elijah Fields playing CB.
Pitt coaches like to describe Elijah Fields as a hybrid defender who has linebacker size, safety speed and cornerback coverage skills.
After playing strong safety and outside linebacker in Pitt’s nickel and bandit packages, Fields could see some time at cornerback when the No. 17 Panthers (5-1, 2-0) play host to Rutgers (2-5, 1-2) Saturday at Heinz Field.
“I think, athletically, he could play corner, I really do,” said Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt, who said Fields is still a safety. “He’s very gifted, very talented. We use him in the nickel package, and half the time he’s on the slot back and covering a receiver no different than a corner would. He’d be capable of playing both, but he’s such a good tackler and with our lack of depth at safety that, right now, he’s a safety but yet he does some corner work.”
Fields — prior to the Navy game — was being talked of as possibly playing almost at linebacker. The problem would be trusting Fields to stay with his assignments. DC Phil Bennett ended up not playing Fields at all. He attributed it to Dom DeCicco playing so well (not to mention Greg Williams at linebacker) still there seemed to be a bit of a concession that maintaining defensive assignements was an issue.
That Pitt is even talking about playing him at Corner at this point — without any starters out at the spot — would be funnier if it was someone else’s team. It just screams about subtext of how much he must drive the Coaches nuts. He has this immense talent, but absolutely no interest in understanding the game. He just wants to go play.
That would seem to be a major reason why they would even be discussing Fields as a corner. He is so built to be the modern safety. But he doesn’t have the mental discipline. So, why not stick him out there as a corner where most of the time he could just be one-on-one. Not have as many responsibilities and assignments.
As I discussed with Jon at Bleed Scarlet, the issue going into this season on offense was relying more on the pass. What with Ray Rice gone, but two 1000 yard receivers back this year. Despite those lofty numbers last year, it has been a struggle this year for them.
Neither Britt nor Underwood has caught a touchdown this season, but Rutgers has won three consecutive games against Pitt, and its 20-16 victory last season was highlighted by Teel’s 53-yard touchdown pass to Britt to tie the game at 10-10 late in the first quarter.
“He’s a big-play receiver,” said Berry, who expects to cover Britt. “They throw it up and he goes and gets the ball. Nobody really knows what route he’s running because his speed is so deceptive. He gets by corners pretty fast. I definitely have to respect his go-route.
“In order for us to win the game, I’m going to have to do a good job locking him down, going into the game with a chip on my shoulder.”
Strangely Pitt fans have been disappointed with the CB play, yet the numbers make them look good.
That’s not the only reason that the Scarlet Knights have a healthy respect for Pitt, which leads the Big East in pass defense at 156.5 yards a game and held South Florida’s spread offense to 129 passing yards on Oct. 2.
“There’s really no weak spot in their defense,” Underwood said. “Those guys in Pitt’s secondary are on the smaller side, but they like to get up in your face and challenge you. They’re very aggressive, so you have to stay focused and do your job.”
Of course a good portion of that has to do with Pitt’s defensive line producing a lot more pressure on the QB this year. Forcing the ball to be thrown a lot sooner.
That could play in Pitt’s favor. The Panthers have proved to be adept at pressuring quarterbacks and are tied for the league lead with 18 sacks.
Rutgers will attempt to keep the Panthers honest by not abandoning the running game. Kordell Young and Jourdan Brooks have split the carries with a limited amount of success.
Brooks has the only 100-yard rushing performance for the team, and that came in a 23-21 loss to Navy.
And Rutgers’ O-line has struggled with replacing players and injuries.
Heading into Saturday’s Big East game at Pittsburgh (5-1), Rutgers already has used five different starting lineups on the offensive line through the first seven games. And there’s no guarantee that last week’s starters — Davis at left tackle, Mike Gilmartin at left guard, Blaszczyk, Art Forst at right guard and Kevin Haslam at right tackle — will stay intact a second straight game, since head coach Greg Schiano has hinted at more changes because of the ongoing struggles on offense.
“I think more than five guys will play, but we’ll be pretty much the same guys,” he said.
All that is certain is this: Blaszczyk will be the starting center, since he is the only offensive lineman to start every game during Rutgers’ 2-5 start.
Rutgers ranks in the bottom quarter nationally in terms of total offense and rushing offense. They are absolutely one of the worst in scoring offense.
The over/under on this game is 43 points. Unless you think Pitt is going to put up somewhere in the 30s against Rutgers, the under seems more appealing.
