I went back and watched the first half of Pitt’s game with Penn State with a focus on watching who was taking the field on the defensive side of the ball. There has been a lot of discussion this week as to why the Pitt depth chart looks the way it does for this week’s game with Georgia Tech. Here are some things I found from watching that first half.
Officially Pitt lined up 27 times against Penn State’s offense, but with penalties only 25 plays went into the official statistics. Pitt allowed 188 yards in those 25 plays (106 passing, 82 rushing). Penn State totaled 11 first downs, but Pitt slowed down Penn State on third downs. The Nittany Lions were 0-for-4 in such situations in the first half. Pitt generated one turnover, forced two punts, Penn State missed a field goal, and of course the Nittany Lions scored on it’s opening and closing drive of the first half.
First Drive - Score Tied 0-0. Penn State gets ball at own 37, 13:23 left in 1st Quarter
Pitt used it’s base defense for all three plays on this drive and did not substitute at all, that unit went as follows:
Rashad Weaver, Amir Watts, Shane Roy, Dewayne Hendrix
Elijah Zeise, Quintin Wirginis, Seun Idowu
Phillipie Motley, Dennis Briggs, Damar Hamlin, Dane Jackson
What Happened: Following a quick three-and-out by Pitt on the opening drive, Penn State got the ball at it’s own 37-yard line. Pitt started the drive strong by stopping Miles Sanders for a one yard loss before Trace McSorely connected on a 22-yard pass up the middle. There was a costly defensive holding penalty on Damar Hamlin stymied a nice play up front by Rashad Weaver.
Penn State then scored on a sweep to speedy wideout KJ Hamler. On that play Hamler broke out and had a one on one with Hamlin, and burnt him up the sideline for a 32 yard touchdown.
Second Drive: Penn State led 7-6. Penn State ball at Pitt 45-yard line. 7:09 left in 1st Quarter
Pitt went back to it’s base defense for the second drive. It was a six play drive for the Nittany Lions, the only change made was Saleem Brightwell substituted for Elijah Zeise for the final three plays of this drive, otherwise it was the starting personnel. Brightwell and Zeise are technically co-starters, so it was expected this would happen and will continue to happen.
What Happened: Penn State started with good field position following a facemark penalty called on Jay Stocker during the kickoff return. Penn State started the drive with a false start. Dennis Briggs made three tackles during this drive, including a nice stop on a run by Miles Sanders to put Penn State into a 3rd and three. On the crucial third down play, Pitt senior nose tackle Shane Roy took a step back rather than rushing and batted down a McSorely pass. Penn State attempted a field goal and it missed.
Third Drive: Penn State led 7-6. Penn State ball at own 1-yard line. 1:05 left in 1st Quarter.
Pitt really showed it’s first full scale change here. The defensive alignment saw numerous players making their debuts for this game. Patrick Jones, Keyshon Camp, Rashad Wheeler, and James Folston formed an entire new defensive line. We also saw Phil Campbell play every play but one this drive at strong safety. Also Damarri Mathis made his way onto the field at the corner. Brightwell got a play or two with Zeise playing the majority of the drive.
We also got to see Pitt’s “Delta” package for the first time. This group of personnel likely won’t see the field this week against the triple-option, but it will be used throughout the season.It’s a 3-3-5 type of defense. This particular alignment lined up as follows:
Hendrix, Jones, Weaver
Zeise, Wirginis, Idowu
Jackson Hamlin, Stocker, Briggs, and Jackson
What Happened: This Penn State possession closed out the first quarter and spanned into the second. Miles Sanders ripped off a huge run, but an illegal block saved Pitt some yardage. There were a lot of failures by Pitt on this play, but it was a nice run by Sanders. From there we eventually ran into Pat Narduzzi’s own personal penalty as he was on the field arguing. Penn State now has the ball inside Pitt territory.
Penn State advanced to the Pitt 31-yard line and on first down Sanders tried to make a big play but Damarri Mathis came flying out of nowhere for a six yard tackle for loss. Pitt employed the Delta package and a McSorely pass was short and Pitt held. Penn State opted to punt from Pitt’s 31.
Fourth Drive: Penn State led 7-6. Penn State ball at own 20-yard line. 8:49 left in 2nd Quarter.
Pitt went back to a base defense here. Phil Campbell started the drive and Dennis Briggs played it’s final play. So this is the second straight series Campbell is given the start of the drive, but on big third downs Briggs is brought back onto the field.
What Happened: Pitt had a long drive working, but missed a field goal. Penn State decided to give Miles Sanders a break and bring in Ricky Slade, a freshman running back. They fed him three straight carries and on the third one Quitin Wirginis jarred the ball loose and Rashad Weaver recovered on a third and two run by Slade.
Fifth Drive: Penn State led 7-6. Penn State ball at own 7-yard line. 2:03 left in 2nd Quarter.
Pitt used it’s starting defense for three plays and went to the “Delta” on a third down. The only difference here from the first time Pitt used Delta was Motley was on the field and not Mathis.
What Happened: Pitt attempted to go for it deep in Penn State territory and came up unsuccessful. At this point, the Pitt crowd was still very much into the game. The Nittany Lions quieted it with a quick first down from McSorely to Juwan Johnson. On a second and two, McSorely tried a RPO and tossed it to a back, Seun Idowu came up and read it correctly and dropped the Penn State back for a 3-yard loss. Penn State then faced a third and five and Pitt switched to a delta defense. Quintin Wirginis sacked McSorely and Penn State had to punt.
Sixth Drive: Penn State led 7-6. Penn State ball at Pitt 35-yard line. 00:59 left in 2nd Quarter.
Pitt had three plays on this drive. It went from base to defense to delta back to base defense. Pitt was also using the second group on the defense line (Jones, Camp, Wheeler, Folston).
What Happened: Pitt just had a big special teams lapse giving Penn State the ball deep in it’s own territory with a minute left. Penn State started with an incomplete pass. Hamlin had solid coverage. Pitt countered a Penn State personnel change and went to Delta. Miles Sanders gashed Pitt for 24 yards to the Pitt 14-yard line. There was a coverage gaffe that led to Penn State touchdown as McSorely found Hamler for a 14-yard score. Penn State padded the lead and only needed three plays and :26 seconds to do it.
Officially Pitt lined up 27 times against Penn State’s offense, but with penalties only 25 plays went into the official statistics. Pitt allowed 188 yards in those 25 plays (106 passing, 82 rushing). Penn State totaled 11 first downs, but Pitt slowed down Penn State on third downs. The Nittany Lions were 0-for-4 in such situations in the first half. Pitt generated one turnover, forced two punts, Penn State missed a field goal, and of course the Nittany Lions scored on it’s opening and closing drive of the first half.
First Drive - Score Tied 0-0. Penn State gets ball at own 37, 13:23 left in 1st Quarter
Pitt used it’s base defense for all three plays on this drive and did not substitute at all, that unit went as follows:
Rashad Weaver, Amir Watts, Shane Roy, Dewayne Hendrix
Elijah Zeise, Quintin Wirginis, Seun Idowu
Phillipie Motley, Dennis Briggs, Damar Hamlin, Dane Jackson
What Happened: Following a quick three-and-out by Pitt on the opening drive, Penn State got the ball at it’s own 37-yard line. Pitt started the drive strong by stopping Miles Sanders for a one yard loss before Trace McSorely connected on a 22-yard pass up the middle. There was a costly defensive holding penalty on Damar Hamlin stymied a nice play up front by Rashad Weaver.
Penn State then scored on a sweep to speedy wideout KJ Hamler. On that play Hamler broke out and had a one on one with Hamlin, and burnt him up the sideline for a 32 yard touchdown.
Second Drive: Penn State led 7-6. Penn State ball at Pitt 45-yard line. 7:09 left in 1st Quarter
Pitt went back to it’s base defense for the second drive. It was a six play drive for the Nittany Lions, the only change made was Saleem Brightwell substituted for Elijah Zeise for the final three plays of this drive, otherwise it was the starting personnel. Brightwell and Zeise are technically co-starters, so it was expected this would happen and will continue to happen.
What Happened: Penn State started with good field position following a facemark penalty called on Jay Stocker during the kickoff return. Penn State started the drive with a false start. Dennis Briggs made three tackles during this drive, including a nice stop on a run by Miles Sanders to put Penn State into a 3rd and three. On the crucial third down play, Pitt senior nose tackle Shane Roy took a step back rather than rushing and batted down a McSorely pass. Penn State attempted a field goal and it missed.
Third Drive: Penn State led 7-6. Penn State ball at own 1-yard line. 1:05 left in 1st Quarter.
Pitt really showed it’s first full scale change here. The defensive alignment saw numerous players making their debuts for this game. Patrick Jones, Keyshon Camp, Rashad Wheeler, and James Folston formed an entire new defensive line. We also saw Phil Campbell play every play but one this drive at strong safety. Also Damarri Mathis made his way onto the field at the corner. Brightwell got a play or two with Zeise playing the majority of the drive.
We also got to see Pitt’s “Delta” package for the first time. This group of personnel likely won’t see the field this week against the triple-option, but it will be used throughout the season.It’s a 3-3-5 type of defense. This particular alignment lined up as follows:
Hendrix, Jones, Weaver
Zeise, Wirginis, Idowu
Jackson Hamlin, Stocker, Briggs, and Jackson
What Happened: This Penn State possession closed out the first quarter and spanned into the second. Miles Sanders ripped off a huge run, but an illegal block saved Pitt some yardage. There were a lot of failures by Pitt on this play, but it was a nice run by Sanders. From there we eventually ran into Pat Narduzzi’s own personal penalty as he was on the field arguing. Penn State now has the ball inside Pitt territory.
Penn State advanced to the Pitt 31-yard line and on first down Sanders tried to make a big play but Damarri Mathis came flying out of nowhere for a six yard tackle for loss. Pitt employed the Delta package and a McSorely pass was short and Pitt held. Penn State opted to punt from Pitt’s 31.
Fourth Drive: Penn State led 7-6. Penn State ball at own 20-yard line. 8:49 left in 2nd Quarter.
Pitt went back to a base defense here. Phil Campbell started the drive and Dennis Briggs played it’s final play. So this is the second straight series Campbell is given the start of the drive, but on big third downs Briggs is brought back onto the field.
What Happened: Pitt had a long drive working, but missed a field goal. Penn State decided to give Miles Sanders a break and bring in Ricky Slade, a freshman running back. They fed him three straight carries and on the third one Quitin Wirginis jarred the ball loose and Rashad Weaver recovered on a third and two run by Slade.
Fifth Drive: Penn State led 7-6. Penn State ball at own 7-yard line. 2:03 left in 2nd Quarter.
Pitt used it’s starting defense for three plays and went to the “Delta” on a third down. The only difference here from the first time Pitt used Delta was Motley was on the field and not Mathis.
What Happened: Pitt attempted to go for it deep in Penn State territory and came up unsuccessful. At this point, the Pitt crowd was still very much into the game. The Nittany Lions quieted it with a quick first down from McSorely to Juwan Johnson. On a second and two, McSorely tried a RPO and tossed it to a back, Seun Idowu came up and read it correctly and dropped the Penn State back for a 3-yard loss. Penn State then faced a third and five and Pitt switched to a delta defense. Quintin Wirginis sacked McSorely and Penn State had to punt.
Sixth Drive: Penn State led 7-6. Penn State ball at Pitt 35-yard line. 00:59 left in 2nd Quarter.
Pitt had three plays on this drive. It went from base to defense to delta back to base defense. Pitt was also using the second group on the defense line (Jones, Camp, Wheeler, Folston).
What Happened: Pitt just had a big special teams lapse giving Penn State the ball deep in it’s own territory with a minute left. Penn State started with an incomplete pass. Hamlin had solid coverage. Pitt countered a Penn State personnel change and went to Delta. Miles Sanders gashed Pitt for 24 yards to the Pitt 14-yard line. There was a coverage gaffe that led to Penn State touchdown as McSorely found Hamler for a 14-yard score. Penn State padded the lead and only needed three plays and :26 seconds to do it.
