As I said in my offensive position group reviews, now that we’re at the half way mark and stand at 4-2, I thought I’d reexamine my pre-season position group rankings and see where I was wrong. Although this is the record I expected through 6 games, I thought we’d beat UVA and lose to UCF. There’s not another team on the schedule that looks like a likely loss, but given how our offense has performed, it seems likely that we’ll get tripped up once and maybe twice. Still, 8-4 wouldn’t be bad, especially if we can tack on a bowl win.
I’m using a 4 letter grade scale to measure each position group against the rest of the ACC. An “A” grade means the position group is one of the top 3 in the ACC, a “B” means the group is between 4th and 6th, a “C” means the position group is between 7th and 10th, and a D means the group is one the 4 worst in the ACC, 11th through 14th.
DE. 2019 Pre-season Projection C [post-Weaver injury]. Mid-Year Grade: A.
PRE-SEASON PREVIEW: Pitt’s most productive DE, RS. Jr. Rashad Weaver, will miss the 2019 season with a torn ACL. Last season, Weaver had 47 tackles, 14.5 TFLs, 14 QB hurries, and 6.5 sacks in his first year as a starter. Pro Football Focus named Weaver the ACC’s #1 returning DE against the run and top 5 in pass rushing.
Weaver was either the best or second best player on the team along with CB Dane Jackson with Damar Hamlin a close third. DE was poised for a big jump in 2019, but now, Pitt will need to be creative just to maintain 2018’s production. Narduzzi’s defenses at Pitt haven’t been good against the pass, and Weaver’s injury makes it less likely that things will change this year.
RS. Jr. Patrick Jones (6’5” 260) will become the lead DE and the only returner with significant playing time. Although Dwayne Hendrix was the starter last year, Jones was actually more productive, despite getting far fewer snaps. Jones had 23 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, and 4.0 QB hurries as a reserve.
Jones will see significantly more snaps as a starter, and he should be able to build off his impressive numbers to become one of the top 10 DEs in the ACC this season. RS. So. Deslin Alexander (6’4” 265) with 5 tackles and 1 TFL, is most likely to start next to Jones. Alexander’s snaps were limited as RS. Fr., so it’s hard to know what he’ll bring, but he has size to compete against ACC offensive tackles.
RS. Fr. John Morgan (6’2” 255) may also push Alexander for the starting role. Morgan is built very differently than Weaver and Jones, but he’s reportedly the quickest defensive lineman. RS. Fr. Habakkuk Baldonado (6’5” 250) and RS. Fr. Kaymar Mimes (6’5” 245) may also see minutes.
With both Weaver and Jones, this is probably a top 4 DE group competing with Clemson, Miami, and Syracuse for best in the ACC, but without Weaver, there are major questions about whether this position can match last season’s performance. The focus now turns to 2020 for Weaver, where he and Jones should compete for the best DE duo in the ACC in their final year.
MID-YEAR REVIEW: When Rashad Weaver went down, I changed my projection from “B” to “C”, and I was genuinely worried about how this unit would produce with only Patrick Jones as an experienced returner. Boy was I wrong! This DE group is easily in the ACC’s top 3 and is probably on par with Clemson for the top stop. That’s not hyperbole. With no seniors at DE, when you add Weaver to this group next year, the sky is the limit.
Patrick Jones has been incredibly impressive, he’s actually on pace to surpass Weaver’s 2018 production with 20 tackles, 5 TFLs, 4 sacks, 3 fumbles, and 12 QBH. He’s also been incredibly productive with 33 QB pressures good for #2 in the nation per PFF. Deslin Alexandre and Habakkuk Baldonado have come on incredible strong, as well.
Alexandre has 18 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 1 fumble, and 1 QBH. Freshmen Baldonado might be even better than Alexandre, with 20 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 1 fumble, and 3 QBH. Even John Morgan has been productive in his reserve role with 7 tackles, 2 TFLs, and 2 QBH.
DT. 2019 Pre-Season Projection B. Mid-Year Grade: A.
PRE-SEASON PREVIEW: Narduzzi’s recruited DT well, but they haven’t produced much. Although it’s not entirely on DT, Pitt finished an embarrassing 80th in rushing defense in 2018. When you consider the pedigree of the recruits, Partridge’s reputation, and Narduzzi’s emphasis on stopping the run, this group should see the biggest improvement on the team, along with Boundary Safety. Starter Shane Roy graduates while fellow starter Sr. Amir Watts (6’3” 295) returns, as do top reserves RS. Jr. Keyshon Camp (6’4” 285) and RS. So. Jaylen Twyman (6’2” 290). Watts was 4 star recruit and the #25 DT in the country with offers from PSU and Nebraska, among others. Watts had 18 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 QB hurries, 1 sack and 1 interception last season as a true junior. Watts is quick and athletic, regularly penetrating opponent’s backfield, but he’s be unable to turn it into consistent production. Camp was a coveted recruit (#38 DT) original committed to USC before flipping to Pitt. Camp missed seven games last season due to injury, and several more the year before.
Despite only playing in seven games, Camp had 14 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2 QB hurries, and 2 sacks. If healthy, Camp should be one of the most productive DT’s to play for Narduzzi at Pitt. Jaylen Twyman is another coveted DT recruit (#48 DT) with offers from Florida, PSU, Tennessee, and MSU, among others. Twyman has completely transformed his body after spending the summer working out with Aaron Donald. As a RS. Fr. Twyman played in 13 games, starting 1, and produced 16 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, .5 sacks, and 2 QB hurries. Ideally we’d see Watts, Camp and Twyman playing 35 snaps a game each. Also likely to see playing time is coveted local recruit RS. Fr. Devin Danielson (6’1” 290) who had offers from MSU, Wisconsin, and WVU, among others, and was rated the #28 DT in the country. With 4 top 50 DT’s slated to play, this group should be ready to shine.
MID-YEAR REVIEW: When Camp was lost for the season again, it was not entirely clearly how this group would fare, particularly because he looked to be the best DT in that first game against UVA. The beginning in game 2, Jaylen Twyman took over and he hasn’t looked back. At a position where contributions don’t always show up in the stat the line, Twyman has dominated. 20 tackles, 7 TFLs, 6.0 (!) sacks, 1 QBH, and 1 PBU. Twyman is tied for #6 in the nation and tied for #1 in the ACC in sacks. Amir Watts has also been productive with 11 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, and 3 QBH. Freshmen Devin Danielson hasn’t shown up in the state line as much as Twyman and Watts, but he’s been a beat as well. Danielson is eating blockers and closing wholes. His 5 tackles and 1 QBH are good numbers for reserve Freshmen DT.
Pitt is currently #30 against the run, making it the #4 run defense in the ACC. Coupled with the sack and TFL numbers, this is top 3 ACC unit, but that production will need to continue to maintain this grade. We knew this position had been recruited well, but it took the emergence of Twyman to allow this group to ascend to the top of the league, even in Camp’s absence. With Watts being the lane senior, if Camp can stay healthy next year, this group should be even better with Danielson, David Green, and Tyler Bentley another year stronger.
I’m using a 4 letter grade scale to measure each position group against the rest of the ACC. An “A” grade means the position group is one of the top 3 in the ACC, a “B” means the group is between 4th and 6th, a “C” means the position group is between 7th and 10th, and a D means the group is one the 4 worst in the ACC, 11th through 14th.
DE. 2019 Pre-season Projection C [post-Weaver injury]. Mid-Year Grade: A.
PRE-SEASON PREVIEW: Pitt’s most productive DE, RS. Jr. Rashad Weaver, will miss the 2019 season with a torn ACL. Last season, Weaver had 47 tackles, 14.5 TFLs, 14 QB hurries, and 6.5 sacks in his first year as a starter. Pro Football Focus named Weaver the ACC’s #1 returning DE against the run and top 5 in pass rushing.
Weaver was either the best or second best player on the team along with CB Dane Jackson with Damar Hamlin a close third. DE was poised for a big jump in 2019, but now, Pitt will need to be creative just to maintain 2018’s production. Narduzzi’s defenses at Pitt haven’t been good against the pass, and Weaver’s injury makes it less likely that things will change this year.
RS. Jr. Patrick Jones (6’5” 260) will become the lead DE and the only returner with significant playing time. Although Dwayne Hendrix was the starter last year, Jones was actually more productive, despite getting far fewer snaps. Jones had 23 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, and 4.0 QB hurries as a reserve.
Jones will see significantly more snaps as a starter, and he should be able to build off his impressive numbers to become one of the top 10 DEs in the ACC this season. RS. So. Deslin Alexander (6’4” 265) with 5 tackles and 1 TFL, is most likely to start next to Jones. Alexander’s snaps were limited as RS. Fr., so it’s hard to know what he’ll bring, but he has size to compete against ACC offensive tackles.
RS. Fr. John Morgan (6’2” 255) may also push Alexander for the starting role. Morgan is built very differently than Weaver and Jones, but he’s reportedly the quickest defensive lineman. RS. Fr. Habakkuk Baldonado (6’5” 250) and RS. Fr. Kaymar Mimes (6’5” 245) may also see minutes.
With both Weaver and Jones, this is probably a top 4 DE group competing with Clemson, Miami, and Syracuse for best in the ACC, but without Weaver, there are major questions about whether this position can match last season’s performance. The focus now turns to 2020 for Weaver, where he and Jones should compete for the best DE duo in the ACC in their final year.
MID-YEAR REVIEW: When Rashad Weaver went down, I changed my projection from “B” to “C”, and I was genuinely worried about how this unit would produce with only Patrick Jones as an experienced returner. Boy was I wrong! This DE group is easily in the ACC’s top 3 and is probably on par with Clemson for the top stop. That’s not hyperbole. With no seniors at DE, when you add Weaver to this group next year, the sky is the limit.
Patrick Jones has been incredibly impressive, he’s actually on pace to surpass Weaver’s 2018 production with 20 tackles, 5 TFLs, 4 sacks, 3 fumbles, and 12 QBH. He’s also been incredibly productive with 33 QB pressures good for #2 in the nation per PFF. Deslin Alexandre and Habakkuk Baldonado have come on incredible strong, as well.
Alexandre has 18 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 1 fumble, and 1 QBH. Freshmen Baldonado might be even better than Alexandre, with 20 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 1 fumble, and 3 QBH. Even John Morgan has been productive in his reserve role with 7 tackles, 2 TFLs, and 2 QBH.
DT. 2019 Pre-Season Projection B. Mid-Year Grade: A.
PRE-SEASON PREVIEW: Narduzzi’s recruited DT well, but they haven’t produced much. Although it’s not entirely on DT, Pitt finished an embarrassing 80th in rushing defense in 2018. When you consider the pedigree of the recruits, Partridge’s reputation, and Narduzzi’s emphasis on stopping the run, this group should see the biggest improvement on the team, along with Boundary Safety. Starter Shane Roy graduates while fellow starter Sr. Amir Watts (6’3” 295) returns, as do top reserves RS. Jr. Keyshon Camp (6’4” 285) and RS. So. Jaylen Twyman (6’2” 290). Watts was 4 star recruit and the #25 DT in the country with offers from PSU and Nebraska, among others. Watts had 18 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 QB hurries, 1 sack and 1 interception last season as a true junior. Watts is quick and athletic, regularly penetrating opponent’s backfield, but he’s be unable to turn it into consistent production. Camp was a coveted recruit (#38 DT) original committed to USC before flipping to Pitt. Camp missed seven games last season due to injury, and several more the year before.
Despite only playing in seven games, Camp had 14 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2 QB hurries, and 2 sacks. If healthy, Camp should be one of the most productive DT’s to play for Narduzzi at Pitt. Jaylen Twyman is another coveted DT recruit (#48 DT) with offers from Florida, PSU, Tennessee, and MSU, among others. Twyman has completely transformed his body after spending the summer working out with Aaron Donald. As a RS. Fr. Twyman played in 13 games, starting 1, and produced 16 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, .5 sacks, and 2 QB hurries. Ideally we’d see Watts, Camp and Twyman playing 35 snaps a game each. Also likely to see playing time is coveted local recruit RS. Fr. Devin Danielson (6’1” 290) who had offers from MSU, Wisconsin, and WVU, among others, and was rated the #28 DT in the country. With 4 top 50 DT’s slated to play, this group should be ready to shine.
MID-YEAR REVIEW: When Camp was lost for the season again, it was not entirely clearly how this group would fare, particularly because he looked to be the best DT in that first game against UVA. The beginning in game 2, Jaylen Twyman took over and he hasn’t looked back. At a position where contributions don’t always show up in the stat the line, Twyman has dominated. 20 tackles, 7 TFLs, 6.0 (!) sacks, 1 QBH, and 1 PBU. Twyman is tied for #6 in the nation and tied for #1 in the ACC in sacks. Amir Watts has also been productive with 11 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, and 3 QBH. Freshmen Devin Danielson hasn’t shown up in the state line as much as Twyman and Watts, but he’s been a beat as well. Danielson is eating blockers and closing wholes. His 5 tackles and 1 QBH are good numbers for reserve Freshmen DT.
Pitt is currently #30 against the run, making it the #4 run defense in the ACC. Coupled with the sack and TFL numbers, this is top 3 ACC unit, but that production will need to continue to maintain this grade. We knew this position had been recruited well, but it took the emergence of Twyman to allow this group to ascend to the top of the league, even in Camp’s absence. With Watts being the lane senior, if Camp can stay healthy next year, this group should be even better with Danielson, David Green, and Tyler Bentley another year stronger.
